In today’s Carlsbad Scoop:
Winter weekend plans across North County, with live music, surf meetups, goat yoga, dance fitness, festivals, adoption events, and easy gatherings from Carlsbad to Encinitas and Vista.
Local culture highlights, including Carlsbad’s Lilo earning national recognition and why that matters for our North County food scene.
Family-friendly and feel-good outings like Poway’s Winter Festival, library concerts, hands-on art and music, and simple ways to get out of the house without going far.
Community updates to know this week, including coastal rail closures and other local changes that could affect plans.
Let’s get to it.
🗓️ Upcoming Events in (and around) Carlsbad
Thursday 1/8:
🎤 The Morgan Wallen Experience, Cody Carter + Ramblin Fever | Belly Up, 143 S Cedros Ave, Solana Beach | Thu, Jan 8, 8pm
A country tribute night at Belly Up with The Morgan Wallen Experience plus supporting acts. Tickets are $15 advance or $18 day-of, almost sold-out. details🎲 Solana Beach Games Day | La Colonia Community Center, 715 Valley Ave, Solana Beach | Thu, Jan 8, 12–2pm
Drop in for the city’s monthly Games Day with options like Mexican Train, American Mahjongg, chess, and more, plus a few new games introduced on-site. Light refreshments will be served. details
Friday 1/9:
🎄 Winter Festival | Poway Community Park, 13094 Civic Center Dr, Poway | Fri, Jan 9, 5–9pm
A winter wonderland night with a snow hill for sledding, snow play, campfires with marshmallows, a synthetic skate rink, crafts, bounce houses, a magical light walk, and character encounters. Most activities are free, with food vendors and a few add-ons costing extra. details🎤 Barrel Riot Ribbon Cutting & Grand Opening | 16765 Bernardo Center Dr, Suite O1, San Diego | Fri, Jan 9, 2–3pm
Celebrate the grand opening of Barrel Riot with an official ribbon cutting hosted by the Poway Chamber of Commerce. Swing by for the one-hour ceremony, then stick around to sample food and drinks afterward. Free to attend. details🎶 Live Music at C Bar | C Bar, 2917 State St, Carlsbad | Fri, Jan 9, 6–9pm
An easy, dress-up-or-don’t kind of evening with live music, sommelier-chosen wines, and shareable plates in a cozy seaside setting. Walk-ins are welcome, and reservations are recommended if you want to lock in a table. details🎶 Oceans + The Imposters | Belly Up, 143 S Cedros Ave, Solana Beach | Fri, Jan 9, 5:30pm
Happy hour show at Belly Up with general admission tickets listed at $8 and loft group tickets available for larger parties. details🌿 Carlsbad Garden Club | Carlsbad City Library (Central), 1775 Dove Ln, Carlsbad | Fri, Jan 9, 1–3pm
A “member’s share” meeting where gardeners swap best practices, favorite tools, biggest goofs, and seasonal tips. Guests are welcome, so it’s an easy way to pick up ideas whether you’re a houseplant person or a backyard grower. details📚 RSF Library Book Club | Rancho Santa Fe Library, 17040 Avenida De Acacias, Rancho Santa Fe | Fri, Jan 9, 1:30–2:30pm
A monthly book club led by Kelly at the Rancho Santa Fe Library. If you’ve been meaning to join a reading group that feels easy and welcoming, this is a simple one to try without a big commitment. details
Saturday 1/10:
🦙 Goat Yoga “Light” at The Blissful Goat | The Blissful Goat, San Marcos (exact location sent after ticket purchase) | Sat, Jan 10, 11am
A gentle outdoor yoga class with playful baby goats, built more for fresh air, laughs, and photo ops than perfect poses. All levels welcome and designed for ages 18+, with a waiver required. Bring a hoodie that covers your head and neck, and check in by text if rain is in the forecast. Tickets are $45. details🏄♂️ Surf Session With ENOUGH at Cardiff Reef | Cardiff State Beach (Cardiff Reef), 2500 S Coast Hwy 101, Encinitas | Sat, Jan 10, 9–11am
A New Year surf meetup centered on community, connection, and support. Expect free coffee and light bites, plus a welcoming group session at Cardiff Reef. Free to attend. details🛹 Skate Rising: Free Skateboarding Lessons | LVLUP USA Academy & Training Facility, 1410 Vantage Ct, Vista | Sat, Jan 10, 10am–12pm
A free skate clinic for girls ages 4–16 led by pro and Olympic coaches, focused on building skills and confidence. Limited boards and safety gear are available to borrow. Registration is required, and organizers are also collecting canned and packaged food donations. details🐾 Ask the Trainer at Muttropolis! | Muttropolis, 227 S Cedros Ave, Solana Beach | Sat, Jan 10, 10–11am
Bring your pup for a relaxed Q-and-A with nationally certified positive trainer MaryBeth Knowles. Great for puppy questions, leash pulling, or general training tips, plus a chance to meet other local dog lovers. Free to attend. details💃 Bollywave Zumba/Dance Fitness at Surf Salutations | Surf Salutations, 4225 Oceanside Blvd, Suite M, Oceanside | Sat, Jan 11, 11–11:45am
A quick, high-energy dance fitness session that feels more like a party than a workout. All levels are welcome, whether you’re a regular or just want to move and smile for 45 minutes. A pass and registration are required ($25 for a drop-in). details🎬 VIP Screening: Aloha at Breakers + WCBR Gathering of the Tribes & Awards | Breakers, 481 Santa Fe Dr, Encinitas | Sat, Jan 10, 4–8pm
A community night celebrating local surf and storytelling, featuring a VIP screening, West Coast Board Riders Awards, remarks from hosts, and live music. Includes a free drink ticket, with Hawaiian food and beverages for purchase and a portion supporting the Encinitas Boardriders Club. RSVP encouraged, space limited. details🎵 Dean Lewis | Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd, Del Mar | Sat, Jan 10, 8pm
Catch Dean Lewis live at the Del Mar Fairgrounds for a big Saturday night show. A solid pick if you want a concert vibe without heading all the way downtown. details
Sunday 1/11:
🐶 Adoption Event w/ Amazing Strays! | Muttropolis, 227 S Cedros Ave, Solana Beach | Sun, Jan 11, 11am–2pm
Pop in to meet adoptable pups looking for their forever homes. Whether you’re ready to adopt or just want a sweet, feel-good outing with friends and family, this is a simple way to support rescue animals and spend time with some very lovable faces. details🛍️ Oddities & Curiosities Expo | Del Mar Fairgrounds (O’Brien Hall), 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd, Del Mar | Sun, Jan 11, 10am–5pm
Day two of the Del Mar oddities expo, with another full lineup of vendors and collectibles ranging from preserved specimens to spooky art and handcrafted curiosities. A fun stop if you love unusual gifts or just want to browse something totally different. details🎻 North Coast Strings Concert Weekend | Museum of Making Music, 5790 Armada Dr, Carlsbad | Sun, Jan 11, 3pm
A free strings concert at the Museum of Making Music, with RSVP listed for entry. Great for a calm, daytime outing that still feels special, especially if you love live music in a smaller, community-friendly setting. details
🍊🥑Farmers Markets:🍓🧺
Wednesday: Carlsbad: 2:30pm-7pm | State Street | details
Thursday: Oceanside: 9am-1pm | Pier View Way | details
Friday: San Marcos: 4pm-8pm | N City Drive | details
Saturday:
Sunday:
🌤️🌊 Carlsbad Weather and Wave Forecast
Weather ☀️
Thursday 1/8
60 🌡️ 46 | ☀️
Friday 1/9
63 🌡️ 46 | ☀️
Saturday 1/10
67 🌡️ 48 | ☀️
Sunday 1/11
68 🌡️ 51 | ☀️
🍽️ Carlsbad Restaurant Lilo Named One of the Most Beautiful New Restaurants in the Country
A little Carlsbad pride to start the weekend. Lilo, the intimate 24-seat restaurant that opened here last spring, was just named No. 4 on Robb Report’s list of the Most Beautiful New Restaurants in America for 2025. The list highlights standout new openings across major cities, making Lilo’s recognition especially meaningful for our local dining scene.
The restaurant earned its spot for both design and experience, offering a multi-course tasting menu inspired by the California coast in a calm, immersive setting. Even more impressive, Lilo received a Michelin star just 10 weeks after opening, a rare and fast achievement.
Chef Eric Bost and owner John Resnick are already familiar names in Carlsbad, also behind Jeune et Jolie and Campfire, both longtime local favorites. It’s another reminder that world-class dining is happening right here in North County.
🚆 Coastal Rail Service Paused on Two January Weekends
If you rely on the Coaster, Amtrak, or freight rail along the coast, heads up. All coastal rail service between San Diego and Oceanside will be suspended for two weekends this month due to scheduled maintenance and infrastructure work. The closures happen this Saturday and Sunday, and again on January 24 and 25.
According to the North County Transit District, the downtime allows crews to safely tackle major projects, including work on the Del Mar Bluffs Stabilization Phase 5 and the Batiquitos Lagoon Double Track project here in Carlsbad, along with track maintenance near Leucadia Boulevard. No passenger or freight trains will run during these weekends, though construction vehicles and test trains will still be active along the tracks. More details and updates are posted at GoNCTD.com/Alerts.
🎟️ LA 2028 Olympics Ticket Registration Opens This Month
Even though the Games are still a few years out, the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics are officially inching closer. Ticket registration opens January 14, and this first step matters if you think you might want to attend anything once events roll around. Registration happens through la28.org and uses a lottery-style system, with purchase time slots assigned later. Southern California residents will get early access.
For North County folks, this is less about planning your whole Olympic schedule and more about getting your name in early. Tickets will be sold digitally through AXS, which is a far cry from the last time LA hosted in 1984, when people filled out paper forms, mailed checks, and waited months to hear back.
Until next time,
Carlsbad Scoop