With just a couple of weeks remaining in 2024, there’s a bit of time to wrap up holiday shopping and enjoy the sights and sounds of the season.
Local businesses and artisans offer unique gift-giving opportunities, especially during the final street markets of the year in Encinitas, Carlsbad, Oceanside, Vista and San Marcos. Consider preparing a winter dinner using locally caught seafood from the North County Fishermen’s Market at Oceanside Harbor.
The light of the season shines brightly at local events, too, from the Lightscape at the San Diego Botanic Garden in Encinitas to the Coastal Christmas Holiday Light Spectacular at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. Local theaters also offer a break from the bustle of work and holiday pressures with modern takes on classic tales.
Click the links embedded in this story’s text for more information about the events below. Information for this month’s Spotlight is provided by organizations and individuals in the communities covered by the North Coast Current and OsideNews.
The North Coast Current and OsideNews hope you enjoy the holiday season in safety and good cheer.
Now through Dec. 22: Manny and the Wise Queens — The Oceanside Theatre Co. presents the first full staging of “Manny and the Wise Queens” by Idris Goodwin. The story takes place in the small town of Bethlehem, U.S.A., where a bright star draws distant visitors to usher in a new era one December night in 2020. The gift-bearing travelers find themselves in the attic of Manny, a depressed recent high school graduate, who has locked himself away to escape the remnants of holiday cheer in his quarantined town. The sudden arrival of the two wise queens provides a potential key to Manny’s deliverance in this comedic celebration of home, hip-hop and unexpected gifts. Ticket information and show dates are available at oceansidetheatre.org.
Now through Dec. 24: Miracle on 34th Street — New Village Arts, 2787 State St. in Carlsbad, presents “Miracle on 34th Street: A Live Musical Radio Play.” The classic holiday story will be told in the style of a radio play created by San Diego artists Jon Lorenz and Lance Arthur Smith, with live Foley effects and a score of holiday carols. The show is directed by Faith Carrion and Kay McNellen. More information: newvillagearts.org/miracle-34-street.
Dec: 19 and 26: Holiday Gift Market in Oceanside — MainStreet Oceanside hosts its Holiday Gift Market, offering eclectic holiday gifts from more than 200 artisans and merchants. Visitors can enjoy one-stop shopping and dining with international hot food, in addition to gourmet holiday goodies, live music and children’s activities. The market runs 5:30-7:30 p.m. in downtown Oceanside. More information: mainstreetoceanside.com/shop-local-oceanside.
Now through Dec. 26: Coastal Christmas Holiday Light Spectacular — The Del Mar Fairgrounds are transformed into a festive journey with sparkling lights, holiday cheer, and snacks and drinks. The event runs 4-9 p.m. starting at the Paddock. Go to coastalchristmasdelmar.com for more information and to reserve tickets.
Now through Jan. 5: Lightscape at the San Diego Botanic Garden — Lightscape has returned for its third year to the 37-acre San Diego Botanic Garden, 300 Quail Gardens Drive in Encinitas, featuring a 1-mile, illuminated trail with eye-catching artistic installations from international artists and returning favorites. The event is produced in association with Sony Music and Culture Creative. More information and ticket reservations are available at the Botanic Garden’s event website.
Farmers markets
Encinitas: The city has two farmers markets highlighting the unique nature of its individual communities. The Cardiff Farmer’s Market, sponsored by Cardiff 101 Main Street and located at the Mira Costa College campus, 3333 Manchester Ave., runs Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and has international food offerings, plant sales and a variety of vendors. The Leucadia Farmers Market, sponsored by Leucadia 101 Main Street, runs Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Paul Ecke Central School, 185 Union St. The Leucadia market has more than 30 certified growers, 10 certified organic growers, and more than 70 vendors.
Carlsbad: The State Street Farmers’ Market is a Carlsbad Village staple, currently running winter hours from 2:30 to 6 p.m. through early March. For the holidays, the market will be closed Dec. 25 and Jan. 1, and it will reopen Jan. 8. The market is located at State Street between Carlsbad Village Drive and Grand Avenue. Sponsored by the Carlsbad Village Association, the market focuses on fresh fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, cheese, eggs, nuts and honey. Fresh flowers and plants are also a big part of the market. Artisan food vendors offer such goodies as bread, granola, yogurt, bone broth, kombucha, fudge and cookies.
Oceanside: Like Encinitas, Oceanside has two markets, in this case highlighting morning and afternoon into the evening. The Oceanside Morning Farmers Market is held Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. all year. The market offers a variety of local produce, gourmet foods including artisan baked goods, organic honey, salsa and chips, dips and sauces, olives and olive oil, as well as floral and plant sales. The Sunset Market runs Thursdays from 5 to 9 p.m. and features about 200 merchants. The market spans four city blocks on Pier View Way west of Coast Highway. The Sunset Market includes children’s activities including Dorothy’s KidZone. Both markets are sponsored by MainStreet Oceanside.
Oceanside: North County Fishermen’s Market — Head to Oceanside Harbor, 401 Riverside Drive, on Sundays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. to meet the local fishing community while shopping for local fish and seafood. Visitors can find fresh-caught markets that help supply Oceanside eateries with seafood. Follow the market’s schedule on its Instagram page, and go to the market’s website at fishermensmarket.co for a list of the kinds of seafood sold.
San Marcos: The open-air San Marcos Farmers Market is held in the growing North City area near California State University San Marcos and is held Tuesdays with winter season hours of 3 to 6 p.m. The market can be found off Twin Oaks Valley Road at 251 N. City Drive. Visitors can find a variety of vendors offering local fresh fruits and vegetables, baked goods, fresh flowers, local honey, bread, eggs, yogurt, Kombucha, and artisan-packaged foods and specialty prepared hot foods.
Vista: The Vista Farmers Market runs 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays, rain or shine. at the San Diego County Courthouse, 345 South Melrose Drive. The event is made up of five marketplaces — Food Specialties, consisting of foodmakers and farmers who produce what they sell; Certified Farmers Market, where farmers sell what they grow and benefit from being in a Certified Farmers Market; Worlds Fare, which serves foods from ethnic traditions around the world; Artisans Marketplace, which features local entrepreneurs who sell what they make; and the Gardeners Market, where farmers and craft makers sell items for your garden, from plants and pots to soil amendments.
Also in North County: The Solana Beach Farmers Market is open Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. at the Cedros Design District, 444 S. Cedros Ave. The Del Mar Farmers Market runs Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m. at the Del Mar Civic Center, 1050 Camino Del Mar. Free parking is available in the nearby garage. The Escondido Arts Partnership operates the Escondido Certified Farmers Market on Tuesdays from 2:30 p.m. until sunset at Heritage Garden Park in Downtown Escondido along Juniper Street between Grand Avenue and Valley Parkway. Also in Escondido, the Hidden Farmers’ Market offers fresh produce, baked goods and local products Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 123 Woodward Ave., near Grape Day Park and James Stone Pool.
Submit events for publication to the North Coast Current and OsideNews at currentevents[at]northcoastcurrent.com.