Fleet Week Cabrillo Festival
Be a part of history and welcome 16th-century explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo as he steps ashore on Ballast Point. Journey back to September 28, 1542 when Cabrillo, a Portuguese navigator sailing under the flag of Spain, landed at San Diego. Stepping ashore on Ballast Point, he was the first European to land on the west coast of what is now the United States of America.
The Cabrillo Festival is a fun event for the entire family with educational activities, cultural demonstrations and exciting folkloric performances. Brightly colored clothing and dramatic music and dancing bring to life the traditions of the Native American, Mexican, Portuguese, and Spanish cultures that are part of the Age of Exploration. The Cabrillo Festival features food booths with traditional Mexican, Native American, Portuguese, and Spanish food. Vendors will showcase their various artistic goods.
The highlight of the Cabrillo Festival is the re-enactment of Cabrillo’s landing on the shores of San Diego Bay. Cabrillo, his soldiers, and a priest sail into the bay aboard the San Salvador (The Californian) and once again claim the land for Spain.