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Things to Do Memorial Day Weekend 2021 in San Diego

Activities and dining specials to last all weekend long
James Davey

By Erica Nichols

Activities

“A Walk Back Through Time” Tour at Liberty Station

Before it became one of the city’s top food hubs, Liberty Station was the site of a naval training center. Learn more about its history on this self-guided walking tour across the grounds. The first stop is Sellers Plaza and Gate One—the oldest point of interest in the complex.

2455 Cushing Road, Point Loma  

Legacy Week at USS Midway Museum

The Midway Museum is offering a lineup of virtual and onboard events throughout the week to honor Memorial Day, starting with a virtual concert by Switchfoot aboard the aircraft carrier on May 27. Other events include a virtual wreath ceremony, a national moment of remembrance, and a blood drive. In between, come aboard on May 30 to meet former aviators and learn about the planes they flew, like the F-14 Tomcat and the E-2 Hawkeye.

910 North Harbor Drive, Downtown

Memorial Day Weekend Concerts at Petco Park

Summer’s unofficial start is at Petco Park this weekend with two back-to-back concerts. First, The Beach Boys and special guests Mark McGrath and John Stamos will take the stage for a two-hour set on May 29. The next day, May 30, grab tickets to see Ziggy Marley perform a special tribute show in honor of his father, Bob Marley. Social distancing will be in place. Tickets for both shows start at $39.

100 Park Boulevard, Downtown

Memorial Day - Maritime

Maritime Museum

James Davey

Naval History Tour at Maritime Museum of San Diego

After a temporary hiatus last year, the Maritime Museum’s popular naval history tour is coming back this Memorial Day weekend. The 75-minute tour takes visitors aboard their PCF 816 swift boat for a ride around the bay, and retired swift boat sailors will talk about their experiences as crewmen. Space is limited; reserve online.

1492 North Harbor Drive, Downtown

Memorial Day - Lafayette

Poolside cocktails at the Lafayette

James Davey

Sip & Swim at The Lafayette Hotel, Swim Club and Bungalows

The Lafayette Hotel’s hot summer events are making a comeback this year. Sip & Swim is kicking off the season at their Weissmuller Pool. Splash in the shallow end, dive into the deep end, or lounge poolside; the party goes from noon to 5 p.m. on May 30, and continues on Sundays throughout the summer.

2223 El Cajon Boulevard, North Park

Eat & Drink

Memorial Day - Estancia

Estancia La Jolla

Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa

If rest and relaxation are on the agenda this weekend, head to the Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa. For Memorial Day, the hotel is offering a specialty beer menu, soft pretzels, burgers, and tacos in their Caretakers Garden. In between lawn games and activities, kick back with a cold one and enjoy their acoustic live music performances all weekend long.

9700 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla

InterContinental

Welcome in the summer with a tasty treat and a day at the pool. InterContinental San Diego partnered with Holy Paleta to offer delicious paletas at Layover, the hotel’s poolside bar. Pick from sweet flavor combinations like raspberry lemonade, strawberry cheesecake, and chocolate milkshake. If you’re wanting something a little stronger, Layover is also offering two paleta cocktails, including a White Claw Mango paired with a strawberry and mango paleta. You must either be a guest of the hotel or book a day pass to the pool via ResortPass.

901 Bayfront Court, Downtown

Ranch 45

Celebrate the arrival of summer with a traditional crawfish boil at Ranch 45. This Memorial Day weekend, the restaurant is offering all of the fixings exclusively for preorder and then pickup on May 30 from 1 to 5 p.m. In addition to the boil essentials (crawfish, potatoes, corn, and sausage), you can also pick up jambalaya, beignets, and six-packs of PBR. Prefer to do the cooking yourself? Ranch 45 will also have butcher options, including steaks, tri-tip, and burgers.

512 Via de la Valle, Solana Beach

Memorial Day - Moonshine

Moonshine Beach

Moonshine Beach

Enjoy the three-day weekend at Moonshine Beach. The Pacific Beach honky-tonk bar recently installed a new outdoor extension that adds 7,500 square feet of room for line dancing. The outdoor space also has a 40-foot-long bar and a 600-square-foot stage for live music acts. Go for classic American bites like burgers, hot dogs, barbecue, and potato salad, then enjoy the games and music happening all throughout the weekend.

1165 Garnet Avenue, Pacific Beach

Memorial Day - Smoking Gun

Ribs at The Smoking Gun

The Smoking Gun

Gaslamp’s laid-back bar is offering a beer and barbecue special Saturday through Monday this weekend. Order the All-American BBQ Plate, which comes with your choice of baby back ribs or smoked brisket—all orders come with a side of Texas Toast. To drink, they’re offering $5 draft beers and $7 America-themed cocktails, like Old Glory, made with vodka, peach, lemon, and cinnamon.

555 Market Street, GaslampQuarter

Barleymash

Sip your way through the weekend with patriotic themed cocktails from Barleymash. Available May 29–31, enjoy specialty drinks like the Stars and Stripes (made with strawberry, lemon, and blue curacao) or The Flagpole, made with Dirty Sue olive juice and blue-cheese-stuffed olives.

600 Fifth Avenue, Gaslamp Quarter

Corner Chicken

This East Village fried chicken shop will be honoring our military with special discounts available for active, retired, and veteran servicemen and women. With proof of service, enjoy a 10 percent discount on their spicy chicken combos or share plates like loaded fries. This military discount will be offered beyond Memorial Day weekend.

721 Ninth Avenue, East Village

Liberty Station

James Davey

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