Full plate: September food and drink events

Food and drink events during the month of September in San Diego include Carlsbad Brewfest, Hops for Heroes Beer Fest, Taste of South Park and San Diego Restaurant Week.

9.1: Country Music Beer Fest

Kick off Labor Day weekend at this all-inclusive, all-American BBQ hosted by 15 of the city’s best pitmasters and offering unlimited whiskey and beer samples while local DJs and country bands provide a hip-swaying soundtrack.

Lane Field Park, downtown, countrymusicbeerfest.com

9.6: Taste of Del Mar

Indulge in culinary creations from more than 20 of Del Mar’s best restaurants while rocking out to live music and wetting your whistle at 10 in-store sip stops located in-between the featured eateries.

Del Mar Village, Del Mar, visitdelmarvillage.com

9.8: Carlsbad Brewfest

Join 1,000 fellow beer aficionados as you knock back samples from more than 30 craft breweries and cider houses during nearly five hours of music, entertainment and games.

Holiday Park, Carlsbad, carlsbadbrewfest.org

9.8: Coasterra Wine Festival

This one-of-a-kind, cocktail-style wine event invites guests to crush grapes, blend varietals and participate in a blind-tasting challenge all while feasting on tray-passed hors d’oeuvres and top-notch tacos.

Coasterra Modern Mexican, Harbor Island, cohnrestaurants.com/coasterra

9.8: Third annual Reader Burgers & Beer

Cast a vote for your preferred patty at this battle of the burgers that includes offerings from 20 of the city’s highest-rated restaurants alongside beer samples from more than three dozen of SD’s best breweries.

Golden Hill Park, Golden Hill, readerburgersandbeer.com

9.9: 10 Perfect Bites

This exciting new culinary event celebrates San Diego’s multifaceted food scene with a 10-course tasting menu ranging from light appetizers to decadent desserts, all curated by some of the city’s most creative chefs.

Hotel Republic, downtown, friendlyfeast.org

9.9: Hoppy Beer Hoppy Life 6-year Anniversary

Independent beer fans unite at this anniversary event showcasing a selection of spectacular craft brews accompanied by phenomenal food and live local music.

Lot 8, Hotel Circle, hoppybeerhoppylife.com

9.11: Hops for Heroes Beer Fest

Get your fill of food, craft brews and live music at this event featuring auctions and giveaways and benefiting veterans from San Diego’s military community.

Grand Ole BBQ y Asado, North Park, roadwarrior.org

9.13: 26th annual Taste of Downtown

Dig into samples from 40-plus restaurants throughout East Village, City Center and the Gaslamp Quarter on this self-guided restaurant tour showcasing downtown’s best bites.

Throughout downtown, downtownsandiego.org

9.13: Sea to Fire Dinner

Show your respect for local fishermen and their families during this phenomenal, four-course meal featuring freshly caught, sustainable seafood served alongside fruits and vegetables cultivated on local farms.

BIGA Cucinato a Legno, downtown, farmtoforksd.com

9.15: America’s Finest BBQ State Championship

This inaugural BBQ cook-off invites open-fire enthusiasts to ingest boatloads of brisket, pork, ribs and chicken, before washing it all down with craft beer while also witnessing exhilarating boat races and listening to live, local bands.

Crown Point Park, Mission Bay, americasfinestbbq.com

9.15: Wizards Assemble Pub Crawl

The world’s wackiest and wildest wizard-centric bar crawl returns to the streets of San Diego with themed drinks, a costume competition and a super-nerdy sorting ceremony devout Potterheads won’t want to miss.

Venues TBA, wizardsassemble.com

9.15: 90 Years of San Diego Tiki

The Culinary Historians of San Diego welcome you to this free celebration of Polynesian pop culture centered around tiki-themed restaurants, bars and cuisine.

San Diego Central Library, downtown, classicsandiego.com

9.15: Taste of South Park

An eclectic assortment of restaurants, coffeehouses and bars invites foodies to get their fix during this one-day walkabout to South Park’s most scrumptious spots.

Throughout South Park, southparksd.com

9.16: Fiestas Patrias Beer Fest

This four-hour tasting event in the South Bay includes unlimited samples of some of the region’s best brews, while mariachi bands and live DJs will keep your head ringing from the afternoon till the evening.

Bayside Park, Chula Vista, facebook.com/sdmediagroup

9.17-23: Ninth Anniversary Week at Small Bar

Chefs from Lefty’s, Cowboy Star, Wrench & Rodent and several other San Diego restaurants are expected to make special appearances during this weeklong celebration of Small Bar’s novennial.

Small Bar, University Heights, facebook.com/smallbarsd

9.22: 24th annual San Diego Festival of Beer

This indoor-outdoor cancer-fighting fundraiser features live music and unlimited samples from more than 50 different breweries and additionally includes food trucks, merchant booths and entertainment for adults of all ages.

Broadway Pier, downtown, sdbeerfest.org

9.22-24: Robb Report Culinary Masters

Join several of the world’s celebrated chefs for a six-course meal-plus-wine pairing followed by a round of golf on one of SoCal’s most revered courses.

Addison at the Fairmont Grand Del Mar, Del Mar, rr1.com

9.22: San Diego Zoo Food, Wine & Brew Festival

More than 160 of Southern California’s best vendors, dancers and entertainers convene at the San Diego Zoo for an internationally inspired food-, wine-, and beer-tasting event offering exotic animal interactions and featuring live entertainment on seven stages.

San Diego Zoo, Balboa Park, zoofoodandwine.com

9.23: Seany’s Chefs Fest

Spend time with some of San Diego’s leading chefs during this end-of-summer food fest that aims to improve the lives of children living with cancer.

Liberty Station, Point Loma, classy.org

9.23-30: San Diego Restaurant Week

Don’t wait to make reservations at any of the more than 180 local restaurants offering steep discounts on prix fixe menus during this eight-day event.

Throughout San Diego, sandiegorestaurantweek.com

9.28: Chef Throwdown

Cast a vote for your favorite chef during this unforgettable, epicurean evening showcasing the talents of more than 25 of the most talented cooks from San Diego, Baja and beyond.

Hotel Del Coronado, Coronado, chefthrowdown.eventscff.org

9.28-30: 45th annual La Mesa Oktoberfest

Hold on to your lederhosen as San Diego’s largest Oktoberfest returns to La Mesa with more merchants, entertainers and adult beverages than ever before.

La Mesa Village, La Mesa, lamesaoktoberfest.org

9.28-30 + 10.5-7: El Cajon Oktoberfest

Tantalize your taste buds with authentic German food, beer and booze during two fun-filled weekends featuring a raffle that will award the winner with a flight for two to the Fatherland.

German American Societies, El Cajon, germanclubsandiego.org

9.30: 23rd annual Encinitas Oktoberfest

Sink your teeth into traditional German fare, and throw back a bevy of authentic German brews during this European-style event that brings Bavarian dancing, traditional tunes and a spectacular street fair featuring more than 200 artisans.

Mountain Vista Drive @ El Camino Real, Encinitas, encinitasoktoberfest.com

9.30: Chef Battle San Diego

Eight local chefs compete head-to-head for one hour to concoct the best dishes possible before giving you the chance to taste them all at this all-you-can-eat buffet complemented by oodles of live entertainment.

Lot 8, Hotel Circle, lot8events.com

9.30: Eighth annual Green Flash Treasure Chest Beer + Food Fest

Sip on unlimited samples of rare recipes from Alpine and Green Flash breweries, then learn a thing or two during live culinary demonstrations at this fundraising foodie event benefiting local breast cancer charities.

Green Flash Brewery, Mira Mesa, greenflashbrew.com