Happy Wednesday, North County!

The last weekend of August has a pretty solid mix. Oceanside is throwing a free ’80s concert with burgers, shaved ice and a bounce house. More than 100 artists are taking over the 101 in Leucadia. And Frontwave Arena is becoming a giant sports-card and Pokémon marketplace for the day.

For the smallest kids, there are swim and music classes, sensory play and a chance to read to therapy dogs. Big kids get surfing, an outdoor movie and the collectibles expo. Teens have two local musicals, a rivalry soccer match and a free game afternoon.

Let’s break it down.

1. Doggie Tales Little kids can choose a book and read it to one of the trained therapy dogs from Love on a Leash. It’s technically reading practice, but babies and toddlers who mostly want to pet a friendly dog are welcome too. This is hosted by the San Diego County Library’s Cardiff branch.

📍 Cardiff-by-the-Sea Library, 2081 Newcastle Avenue, Cardiff
💰 Free
📅 Thursday, August 27, 3–4 p.m.
👉 Details

2. Toddler Time Skip the structured storytime and let them get into Play-Doh, blocks, sensory sand, shakers and other open-ended activities instead. The Cardiff branch of the San Diego County Library hosts this sensory play session for toddlers and preschoolers.

📍 Cardiff-by-the-Sea Library, 2081 Newcastle Avenue, Cardiff
💰 Free
📅 Friday, August 28, 10:30 a.m.–noon
👉 Details

3. Me & My Shadow Swim Lessons A parent-and-child swim class from the City of Escondido for little ones who are still learning to feel comfortable in the water. This is a four-day session with two available afternoon time slots, so it’s more of a short class commitment than a one-time activity.

📍 James A. Stone Pool, 131 W. Woodward Avenue, Escondido
💰 $40 for four 30-minute lessons
📅 Monday–Thursday, August 31–September 3; 3:40–4:10 p.m. or 5–5:30 p.m.
👉 Details

4. Family Music: Level 1 Babies and toddlers sing, move, dance and try simple rhythm instruments with a grown-up. The City of San Marcos class is designed for ages 0–3 and starts a new multiweek session Tuesday.

📍 San Elijo Recreation Center, 1105 Elfin Forest Road, San Marcos
💰 Starts at $111 for the session; $26 instrument-kit fee due to the instructor
📅 Tuesdays beginning September 1, 9–9:45 a.m.
👉 Details

1. Oceanside Concert in the Park Oceanside Parks & Recreation is bringing an opening act and The High Note ’80s tribute band to Jim Wood Park. There will also be family games, a bounce house and temporary tattoos. The Habit Burger & Grill and a shave-ice vendor will be there with food for purchase, so dinner can be handled too.

Bring chairs or a blanket, but leave the canopy and umbrellas at home.

📍 Jim Wood Park, 4701 Mesa Drive, Oceanside
💰 Free; food available for purchase
📅 Saturday, August 29, 4–7 p.m.
👉 Details

2. Family Fun Day with Alpacas, Magicians & Food There are alpacas, magicians, games and food, which is a fairly strong lineup if you ask a six-year-old. Nese Kids Care is hosting the free celebration in Mission Valley to mark its first year serving local families.

📍 967 Camino del Rio South, San Diego
💰 Free; registration requested
📅 Saturday, August 29, 10 a.m.–1 p.m.
👉 Details

3. 20th Annual LeucadiART Walk More than 100 artists will line Coast Highway 101 with paintings, photography, jewelry and other work. The Leucadia 101 Mainstreet Association is also bringing in live music, art demonstrations and creative activities for kids. It’s free to wander, with food and drinks available for purchase.

📍 Along North Coast Highway 101 in Leucadia
💰 Free admission
📅 Sunday, August 30, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
👉 Details

4. CKC Summer Nights Calvary Chapel Oceanside’s City Kids Club is holding one more free Wednesday night for kids. It’s a chance to check out the church’s children’s program through games and activities before its regular school-year schedule begins.

📍 Calvary Chapel Oceanside, 3715 Oceanic Way, Oceanside
💰 Free
📅 Wednesday, August 26, 6:15–8 p.m.
👉 Details

1. Oceanside Sunset Market MainStreet Oceanside’s weekly market has food from around the world, live entertainment, a children’s area and rows of arts-and-crafts vendors. It’s an easy weeknight option when nobody wants to decide what to make for dinner.

📍 Pier View Way and North Tremont Street, Oceanside
💰 Free admission; food and shopping cost extra
📅 Thursday, August 27, 5–9 p.m.
👉 Details

2. Summer Sibshops This one is specifically for neurotypical siblings of children with special needs. Sandy Feet Initiative and Surfing Madonna Oceans Project are giving kids ages 7 and older a morning of surfing, beach activities and time with other siblings who understand the experience.

Wetsuits, rash guards and wave-riding equipment are provided. Bring towels, sunscreen and a hat.

📍 Moonlight State Beach, 400 B Street, Encinitas
💰 $50
📅 Saturday, August 29, 9 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
👉 Details

3. Frontwave Arena Collectibles Expo This is basically a giant card and collectibles show—not an arena concert. Up to 160 vendor tables will be filled with Pokémon and other trading-card games, sports cards and memorabilia. There will also be athlete autograph sessions, raffles, trading and a custom trading-card photo booth.

The expo is free with an RSVP, although parking is separate. Frontwave’s clear-bag policy will be in effect.

📍 Frontwave Arena, 3475 Hero Drive, Oceanside
💰 Free with RSVP; parking costs extra
📅 Saturday, August 29, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; trade night 6–8 p.m.
👉 Details

4. Labyrinth in the Park David Bowie, a Goblin King and one extremely complicated maze on a big screen under the stars. San Diego County Parks & Recreation is showing the PG fantasy classic at Felicita County Park. Bring a picnic, snacks, chairs and blankets because there will not be concessions at this location.

📍 Felicita County Park, 742 Clarence Lane, Escondido
💰 Free movie; standard park parking fees may apply
📅 Saturday, August 29; event begins at 5:30 p.m. and the movie starts after sunset
👉 Details

1. We Will Rock You More than 20 Queen songs—including “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Somebody to Love” and, obviously, “We Will Rock You”—are packed into this futuristic musical about a world where algorithms control everything and original thought has disappeared. New Village Arts is presenting it right in downtown Carlsbad.

📍 New Village Arts, 2787 State Street, Carlsbad
💰 Ticket prices vary by performance and seat
📅 Performances Thursday–Monday, August 27–31
👉 Details

2. Disney’s Freaky Friday: The Musical Patio Playhouse turns the familiar mother-daughter body swap into a full musical. It’s funny, chaotic and probably even more relatable if you currently live with a teenager.

📍 Patio Playhouse’s Kalmia Street Black Box, 201 E. Grand Avenue, Suite 1D, Escondido
💰 Approximately $18 for children and $28 for adults, including ticket fees
📅 Performances Friday–Sunday, August 28–30
👉 Details

3. San Diego FC vs. LA Galaxy San Diego FC takes on the Galaxy in one of the season’s biggest Southern California matchups. It’s farther south than most of this list, but this is the kind of game that is probably worth the drive for a teen who follows soccer.

📍 Snapdragon Stadium, 2101 Stadium Way, San Diego
💰 Ticket prices vary
📅 Saturday, August 29, 7:30 p.m.
👉 Details

4. Teen Game Day Video games, board games, trading-card games and RPGs, with no required agenda beyond hanging out. The San Diego County Library’s Poway branch hosts this free afternoon for ages 11–17.

📍 Poway Library, 13137 Poway Road, Poway
💰 Free
📅 Tuesday, September 1, 4–6 p.m.
👉 Details