Autumn Blaze 2026 brings Canna Management Group's Budtender Experience to San Diego for the first time on Thursday, November 12. The one-night event takes over Wicked West with a curated mix of cannabis-industry networking, product discovery, live entertainment and immersive brand experiences built around the people who influence what moves at retail.
This is the third installment of CMG's Budtender Series, following its Los Angeles events. Autumn Blaze shifts the format south to a multi-room indoor-and-outdoor venue where budtenders, buyers, operators, brand teams and other licensed-industry professionals can connect outside the usual trade-show setting.
Why Autumn Blaze is a High Rise Pick
Autumn Blaze is designed around budtenders rather than treating them as an afterthought. These are the people explaining products at the counter, guiding discovery and hearing firsthand what customers respond to. Putting that audience in the center of the experience gives brands a more direct way to educate, listen and build relationships with the people closest to consumer decisions.
The format is also intentionally more social than a conventional conference. CMG is pairing industry access with music, hospitality, games and venue-wide activations, creating space for real conversations without turning the night into another fluorescent exhibit hall. For Southern California operators and brands trying to build stronger San Diego relationships, this is one of the more focused industry gatherings on the fall calendar.
Who it's for
The event is aimed at verified budtenders, dispensary teams, retail buyers, operators, brand owners, distributors and other qualified cannabis-industry professionals. Participating brands will have opportunities to meet frontline retail staff, introduce products, answer questions and collect direct market feedback in an environment built for conversation and discovery.
Autumn Blaze is a 21-and-over event. Registration is required, and attendance is curated by the organizer. Guests should use the official Eventbrite listing for the current registration options and eligibility information.
What to expect
CMG's current event materials describe a full indoor-and-outdoor experience with multiple rooms, levels, bars, lounge environments and an adult arcade. The program is expected to combine immersive brand activations with product education, live music, entertainment, games, giveaways, food, drinks and opportunities for attendees to move through the venue rather than staying in one room all night.
Wicked West gives the production several distinct environments to work with: a main event room, outdoor side-yard patio, outdoor stage, speakeasy-style bar, upstairs loft and balcony, and a multi-room arcade area. Brand experiences are planned across the venue, making exploration part of the event instead of concentrating every interaction on a single show floor.
The Budtender Series
Autumn Blaze continues the event model CMG developed through Summer Haze and earlier Budtender Series gatherings. The concept blends education and field marketing with the energy of a culture event: brands can explain what makes their products different, while budtenders can meet the people behind those products and bring better context back to the retail floor.
For the San Diego edition, CMG is building on the momentum of its Los Angeles events while adapting the experience to a new market. The organizer says additional sponsors, hosts, entertainment and featured experiences will be announced as the event approaches.
Venue and timing
Autumn Blaze runs from 7:00 PM to 11:59 PM on Thursday, November 12, 2026, at Wicked West, 1735 National Avenue in San Diego. The venue is in the Barrio Logan area, just south of downtown, with indoor and outdoor spaces operating as one connected event environment.
Plan for an evening event and bring a valid government-issued photo ID. Because the program spans several rooms and outdoor areas, comfortable shoes and a light layer for the later hours are a smart call.
Registration
Registration is open through the official Eventbrite page. Capacity and attendee eligibility are controlled by Canna Management Group, so register in advance and review the organizer's latest entry instructions before heading to the venue.