TrainDay2SanDiego:MLK Parade and Festival

What We're Doing: we’ll take a combination of Metrolink and Coaster trains From Irvine to Oceanside and Oceanside to San Diego. We’ll grab lunch at the MLK Festival and we will walk the waterfront area and return to Santa Fe Depot in time to catch Coaster 683 @ 4:20pm Connecting with Metrolink in Oceanside. Our total mileage will be ~4-6 miles. YMMV.

About the 44th Annual San Diego MLK Parade, Health Festival:
This is one of the largest celebrations of its kind in the United States in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.. The parade is filled with dazzling floats, phenomenal High School Bands, Drill Teams, Colleges / Universities, Fraternities, Sororities, Churches, Peace and Youth organizations.

We will meet: at Irvine train station at 9:30am Get your ticket at the station kiosks and meet us on platform 2 for Metrolink OC 1660 at 9:49am

OC 1660 9:49 am Irvine Arrives 10:48 am Oceanside
Note: In order to avoid taking the first train at 8:40am and its 90 minute layover this will be a tight connection in Oceanside.
If our train is on time, We’ll have 8 minutes to disembark Metrolink, get our Coaster Regional Day Pass and board Coaster! If you are unable to literally "run for the train" and buy your tickets together with us, consider skipping this event. Its doable but tight

Coaster 676 leaves at 10:56am arriving Santa Fe Depot 11:57am
Our last Metrolink Return train departs from Oceanside is:
IEOC 1860 6:23 pm Oceanside Arrives Irvine 7:24 pm

Meetup at Irvine train station Address: 15215 Barranca Pkwy, Irvine, CA at 9:30am. Look for Chris on Platform 2 -- the near side

Pre apply sunscreen, wear a hat, an extra layer, wear comfortable walking shoes we’ll be walking 4-6 miles mostly hard flat surfaces with some hills and stairs along the way. Bring a refillable bottle of water for the walk and a snack for before or after lunch. Pack your own lunch if you like.

🎟️ Tickets & Costs:
• Metrolink Weekend Day Pass: $10 ($5.00 Seniors) Buy at Irvine Station via the ticket machine:
→ Tap Buy Tickets > SoCal Day Pass
⚠️ Avoid using bills larger than $20 — machines may not give change.
• Coaster Regional Day Pass $15.00 ($7.50 Seniors)
Purchase at the Oceanside Transit Center Pronto Ticket Kiosks

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🚶‍ What We’ll Do:
• Take Metrolink from Irvine to Oceanside
• Take Coaster form Oceanside to San Diego Santa Fe Depot
• Expect to walk ~4-6 miles throughout the day, with flights of stairs possible along the way
• Grab eats from local vendors

🕓 Schedule: Outbound – Metrolink:
• 🕐 9:30 AM: Arrive Irvine Train Station (15215 Barranca Pkwy, Irvine, CA), get your ticket, and Meetup on Platform 2 the near side.
• 🕐 9:49 AM: Depart Irvine Station on Metrolink OC 1661 (feel free to hop on at other stations)
• 🕙 10:48 AM: Arrive at Oceanside Transit Center
• 🕙 10:48 AM Purchase Coaster Regional Day pass from Pronto Kiosks
• 🕙 10:56 AM: Take Coaster 676 to Santa Fe Depot
• 🕙 11:57 AM: arrive Santa Fe Depot
• 🕔 12:00-1:00 PM: Lunch at MLK Festival
• 🕔 1:00 PM-3:30 PM: San Diego Urban Exploration

Return – Metrolink:
• 🕔 3:30 PM: Head back to Santa Fe Depot
• 🕔 4:20 PM: Depart Santa Fe Depot on Coaster
• 🕕 5:23 pm take OC 1667 back at Irvine Station
or
• 🕕 6:23 pm take IE/OC 1860 back at Irvine Station arrives 7:24pm

🎟️ Tickets & Costs: • Metrolink Weekend Day Pass: $10 ($5.00 for seniors) Buy at Irvine Station via the ticket machine: → Tap Buy Tickets > Weekend Day Pass The Weekend Day Pass covers all transit needed, including transfers to Metro rail
⚠️ Avoid using bills larger than $20 — machines may not give change.

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🧴 What to Bring:
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Sun protection: hat, sunscreen, sunglasses
• $ for food
• Refillable water bottle
• Backpack for your stuff
• A light snack
Meeting Options:
• at Irvine Station Platform 2 the near side or Onboard Metrolink OC 1660 from Irvine
• Or at Oceanside Transit Center by the Pronto Ticket Kiosks near the ped underpass ~10:45am

DISCLAIMER: Group organizer, assistant organizers and event hosts assume no liability; hike at your own risk. By being a member of this group you hereby agree to assume all risks and liability related to or resulting from any group functions. You agree that neither you nor any third party will hold any of the group's leaders, officers, or representatives liable for any injury, loss, or damage to your own person or any members of your family, friends, acquaintances, children, pets, or property, arising directly or as a consequence from a group activity. You also agree that your membership of this group is based on an "at will" basis.