Sarah Weinberg (619) 557-2838 [email protected] Robert Arends (619) 557 -2834 [email protected] Edna Gutierrez (619) 557-2887 [email protected] Joe Timko (619) 557-2812 [email protected] Twitter @VisitSD_PR www.sandiego.org April 2017 For Immediate Release What’s New in San Diego, Summer 2017 Major Attractions In March 2017, San Diego Comic-Con International announced plans to open a museum of popular culture in Balboa Park under an agreement with the San Diego Hall of Champions sports museum and its Breitbard Hall of Fame, currently located in the urban park. The Breitbard Hall of Fame, which commemorates decades of San Diego sports heroes, will move to major league baseball’s Petco Park in the historic Western Metal Building and many of the historical items in the Hall of Champions will be housed at the San Diego History Center in Balboa Park. The sports museum occupied the former Federal Building that was built for the California-Pacific International Exposition of 1935. Although the Comic-Con Center for Popular Culture does not plan to house permanent collections, it will host a program of rotating exhibitions on comics and movies culled from collectors, museums, galleries and other sources. Organizers aim to provide a year-round interactive celebration of the innumerable aspects of popular art. (4/17) The San Diego Zoo broke ground in August 2016 on a new eight-acre exhibit called Africa Rocks, which is scheduled to open in early summer 2017. The largest in the 100-year-old zoo’s history, the expansion is a $68 million project that will transform 1930s-era grottos and enclosures (formerly known as Cat and Dog Canyon) with new habitats for African plant and animal species that range from savanna to shore. Africa Rocks will transform what was previously a steep canyon into a gently winding, ADA-accessible pathway through a West African forest, acacia woodlands, Ethiopian highlands, kopje gardens and a Madagascar habitat. A new website features an interactive timeline showcasing the zoo’s history, growth, innovation, expansion, and goal to end species extinction. (1/17) In May 2017, SeaWorld San Diego plans to open a new, multi-million dollar attraction that will take park visitors on an exciting ocean expedition highlighting scientific exploration. Ocean Explorer will contain multiple aquariums and rides that use state-of-the-art digital technologies to inspire park visitors to protect the wonders of our oceans. Guests will travel aboard submarines on a 1 mission to collect data and learn how they can help animals. This three-minute experience will include an onboard digital navigation dashboard, as well as a few other surprises along the journey, enhancing the riders’ understanding of the ocean ecosystem. The heart of Ocean Explorer will be a series of undersea research bases housing specially-designed aquariums, known as research pods, and interactive activities displaying unique and elusive ocean animals. Guests can also experience an exhilarating wave swing ride that flies through thousands of real bubbles in chairs suspended from the tentacles of a giant sea jelly. Three additional family-friendly rides will round out this immersive, new attraction. Construction on Ocean Explorer began in summer 2016 on a three-acre site on the southeast side of the park. The final phase of Ocean Explorer is the 2018 debut of the Electric Eel Coaster. This adrenaline-pumping coaster will offer riders the only upside-down view of Mission Bay. (1/17) This summer, Balboa Park museums will come alive after 5:00 p.m. The Balboa Park After Dark program adds to the evening bustle of organ pavilion concerts, dance and theater performances and restaurant activity, with numerous institutions in the park offering extended hours on select evenings from May 26–Sept. 1, 2017. The following organizations will stay open until 8 p.m. on Fridays: Fleet Science Center, Japanese Friendship Garden, Mingei International Museum, Museum of Photographic Arts, San Diego Art Institute, San Diego Museum of Man, San Diego Natural History Museum, Spanish Village Art Center, and The San Diego Museum of Art. Special programming and entertainment during these evening hours will be announced, and Food Truck Fridays in the park returns on June 2 and will run through September 2017. (4/17) From April 7–Dec. 31, 2017, Birch Aquarium at Scripps in La Jolla showcases the Infinity Cube, a new, immersive installation that explores bioluminescence. The exhibit combines glowing creatures with world-class science, high-tech projection and an original soundscape. For three months, London-based artist Iyvone Khoo worked alongside Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego scientist Michael Latz in an effort to better understand the role of bioluminescence— light produced by living organisms—in the marine environment. They filmed more than six hours of footage of single-celled marine organisms called dinoflagellates reacting to various stimulants, such as the human heartbeat, music, water flow, and air pressure. Those videos have become the basis of the Infinity Cube, an 8-foot cube that surrounds guests in projected and reflected larger-than-life images of bioluminescence accompanied by a soundscape. (4/17) Major Events The San Diego County Fair, the largest annual event in the county, takes place June 2–July 4, 2017, at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. This year’s theme, “Where the West is Fun,” celebrates the legendary rough-and-tumble Wild Wild West and will be fused with influences from cowboys to gold miners. The fair features top performing artists and popular attractions like the International Beer Festival, deep-fried food novelties, livestock exhibits, home and hobby displays, woodworking and an award-winning flower show. The fair is closed Mondays (except July 3), and the first three Tuesdays. (4/17) San Diego celebrates Independence Day with a variety of Fourth of July celebrations throughout the county. Coronado's popular Independence Day Celebration features a two-hour parade followed by a family concert in Spreckels Park and spectacular fireworks over Glorietta Bay. The Port of San Diego celebrates with its Big Bay Boom fireworks extravaganza over San Diego Bay, the largest fireworks display in the county. LEGOLAND California Resort in Carlsbad celebrates 2 July 4th with Red, White and BOOM! Special family activities are available throughout the day with the fireworks starting at 8:30 p.m. (4/17) During the weekends of July 8 and 16, Fiesta Island on Mission Bay plays host to the annual World Championship Over-the-Line Tournament. A San Diego original, this boisterous, rowdy, fast- paced beach softball tradition is played by adults ages 21 to 80-plus. (4/17) On July 9, 2017, San Diego hosts an opening round double-header of the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) Gold Cup. This soccer championship is played at Qualcomm Stadium featuring the Mexican national team as the seeded nation of Group C. (4/17) Del Mar Thoroughbred Club is again planning two racing seasons in 2017: the traditional summer season kicks off with the traditional hat contest on opening day of the season, July 19 and runs through Sept. 4. The summer meet will offer racing Wed.-Sun. with an additional race day on Labor Day. (4/17) Residents and visitors alike celebrate with pride during the annual San Diego LGBT Pride Parade and Festival, July 14-16, 2017. The second largest event of its kind on the West Coast, San Diego’s Pride Festival includes a mile-long parade through Hillcrest and two-day music festival in Balboa Park. The celebration begins the evening of July 14 with a Spirit of Stonewall Rally. (4/17) On July 29, 2017, dozens of dogs take to the waves during the annual Surf Dog Competition in Imperial Beach. Visitors can take in the fun as more than 70 dogs compete in small dog, medium dog, large dog, extra-large dog and tandem surfing challenges. (4/17) During July 19-23, 2017, San Diego becomes the center of the pop culture universe during Comic- Con International, America’s longest continuously-run comics and popular arts convention. (4/17) On Aug. 10-13, 2017, the largest and longest-running tiki gathering in the world, Tiki Oasis, returns to Mission Valley. Each year, about 3,500 attendees enjoy a tiki-tastic art and fashion marketplace, live tropical-jazz music, go-go dancers, a classic car show, pool parties and more. This year’s theme is “International Espionage.” (4/17) During Sept. 1-4, 2017, more than 300 tons of sand will be carved and molded into beautiful sculptures for the annual U.S. Sand Sculpting Challenge and 3D Art Exposition. Held at the B Street Cruise Ship Terminal alongside San Diego Bay, the event features live entertainment, food trucks and unique experiences for kids. (4/17) The 22nd Annual San Diego Festival of Beer takes place Sept. 22, 2017, on San Diego’s downtown bayfront at The Port Pavilion on Broadway Pier. More than 60 breweries provide up to 120 samples and tastings of brews alongside live musical performances, vendors and food. (4/17) New Venues In spring 2017, Mission Bay Sports Center (MBSC) announced new outdoor recreation activities on the bay, including Malarkey, a new, luxury, 47-foot Catamaran style yacht equipped with a BBQ, comfortable outdoor seating area in the stern, and secured bean bag chair seating on the bow deck. 3 The boat includes four bathrooms, four beds, a kitchenette and a comfortable indoor table and seating area. Malarkey is available for luxury group outings and can comfortably fit 25 people. Malarkey has the capability to tow additional equipment, such as kayaks or jet skis, to be enjoyed in the ocean.