Mission Bayfest returned to Mariner’s Point Park in San Diego for three days of music running October 17-19. The stacked lineup included Sublime, 311, Slightly Stoopid, Rebelution, Pepper, Steel Pulse and many more. The Pier contributor Clara Manzo was on-site for the event, and offered her personal highlights from a wild weekend.
Recap by Clara Manzo; Photography by Clara Manzo and Jeremy Fortner
Day One
People from all over California made the mission to San Diego’s waterfront for 2025 Bayfest! With high energy, smoke clouds, and your chest vibrating from the speakers, you definitely feel alive when you’re here. Fortunate Youth’s emphatic performance set the scene for an amazing night. Reggae and love flowed all day until the sunset, only for more to come. Crowds filled the pit as sets began and the palpable excitement was unforgettable. Friday was just the starting kick to the rest of the action.
Merch was selling like crazy. Shirts, posters, and hats all flying off the tables. Fans lined up to grab anything with the Bayfest logo or their favorite band’s name on it. You could feel that mix of excitement and pride, people wanted to take a piece of the weekend home with them. It wasn’t just about the music, it was about the community, the shared energy that keeps this scene alive year after year.
Friday’s headliners 311 and Slightly Stoopid delivered the most memorable sets. Nick Hexum and the guys were on their game, and the crowd was singing along to every word. As the night closed, Stoopid brought up G Love and blessed the audience with love by preforming “Mellow Mood.” The perfect way to close out the night! Shout out to all the drummers who never miss a beat. Mikey and Dom planned the perfect festival, two amazing guys who are dedicated to the scene. Respect to them and give thanks.
Day Two
Woop-woop its Saturday and we got KRS-One hitting the stage early with some freestyles for the people. Backstage there were police officers hyped for their song “Sound of da Police.” Upbeat performances from DENM and Skeggs were prepping the audience for Sublime night! Day Two of Mission Bayfest was all about positivity and you could feel the Long Beach community love.
Steel Pulse was amazing, as they delivered songs from throughout their 40 year history. Frontman David Electric is incredibly talented, and his passion shines through with every note.
At night, Sublime hit the stage for an absolutely epic performance. Huge inflatable Dalmatian dogs were featured as a nod Lou Dog, but that wasn’t the only canine moment. The band’s iconic Rottweiler Melvin was onstage with bassist Eric Wilson, and they even enjoyed a game of catch mid set. Meanwhile, Jacob Nowell gave a classic performance that featured hits like “Wrong Way,” “What I Got,” “Doin Time” and their latest hit “Ensenada.” Jakob’s connection with the crowd even extended after the show was done, as the singer ran into the bay with fans! After closing Mission Bayfest Day Two, the night naturally had to end at famed Ocean Beach bar The Harp. Nowell expressed his gratitude and jokingly invited everyone to join for the afterparty.
Day Three
By the time Sunday rolled around, Mission Bayfest had reached its peak. The crowd was the biggest of the weekend, filling every inch of San Diego’s waterfront with energy and anticipation. After two unforgettable days of music, people were ready to close it out strong. Merch booths were completely cleared out, all gone by the end of Saturday. Everyone was rocking their new Bayfest gear with pride and making memories that would last with it.
Pepper brought the heat early, kicking things off on the SMKFLWR stage. It was that perfect dreamy California day with everyone sitting on the beach at sunset. Something only possible at a festival that’s by the bay! Rome followed with a beautiful show connecting instantly with the crowd. The singer shared his passion for songwriting, thanked God for his talent and mentioned how it needed to be shared.
When Rebelution hit the stage, the volume jumped tenfold. The energy was contagious, people were dancing, yelling, making pits, and throwing balloons until they eventually deflated. It was a high energy end to the weekend — the perfect climax for festival attendees. It’s clear Bayfest 2025 was one for the books. Each year gets bigger, louder, and better.
Check out pics from Mission Bayfest 2025 below:
