Fall has officially arrived and while some may be mourning the end of summer, the city is ensuring you have plenty of ways to get out and about and enjoy the new season. The menu for this weekend includes a pair of eco-friendly festivals at the second annual Wasted event and the inaugural San Diego Sustainable Food Festival.
And, if “fútbol is life!” for you, check out the upcoming home matches for San Diego FC and Wave FC, as well as the three-day Cultura FC event, an aesthetic showcase centered on the world’s most popular sport. Plus, music fans can hear performances by The Head and The Heart along with Billy Idol and Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, go the rave route at CRSSD Fall Fest or attend a sing-along screening of The Sound of Music. Here are all the best things to do in San Diego this weekend.
Food & Drink | Concerts & Festivals | Theater & Art Exhibits | More Fun Things to Do
Food & Drink Events in San Diego This Weekend
San Diego Sustainable Food Festival
September 27
Enjoy eco-friendly fare from dozens of sustainable food, craft and service vendors during Sea Shepherd’s first-ever San Diego Sustainable Food Festival this Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Balboa Park. Admission is free for all (including dogs) and there will be live music, panel discussions, chef demos, kids activities and a range of food and drink samples, crafted with seasonal ingredients, to savor. Move with Love will also be leading several donation-based wellness classes, including restorative yoga, breathwork and herbalism sessions. RSVP here.
Balboa Park Boulevard and Presidents Way Lawn, Balboa Park
San Diego Spirits Festival
September 27 & 28
Sip your favorite high-end spirits, including top-shelf selections of cognac, rum, tequila and whiskey, during the 16th annual San Diego Spirits Festival at the Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego. This spirited cocktail celebration is all-inclusive with a loaded mixology menu plus Mediterranean, Italian and scrumptious seafood eats. As for the live entertainment, expect music from DJ Mike, Crystal Star, George Pajon Jr. and Andrew Cole, plus flamenco, samba and belly dance performances. Tickets are $90 for Saturday (1-5 p.m.) and $80 for Sunday (2-6 p.m.).
700 Prospect Street, La Jolla
Wasted: Save the Food Festival
September 28
Similar to the saying that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, Wasted proposes that one’s food scraps can be used to create another’s five-star meal. This Sunday at 11 a.m. at The Soap Factory, over 20 chefs will use surplus ingredients to create delicious bites in an attempt to combat food waste. There will also be mocktails, sustainable food presentations and live music by Axiom as the culinary minds compete for the best sustainable dish. General admission is $29, entry for youth ages 3-17 is $9 and kids ages 3 and under can attend for free; event proceeds will go towards local food waste nonprofit Kitchens for Good.
2995 Commercial Street, Logan Heights
Taste of College Area
September 28
Though the college diet still consists of low-budget staples like Pop-Tarts and sad cups of ramen, students nowadays have options aplenty when finding their next meal. See for yourself during the Taste of College Area, a tour of over 20 of the best eateries in the College Area, Rolando and the outskirts of San Diego State University this Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Participants can stroll, bike or ride complimentary Old Town Trolleys to get around the tasting tour. Tickets for general admission are $44, while 21+ VIPs ($54) get 4 exclusive drink stops as well as a commemorative shot glass while supplies last; ticket prices will raise $5 the day of.
College Area & Rolando
Concerts & Festivals in San Diego This Weekend
Billy Idol w/ Joan Jett & the Blackhearts at North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
September 23
If you love rock n’ roll, then you won’t want to miss a performance from two punk pioneers Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre. As the frontman of Generation X and the artist behind ’80s MTV phenomena like “White Wedding” and “Rebel Yell,” Billy Idol is a certified pop punk icon. Now with the release of Dream Into It, his first album in 11 years, Idol has declared It’s A Nice Day To…Tour Again. Joining him on the bill is Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, hard rock heroes led by the “Godmother of Punk” herself. Tickets start at $25.
2050 Entertainment Circle, Chula Vista
CRSSD Fest Fall 2025
September 27-28
As FINGRS CRSSD continues celebrating 10 years of EDM festivals by the bay, fans of house, techno and electropop can rave all weekend at the fall edition of CRSSD Fest 2025. Across three stages at Waterfront Park this Saturday and Sunday, there will be can’t-miss performances from hitmakers like Caribou, Darkside, John Summit and Empire of the Sun. For your late-night fix, dance on over to clubs like Rich’s, Spin or The Rail for the festival’s lineup of downtown After Dark parties Friday-Sunday. Festival passes are sold out but can still be purchased, starting at $261, through CRSSD’s ticket exchange platform.
1600 Pacific Highway, Embarcadero
Encinitas Oktoberfest & Artisan Faire
September 28
Raise your steins high for the return of the Encinitas Oktoberfest & Artisan Faire this Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. This annual event from the Encinitas Chamber of Commerce will welcome over 130 artisan vendors, plus Bavarian cuisine, dance troupes and bands along with plenty of German (and local) beer. There will also be family-friendly activities such as face painting and a dog costume contest. Admission is free and festivalgoers can also take advantage of the complimentary shuttle service from Flora Elementary and bike valet at Wandering Road.
Mountain Vista Drive (off El Camino Real between Wandering & Rambling Roads), Encinitas
The Head And The Heart at Gallagher Square
September 29
Following the self-release of their debut in 2009, The Head and the Heart rode a groundswell of local support to overnight success, leading to a deal with Sub Pop, a platinum album certification and the ballad “Rivers and Roads” becoming an inescapable presence on network TV. The Head and the Heart’s most recent release is Aperture, an introspective effort which also marks their first self-produced project. The band will headline an evening of folk rock Monday night (6:30 p.m.) at Gallagher Square featuring the dreamy sounds of John Vincent III and the retro stylings of Tyler Ballgame. Tickets start at $55 for this concert.
899 J Street, Downtown
Theater & Art Exhibits in San Diego This Weekend
San Diego’s Lost Neighborhoods at San Diego History Center
Opening September 25
Venture into the city’s forgotten communities via augmented reality, archival elements, period photography and personal narratives through San Diego’s Lost Neighborhoods, opening with a reception Thursday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at San Diego History Center. Created alongside the San Diego African American Museum of Fine Art, this immersive exhibition explores the daily lives and cultural resilience of residents in displaced communities adversely impacted by redlining and freeway construction. Tickets for this reception are $10 and can be purchased here.
1649 El Prado, Balboa Park
Black & White Art Party at Sparks Gallery
September 26
Spend a swanky evening at Sparks Gallery Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. during its Black & White Art Party. Show up in “San Diego Dressy” attire, or your best black and white threads, and enjoy monochromatic art, live jazz, local artist showcases and a luxury raffle during this elegant affair. Patrons can also enjoy a themed spread from San Diego Wine & Culinary Center that includes black and white tacos as well as a black and white dessert bar. Tickets are $99 per person and come with the chance to support one four local nonprofits with your purchase.
530 6th Avenue, Gaslamp
Kimberly Akimbo at Scripps Ranch Theatre
September 26 – October 19
Over two decades, David Lindsay-Abaire’s dark comedy Kimberly Akimbo evolved from a respectable Off-Broadway play to a smash-hit musical with five Tony Award wins. But in both iterations of Kimberly Akimbo, the sincere story of an ambitious 16-year-old suffering from a rapid aging disease embraces shooting for the stars in spite of the odds. Local theatergoers can see a new adaptation of the original play, directed by Pacific Beach native Ted Leib, at the Scripps Ranch Theatre. Tickets range from $27 to $38 for Friday’s preview performance (7:30 p.m.) and $30 to $52 for Saturday’s opening night (7:30 p.m.) and all following performances.
9783 Avenue of Nations, Scripps Ranch
More Fun Things To Do in San Diego This Weekend
Cultura FC at The Soap Factory
September 25-27
The Soap Factory will host an international gathering of fútbol lovers over three days at Cultura FC. The centerpiece event will be the Cultura FC Conference Friday from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. with several football fashion presentations spanning community, culture and design. Bookending the convention will be two free events: a welcome party Thursday from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. that includes a panna cage soccer tournament, a lowrider show and tequila tastings, along with Saturday’s fútbol café from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with an international football kit shop, a pop-up 3v3 pitch and art installations. Registration is $242 for professionals and $103 for students.
2995 Commercial Street, Logan Heights
Conner O’Malley at The Magnolia
September 26
Eccentric only begins to describe Conner O’Malley’s chaotic comedy style, occupied by deranged characters, absurdist premises and internet-brained humor. O’Malley’s impressive output in the alternative comedy scene spans from his time writing for Late Night with Seth Meyers to his 2024 special Stand Up Solutions, a chaotic satirization of our increasingly tech-induced world. This Friday at 6 p.m., The Magnolia will open its doors for O’Malley’s ongoing Comedic Humor Tour. Tickets start at $25 for this stand-up show.
210 East Main Street, El Cajon
The Sound of Music Sing-A-Long at the Civic Theatre
September 26
To commemorate its 60th anniversary, the Civic Theatre is throwing a sing-along screening of The Sound of Music, also turning 60 in 2025, this Friday at 7 p.m. This resplendent movie musical — originated from the duo of Rodgers & Hammerstein — is inspired by the Trapp Family Singers, and all these years later the hills are still alive with the sound of Julie Andrews’ four octave range. Audience members are encouraged to dress in costume and take part in pre-screening trivia, plus they’ll receive a complimentary tote with surprise interactive items. Tickets range from $31 to $79.
1100 Third Avenue, Gaslamp
Soccer Doubleheader at Snapdragon Stadium
September 26 & 27
San Diego’s pro soccer squads head home to Snapdragon Stadium this weekend with playoff aspirations front of mind. Friday at 7:30 p.m., Wave FC will take on the Orlando Pride as they try to notch their first win since mid-August, with the team also hosting cultural performances for its Noche Latina celebration; tickets start at $20. Then Saturday at 7:30 p.m., San Diego FC will host its final home match of the regular season against the San Jose Earthquakes during Fan Appreciation Night, with the first 30,000 fans set to receive a free SDFC hat; tickets start at $31.
2101 Stadium Way, Mission Valley
PARTNER CONTENT
San Diego Padres vs. Arizona Diamondbacks at Petco Park
September 26-28
With a second straight postseason appearance clinched in dramatic fashion, the Padres are making one final push for their first NL West crown since 2006. Due to their 2 ½ game deficit with 5 games left to play, the Friars will likely have to settle for a Wild Card spot, but a strong week can only strengthen their World Series hopes. Following their series against the Milwaukee Brewers, San Diego will conclude the regular season at Petco Park with three games against the Arizona Diamondbacks, who are looking for a last-minute path into the playoffs. Tickets start at $31 for this series.
100 Park Boulevard, Downtown
