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News from the City of Carlsbad | May 28, 2026

There’s a lot to celebrate in Carlsbad with graduation season here and our TGIF Concerts in the Park series just around the corner.

This week, I’ll begin with tips for keeping graduation safe, preview the concert season and share a few more ways to connect with your community.

Here’s the full lineup:

• Tips for a safe graduation season
• Summer e-bike safety reminders
• TGIF summer concerts start June 19
• Get ready to grow with our Summer Reading Adventure
• Trail volunteer event in honor of National Trails Day
• Poinsettia Lane sewer upgrades starting soon
• Apply to serve on the Arts Commission
• Where to vote in California’s June 2 primary election
• Community events and activities 
• Upcoming meetings
• NCAA Golf Championship back in Carlsbad

Tips for a safe graduation season

As the school year comes to a close, many students and families in Carlsbad are gearing up for graduations, end-of-the-school-year parties and more time outdoors.

This is a wonderful time full of celebrations, transitions and new beginnings. It’s also a good time to share a few reminders to help keep our entire community safe in the weeks ahead.

We sometimes see more underage drinking during graduation season, so our Police Department asked that I pass along these tips to help families stay vigilant during this exciting time:

• Talk openly with your teens about the dangers of underage drinking. 
• Set clear rules about alcohol with your teens and make sure they know the consequences.
• Know where your teens are going and who they’ll be with. Ensure they’re attending supervised events.
• If you’re hosting a party, make sure it’s alcohol-free or that alcohol is only served to those over 21. Adults who don’t follow these rules can face serious fines under the City of Carlsbad’s Social Host Ordinance.
• Encourage your teens to call you if they need a safe ride home.
• Use extra caution when driving around schools hosting ceremonies, keeping an eye out for people crossing the street and slowing down for extra traffic.

Summer e-bike safety reminders



As the school year ends, some students might be using their e-bikes more to get to summer activities or just enjoy the outdoors. The city’s new e-bike laws are now in effect and the 60-day warning period ended on May 25, meaning people who break the new laws could receive citations.

More information about the new laws is available on the city’s website. Here are a few important details:

• Anyone operating an e-bike must be at least 12 years old
• The Police Department can impound e-motorcycles, which are not street legal, and e-bikes when there is an immediate or substantial public safety risk. For a minor to retrieve an impounded e-bike, they must complete an in-person safety course and a parent or guardian must be present when the e-bike is released.
• E-bikes are prohibited at Poinsettia and Pine Avenue community parks.

Remember, we are safer when we work together. 

TGIF summer concerts start June 19

It's almost time for Carlsbad’s favorite summer tradition, the TGIF Concerts in the Parks series.

We have a wide variety of genres represented in this year’s lineup, including 80s, 90s alternative rock, Top 40, country, yacht rock, R&B, funk, Latin, salsa, rock and soul.

Bands and dates 

Stagecoach Community Park 

• June 19, The Pistol Blonde (country)
• June 26, Chunky Hustle Brass Band (brass band)
• July 10, Dance Dance Evolution (dance band/top 40)
• July 17, Harbor Party (yacht rock)

Calavera Hills Community Park 

• July 24, Sabrosas Latin Orchestra (Latin/salsa)
• July 31, 90s Rockshow (90s alternative rock)
• Aug. 7, B.I.G. (R&B/funk)                       

Alga Norte Community Park 

• Aug. 14, FlashPants (80s)
• Aug. 21, Daring Greatly (rock and soul)

You may notice there isn’t a concert scheduled for Friday, July 3. Because the Fourth of July falls on a weekend again this year, we’re extending the season by one week instead. That allows us to continue offering nine concerts while avoiding an already busy holiday weekend.

Keep an eye out in the weeks ahead for more details on how to get to the concerts and other helpful information including what to bring and what to leave at home.

Sign up to receive email updates with the latest details.

Sponsorship opportunities

If you work with a local business that wants to connect with the community by sponsoring the TGIF concert season, encourage them to contact us soon to secure a sponsorship before the deadline on Friday, June 5. Sponsorship levels are available to provide enhanced brand visibility through:



• Event signs and banners
• Mentions on the city’s website and social media channels
• Shoutouts onstage by the event announcer

Get ready to grow with our Summer Reading Adventure

Speaking of fun things to do this summer, next week marks the start of our Summer Reading Adventure 2026: Plant a Seed, Read. This year’s theme highlights how libraries can help grow a love of reading and foster connection. From June 1 to Aug. 1, readers of all ages can earn rewards and entries for raffles by simply logging their reading.

How it works

• Register – Starting June 1, visit carlsbadlibrary.beanstack.org (use the Beanstack Tracker app for Android or iOS. Log into your account or create one if you’re new. Then, sign up for the Summer Reading Adventure challenge. 
• Record – Log your reading in Beanstack to earn rewards. 
• Report - Children in grade 6 and under can receive a free book by sharing their recent reads with a friendly volunteer in the children's area of each library location. 
• Rewards – Rewards will be available for pickup starting June 1.  

Throughout the Summer Reading Adventure, the city will also host special events, including gardening workshops, seed-inspired art, interactive storytelling, music and live performances. We’ll officially kick things off on Saturday, June 6, with events at all three library locations. 

June 6 kickoff events

Pot painting & seed planting

Sign up for the Summer Reading Adventure, pick out a free book and paint a biodegradable pot. Then, choose seeds from the Seed Library and create a plant marker to take home as you grow your own reading-inspired garden. All ages are welcome; while supplies last. 

Pot painting & seed planting

Saturday, June 6

Library Learning Center 

11 a.m. to 3 p.m.  

3368 Eureka Place

Local Author Fair

Meet and mingle with 24 talented authors at our third annual author fair at the Carlsbad City Library on Dove Lane. Readers who register or show proof of registration for the Summer Reading Adventure will take home a free book provided by the Friends of the Carlsbad Library.  

Local Author Fair

Saturday, June 6

Ann Kulchin Courtyard at Dove Library

11 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

1775 Dove Lane

Puzzles & Play

Explore different puzzle styles, try hands-on activities, and discover why puzzling is becoming a nationwide favorite. Perfect for ages 8 and up. 

Puzzles & Play

Saturday, June 6

Cole Library Community Room

10 a.m. to noon 

1200 Carlsbad Village Drive

A very special thank you to the Friends of the Carlsbad Library for generously supporting the Summer Reading Adventure each year.

Trail volunteer event in honor of National Trails Day 

June is Great Outdoors Month, and there’s no better way to celebrate than by giving back to Carlsbad’s trails. We’re making it easy with a National Trails Day volunteer event on Saturday, June 6, at The Crossings at Carlsbad Trail. 

National Trails Day volunteer event 

The Crossings at Carlsbad 

Saturday, June 6 

8:30 to 11:30 a.m.

5800 The Crossings Drive 

Park at The Crossings at Carlsbad parking lot and meet at the trailhead. Volunteers will help improve trails while enjoying fresh air, taking in the views and meeting new friends and neighbors. 

• Please wear closed-toe shoes, gloves and other protective clothing. 
• The city will provide a work plan, safety training, tools and water.  

If you can’t volunteer at this event, there are other opportunities throughout the year.  

Poinsettia Lane sewer upgrades starting soon

Workers will soon start a project to improve sewer capacity and reliability for areas around Poinsettia Lane and El Fuerte Street.

Starting June 8, there may be some traffic and bike lane impacts on westbound Poinsettia Lane and on El Fuerte Street. Crews will be replacing about a half mile of sewer pipeline beneath Poinsettia Lane and rehabilitate 35 sewer maintenance holes along Poinsettia Lane and El Fuerte Street. The project is expected to be done by spring 2027.

We don’t expect any interruptions to water or sewer service as a result of the project.

Learn more or sign up to receive updates on our website. 

Apply to serve on the Arts Commission

If you want to get involved and make a difference in our community, we have a vacancy on the City of Carlsbad’s Arts Commission. The Arts Commission advises the City Council on arts and culture related matters as well as on implementing the arts element of the city’s General Plan.

Arts Commission

One vacancy

Meetings: first Thursday of each month at 5:30 p.m.

Deadline to apply: June 19 at noon

Applicants must be Carlsbad residents who are registered to vote in the city. You can apply online or pick up an application at the City Clerk’s Office at City Hall, 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive.  

Where to vote in California’s June 2 primary election

California’s Gubernatorial Primary Election is next Tuesday, June 2. All registered voters should have received a mail-in ballot from the San Diego County Registrar of Voters. If you want to vote in person, you can go to a vote center to cast your ballot.

Through June 2, you can drop off your signed and sealed mail ballot at any of our three city library locations during regular hours. On Election Day, June 2, libraries will accept ballots from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. New this year, ballot drop boxes at Poinsettia Community Park, Buena Vista Reservoir Park and Pine Avenue Community Park will be open 24 hours a day until 8 p.m. on June 2.

See a list of key dates and voter information on our website.

Community events and activities

Here are some activities and events happening soon at our city libraries, community centers and the Carlsbad Senior Center:

• Tai Chi for Arthritis & Fall Prevention – Friday, May 29, 8:30 to 9:30 a.m., Dove Library
• Cinema Club Friday: "A Samurai in Time" – Friday, May 29, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., Dove Library
• Artist Talk with Barbara Beck and Carole Massey – Wednesday, June 3, 11 a.m. to noon, William D. Cannon Art Gallery
• Reel Wednesday: "Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning" – Wednesday, June 3, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., Dove Library
• Creative Crafting: Fairy House, Friday, June 5, 1 to 3 p.m., Carlsbad Senior Center

Upcoming meetings

There’s no City Council meeting next week, but some of our city boards and commissions are scheduled to meet, including the Traffic Safety & Mobility Commission, Planning Commission and Arts Commission.

Just like City Council meetings, board and commission meetings are livestreamed on the city’s website and available to watch afterward. See the full meeting schedule on our city calendar.

NCAA Golf Championship back in Carlsbad 

Some of the nation’s best college golfers are in Carlsbad this week for the 2026 NCAA Golf Championship at the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa. 

The women’s championship wrapped up yesterday and the men’s competition begins Friday and will run through Wednesday. This is the third consecutive year the resort has hosted the competition, which is expected to draw up to 1,000 spectators a day. 

To help things run smoothly and safely, there will be some temporary lane closures near the resort. Specifically, the bike lane and the outermost eastbound lane on Poinsettia Lane — halfway between Estrella De Mar Road and Alicante Road — will be closed during the following dates and times: 

• Friday, May 29 through Sunday, May 31: 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. 
• Monday, June 1 through Tuesday, June 2: 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. 

I’m proud to see Carlsbad once again host an event that will showcase our incredible city. Have an excellent weekend, on and off the fairway. 



Geoff Patnoe

City Manager