by Jacqueline Ghosh
May 6, 2024
One of the biggest arts and culture events of the year is coming up! Between May 10th and May 12th, Wonderfront Festival is hosting a 3-day lineup of music, sports, leisure, food and drink events in Downtown San Diego.
The main event is 3-day music festival at the Embarcadero Marina North Park. Since its debut in 2019, Wonderfront San Diego has drawn major artists including Gwen Stefani, Cage the Elephant, Thundercat, and Zac Brown Band. This year features a great variety of performances. From Weezer to T-Pain, Kaytranada to Carly Rae Jepsen, Milky Chance to JID, the Roots to Natasha Beddingfield, there is truly something for everyone.
With 50,000 people in attendance over the 3-day weekend, Wonderfront is the largest annual music event in San Diego. I asked Wonderfront CEO Paul Thorton what inspired him to undertake the momentous task of convincing the Port, City, and Coastal authorities to shut down a public park and host the event: “I just thought San Diego was in need of a good festival,” he says.
Wonderfront is not a corporate spectacle. Rather, Thorton and his team crafted the lineup with great care and passion, including off-the-beaten-path artists and up-and-comers. “We want a festival that holds true to what festivals were created to do,” he says, “that is, introduce fans to new artists [and their] live shows.”
As for the venue, Thorton wanted a place that “captures the flair and diversity of San Diego, and the casual lifestyle of a seaside community.” Beyond the seven stages, the venue offers much to explore including multiple craft breweries and bars, an Irish sports pub, unique vendors, and art installations. With the grounds right along the harbor, festival goers can hop on one of the yachts or pontoons, equipped with full bars and live music from local bands (included in the festival ticket).
Tickets to the festival are available for purchase on the Wonderfront Festival website.
If you can’t make it to the music festival, there is something for you too. At Ruocco Park enjoy Big Ball Volleyball, Pickleball, Ping Pong, and more. You can take a yoga class, play Fusball with FC Soccer pros, or just chill on the grass and indulge in the full bar and food trucks. At the entrance of the festival, Seaport Village will have 2 free live music stages for anyone who wants to come by and soak up the vibes.
