Soaking in the San Diego County sun and all things Americana, thousands of visitors convened Saturday afternoon for an early celebration of the country’s semiquincentennial at the beachfront Oceanside USA 250 Festival.
The event, organized by the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce with support from the county of San Diego, followed the community’s annual Independence Parade on Coast Highway, which is routinely held the Saturday on the weekend before 4th of July.
Michael Boody, 75, and Mike Frazier, 63, stand for the national anthem during the USA 250 festival in Oceanside on Saturday. (Kristian Carreon / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
This year, to commemorate a very special birthday, the morning parade seamlessly extended to the neighborhood party a few blocks away at the beach, albeit with ample coordination between the different organizing entities.
“The parade is organized by MainStreet Oceanside, but we’ve been working very closely with them to coordinate our two events and to market them together as, come enjoy a full day in downtown Oceanside,” said Scott Ashton, who is the chamber’s chief executive officer.
The crowd that wandered over was greeted by country music performances at Junior Seau Pier Amphitheatre, including from headliner Craig Campbell, as well as more than 130 different vendors spread between Betty’s Lot to the south of the stage and the community center to the north. Other activities and attractions included a pie eating contest, free chili samples provided by the Oceanside Fire Department, and a kids fun zone area with a few inflatables and bungee trampolines.
Todd Gretler, 14, and Luke Gretler, 9, set up their Pinewood Derby-style car to race during the USA 250 festival in Oceanside on Saturday, June 27, 2026. (Kristian Carreon / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
In the community center, kids and families were invited to build their own Pinewood Derby-style car and race their creations down a ramp, courtesy of Oceanside High School, in a mini grand prix. That’s where Maryah Camarena, a lifelong Oceanside resident, worked with her two daughters, 3 and 5, to complete the craft while her husband tried to keep their 6-month-old son entertained.
“We walk the beach every Saturday, and so we were like, oh, today’s the parade,” Camarena said. “So then they were like, there’s a big thing going on down there today after the parade. So we came and we stopped by.”
The festival’s opening ceremony included a performance from alternative country singer Kim Johnson, who sang the national anthem as surfers caught waves in the distance and the sun finally pierced through the morning’s stubborn cloud cover.
Singer Kim Johnson performs during the USA 250 festival in Oceanside. (Kristian Carreon / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
During the main stage introduction, San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond presented a proclamation to retired Col. Daniel Whitley, a decorated war veteran who continues to work at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in a civilian capacity and is also an adviser to the chamber.
Desmond is credited, in part, for bringing Oceanside USA 250 to life. The supervisor’s office approached the chamber in the fall about hosting a special event for the 250th anniversary of the United States’ Declaration of Independence, and helped secure a grant to fund the event’s $100,000 cost, Ashton said.
“I actually live in Oceanside and Oceanside is part of my district. And (the chamber) had applied for grant funds, and so I thought we would try to get as many people as we can to this event,” Desmond told the Union-Tribune. “This event is about celebrating the 250th anniversary of the country and bringing people together.”
Victor Contreras walks around wearing an American-themed outfit. (Kristian Carreon / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Organizers expected around 10,000 people to attend the 6-hour festival, which kicked off at noon.
The biggest crowd pleaser appeared to be a miniature Waste Management garbage truck, where kids lined up to don fluorescent vests and helmets and pose for photos inside the vehicle, which had appeared in the parade earlier in the day.