Sun, Sound & San Diego: What to Expect at Mission Bayfest
by Michelle Wan
Mission Bayfest is bringing music, beach culture, and a whole lot of San Diego energy to Mariners Point Park. The festival has deep roots in the city’s music scene and the long history of events around Mission Bay, but today, it’s become something much bigger than just a lineup. With reggae, punk, ska, R&B, Hawaiian music, DJs, local artists, food vendors, and multiple stages spread across the waterfront, there’s plenty to explore beyond the main stage.
To find out what makes Mission Bayfest different, we sat down with organizer Mike Beltran to talk about the festival’s roots, what’s new this year, and which artists and stages should be on your radar. He also shared some tips for making the most of the weekend, from getting there early and exploring the different stages to catching a sunset set and, of course, grabbing those $3 tacos. If you’re heading to Bayfest for the first time, consider this your inside scoop before you go.
ECHO MAGAZINE: Mission Bayfest has grown into a major part of San Diego's music and beach culture. Can you share the origin story behind the festival and how it has evolved over the years?
Mike Beltran: Mariners Point Park has a rich history of events dating way back to the '60s. When I was in high school in the '90s, there were a ton of events around Mission Bay and particularly at Mariners Point Park, including the X Games. Going to those events as a teenager left a lifelong impression on me and ultimately helped guide me toward a career in music. At one point, I remember thinking, "Where did all the concerts in Mission Bay go?" So I decided to try to change that. While we were cutting through all the red tape with the City of San Diego trying to get Mission Bayfest into Mariners Point Park, we had an opportunity to create San Diego Bayfest at Embarcadero Marina Park North. In later years, we moved that festival to Waterfront Park. Then, once the opportunity finally came to utilize Mariners Point Park, we jumped on it and created Mission Bayfest. Ultimately, we want it to feel like a major music festival without losing what made this place special in the first place: San Diego beach and bay culture.
With reggae and beach culture at the heart of Mission Bayfest, how do you approach curating a lineup that balances established headliners with up-and-coming local artists?
Mike Beltran: Obviously, you need the established artists who are going to sell tickets and get people excited, but we also want to give people something to discover. I'm a huge believer that today's opening band is tomorrow's headliner. Every artist started somewhere. If you only show up for the names you already know, you're missing a huge part of the festival experience. We also have an incredible music community in San Diego, and I think a San Diego festival has a responsibility to give some of those artists a platform. The goal is to put emerging and local artists in front of thousands of people who may be hearing them for the first time.
Given your own background as a DJ, how has that influenced your approach to curating the festival? Do you ever find yourself booking an artist simply because you're personally a fan of their music?
Mike Beltran: Absolutely. I'm a music fan first.
I've been a DJ for a long time, so I'm constantly listening to music and watching how different records and genres connect with people. As a DJ, you're basically programming a room. You're thinking about energy, timing and how you get from one sound to another without losing the crowd. A festival isn't that different. It's just a much bigger room.
And yes, there are definitely artists I've pushed for because I'm personally a fan. That's one of the fun parts of doing this. Sometimes you get to look at the lineup and think, "I can't believe we actually booked them." But personal taste can only take you so far. At the end of the day, the lineup has to make sense for the audience, the festival and San Diego. But personal taste can only take you so far. At the end of the day, the lineup has to make sense for the audience, the festival and San Diego.
Without giving too much away, what's something new attendees can look forward to at this year's Mission Bayfest?
Mike Beltran: I don't want to give everything away because part of the fun should be walking into the festival and finding it yourself. We're putting more emphasis on the spaces between the stages, the food, vendors, activations and places where people can hang out. We want there to be something happening wherever you go. Two things I can give away are the return of the Under the Bridge Stage and the new Kamello Stage out on the sand peninsula. Both will be active throughout the day, and both have vibes completely their own.
With the addition of the Stage on the Sand and the return of the Under the Bridge Stage, what inspired these unique settings, and what kind of experience do you hope they'll bring to festivalgoers?
Mike Beltran: The Stage on the Sand is now the Kamello Stage, after Kamello, an alcohol-free botanical social tonic made with kava and kanna, came on board to sponsor it. That stage also has a special surprise performance from Kalvin Love, who I'm sure we're all gonna love. What's cool is that these two stages couldn't be more different. Under the Bridge is literally underneath the West Mission Bay Drive bridge. It naturally has this cool, almost underground feeling, so we leaned into it. Friday is roots reggae DJs mixed with turntablism, Saturday is R&B and throwbacks, and Sunday is all emo. The Kamello Stage is the opposite experience. You're out on the peninsula, right on the sand with Mission Bay surrounding you. Friday is American reggae, Saturday is Hawaiian-style music, and Sunday is punk and ska. The idea is that every part of the festival has its own personality. You can walk 500 feet and feel like you're somewhere completely different.
This year's lineup spans a range of sounds, from reggae to punk rock. How do you approach bringing different genres together while maintaining a cohesive festival identity?
Mike Beltran: I don't think Mission Bayfest has to be defined by one genre. It needs to be defined by Southern California beach culture. Reggae will always be a huge part of our DNA, but there's a natural crossover between reggae, punk, ska, alternative, Hawaiian music and even some of the DJ culture we're bringing in. Look at the people who grew up listening to Sublime. Chances are they also listened to punk, hip-hop, reggae and ska. That's San Diego. So when we're putting together a lineup, we're not necessarily asking, "Does this artist fit into this genre? "We're asking, "Does this artist fit at Bayfest?" There's a difference.
Mission Bayfest has such a unique waterfront setting. For someone looking to capture that perfect, postcard-worthy festival moment, where would you recommend they catch a set?
Mike Beltran: Sunset anywhere at Mission Bayfest is going to be gorgeous. There's a reason we keep talking about the location. You couldn't build a backdrop like this if you tried. San Diego sunsets in October are majestic, they're truly an experience all by themselves. We actually put certain bands at sunset intentionally to create that vibe. Friday, you've got The Movement playing during sunset. Saturday, it's SOJA. Sunday, it's Goldfinger. Pick any one of those, look around at Mission Bay while the sun is going down, and I think you've got your postcard.
After years of hosting Mission Bayfest, is there a particularly chaotic, unexpected, or memorable moment that has stayed with you?
Mike Beltran: There's actually a moment we have every year that most people don't know about. Right before the headliner goes on the first night, security clears the deck of the DJ platform at the main stage. My partners Dominic, Joe and I get together and have a toast.
Then the headliner hits that first chord. The crowd starts roaring, and for a minute we just stop. We take it all in together, as a team, as friends and as business partners. Then we invite our Bayfest family up, have a huge group hug and everybody takes a pull from whatever bottle of booze we happen to have up there. That moment is when we finally get to enjoy what we've created. And then we go right back to work. Haha!
VIP, Food & Festival Culture
For attendees considering a ticket upgrade, what are the biggest differences between General Admission, VIP, and the SMKFLWR Platinum VIP experience? We'd also love to hear more about the VIP $3 tacos and the six-foot viewing platform!
Mike Beltran: The easiest way I describe it is that GA gives you the full Mission Bayfest experience. VIP gives you some additional comfort and amenities, including front-of-stage viewing. And SMKFLWR Platinum VIP is for somebody who wants to do Bayfest all the way, including backstage access. The six-foot viewing platform is a huge part of that Platinum experience. Being elevated above the crowd gives you a completely different perspective of the stage and the festival. You're looking out over thousands of people with Mission Bay in the background. And then there are the $3 tacos, which might be one of my favorite things we've added. Everything at a festival seems to cost more every year, so there's something pretty great about being able to say, "Nope. Three-dollar tacos." We wanted VIP to have some legitimately fun perks, not just put a different-colored wristband on somebody and call it an upgrade.
With so many local food vendors and businesses involved, is there a particular vendor or dish you think attendees absolutely need to check out?
Mike Beltran: This is where I'm gonna get myself in trouble, because if I pick one, every other food vendor is going to call me. Haha! What I will say is this: As a fat guy, I personally co-sign all of these food vendors. Food is part of the festival experience for us. We try to bring in local businesses and give people a real variety instead of having six vendors selling basically the same thing. My recommendation is to walk the whole food area before you make your decision. Although after a few hours at Bayfest, you're probably going to end up eating more than once anyway.
For first-time Mission Bayfest attendees, what's one festival tip you'd recommend to make the most of their experience?
Mike Beltran: Get there early and explore. Don't treat Mission Bayfest like a concert where you show up 20 minutes before the headliner. You're missing half of what makes it fun.
Come early and see the opening bands because those are the next headliners. Explore every stage. Go Under the Bridge. Walk out onto the sand. See a band or DJ you've never heard of before. Pick the artists you absolutely have to see, but don't over-plan the rest of your day. Leave some room to wander. Some of the best festival moments are the ones you didn't schedule.
The lineup features some major names alongside emerging talent. Is there a local or lesser-known artist on this year's lineup that you think attendees should make a point of discovering?
Mike Beltran: Oh wow, you're really gonna make me choose? Haha!
I'll run through a few of them day by day, and then I'll let everybody else decide who they want to see. Friday starts us off with a couple of solid local acts, Doah's Daydream and Cappo Kelley. Both bands are friends of mine, and I love them because they really put their heart and soul into every performance. We also have Joe Samba traveling across America to come play in San Diego. He's an act you cannot miss. Saturday, we have locally based artists with roots in Hawaii, Kekoa The Artist and Kela Sako. Both have incredible voices, and they're going to help set the tone for a beautiful day of island music. Then Sunday, I've got some longtime friends in The Last Call, which is basically an all-star band made up of members from different local acts who came together to form a supergroup. The Resinators are a power three-piece band, and Sitting on Saturn also came up here in San Diego.
There are so many great bands on this lineup.
That's why I keep saying it: come early.
