Events: La Costa dei Fiori Lodge #2424 Spaghetti Fundraiser Friday, September 25th

 

A North County Italian American Spaghetti Fundraiser in Carlsbad

La Costa dei Fiori Lodge #2424 — Friday, September 25, 2026

For visitors looking for a relaxed Italian American community evening in North County San Diego, the La Costa dei Fiori Lodge #2424 Spaghetti Fundraiser offers a simple, welcoming local event built around food, fellowship, and heritage. Hosted by La Costa dei Fiori, the North County San Diego lodge of the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America, the dinner features spaghetti with meatballs, salad, and bread for $20, with the option to eat in or carry out.

The event takes place Friday, September 25, 2026, from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at La Costa Valley Club, 2280 Calle Barcelona, Carlsbad, CA 92009. The lodge’s official website describes La Costa dei Fiori Lodge #2424 as a North County organization that brings together Italian Americans, spouses, friends, and supporters to celebrate Italian culture and community.

About the Host Organization

La Costa dei Fiori Lodge #2424 is part of the larger Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America, a national Italian American organization founded in 1905. OSDIA describes its mission as preserving Italian heritage, encouraging cultural connection, supporting charitable causes, and strengthening Italian American identity across generations.

The California Grand Lodge history identifies La Costa Dei Fiori Lodge No. 2424 as having been founded in Encinitas on October 22, 1978, making it a long-standing part of the Italian American community in North County San Diego.

Why Go

This is the kind of event that reflects the heart of Italian American community life: a plate of pasta, a local lodge, a family-friendly atmosphere, and a fundraiser that helps keep cultural organizations active. It is not a large street festival or tourist spectacle. It is a neighborhood-style dinner where visitors can experience Italian American fellowship in a more personal setting.

It also makes a good excuse to build a North County evening or weekend around Carlsbad, La Costa, Encinitas, the beach, shopping, and nearby family attractions.

Event Details

Event: Spaghetti with Meatballs, Salad & Bread Fundraiser
Host: La Costa dei Fiori Lodge #2424, Sons & Daughters of Italy
Date: Friday, September 25, 2026
Time: 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Location: La Costa Valley Club, 2280 Calle Barcelona, Carlsbad, CA 92009
Cost: $20
Dining: Eat in or carry out
Contact listed on flyer: sdilodge2424@gmail.com
Official lodge website: (2) Sons & Daughters of Italy, North County San Diego | Facebook

Before traveling, confirm directly with the lodge, since fundraiser details, payment methods, and meal pickup procedures can change.

Suggested Itinerary

Afternoon Arrival

Arrive in Carlsbad or La Costa by midafternoon. If you are coming from San Diego, Orange County, or Inland North County, give yourself extra time for Friday traffic. Check into your hotel, stop for coffee, or take a short walk around the area before dinner.

4:00 PM – 6:00 PM: Dinner at the Fundraiser

The dinner begins at 4:00 PM, making it convenient for families, retirees, locals, and visitors who prefer an early meal. Arriving earlier may be helpful if you want to eat in, avoid the busiest pickup window, or spend more time meeting lodge members.

After Dinner: Easy North County Evening

After dinner, consider a short drive to Carlsbad Village for coffee, dessert, shopping, or a sunset walk near the coast. Carlsbad Village is one of the area’s most walkable districts, with dining, beach access, and free public parking lots in the Village area, though posted time limits may apply.

Where to Stay

For the closest upscale stay, Omni La Costa Resort & Spa is the natural choice. The resort is located at 2100 Costa Del Mar Road, Carlsbad, close to the La Costa area, and offers golf, spa amenities, restaurants, pools, and a full resort experience. Omni lists the property as having 36 holes of golf, eight pools, and a full-service spa.

For a broader range of lodging, Visit Carlsbad maintains a hotel directory that includes beach hotels, luxury resorts, vacation rentals, and budget-friendly options.

Good lodging areas include:

La Costa / Aviara: Best for staying closest to the fundraiser, resort amenities, golf, spa experiences, and a quieter North County setting.

Carlsbad Village: Best for visitors who want restaurants, beach walks, shops, coffee, nightlife, and a more walkable coastal experience.

Near LEGOLAND / The Flower Fields area: Best for families turning the fundraiser into a weekend trip with children.

Carlsbad beach hotels: Best for visitors who want ocean views and a more vacation-like stay.

Where to Eat

Since the fundraiser itself is centered on spaghetti, meatballs, salad, and bread, you may not need a full restaurant meal the same evening. Still, Carlsbad has plenty of options if you want to make a full day of it.

Near La Costa, Omni La Costa Resort & Spa lists several on-site dining options, including Bob’s Steak & Chop House, Bar Traza, VUE, Marketplace, Spa Café, and other resort dining choices.

For shopping-center dining, The Shoppes at Carlsbad lists a variety of restaurants and eateries, while Visit Carlsbad notes full-service options there such as The Cheesecake Factory, Yard House, Texas de Brazil, and Beshock Ramen & Sake Bar.

For a more local coastal feel, head into Carlsbad Village, where the Village dining directory includes options ranging from casual meals to fine dining.

Other Attractions Nearby

Carlsbad Beaches

Carlsbad is known for its coastal setting and beach access. Visit Carlsbad describes the city as having seven miles of Pacific coastline, with beaches suited for walking, surfing, fishing, birdwatching, and relaxing.

The City of Carlsbad notes that many of the beaches are managed by California State Parks, with lifeguards, restrooms, picnic areas, and parking lots provided through the state park system.

Carlsbad Village

Carlsbad Village is a good add-on before or after the dinner. It offers restaurants, cafés, shops, coastal access, and a more traditional beach-town atmosphere.

LEGOLAND California Resort

Families can turn the fundraiser into a weekend trip by adding LEGOLAND California. Visit Carlsbad lists LEGOLAND California Resort and SEA LIFE Aquarium among the city’s major attractions.

The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch

The Flower Fields are seasonal, so they will not be in peak spring bloom during late September, but the surrounding area remains a major Carlsbad visitor district with shopping, restaurants, and family attractions. Visit Carlsbad lists The Flower Fields among the city’s well-known attractions.

Omni La Costa Resort & Spa

Even for visitors not staying overnight, the La Costa area is strongly associated with resort culture, golf, spa experiences, and relaxed North County leisure. Omni notes that the resort is near attractions including The Flower Fields, LEGOLAND, Balboa Park, and the San Diego Zoo.

Transportation, Getting There, Getting Around, and Parking

The fundraiser location is in Carlsbad’s La Costa area, which is easiest to reach by car. Visitors coming from San Diego can take I-5 north or I-15 north to Highway 78 / local roads, depending on their starting point. From Orange County or Los Angeles, the most direct route is usually I-5 south.

For visitors planning to spend time in Carlsbad Village, the Village is accessible by car from Interstate 5 via Carlsbad Village Drive or from the coast along Carlsbad Boulevard. Carlsbad Village Association notes that on-street parking and public lots in the Village are free, though three-hour limits are enforced where posted.

For the fundraiser itself, check the lodge or venue for event-specific parking instructions. Since the event is at a community club location rather than a large festival site, arriving early is wise, especially during the dinner rush.

Weather and What to Pack

Late September is usually one of the more comfortable times of year in coastal North County. Visit Carlsbad lists September averages around 73°F for the high and 61°F for the low, with light average rainfall.

Pack:

A light jacket or sweater for the evening
Comfortable shoes
Casual dinner clothes
Sunglasses if arriving earlier in the day
Cash and card, in case payment options vary
A cooler bag if carrying out multiple dinners

Practical Tips

Confirm the event directly with the lodge before traveling, especially if you are coming from outside North County.

Arrive early if you want to eat in, socialize, or avoid the busiest pickup period.

Bring small bills, even if digital payment is available, since community fundraisers sometimes use multiple payment methods.

Make a full evening of it by pairing the dinner with Carlsbad Village, a beach walk, or dessert nearby.

For families, the 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM time window is convenient because it allows for an early dinner and an easy drive home.

Final Thought

The La Costa dei Fiori spaghetti fundraiser is more than a pasta dinner. It is a small but meaningful expression of Italian American community life in North County San Diego. Events like this keep local lodges visible, bring people together around the table, and preserve the warm, informal traditions that have always been central to Italian American culture: food, family, friendship, service, and a good plate of spaghetti.

Facebook page: (2) Sons & Daughters of Italy, North County San Diego | Facebook

Events: Our Lady of the Rosary Spaghetti Dinner in San Diego November

 

Events: A Little Italy Tradition: Our Lady of the Rosary Spaghetti Dinner in San Diego

Every fall, San Diego’s Little Italy smells a little more like home. The streets around Our Lady of the Rosary Church fill with the kind of warmth you can’t fake: red sauce simmering, volunteers moving with purpose, families catching up in line, and plates of spaghetti served the way Italian Americans understand best, generously.

The Our Lady of the Rosary Spaghetti Dinner is one of Little Italy’s most beloved annual traditions. Hosted as a parish fundraiser, the dinner brings together longtime parishioners, neighborhood families, visitors, and anyone who appreciates a good plate of pasta made with care. The event has been promoted as the longest-running event in Little Italy, with the 2025 dinner listed as the 86th annual celebration.

For travelers, it is more than a meal. It is a window into the living culture of San Diego’s Italian community.

What to Expect

The dinner is simple in the best possible way: spaghetti, homemade meatballs, homemade sauce, salad, bread, dessert, and, for adults, wine. The Little Italy Association describes the meal as featuring homemade meatballs and homemade sauce, served with the classic sides that make it feel like a complete Italian American dinner.

The atmosphere is casual, welcoming, and family-friendly. You do not need to be a parishioner to attend. In fact, part of the beauty of the event is that everyone feels like they belong once they are seated with a plate in front of them.

The dinner is held at Our Lady of the Rosary Parish Hall in Little Italy, close to the restaurants, shops, and waterfront that make this neighborhood one of San Diego’s most walkable destinations.

A Brief History of Our Lady of the Rosary Church

Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church has been a cornerstone of San Diego’s Little Italy for nearly a century. The dream of an Italian parish began in 1921 with Father Sylvester Rabagliati, an Italian-born priest and student of St. John Bosco. The church was established in 1925 to serve San Diego’s growing Italian Catholic community.

For generations, it was more than a place to attend Mass. It became the spiritual, social, and cultural center of Little Italy, especially for fishing families and immigrants who helped shape the neighborhood. The Little Italy Association notes that the church “guided fisherman safely to shore” and served families who built the community around it.

That history is still visible today. The church remains one of the neighborhood’s most recognizable landmarks, and its restoration ahead of its centennial helped preserve the beauty of its artwork, marble, and sacred interior.

Why This Dinner Matters

I regularly support this fundraiser as a member of the community. When I can, I volunteer at the dinner as a parish member and as a brother Knight in the Knights of Columbus. When I cannot volunteer, I still support it by buying a dinner.

And it is absolutely worth it.

The spaghetti, meatballs, and sauce are made from scratch with authentic ingredients and recipes. This is not a small, polite serving of pasta. They fill your plate the way any good Italian American should: with pride, generosity, and just enough sauce to remind you why traditions like this last.

What makes the dinner special is not only the food. It is the feeling behind it. You see parishioners working side by side, Knights helping where they are needed, families returning year after year, and visitors discovering that Little Italy’s heritage is still alive in the people who show up to serve.

Planning Your Visit

The dinner is tied to the first weekend of November. Past event listings show Saturday dates, including Saturday, November 4, 2023, and Saturday, November 1, 2025.

For 2026, the first Friday of November falls on November 6, but I could not verify a published 2026 event listing yet. Travelers should check the parish’s official website or the event page closer to the date before making firm plans.

A good plan is to make an afternoon or evening of it. Walk through Little Italy, visit the church, enjoy dinner at the parish hall, then take a short stroll toward the waterfront or through the neighborhood’s cafés and shops.

Why You Should Go

San Diego has plenty of polished food events, but the Our Lady of the Rosary Spaghetti Dinner has something better: roots.

It is local, personal, and full of heart. It feeds the parish, supports the community, and gives visitors a taste of Little Italy that cannot be recreated by a restaurant menu alone. For anyone looking for a meaningful San Diego experience in November, this dinner belongs on the list.

For information on the 2026 Spaghetti Dinner, visit the parish website here: Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church – Our Lady of the Rosary, Little Italy, San Diego and/or on Facebook here: (1) Facebook

San Diego's Italian Church Holds Annual Festa & Blessing of the Fishing Fleet October 6th, 2024

 

Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church, an Italian National Parish in San Diego will hold its "Marian" or "Our Lady of the Rosary Festa." There is a special Mass where all parish societies and groups carry their banners in the opening procession. In years past the Bishop of the Diocese of San Diego, now a Cardinal, has celebrated the Mass. After Mass they, along with the public who are welcomed to join, process or parade through the streets of the Little Italy neighborhood down to the harbor. There, along the Embarcadero, a boat is blessed, and fireworks are set off. The procession then parades back to the church where there is a benediction and doves are set free signifying peace. Afterwards there is a complimentary luncheon in the Parish Hall.

Our Lady of the Rosary Festa commemorates the October 7th victory of the combined Christian European fleets of the Holy League of 1571 over the Ottoman navy at the Battle of Lepanto and was originally called the "Feast of Our Lady of Victory."

Below are photos from past Festas. 

What: Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary

Where: Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church

1668 State Street San Diego, CA 92101

(619)234-4820

OLRSD.org

When: Sunday, October 6th, 2024

11:00 am Rosary

12:00 Mass

1:30 Procession

Past Festas:

Festa 2018 Album

Festa 2017 Album

Festa 2016 Album

Back to The Italian Californian Main Site

Convivio Society of San Diego Announces Endowment Campaign for larger Cultural Center

 

The Convivio Society of San Diego, a nonprofit that celebrates all things Italian and brings art and culture to San Diego's Little Italy, announces its endowment campaign for a new cultural center! 

 For the last two decades, with patronage and guidance from its supporters, the Convivio Society has brought unique, innovative arts and cultural programming:

• It has developed a space in Little Italy that serves as the neighborhood's heritage, event, and visitor center;

• It has established the Italian Archives of San Diego to preserve our cherished artifacts and recount our collective historical narrative, so vital to the development of San Diego;

•  It has published books on the history of Little Italy and San Diego's fishing industry;

• It has brought you concerts, artisan exhibits, presentations and lectures, films, and we have partnered with like-minded groups to further our impact through collaborative programs and projects;

• It has brought Italian consular services to Little Italy to help co-nationals;

• this spring, it will embark on our ambitious documentary series on the Italian heritage and culture of San Diego;

• and it is working to re-establish the much-cherished Sicilian Festival in San Diego 
  

And now the Convivio Society is seeking support to make its vision of a larger cultural center, a home for all of San Diego's Italians, Italians everywhere, and for those that wish they were, a reality! To donate to this worthy cause, and support other worthwhile causes and programming by the Convivio Society, click here: givebutter.com/contribute

Italian Heritage to be Celebrated in San Francisco

 

San Francisco's North Beach neighborhood will be host to an array of Italian American heritage celebrations in the next few months partly thanks to the Italian Heritage Parade of San Francisco. 

On its website, the Italian Heritage Parade of San Franciso says, "We are proud members of the Italian American community in the San Francisco Bay Area, and together we celebrate and honor the values, culture, and traditions we have been fortunate to have inherited from the Italian American community. We recognize those contributions of the Italian American people and the impact on the community and the people around us. We are committed to keeping those traditions alive for future generations and are committed to raising funds to support our philanthropic work.

Our board is a group of over 30 volunteers who commit their time and resources to carry on the traditions of the parade every year."

Friday, August 25th, it will be holding a Fundraiser Dinner & Raffle, information here. Activities culminate with the Italian Heritage Parade held on Sunday, October 8th, 2023. More info here. There will be events in between you can view here.

Little Italy San Jose Street Festival Returns October 1st

 

 Returning Sunday October 1st, 2023!

​

Established in 2016, Little Italy Festival draws 20,000 + people to our Italian district. 

Italian Festival in San Jose

• Authentic Italian cuisine from some of the Bay Areas favorite Italian Restaurants 
• Nonstop Live Entertainment
• Ferrari & Lamborghini Area 
• Authentic Italian & handmade Arts & Crafts 
• Wine Tasting from some of the best Cal-Italia wineries in CA 
• Highlighting Little Italy Italian Businesses

More here

NIAF 48th Anniversary Gala

NIAF 48th Anniversary Gala

Join the National Italian American Foundation as we celebrate the best of Italian heritage and culture, our 2023 Region of Honor Emilia-Romagna, and the importance of the Italian Diaspora!

Saturday, October 14, 2023

Omni Shoreham Hotel, Washington D.C.

More here

Festa Italiana is set for October 7th, 2023 in Little Italy of Los Angeles at San Pedro

 

Festa Italiana is set for October 7th, 2023

 Festa Italiana is set to take place again this year in San Pedro, Ca on October 7, 2023. This authentic Italian festival will bring Italian vendors and entertainers to the downtown streets of San Pedro to celebrate Italian Heritage Month in a big way. 

If you are looking to get involved with Festa Italiana with sponsorship, vendors or other opportunities please email info@lilaa.org for more information.

More here

The Italian Californian at the 2021 Festa Gallery

The Los Angeles Italian Festival 2023

 

The Los Angeles Italian Festival

The Los Angeles Italian Festival kicks off Italian Heritage Month in LA each year at Hollywood & Highland, celebrating all things Italian in the City of LA.

Come and be a part of the incredible Italian festival happening in Los Angeles.

Tickets

Tickets for The Los Angeles Italian Festival can be booked here.

Date & Time

Sat Oct 07 2023 at 12:00 pm to 10:00 pm
(GMT-07:00)

Location

The Los Angeles Italian Festival, 1651 N Highland Avenue, Los Angeles, United States