SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — With soaring gasoline prices in San Diego and rising grocery prices, giving your wallet a break where you can is essential.
Luckily, San Diego is a city with great weather and diverse offerings, which means you can find more than a few fun and entertaining things to do without having to spend a penny.
Here is a list of free and fun events to do in San Diego throughout the month of May.
San Diego Made Spring Market in La Mesa Village, May 2
From 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., you can explore over 120 local makers and vendors as they display their one-of-a-kind items for sale. The event will take place along La Mesa Boulevard in La Mesa Village.
Besides local handmade items for sale, there will also be live music, free photo booths, tarot card readers, a scavenger hunt, craft stations and food trucks.
Balboa Park Ethnic Food Fair, May 2-3
From Saturday to Sunday, the House of Pacific Relations will host the 41st annual Ethnic Food Fair. The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the International Cottages in Balboa Park.
Some of the participants include the House of Mexico, which will have quesabirria tacos and raspados, and the House of Scotland, which will have Scottish meat pies and baked goods. There will also be live entertainment, like folkloric dances.
Carlsbad Village Street Faire, May 3
The Carlsbad Village Street Faire takes place twice a year and brings in over 100,000 visitors for the largest one-day street faire in the nation, according to the event’s page.
It features 900 arts and crafts booths, antiques, children’s rides, entertainment, a beer garden and an international food court. The event takes place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
There will be a free shuttle bus service provided from the Shoppes at Carlsbad and the Coaster station.
Resident Free Tuesdays at the NAT, May 5
Every first Tuesday of each month, the San Diego Natural History Museum offers San Diego residents free admission.
City and county residents just have to show an ID with their San Diego address to get free entry. Films are not included, but can be purchased for $5 per person. The new exhibition “Washed Ashore: Art to Save the Sea” will be on display starting May 22.
TierraFest, May 16
The Kiwanis Club of Tierrasanta is holding an all-day event on Saturday, May 16, featuring a parade, craft fair, live music, dinner and fireworks.
The parade starts at 10 a.m. along Tierrasanta Boulevard between Santo Road and La Cuenta Drive. There will also be a craft fair from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the New Break parking lot.
Dinner, music and fireworks will also take place at the Tierrasanta Lutheran Church from 4:30 to 8:15 p.m.
Goldenpalooza, May 16
The Golden Hill community music and arts festival, Goldenpalooza, will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Golden Hill Recreation Center. The festival will be filled with family-friendly activities, live music and dancing, food and drink vendors, and community booths and vendors.
The music festival for all ages is hosted by Golden Hill TK-8 Dual Language Immersion School and raises money to support arts and music programs at the school.
Asian Pacific Cultural Festival of San Diego, May 16
The 13th annual Asian Pacific Cultural Festival returns to San Diego on May 16. The event is hosted by the Asian Culture and Media Alliance in collaboration with the House of Pacific Relations in Balboa Park.
The family-friendly event features cultural performances from a dozen countries and cultures, including Vietnam, Korea, Hawaii, Cambodia and Thailand. There will also be interactive cultural experiences and artisan and food vendors. It takes place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Fit Yoga at Rady Shell, May 23
Every month, the luxury gym Fit hosts a free yoga class at The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park. The full-one hour vinyasa flow class is hosted by Viktoria Talbot, who has been teaching yoga for nearly two decades.
The event is free, but you do need to reserve a spot ahead of time on Eventbrite. Classes fill up quickly.
The class starts at 9:30 a.m. Make sure to bring your own yoga mat.
Pa’ La Cultura Festival, May 23
From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., more than 45 vendors, artists and community members will gather on Logan Avenue in Barrio Logan for the Pa’ La Cultura Festival.
The festival is meant to bring together the community and celebrate Mexican American culture. Besides live music, food and other activities, there will also be a Libros y Sonido Book Fair.
Vista Strawberry Festival, May 24
The 14th annual Vista Strawberry Festival will take place from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The annual event celebrates Vista’s strawberry history — the city was at one time unofficially known as the Strawberry Capitol of the World.
The family-friendly event features vendors, food, a carnival zone, a berry fun zone, a food court, a beer garden and a film festival.
Poway Spring Festival, May 31
The first-ever Poway Spring Festival is taking place on May 31 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Midland Road.
The event will feature hundreds of vendors, food trucks, activities for kids, live music, a beer and wine garden and a classic car show.
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