Keeping moving like no one is watching -- San Diego continues to keep the nightlife more alive than ever. An overall well-rounded list of options sure makes the selection of events quite the challenge! As San Diego’s venues continue to bring you top international talent and future superstars, the variety of locations keeps San Diego on the top of the map, especially with this month's festivals!
Groundwater weekend lands this Saturday, Dec. 2, and the CRSSD crew chooses a unique location for a daytime party with Weiss & Fritz Carlton at Basic Bar. Grab some pizza and enjoy some proper house music as your pre-party before heading over to Petco Park for the main attraction. Groundwater’s day to nighttime party features Dirty Bird label imprint boss Claude VonStroke alongside Maya Jane Coles, Claptone, Felix Da Housecat and a beautiful setting, if you’ve yet to dance in the park.
On Thursday, Dec. 7, Tech House & Techno come together for Technique at Rich’s San Diego, closing out the year of this monthly gathering. San Diego’s longtime music-supporting venue Kava Lounge celebrates its 13th year anniversary and enlist house music legend Marques Wyatt on Friday, Dec. 8. If you’ve yet to catch one of his live sets, you’ll be entranced as you dance the night away.
A week later, daytime rooftop dancing is a must at Firehouse for Solset with special guest Harvard Bass. Always creating amazing experiences at their events, I join the line up for Partying for a Purpose’s 20th-anniversary celebration at Hard Rock Hotel’s 207 featuring a surprise, global headliner artist on the same night. Meanwhile, over at Bang Bang, Sacha Robotti takes over the decks for his ‘Slothacid Tour.'
Christmas comes early on Dec. 23 thanks to the Desert Hearts crew taking over Spin for a celebration and toy drive featuring Mikey Lion, Lee Reynolds and the DH crew residents. On Friday, Dec. 29, Observatory North Park kicks off New Year’s Eve weekend, bringing you one of the top acts of the year, ZHU, which is a live performance you must catch. Saturday, Dec. 30, Deorro bounces in on Omnia San Diego while Dillon Francis drops in on Spin with Hotfire before heading over to the mega-party at the Valley View Casino Center: OMFG NYE 2018.
The mega-party of the weekend takes over for two nights of rage and fist-pumping with a double-header lineup on both days featuring Zedd, Tiesto, San Holo, Dillon Francis, NGHTMRE (New Year's Eve countdown set), Mr. Caravack, Ghastly and more. If you’d rather keep it on the 21+ side, the Deep End, Soul on Beat & Music Is 4 Lovers come together at the beautiful Coasterra Restaurant deck for a fabulous lineup featuring Blond:ish and Fur Coat and one of the best New Year's Eve views.
No matter where you’re at, let's be thankful we can continue to enjoy such wonderful music, venues and this amazing city we call home. Much love San Diego ... see you on the dance floor!
DJ IDeaL's Top December EDM Events
- Dec. 2: Groundwater featuring Claude VonStroke and Maya Jane Coles at Petco Park (3-10 p.m.)
- Dec. 2: Weiss and Fritz Carlton at Basic Bar (12-3 p.m.)
- Dec. 7: Techniche: Tech House and Techno at Rich’s
- Dec. 8: Purps & Turqs Kava Lounge 13-Year Anniversary with Marques Wyatt
- Dec. 15: Partying for Purpose 20th-Anniversary featuring DJ IDeaL and a surprise guest at Hard Rock 207
- Dec. 15: Solset with Harvard Bass at Firehouse
- Dec. 15: Sacha Robotti at Bang Bang
- Dec. 23: Xmas Hearts at Spin with Mikey Lion and Lee Reynolds
- Dec. 29: Zhu at Observatory North Park
- Dec. 30: Dillon Francis and Hotfire at Spin
- Dec. 30: Deorro at Omnia
- Dec. 31: Le Chic N Freak NYE with Blond:ish and Fur Coat at Coasterra
- Dec. 31-Jan. 1: OMFG NYE at Valley View Casino Center featuring Zedd, Tiesto, San Holo, Dillon Francis, NGHTMRE (New Year's Eve countdown set), Mr. Caravack, Ghastly and more
Tomas Serrano, aka DJ IDeaL, is the electronic dance music correspondent for SoundDiego, covering the best of San Diego's electronic music events and culture. Follow his whereabouts on Facebook, Twitter or contact him directly.
