Celebrate the Summer Solstice in San Diego

The Summer Solstice arrived at 4:28 a.m. on June 21 and most of California said goodbye to the June Gloom.

To kick off the season, there are lots of celebrations taking place in and around San Diego . So get your sunscreen out and have some fun.

By the way, in case you have no clue as to what Summer Solstice is, it’s the time when the sun reaches its northernmost point in the sky. The summer solstice not only marks the beginning of summer for the Northern Hemisphere, it also means that the daylight hours are maximized. San Diego residents have about 14 hours of daylight, in comparison to the 10 hours or slightly more they experience in December.

Fair Fun

The San Diego County Fair is in full swing and celebrates all things you love about the San Diego County Fair — rides, animals, food and exhibits. This year’s theme is Taste the Fun, which will be incorporated into all aspects of the Fair through décor, programming, sounds and more. Contests, such as Fair favorites Battle of the Bands, and Super Star Competitions return bigger and better than ever, and themed stages and areas will call to life important moments in music history such as Woodstock, the British Invasion, and Motown.

The San Diego County Fair on the Del Mar Fairgrounds is the largest annual event in San Diego County and the fifth largest fair in the United States, drawing more than 1.2 million visitors each year.

Be sure to mark your calendars for the 2010 San Diego County Fair — now through Monday, July 5 or visit for more information www.sdfair.com/fair.

Big Concert Sounds

On Tuesday at June 22 at 7:30p.m. at Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay, San Diego will be blending elements of R&B, hip-hop, jazz and soul as Erika Badu takes center stage. The songbord has engaged audiences with her music since bursting onto the American music scene with her 1997 debut album “Baduizm.” She is sometimes described as the “Queen of Neo” or alternatively “The First Lady of Neo Soul” for her role in the rise of the Neo-Soul genre of music during the late 90s. The show should be electrifying. Visit Humphrey’s at www.humphreysconcerts.com.

Get your Qigong On

On Wednesday, June 23 at 7:00 p.m. stop by Carlsbad Qigong Studio in Carlsbad for a free Intro to Qigong & Special Meditation. You can “unite the energy of summer for personal growth and heart” at the Chi Summer Solstice all at the same time! Call 760-729-110 for more details.

Cruise the Seas

Head out on Saturday, June 26 at 11:00 a.m. for a two-hour cruise including free-flowing champagne and sparkling cider, a brunch buffet featuring seasonally inspired fare and desserts, and a narrated tour of scenic San Diego Bay thanks to Hornblower Cruises. Call or visit to reserve your space at http://www.hornblower.com.

*Photo from koadmunkee via Flickr