Adding some excitement to summertime downtown

Christine Davis
Executive Director
Carlsbad Village Association

Summertime in Carlsbad Village is always met with such great anticipation. As May Gray and June Gloom give way to bright sunny days, the beaches start to hum with activity and out-of-town visitors arrive to fall in love with the shopping and dining in our dynamic downtown. This year the Carlsbad Village Association is giving everyone two events to make this special season even better!

The Village is home to the State Street Farmers’ Market, one of the most popular certified organic farmers’ markets in all of San Diego County. In the heart of its downtown, on State Street, between Grand Avenue and Carlsbad Village Drive, 60 vendors set up shop from 2:30pm to 7:00pm and provide the freshest, local produce, grass-fed beef, line-caught fish, pastured eggs, handmade bread, and hand-crafted foods imaginable. But did you know that it is also where locals and visitors alike can stop for a great internationally inspired meal?

This summer for seven consecutive Wednesdays, the market will host a pop-up dining experience called Summer Nights at the Market in the fountain parking lot just across the street from the regular farmers’ market. The seven-week expansion will feature Kenyan, Filipino, Asian, Thai, and Indian food, and will also now offer up specialty dishes like fish burritos, grilled oysters, poke, paella, pasta, gourmet sandwiches, and more, as well as the most delicious vegan food around. This expanded food court will have seating and live music so that you can dine outdoors and enjoy the beautiful July and August weather. Summer Nights at the Market will start Wednesday, June 29th for seven weeks with its final night on August 10th.

CVA’s annual Flick’s at the Fountain event is back this year with movies for the entire family.

The temporary market expansion will also enable us to add some wonderful new vendors to the regular footprint who have wanted to participate in our market but could not due to space limitations. You can expect creative and tasty new artisan food items like savory meat pies, frozen banana shakes, fresh coconut creations, vegan cheeses, and more. Quite a few vegan and gluten free items are being added so that there is something for everyone.

At the same time the farmers’ market expansion is in full force, we are pleased to announce the return of Flicks at the Fountain. The Carlsbad Village Association has hosted this beloved event for nine years in the Village and has shown 56 movies to date! This free, family-friendly outdoor movie series is a favorite of Carlsbad locals and has become a family tradition for many.

This summer’s movie lineup is truly inspired with a wonderful mix of old and new, animated and adventure, with both a musical and an iconic title that will never lose its luster. Flicks at the Fountain opens on Thursday, July 7th with the colorful and uplifting animated film Encanto and ends five weeks later on Wednesday, August 4th with the award-winning musical drama The Greatest Showman. We will also be showing the 1980’s throwback Goonies, the inspiring Sing 2, and Top Gun, which needs no explanation.

For information on Summer Nights at the Market and Flicks at the Fountain, or any of the events that the Carlsbad Village Association hosts to showcase Carlsbad’s marvelous downtown, please visit us online at carlsbad-village.com. Subscribe to our weekly eNewsletter to keep up to date on all of CVA’s downtown events.