Old Town San Diego & Historic State Park |
Old Town San Diego & Historic State Park |
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When you
come to Old Town San Diego, take this guided tour: Return to GoThere San Diego |
Every Saturday come visit the FREE Old Town Artisan Market 9:00am to 4:00pm. Live Music, Artworks, Jewelry, Photography, Hand Blown Glass, Clothing & Ceramics. Great for your Christmas shopping. Located on Harney Street in the Heart of Old Town in the public parking lot across from the Best Western Hacienda Hotel (Map) A Very Short History of Old Town San Diego: In 1542 the Spanish first came to what is now San Diego, but settlement did not start until 1769. In 1821 Mexico won independence from Spain, and along with it, California. In 1848 the Mexican War saw the annexation of California to the United States.
From about 1868, San Diego's "New Town" began to be built in what is now downtown San Diego. This led to a general decline of Old Town up until 1969 --the 200th anniversary of San Diego-- when the city's Bicentennial celebration returned Old Town to the public eye, and to the heart of San Diego. This was the locale of the Helen Hunt Jackson book "Ramona"
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San Diego Old Town
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Boosters of Old Town:
Ongoing Events in the Park Year-round --
Ongoing living history activities every Wednesday and Saturday from 10 a.m.
to 4 p.m.
Free tours daily at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. that begin at the
Robinson-Rose Visitor Center.
1
st SaturdayPrint Guild and Tintype Guild
2nd Saturday
Californio Day
3rd Saturday
Quilt Guild, Fiber Arts Guild and the Mormon
Battalion
4th Saturday
Mountain Men and the Soap Makers Guild
Every Wednesday and Saturday
Quilt Guild every Wednesday afternoon.
Blacksmith Guild’s presentation, all day
January
Blessing of the Animals
DATE:
January 15 (Sunday)
This event encourages visitors to bring pets for a
blessing from the local Catholic priest and will include other animal-themed
events, a costume and trick contest and much more. Led by Monsignor Mark
Campbell, the annual Benediction of the Beasts celebrates St. Anthony of the
Desert, the Patron Saint of Animals.
Mormon Battalion Day
DATE: January 28 (Saturday)
Learn more about the Mormon Battalion unique
contributions to early San Diego’s history and enjoy historic children’s
crafts, a Dutch oven bake-off, cannon firing, and other activities.
April
Shades of Poe -- Produced by Write Out Loud
DATE: April 28
(Saturday)
Part of The Big
Read Program, Shades of Poe will educate and entertain attendees about the
works of Edgar Allan Poe and writers like him.
Southern California Folklorico Competition
DATE: April 28
and 29 - Finale: May 6
The annual
competition between local San Diego-area dance schools.
May / June
DATE: May 4 - 6 (Friday through Sunday)
Multiple stages featuring live music, entertainment
and family-friendly activities.
Each larger restaurant in the Old Town community is expected to donate a
minimum of $1,000 - $2,000 to help support this event.
Fiesta de Reyes will also be hosting events and significant
entertainment in the park and on the FdR stage on May 4-6th, separate PR and
advertising will be provided by the association and FdR.
DATE: TBD
Sponsored by
Chula Vista Chapter of Relay for Life; this event will draw hundreds from
San Diego's South County and will feature a classic car show along
with low-rider cars and bikes, entertainment, and a day of family fun in
OTSDSHP.
June
DATE: June
2 (Saturday)
Event to promote the contributions of women in the development of San Diego
and California. Experience weaving, sewing, pottery making and cooking at
the time California became a state.
Garden tours, living history activities, people in period attire, and
historic games. Try your hand at crafts of the 19th century.
July
Historic Old Town Fourth of July (OTSDSHP event)
DATE:
July 4 (Wednesday)
An old-fashioned celebration of July 4th. Parade,
crafts and activities of early San Diego. Wagon rides, period games, music,
food specials, pie-eating contest and more. Flag raising, keynote speaker,
military involvement.
Stagecoach Days (OTSDSHP event)
DATE:
(Every Saturday in July and August)
Celebration of the West on the Move with children’s
activities, historic interpretation, cannon and anvil firings, and more.
August
Date: August 18 (Saturday)
Literary games
including “Fish for Words, Chortle This and Telegraph Crunch” will delight
the entire family, as well as sack races, marbles, ring toss and other games
of the period for the kids. A
spelling bee will run throughout the day as well as a community-wide Never
Ending Story to which anyone who wishes may contribute.
September
DATE: Two
weeks in September
The oldest and most comprehensive agave spirits festival in the United
States, this year’s Spirits of Mexico will be held during the 202nd
anniversary of Mexico’s independence at the location of California’s
birthplace.
Celebrating
the spirits and the
spirit
of Mexico, the 2012 Festival is made possible by the generous contribution
of
Fiesta de
Reyes within
Old Town
San Diego State Historic Park.
The Spirits of Mexico Festival is also supported and endorsed by the
City of San Diego, the
State of
California in association with the Department of Parks & Recreation
and the
Old Town
San Diego Chamber of Commerce and its members.
The Festival is and always has been a celebration of the Distiller’s
Art. From its inception,
the Festival was designed to take place around Mexican Independence Day, to
honor the generations of Master Distillers & Blenders whose art and soul
exists in every luscious drop.
Master Distillers & Blenders, Authors, Tequileras, Tequileros, Mixologists,
Aficionados & Ambassadors of world-renown and new-to-market brands will all
meet in Old Town San Diego to share their skills, experience and, of course,
their spirits! This highly
publicized event begins with a private
party at Barra Barra Friday evening, awards ceremony with dignitaries that
evening at Fiesta de Reyes, Main Event at The Cosmopolitan Saturday evening,
and a new addition -- the Tequila & Food Festival to be held Saturday in the
park for local San Diegans. To
include music, dancing, horse riding, food pairings, etc.
Tequila Trail
DATE:
September 9th (Sunday)
Samples of Traditional Mexican dishes from Old Town’s Best restaurants were
available throughout town! Participants taste selections of Tequila, Mezcal
and Bacanora, all Brands provide samples of their spirits.
DATE:
September 15 (Saturday)
A festival to commemorate the rich and diverse
Mexican culture that was vital in the development of San Diego and
California. Music, dancing,
games, and activities for the entire family.
Stage with performers.
October
Old Town Art Festival (Old Town Chamber event)
DATE:
Beginning of October
Enjoy museum-quality art and sculpture as you stroll
through Old Town with all of its history and charm. The Old Town San Diego
Art Festival features contemporary artists, fine craft, fashion and home
décor artisans. This event brings together the essence of Southern
California; beautiful San Diego weather, the Flavors of Old Town
international foods, a wine-tasting pavilion and continuous live
entertainment. The festival runs along San Diego Avenue from Conde Street
into the Old Town San Diego State Historic Park.
Admission is free.
OId Town’s Fall Festival
DATE: October 27 (Saturday)
Fall crafts and children’s activities a la San Diego
in the 1870s will be held from noon to 4 p.m. in the central plaza at Old
Town San Diego State Historic Park. Many merchants surrounding the park will
have activities as well.
Trick-or-Treat
DATE: October 31 (Wednesday)
Free goodies courtesy of the merchants with Old Town
San Diego State Historic Park with ghosts and goblins out in full force.
Enjoy special holiday treats, activities, and extended shopping hours at all
the stores within the state park.
November
Dia de los Muertos
November 1 and 2 (Thursday and Friday)
Commemorate “Day of the Dead” by touring the museums and shops within Old
Town San Diego State Historic Park, most with dramatic and festive Day of
the Dead altars. Folklorico
dancers and live performances celebrating this traditional Mexican holiday
will be featured on the Fiesta de Reyes stage.
Irish-Mexican Day
DATE: November 10 (Saturday)
Featuring traditional Irish music and authentic
Mexican food, the celebration honors Saint Patrick’s Brigade, a legendary
artillery unit led by Irish immigrants who became a one of the Mexican
Army’s most highly decorated brigades during the Mexican-American War.
Join the parade of bagpipers that circle Old Town San Diego State
Historic Park and party with them in the Fiesta de Reyes courtyard.
Admission is free but you might find yourself buying a Guiness or
two.
December
Holiday in the Park
DATE: December 15 (Saturday)
All of the museums, stores and restaurants in Old
Town San Diego State Historic Park will be open and richly decorated. Enjoy
special holiday treats, activities and extended shopping hours, along with
strolling carolers on this evening and do some holiday shopping at the same
time.
62nd Anniversary Las Posadas
DATE: December 16 (Sunday)
This centuries-old tradition is being celebrated in
Old Town San Diego State Historic Park for the 62th consecutive
year. Please join the Park
Merchants Association as they reenact the biblical journey of Mary and
Joseph through the town of Bethlehem.
The event begins at 2 pm with carolers and children’s choirs in the
state park, with the live theatrical procession starting promptly at 4 pm.
A piñata party for all the children follows at 5 pm.
Make this a new holiday tradition for your family.
It is sure to be a night you will remember.
Winter evenings are a reason to celebrate in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. Join carolers and other performers from dusk to 9 p.m. Free s’mores ‘round the bonfire are the highlight of the evening.
Parking and entrance to the park are FREE, and is conveniently located adjacent to the Old
Town Transit Center, with Coaster, Trolley, and MTS Bus service.
For additional state park event information, phone 619-220-5422
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