According to the Camelot Climate Index, San Diego has the best weather in the United States. San Francisco and Los Angeles follow close behind. But even with three seasons of Summer, October can prove to be unpredictable. Cooler, cloudier days are common enough to spoil outdoor public events.
Organizers of the University Heights Fall Festival, and all the locals attending, lucked out on Oct. 18, 2025. Blue skies, drier air, and pleasant 28 degrees Celsius (83 Fahrenheit) made the annual gathering the outdoor destination of the area. Families abounded, and I wondered where hide all these young parents and kids. I don’t see many about otherwise.
The entire set of photos come from Nikon Zf and NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR lens. I should have shared them weeks ago, but here are a few at last. The Featured Image merely marks the moment with appropriate signage. Vitals: f/6.3, ISO 200, 1/500 sec, 200mm; 3:26 p.m. The majority of booths and activities filled up the track and baseball field of Alice Birney Elementary School.
Outside, along Meade Avenue, festival goers found food vendors. Vitals: f/6, ISO 200, 1/500 sec, 74mm; 4:03 p.m.
Inside, the vendors sold various lots of toys and trinkets, jewelry and anime figures, clothes and services, and much more. Vitals: f/6.3, ISO 200, 1/500 sec, 200mm; 4 p.m.
What would a family festival be without a petting zoo? The llama… Vitals: f/9, ISO 200, 1/250 sec, 200mm; 3:34 p.m.
The pony… Vitals: f/8, ISO 200, 1/250 sec, 200mm; 3:35 p.m.
The bunny, and kids enjoying it. Vitals: f/6.3, ISO 100, 1/320 sec, 46mm; 3:35 p.m.
All the while, live music played. Apologies, but I don’t know name of the group. Vitals: f/6.3, ISO 400, 1/500 sec, 1/170mm; 3:40 p.m.
I wasn’t the only photographer there. This gent clearly is pro. Vitals: f/6, ISO 200, 1/1000 sec, 65mm; 3: 42 p.m.
By no means my best set of photos ever, the set nevertheless is a memory—and one that should have been shared on the date or sooner afterwards.