In today’s Carlsbad Scoop:
A spring-loaded weekend from Carlsbad to Escondido and Encinitas, including Earth Day clean-ups with perks, live music on patios and at bars, dance parties at Belly Up, a trout fishing derby with a free kiddie pond, and wine-and-dinner evenings.
San Marcos gets its fourth The Melt location this week with a grand opening, free MeltBurgers for the first 100 guests, and a chance to win “Melt for a Year.”
Two big local stories to know: the 40th Carlsbad 5000 just packed the Village with 8,000+ runners and Olympic legends, and San Marcos’ North City is transforming into a walkable downtown.
Let’s get to it.
🗓️ Upcoming Events in (and around) Carlsbad
Thursday 4/16:
🍔 The Melt Grand Opening | The Melt, 151 S Las Posas Rd (next to Sprouts), San Marcos | Thu, Apr 16, 10am–1pm (ribbon cutting at 9:30am)
San Marcos gets its fourth San Diego The Melt location with a ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Chamber at 9:30am, followed by grand opening festivities. First 100 guests at 10am get a free Original MeltBurger. Spin to win prizes all afternoon, including a chance to win “Melt for a Year.” details
Friday 4/17:
🎉 Atomic Groove “Peace. Love. Groove” Dance Party Happy Hour | Belly Up Tavern, 143 S Cedros Ave, Solana Beach | Fri, Apr 17, 5–8pm
High-energy happy hour dance party with Atomic Groove’s full band, vocalist Mark Jones, and the AG Fly Girlz dance class performing on stage. Bring an open heart and peace signs as you dance to feel-good jams from yesterday and today. Tickets: $12 advanced / $14 at the door. details🎧 DJ Lost – 90s Hip Hop Night | Mas Fina Cantina 2780 State St, Carlsbad | Fri, Apr 17, 8–11pm
90s hip hop party in Carlsbad Village with DJ Lowt spinning the gold-classic tracks all night. Easy weeknight spot to dance, grab a drink, and relive the golden era of hip hop. details
Saturday 4/18:
🎸 Will Fedak Live @ Lola’s Deli | Lola’s Deli, 3292 Roosevelt St, Carlsbad | Sat, Apr 18, 12–2:30pm
Singer-songwriter Will Fedak performs on the back patio with an acoustic set of originals plus rock and pop covers from the 70s, 80s, and 90s. Grab your favorite burrito and check out the free performance in the back! details🌍 Earth Day Community Clean-Up | Pure Project Carlsbad Village, 2825 State St, Carlsbad | Sat, Apr 18, 9:30–11:30am
Early Earth Day clean-up in the Village with gloves, buckets, and pickers provided. Collect 2+ lbs of trash for perks: $1 off pints at Pure Project, a free cone card from Handel’s, and coffee deals from Baba Coffee. Bring a friend and help keep the Village clean and welcoming. details🎉 Grand Opening at Local Beach | Local Beach, 2270 Cosmos Ct Suite 120, Carlsbad | Sat, Apr 18, 10am–2pm
Celebrate Local Beach’s new space with a full afternoon: Coffee Dose Caffé bus (10–12am), Seaborn Cocktails serving the latest Paloma canned cocktails all day, and complimentary custom embroidery from Nerd House with any purchase (think beach towels, robes, and more). Swag bags available with purchase while supplies last. Bring your crew, sip something good, and pick up something new in this coastal-skewing store. details💪 Fit Body: Strength + Restore | Carlsbad Fit Body Boot Camp, 5814 Van Allen Way Ste 185, Carlsbad | Sat, Apr 18, 10am-12pm
Curated wellness experience with a 30-minute coach-led strength session, followed by a 30-minute recovery-focused yoga flow and community time with local wellness partners. More than a workout; it’s a chance to challenge your body, reset your mind, and connect with neighbors. details🎣 Kiwanis Trout Fishing Derby w/ Free Kiddie Pond | Dixon Lake, 1700 La Honda Dr, Escondido | Sat, Apr 18–Sun, Apr 19, 6am-4pm
Family-friendly trout derby with 4,500 lbs of rainbow trout stocked, 15 tagged fish for guaranteed $25 prizes, and a free kiddie pond for kids 8 and under (9–11am & 1–3pm). Park entry $5/vehicle; fishing permits $20 adult / $14 junior / $14 senior. All proceeds support Escondido children. details
Sunday 4/19:
🍷 Winemaker Takeover + Dinner Party at Haven Farm + Table | Fox Point Farms, 1200 Fox Point Farms Ln, Encinitas | Sun, Apr 19, 5-10pm
Relaxed evening with Vinos Finos de California featuring a curated wine lineup, farm-to-table dinner, and live vinyl DJ set (6-8pm) by winemaker Ted Glennon. Stop for a glass, a flight, or a full dinner in a vineyard-adjacent setting. details🧘♀️ ACTV Studio IRL: Vuori x CorePower | Vuori Encinitas, 270 S Coast Hwy 101, Encinitas | Sun, Apr 19, 8-10am
In-store yoga sculpt class led by Juli B. from CorePower Encinitas, followed by shopping and refreshments. High-energy, mat-required session for all levels that kicks off your Sunday right. details🎶 Echo Bird Live @ Kraken | The Kraken, 2531 S Coast Hwy 101, Cardiff (Encinitas) | Sun, Apr 19, 3-4pm
Free 21+ live performance by Echo Bird at The Kraken on Coast Highway, a quick one-hour set in a relaxed bar setting with free parking nearby. Doors open at 2:30pm. 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 4/16
65 🌡️ 56 | ☀️
Friday 4/17
69 🌡️ 55 | ☀️
Saturday 4/18
70 🌡️ 56 | ☀️
Sunday 4/19
70 🌡️ 56 | ☀️
🏃♀️ Carlsbad 5000 Celebrated 40 Years of Fast
If you were in downtown Carlsbad this weekend and saw 8,000+ runners filling the streets under a “40 Years of Fast” banner, you just witnessed a milestone edition of one of the world’s fastest 5Ks. The race drew Olympic legends Meb Keflezighi and Deena Kastor, record-setting pro finishes, and age-group runners who set new world and American age-group records right on the coastal course.
The men’s pro race was won by Drew Hunter in 13:47, while Simone Plourde of Canada took the women’s title in 15:30 in a thrilling dash to the finish line, just four seconds separated the top four runners. Light showers turned into sunshine just before the women’s race, with the DJ playing “Here Comes the Sun” as the pros ran. Keflezighi called the rain “champagne from the sky,” and both legends praised the mix of elites and everyday runners that makes the event feel like a family reunion. 45 states and 15 countries were represented, with runners from 3 generation families enjoying the course just as elites did. For complete results and photos, visit Carlsbad5000.com.
🏙️ San Marcos’ New Downtown Is Taking Shape
If you’ve driven past North City in San Marcos lately and noticed a lot of new buildings where open space used to be, you’re not imagining it. Decades of development are turning North City into the city’s new, evolving downtown, replacing the old “Restaurant Row” idea with a walkable hub of apartments, retail, offices, and mixed-income housing.
The outdoor-style village is designed for walking, with restaurants, parks, and a mix of market-rate and affordable homes all in one area. At the center is 222 North City, a nearly finished 12-story apartment complex that breaks ground in 2022 and opens next month. Construction is still ongoing, with 40 acres under development on the west side and a future grocery store and refreshed Hampton Inn on the way. The area spans nearly 200 acres and will eventually have about 3,400 homes, 250 hotel rooms, and over a million square feet of office and retail space. What do you think?
Until next time,
Carlsbad Scoop