The 5 best things to do in San Diego this fall

There's no better way to kick off the holiday season than by overindulging at the San Diego Bay Wine + Food Festival. The annual festival (Nov. 11-14) is sure to whet your palate as you discover new wines during the course of various tasting and pairing events, dinners, and expeditions. The Grand Tasting event (Nov. 13 at Embarcadero Marina Park North) pulls the largest crowds, but The Grand Decant event (Nov. 12 at Julep Venue) draws in some of the more serious oenophiles. Looking for an event that’ll soak up all that wine? The Taco TKO (Nov. 14 in Liberty Station) will do the trick, a showdown tasting event for San Diego's best taco. Oh, and don’t procrastinate—plan early, because many of these events sell out quickly.

San Diego's best new music venue not only has a prime waterfront location, but also has a cool design with premium sound quality, open-air seating, and upscale culinary offerings. The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, San Diego Symphony's new home, sits within Embarcadero Marina Park South—you can’t miss it, because it’s shaped like an actual shell. While the symphony previously used the park for their summer concert series, they've extended their season throughout the fall and winter months. This year's lineup even includes holiday-themed concerts such as Disney’s The Muppet Christmas Carol and Frozen, both performed with a live symphony orchestra.

Horse racing season at Del Mar Racetrack doesn't end with summer. Their fall series, known as Bing Crosby Season, runs Nov. 3-28 with races taking place from Fridays to Sundays (plus Thanksgiving). Look for special events at the track like Beer & Fizz Fest (Nov. 20) where guests can enjoy local brews and food truck eats while trackside at the races. This year, Del Mar Racetrack is hosting the 2021 Breeders' Cup Horse Racing World Championships (Nov. 5-6) where the world's best thoroughbreds compete in 14 action-packed races. Don't forget to place your bets!

According to the San Diego Brewers Guild, you deserve a beercation. That's why the guild is hosting the annual San Diego Beer Week celebration (Nov. 5-14) at more than 150 craft breweries throughout the county. What's up for grabs? Think beer festivals, food pairings, beer releases, beer promotions, and plenty of games. It all starts with a Virtual Kick-Off Toast on Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. We'll drink to that!

Get a head start on your holiday shopping during the annual San Diego Made Holiday Market (Nov. 13) at Julep Venue. Here, more than 85 makers will sell their handmade creations. Shoppers can enjoy craft cocktails, food trucks, live music, photo ops, and a free raffle contest. As far as events go, it's one of the city's most family-friendly things to do in San Diego—it's held from 10am-5pm and costs $5 for admission.