San Diego's youthful population and year-round pleasant climate are the perfect combination for exciting events and activities.

San Diego Marathon - The Marathon starts at 7:30 a.m. on a mid-January morning if you are running, but you can also start walking at 5:30 a.m., on San Diego's north coastline walking course.

San Diego Restaurant Week - Mid-January finds San Diego getting in on the nationwide trend of the thrifty yet delicious Restaurant Week. Dining deals are available at more than 100 restaurants throughout the city during this week, with special three-course price-fixed dinners. Reservations are definitely a must.

Annual U.S. Sandcastle Open Competition - Imperial Beach in San Diego is home to this offbeat competition every year. The weekend event kicks off with a "Sandcastle Ball" on Friday. Saturday brings the Sandcastle Parade (10 a.m.) and a street festival along Seacoast Drive, featuring more than 100 vendors, food and live entertainment. Saturday also features a "Kid's Kastles" competition with registration open to the public. Sunday features the big competition, and Imperial Beach reminds attendees to arrive during business hours because the tides and splashing sandy children are usually demolishing the day's creations by the end of the day.

More than 40 professional and amateur teams gather every June to see who can create the most spectacular sand creation. Castles are constructed out of dirt, sand, seaweed and shells. Food coloring and even flour have been used in the past by competitors to gain a competitive edge.

Christmas in July Festival - Handmade crafts, art, homemade food, local musicians and entertainers will be present at this annual local festival in Oceanside, at the Old Mission Montessori School, on the historic grounds of the Mission San Luis Rey Parish.

Screen on the Green - This popular film festival generally takes places on Thursdays during the month of August in Balboa Park. The theme rotates every year, and 2006's theme was Andy Warhol. This is a free community event and 2007's will be the 8th annual fest. The event is family friendly and attendees are encouraged to bring picnic-styled dinners - although glass containers are not permitted. Alcohol is not permitted after 8 p.m., and attendance in the past has been limited to the first 1,000 people. Blankets and chairs are permitted, and the warm August air makes for a nice night out in late summer.

Pride Fest - This event, which generally takes place in late July into early August, celebrates its 33rd anniversary in 2007. The event commemorates the groundbreaking Stonewall uprising in 1969 in Greenwich Village New York in the gay and lesbian community. The festival's morning activities usually include a 5K run which starts at a little before 8 a.m. The day's parade starts around 11 a.m. It is a crowded day and parking is often an issue, so the day's planners encourage visitors to get there early. The day features everything from costumed marchers to biking paraders. After the conclusion of the parade, the rest of the day features parties and receptions at clubs, bars and other locations throughout the city.

Fritz Blitz - The Fritz Blitz has been happening for more than 10 years. The event is a literal "blitz" of new plays, and features new and budding talent in San Diego's theater community. The producers of the Fritz sift through hundreds of submissions before the crew narrows down its focus to just eight plays. The event features more than 50 local actors, actresses, directors and designers and usually takes place in late August at the Lyceum.

San Diego Zoo's Founders Day - The month of October finds the San Diego Zoo celebrating its Founders Day as well as Children's Month. The zoo honors its founding, which took place October 6, 1916, and all guests are admitted free to the Zoo on October 4. Also, the month of October is "Kids Free Days" at the San Diego Zoo - children 11 years of age and younger are admitted for free.

Sources:
( http://www.sandiego.gov )

( http://www.lonelyplanet.com )