Updated Monday, August 24, 2026
Things to Do in San Diego This Weekend
August 28 – 30, 2026 · Festival, Rodeo & Markets
The headline this weekend is a debut: after 14 years based in Florida, the Brazilian Festival brings its 17th edition to Waterfront Park on Saturday, August 29 — Paula Lima, Negritude Junior, capoeira, a Carnival parade, and a full day of Brazilian food and music on the bay.
Out in the county, the Ramona Rodeo plays its closing two nights, each ending with a dance in the Pavilion. Three of its events — Friday’s Slack, Saturday’s Cowboy Church, and Sam’s Posse Round Up Rodeo — are free and need no ticket at all. Both weekend farmers markets run as usual
Headline Events
Full guide →
Full guide →
Saturday, August 29
The busiest day of the weekend — a festival debut downtown, a farmers market a short walk away, and the rodeo’s free morning events out in the county.
Full guide →
Full guide →
Sunday & Looking Ahead
A quiet Sunday, plus one North County festival still waiting on its 2026 date.
Full guide →
Full guide →
📅 Day-by-Day Summary
Friday, August 28
- •Ramona Rodeo — 9 AM Slack (free), 5 PM gates, 7 PM performance, 9:30 PM dance
- •Golden Circle of Champions themed night — gold & purple
Saturday, August 29
- •Brazilian Festival — Waterfront Park, first-ever San Diego edition, from ~$20
- •Little Italy Mercato — W Date St, 8 AM–2 PM, free
- •Ramona Rodeo — 8 AM Cowboy Church (free), 10 AM Sam’s Posse Round Up Rodeo (free), 4 PM gates, 7 PM performance, 9:30 PM dance
- •God Bless America themed night — red, white & blue
Sunday, August 30
- •Hillcrest Farmers Market — 9 AM–2 PM, free, 175+ vendors
💡 Tips for This Weekend
- ✓Trust your ticket, not the listings: The Brazilian Festival has three different sets of hours published across ticketing platforms and event calendars — 1–10 PM, 2–9 PM, and 2–11 PM. Date and venue are consistent everywhere; the times are not. Check your confirmation email before setting out.
- ✓Bring cash for rodeo parking: Ramona Rodeo parking is $10 per vehicle, cash only, and is never bundled with a ticket — not even VIP, which only grants access to a dedicated parking area. There is also no re-entry once you exit the gate.
- ✓Three rodeo events are genuinely free: Friday’s 9 AM Slack, Saturday’s 8 AM Cowboy Church, and Saturday’s 10 AM Sam’s Posse Round Up Rodeo need no ticket. Worth knowing if you want the atmosphere without the evening ticket price.
- ✓Pair the market with the festival: Little Italy Mercato runs 8 AM–2 PM Saturday and sits a short walk from Waterfront Park. Market in the morning, Brazilian Festival in the afternoon, one parking spot.
- ✓Take the trolley downtown: Waterfront Park is a short walk from the County Center/Little Italy stop on the Blue and Orange Lines. On a Saturday festival day that beats hunting for street parking along Pacific Highway.
- ✓Ramona is a real drive: Roughly 45–50 minutes northeast of downtown via CA-67. Factor it in rather than treating the rodeo as a spur-of-the-moment add-on to a downtown day.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best things to do in San Diego this weekend (August 28–30, 2026)?
Saturday is the day: the Brazilian Festival makes its first-ever San Diego appearance at Waterfront Park, and the Ramona Rodeo plays its closing night out in the county. The Little Italy Mercato runs Saturday morning and the Hillcrest Farmers Market on Sunday, both free.
What’s free this weekend?
Three Ramona Rodeo events need no ticket — Friday’s 9 AM Slack, Saturday’s 8 AM Cowboy Church, and Saturday’s 10 AM Sam’s Posse Round Up Rodeo. Both farmers markets are free to attend too. You still pay $10 cash parking to get onto the rodeo grounds.
What time does the Brazilian Festival start?
Sources disagree — listings show 1 PM–10 PM, 2 PM–9 PM, and 2 PM–11 PM. The date (Saturday, August 29) and venue (Waterfront Park) are consistent everywhere. Trust your ticket confirmation over any third-party listing.
How much is the Brazilian Festival?
Tickets start around $20, with tiered options reported up to roughly $60–$70 for enhanced access. Some sources list free admission for children 12 and under — verify at the point of purchase.
Do I need cash for the Ramona Rodeo?
Yes. Parking is $10 per vehicle, cash only, and is never included with any ticket tier — even VIP. There are also no in-and-out privileges, so leaving and returning means paying again.
Can I combine the Brazilian Festival with anything else?
Yes — the Little Italy Mercato runs 8 AM to 2 PM Saturday and is a short walk from Waterfront Park. Market in the morning, festival in the afternoon works well without moving your car.