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Record number of tourists heading to San Diego in July for fireworks, MLB All-Star Game, Comic-Con

Posted at 7:15 PM, Jun 30, 2016
and last updated 2016-06-30 22:15:19-04

Downtown San Diego is already filling up with visitors, but San Diegans should brace themselves for a record number in July.

The influx is already starting, with hotels 96 percent full for Fourth of July weekend. Tourism officials project hundreds of thousands of visitors throughout the entire month, spending $1.4 billion around town. 

"We just decided to come this week, and then realized afterwards that all the craziness is after we go home," said Ashley Bakke, visiting from Minnesota. 

But her Little Italy hotel room will be quickly snatched up because San Diego's July is packed. 

The Fourth of July fireworks will give way to nearly a week of All-Star Game festivities, snarling traffic in downtown. There are already signs warning of closures on busy streets like 5th Avenue, J Street, and others around Petco Park. 

The Pride Parade takes place the following weekend, with the month capped by Comic-Con and its 100,000-plus visitors. 

San Diegans who do want to go can avoid the parking crunch by taking the trolley, or using the 10News app to monitor traffic and see any incidents.

"I think they'll all come down here to see the fun," said Graham Steed, visiting from London.