Last week’s heatwave is finally breaking, and San Diegans are almost ready to step out out from the comforts of their air conditioning. This weekend is packed with exciting events, from food festivals in Old Town and the Gaslamp Quarter to upcoming concerts featuring P!nk, Train, and Glass Animals. Plus, don’t miss the action on the water at the annual San Diego Bayfair powerboat races. Stay cool, and join us outside as we kick off local’s summer here in San Diego!
Food & Drink | Festivals & Concerts | Art Exhibits & Theater | More Fun Things to Do
Food & Drink Events in San Diego This Weekend
Chef’s Dinner: The Study of Corn | The Kitchen @ MCASD
September 12
Maize will be the main character of the Museum of Contemporary Art’s culinary shindig for September. Executive Chef of The Kitchen, Tim Kolanko, has a five-course menu planned for Chef’s Dinner: The Study of Corn, with each dish demonstrating the varying flavors of the grain. This prix fixe meal will be served with a side of oceanfront views (and wine pairings if you’d like) in the Sahm Seaview Room, with seating from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Dinner reservations are $95 per person plus tax and gratuity and can be made on OpenTable.
700 Prospect Street, La Jolla
Taste of Old Town + Tequila Tour 2024
September 12
Old Town San Diego, packed with several historical and cultural monuments within a handful of blocks, is also home to some of the city’s best eats. On the annual Taste of Old Town + Tequila Tour from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. this Thursday, there will be traditional Mexican fare and drinks like margaritas, mezcals and spirits. Tickets are $44 for Taste of Old Town ($60 with the tequila tour add-on) and $17 for children.
Check-in: 4010 Twiggs Street, Old Town; or 4105 Taylor Street, Old Town
Taste of Gaslamp
September 14
Roam downtown for food and drink specials at the 28th annual Taste of Gaslamp, with more than 20 local businesses taking part, including loads of food on 5th Avenue. The main event will take place from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., but attendees are also invited to stop by Happy Does’ pre-party and the after-party at Swing Social. Tickets are available online for general admission ($45) and VIPs ($70), who will receive five extra bites and sips, with each ticket cost being upped $10 the day of the event.
Gaslamp
Festivals & Concerts in San Diego this Weekend
Train & REO Speedwagon Concert at North Island Credit Union
September 10
If you grew up in the ’90s and 2000s, you probably have core memories of shouting “Drops of Jupiter” out your car window when it came out in 2001. This week, relive your glory days as Train makes a stop in San Diego with REO Speedwagon on September 10 at North Island Credit Union. Though REO Speedwagon have been rocking for longer than the members of Train have been alive, both bands have made their mark with plenty of beloved songs and radio hits that’ll keep you rocking all night long. Tickets start at $49.
2050 Entertainment Circle, Chula Vista
P!nk Concert at Petco Park
September 11
While most popstars like to wow the crowd from the safety of the stage, P!nk prefers to soar. The Grammy Award-winning musician is also an acrobatic stunt performer, allowing her concerts to be taken to the next level (literally) as she belts out anthems like “So What” and “Raise a Glass” from high up above. This Wednesday, P!nk will bring her Summer Carnival to Petco Park for a show that will once again take her to daring heights. Tickets start at $49.
100 Park Boulevard, Downtown
FilmOut San Diego LGBTQ Film Festival at Museum of Photographic Arts
September 12-15
See generational love stories, international dramas and queer representation on screen at FilmOut San Diego’s 24th annual LGBTQ Film Festival. The Nat and the San Diego Museum of Photographic Arts once again host the festivities, with a variety of premieres, Q&As and special events like the LGBTQ Shortfest and San Diego Filmmakers Spotlight. Plus, San Diego’s cinephiles won’t want to miss out on opening night’s feature film and after-party. To enjoy every moment of the festival experience, the all-access film festival pass is available for $150.
Balboa Park
Glass Animals at North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
September 13
On September 13, Glass Animals will hit the stage at North Island Credit Union with their intriguing, pop-tinged sound. The English indie rock band formed in 2010 and are most known for their track “Heat Waves” which skyrocketed them to fame during the pandemic. The music video has garnered more than 730 million views on YouTube. Tickets start at $42 for Friday’s show.
2050 Entertainment Circle, Chula Vista
San Diego Bayfair Festival and Powerboat Races
September 13-15
Nourish your need for speed at San Diego Bayfair, where a weekend of powerboat racing and high-flying hydro games awaits. Spectators can enjoy live music, games and beer gardens, and watch from the shores of Fiesta Island, Crown Point and East Vacation Island as hydroplanes, jet skis and drag boats zip around the waters of Mission Bay. Ticket options include three-day general admission ($60) and all-inclusive VIP passes ($350), along with single-day general admission ($25 for Friday; $35 for Saturday and Sunday).
Mission Bay
Ray LaMontagne & Gregory Alan Isakov
September 14
On Saturday, American singer-songwriter and musician Ray LaMontagne will take the stage at Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre with opening act Gregory Alan Isakov. Since debuting his first studio album in 2018, LaMontagne has gone on to put out seven more albums, including his latest Long Way Home which dropped this past July. Check out the new album on September 14. Tickets start at $53.
Carlsbad’s Fall Art & Wine Walk
September 14
North County shopping center The Forum Carlsbad will host an afternoon of art, wines and wellness at their Fall Art & Wine Walk this Saturday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Following a free flow yoga class from YogaSix at 2 p.m., those who stop by the mall can view several pieces of artwork and stop by Jimbo’s wine garden for complimentary charcuterie, international wine samples and live music from Shea Givens. During the event, donations will be accepted for Shelter to Soldier, which provides emotional support dogs for military members and veterans.
1923 Calle Barcelona, Carlsbad
The Temptations & the Four Tops at Humphreys Concerts By the Bay
September 15
Delight in Motown magic at Humphreys Concerts By the Bay as a pair of legendary acts prove that old-school love songs never go out of style. The Temptations and the Four Tops, collectively known for undeniable classics like “My Girl,” “Can’t Help Myself” and “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg,” will flex their vocal muscles Saturday night. Tickets are $100.65 for this concert.
2241 Shelter Island Drive, Shelter Island
Art Exhibits & Theater in San Diego this Weekend
Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show at Cygnet Theatre
September 11 – October 20
The Cygnet Theatre will do the Time Warp again and again during its production of Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show. Craziness ensues when normal couple Brad and Janet become embroiled in the science fiction wackiness of Dr. Frank ‘N’ Furter, during this musical that combines horror, rock n’ roll and iconically eccentric songs. Though opening night has already sold out, tickets for previews, happening Wednesday through Friday, as well as Sunday’s afternoon performance are still available, starting at $46.
4040 Twiggs Street, Old Town
ENVZN24 Urban Art Takeover at the Soap Factory
September 14
This Saturday, San Diego and Tijuana’s creative voices will be out in full force during ENVZN24 Urban Art Takeover, an all-in-one artistic showcase. This event at the Soap Factory will feature short films, live music, screen printing, puppetry, a fashion show and more. General admission is $47 which includes access to all performances and local food and drink vendors, as well as an invitation into the avant-garde.
2995 Commercial Street, Logan Heights
The Importance of Being Earnest at Lamb’s Players Theatre
September 14 – November 10
Oscar Wilde’s famous tale of love and deceit, The Importance of Being Earnest, will be revived at the Lamb’s Players Theatre, beginning this Saturday. The play, directed by Kerry Meads, will provide a detailed look at the trysts and times of Victorian high society with period-accurate costumes and Wilde’s comedy dialogue. Weekday tickets range from $38 to $72, while weekend performances range from $48 to $82.
1142 Orange Avenue, Coronado
Blue Gold: The Art and Science of Indigo at Mingei Museum of Art
September 14 – March 16
Part of Gettys 2024 PST ART initiative, Blue Gold: The Art and Science of Indigo signifies that when it comes to color there is more than just meets the eye. The Mingei Museum of Art opens the exhibition this Saturday, outlining the process of producing blue dye from the indigo plant species, as well as its colorful variations. From its worldwide presence in clothing and manufacturing to its history as a symbol of colonialism and environmental devastation, the depth of indigo goes beyond the hues of its palette.
1439 El Prado, Balboa Park
More Fun Things To Do in San Diego this Weekend
Seaside Beach Takeover and Solento Surf Festival
September 14
The Solento Surf Festival kicks off with a chill day at the beach that promises live music, vendors and plenty of surfing. The free Seaside Beach Takeover will feature Encinitas alternative band Veni Sun, a beach bar, a face-off on the water between lifeguards and firefighters, and surfers showing their versatility in the Countdown Cup.
2504 South Coast Highway, Solana Beach
Punches in Little Italy
September 14
Held in honor of Bobby DePhilippis—boxing promoter, Filippi’s Pizza Grottos owner and Little Italy icon—the charity Punches in Little Italy exhibition will feature 10 three-round amateur boxing fights at Washington Elementary School this Saturday at 6 p.m. These amateur bouts are put on by the Bobby D. Foundation, formed to ensure DePhilippis’ legacy lives on in the ring. Tickets start at $50; VIP seats and ringside tables are also available for purchase.
1789 State Street, Little Italy
