Photo: Kaaboo

While Las Vegas gears up for the Life is Beautiful Festival, another big event is preparing to make its debut in San Diego while offering a truly immersive one-of-a-kind experience.

KAABOO takes place at the Del Mar Racetrack and Fairgrounds on September 18-20. It promises three days of music, comedy, food, art and a number of “indulgent” experiences.

The main stage headliners include No Doubt, The Killers and the Zac Brown Band. Other acts include Train, Snoop Dogg, Foster the People, Counting Crows, The Roots and Bonnie Raitt. There are also VIP-only performance by Sheryl Crow and Ed Kowalczyk, formerly of Live.

There are plenty of top names on the comedy stage as well. You’ll laugh along to performances by Joel McHale, Lewis Black, Jeff Garlin and Tim Meadows. They’re among the twenty comics who will be found inside a cozy air-conditioned venue, sure to offer a welcome break from the hectic energy outdoors.

The culinary attractions offer their own share of headliners, with celebrity chefs like Brain Malarkey (Searsucker, Herringbone) and Anthony Pascale (Saiko Sushi, Roppongi) making appearances and offering tasty bites to eat.

While KAABOO could be a big success on star power alone, the event is aiming for a different kind of experience. Instead of squeezing as many people as possible into the venue, there will be roughly 30,000 people allowed in each day; a relatively small crowd considering the scope and vastness of the Del Mar Racetrack and Fairgrounds. The idea is keep everyone comfortable, while minimizing lines and long waits.

Other perks include an after-hours nightclub as well as VIP areas that include cabanas, a pool and a volleyball court. There’s even sand being brought in to create a beach. There are two different VIP experiences, so look carefully at the options when choosing from the “Hang Five or “Hang Ten” packages.

While the weekend promises plenty of fun in the sun, portions of each ticket will benefit a number of good causes, like Feeding America and the San Diego Music Foundation.

For more information and to buy tickets: www.kaaboodelmar.com