The Adams Avenue Street Fair is taking over Normal Heights this weekend for one of the city’s biggest block parties.
Why it matters: The annual event started in the 1980s for the community to celebrate the new neighborhood sign. It’s since grown into Southern California’s largest two-day free music festival, drawing about 80,000 people from around San Diego and other states.
Driving the news: The festival has expanded over the past few years, now covering 10 city blocks with 75 musical acts on seven stages, performances by the Fern Street Circus, three beer gardens, and hundreds of food, art and retail vendors.
- Free comedy shows at the Adams Avenue Theater are new this year.
- Local indie rock group The Schizophonics and San Diego-based soul and funk band The Styletones are two of the headliners, plus internationally touring artists.
- The giant carnival rides are a major attraction for kids, and those tickets raise money for Adams Elementary School.
What they’re saying: “The longevity speaks for itself,” said organizer Julia Sanchez, who first attended the event as a teenager in 1993.
- “It’s such a cool, eclectic place with a melting point of all different people that come together,” she said.
Stop by: Enjoy the party from 10am-10pm on Saturday and 10am-6pm on Sunday.
Zoom out: San Diego will be buzzing this weekend with other festivals that you won’t want to miss…