It is not out of the ordinary to want to explore a new surrounding whenever you head out on vacation. Traveling somewhere new is exciting and offers you somewhere you have not been able to fully see before. This includes visiting Oceanside, California and our lovely community. One of the best ways to explore and feel like a local is by visiting a local Oceanside farmers market. Most destinations offer markets where local vendors and farmers offer unique goods and services. Oceanside has plenty of fun in the local markets. Take a look at all the local farmers and craft markets found right here in Oceanside:
Oceanside Morning Farmers Market
Whether you are looking to feel like a local or want to purchase fresh produce for your next meal visiting a farmers market is what you should be planning. Local farmers markets are a great place to see a variety of goods and services that are put on by local vendors. Purchasing directly from a local vendor helps out the Oceanside community much more than purchasing from a big name grocer. Oceanside is home to the Oceanside Morning Farmers Market. This local market is held on Thursday each week from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM for a full four hours of browsing. This market is a favorite for finding fresh produce that has been grown locally in the area. In addition to fresh produce you can also find a variety of other goods too. These goods can include flowers, nursery items, artisan baked goods, salsa and chips, organic honey, dips, sauces, olive oil, and much more. Each of these goods are produced locally to further help out the community. The Oceanside Morning Farmers Market can be found at the corner of Pier View Way and North Coast Highway. Call 760-754-4512 for an questions you may have regarding the market and location.
Oceanside Sunset Farmers Market
If visiting the Morning Farmers Market is unobtainable during your visit to Oceanside fret not as a later market is also available. The Oceanside Sunset Farmers Market can be found at the same location as the morning market but during hours that may work better for those who are working during their stay. In fact, the Oceanside Sun Farmers Market is the number one weekly street fair in the entirety of San Diego County! Each week thousands of visitors will take to the area to enjoy what has become a cultural mainstay.
While the morning market focuses on fresh produce and goods used to make a meal, the sunset market offers more vendors dishing out hot food. Make sure to show up hungry as the local vendors offer a variety of cuisines and will be made fresh right in front of you. Live music is always on hand as well to make sure your ears have something to enjoy too. What will really make this market be set apart for the family is the additional kid friendly activities. The KidZone lets the kids have all kinds of fun for activities made just for them. Popular areas in the market include the World Marketplace and the International Food Court.
Special events also take place throughout the year including Public Safety Night where the local police department is on hand handing out stickers and coloring books while sharing public safety information. The Oceanside Sunset Farmers Market takes place every Thursday from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM all year round. Don’t miss out on the best weekly street fair in Southern California!
Downtown Oceanside Makers Market
Whenever you want to find unique goods that are handmade heading over to a local craft market is your top bet. Luckily Oceanside hosts the Downtown Oceanside Makers Market each year that is a free pop up event taking place in early summer. Come enjoy this special occasion where a variety of artisanal goods and local crafters get together for a fabulous market. The Downtown Oceanside Makers Market is still a more recent addition to the community having been set up during COVID shutdowns. A variety of local vendors are already signed up for this year’s market including Art by Mama K, Designs by Wilson, Healthy Kitchen Supplies, Omen Bazaar, and many more. You are sure to find something truly unique as either a gift for someone back home or for yourself. This year’s Downtown Oceanside Makers Market will take place on June 19th at Lot 35 on Pier View Way and North Tremont Street. The market will be open from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
More Market Fun Here in Oceanside
Heading to the nearest market is a great way to find a unique selection of goods and services found nowhere else. Make sure to book your stay at The Brick Hotel to come experience them for yourself!
The annual family vacation is something we both look forward to and dread at the same time. Getting to see new places and spend dedicated time with the ones we love most puts a mark on the pro side, but the ding on our bank accounts adds the check to the con side. Vacations can be expensive but necessary and in addition to offering fully equipped kitchens that allow families to save a little, we at the Brick Hotel have also done a little research. We found a list of family-friendly events that are guaranteed to be the highlight of your vacation to Oceanside but are also guaranteed not to make your bank account whimper and we are sharing them with you!
All About Art for Kids, Session Two, October 6, 3861 Mission Avenue
It’s amazing how creative our kids can be and All About Art harnesses that creativity and helps the budding Picassos learn more about the process. Costing $5 a session, this weekly class is held on Wednesdays from 4:45 PM until 5:45 PM, making it the perfect way to end another beautiful day in paradise, and although it is a kids-only class, mom and dad can enjoy a cocktail or two and some peace and quiet nearby while the littles are creating masterpieces.
Fall Festival of Gems and Minerals, October 9, 123 W Alvarado Street in Fallbrook
Kids, like crows, love shiny things and nothing shines brighter than the gems and minerals on display at the Fall Festival of Gems and Minerals. This all-day family-friendly event is free, for both parking and admission, and is an awesome way to kill a few hours on a beautiful California day! Buy some raffle tickets for your chance at winning something spectacular or simply explore the tented booths, perusing wares that include everything from geodes to crystals to handmade jewelry pieces that make perfect gifts for those who were unable to join you on this wonderful adventure. The Fallbrook Gem & Mineral Society, the sponsors of this fun event, offers a free museum that is open on Fridays and Saturdays, so if you can’t make it to the event, consider stopping by the museum for a glance at all that is beautiful about gems and minerals!
Coastal 101 Birding, October 29, 2202 S Coast Highway
Oceanside’s natural beauty is the main attraction for visitors from all over the world, and although you will want to spend as much time in the ocean as you can, there is so much more to see and explore! Coastal 101 Birding is another free event that takes guests to all the spots where the birds like to “play” so bring your camera, your binoculars, and your interest in birds to this special event that lasts from 9:00 AM until Noon. It may not be the best event for families with really young children, but it offers the perfect way to introduce older children to the charms of bird watching.
Donut Fest Vista, October 3 through 31, 1305 Hot Springs Way in Vista
For those who love donuts and those who love beer, this special festival offers both items ensuring that parents and kiddos will be equally excited about attending! Online ticket sales have ended but be sure to take at least one evening during your stay to stop by and learn which beer goes best with which donuts, or for the children in your group, learn how many donuts it takes to send them into the stratosphere of sugar comas!
Dias de los Muertos Festival, October 23, Oceanside Civic Center Plaza
Dias de los Muertos, otherwise known as the Day of the Dead may sound a bit morbid to those not in the know but is actually a fun and moving alternative to Halloween celebrations and this Oceanside festival has been a local tradition for 21 years. Believed to be the time of year when the line between the spirit world and the living is the thinnest, this festival celebrates those we love and who are no longer with us. Featuring live entertainment, great food, and the opportunity to participate in the La Catrina contest (considered the face of death along with her counterpart El Catrin) we in Oceanside are so happy that the festival has made its way home to our town after a brief absence!
Brick-or-Treat Presents Monster Party, October 30, LEGOLAND in Carlsbad