Need a dose of culture this weekend? San Diego’s got events for that. Local musicians will fête two certified legends—Aretha Franklin and Bob Marley—with tributes. Meanwhile, fans of fine art will have much to feast their eyes on with a plethora of new exhibitions. And if movies are more your thing, stop by the Brooks Theater during its five days of film programming for the Oceanside International Film Festival.
The Westgate Hotel is going totally Wickedwith afternoon tea times that will transport you to the Emerald City. In the hotel’s Grand Lobby this Wednesday through Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m., patrons will nibble sweet and savory treats, sip tea and rosé, and hear tunes from the franchise played live on a harp. Attendees are invited to dress as their favorite characters, too. Reservations are $74 for adults and $49 for kids ages 2 to 12 years old, with complimentary admission for infants ages 1 and under.
At Shuck & Sip, a pop-up at Postino Little Italy this Friday from 6 to 9 p.m., attendees will shuck fresh oysters from The Shellfish Affair and slurp them down alongside sparkling wines from Alta Vista. There are two reservation choices for this event: a $35 option that comes with six oysters and one glass of wine and an $80 option that includes a dozen oysters and a full bottle.
2100 Kettner Boulevard, Little Italy
Courtesy of Blind Boys of Alabama
Concerts & Festivals in San Diego This Weekend
Oceanside International Film Festival
February 18–22
The Oceanside International Film Festival returns Tuesday through Saturday with a spotlight on independent filmmakers. As always, the Sunshine Brooks Theater—a fixture of the Oceanside Cultural District—will host, offering screenings through Saturday, including a slate of short film programs and international sea- and surf-centered movies. Tickets can be purchased here.
R.E.S.P.E.C.T.: A Celebration of the Music of Aretha Franklin at Balboa Theatre
February 22
This Saturday at the Balboa Theatre, the Queen of Soul will receive more than a little R.E.S.P.E.C.T. Vocalists and a live band will bring to life the top hits from Aretha Franklin’s musical catalog, including anthems like “Natural Woman” and “Chain of Fools.” Tickets start at $54 for this performance.
868 4th Avenue, Gaslamp
South Bay Zine Fest
February 23
Emerging artists and storytellers will display their work to the public at the South Bay Zine Fest, taking place this Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Illusion Hall. This festival is free and open to attendees of all ages.
281 3rd Avenue, Chula Vista
Blind Boys of Alabama featuring Shemekia Copeland at Poway Center for the Performing Arts
February 23
Enjoy a Sunday afternoon gospel performance from one of America’s longest-running music groups at the Poway Center for the Performing Arts. The Blind Boys of Alabama, whose members are visually impaired or blind, have been making music since 1939 and released their most recent album, Echoes of the South, in 2023. This performance will also feature a powerful assist from blues crooner and roots music artist Shemekia Copeland. Tickets range from $42 to $94 for this concert.
15498 Espola Road, Poway
Courtesy of City of Carlsbad
Theater & Art Exhibits in San Diego This Weekend
we are continuous at Diversionary Theatre
Through March 9
In Harrison David Rivers’ semi-autobiographical play we are continuous, a piece of disquieting news tests the close-knit connections between main character Simon; his mother, Ora; and his husband like never before. There will be four performances of we are continuous this week at the Diversionary Theatre, with tickets ranging from $22 to $62.
The La Jolla Playhouse’s newest world premiere—the sixth collaboration for Joe DiPietro and Christopher Ashley at the Playhouse—is a historical musical based on three meetings between president Abraham Lincoln and abolitionist Frederick Douglass. 3 Summers of Lincolnfeatures an original gospel- and R&B-infused score crafted by composer Crystal Monee Hall and lyricist Daniel J. Watts. Tickets (ranging from $30 to $92) have already sold out for this week’s performances, but 3 Summers of Lincoln will enjoy an extended run through the end of March.
2910 La Jolla Village Drive, La Jolla
Silent Storytellers Opening Reception at Cannon Gallery
February 22
More than 60 paintings and drawings of the SoCal coast by Fredric Hope are currently available to view in Silent Storytellers at the William D. Cannon Gallery. The exhibition will open with a public reception with refreshments and live music this Saturday from 3 to 6 p.m. at the gallery. Silent Storytellers will be on display through June 28, with the gallery open Tuesday through Saturday from noon to 5 p.m.
1775 Dove Lane, Carlsbad
Keepers of the Culture: Honoring Our Cultural Icons at the San Diego African American Museum of Fine Art
February 22
The San Diego African American Museum of Fine Art and the San Diego History Center will celebrate its 2025 Keepers of the Culture awardees during Keepers of the Culture: Honoring Our Cultural Icons this Saturday from 5 to 7:30 p.m. This year’s honorees are California Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber, the Cooper Family Foundation, jazz radio host Ron Dhanifu, and local Alpha Kappa Alpha service leader Martha R. Logan. The event will begin with a reception featuring musician Kamau Kenyatta, with the evening’s program starting at 6 p.m. Keepers of the Culture is free to attend, but space is limited; RSVP here to ensure your spot.
1649 El Prado, Balboa Park
Charles Johnstone: In Search of the Perfect Palm at Joseph Bellows Gallery
February 22–March 28
Photographer Charles Johnstone used expired film and a 19th-century printing process to mimic daguerreotype images in his homage to Joseph-Philibert Girault de Prangey’s Palm Tree near the Church of Saints Theodore, Athens. Photography enthusiasts can see a series of Johnstone’s shots in the exhibition In Search of the Perfect Palm, which opens with a reception this Saturday from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Joseph Bellows Gallery’s atrium space.
7661 Girard Avenue, La Jolla
The Drawing Show at San Diego Central Library
February 22–May 4
Ten regional artists—including Hugo Crosthwaite, Annalise Neil, Amanda Kazemi, and Steve Gibso—will share their sketches in the 25th anniversary exhibition of The Drawing Show, on display in the Judith Harris Art Gallery of the San Diego Central Library beginning this Saturday.
330 Park Boulevard, Downtown
Courtesy of Digital Gym Cinema
More Fun Things to Do in San Diego This Weekend
Whose Live Anyway? at Balboa Theatre
February 21
A quartet of improv comedians will lead a 90-minute improv comedy show, creating songs and scenes with a healthy helping of audience participation at Whose Live Anyway?Performers Ryan Stiles, Greg Proops, Jeff B. Davis, and Joel Murray from the hit TV program Whose Line Is It Anyway? will demonstrate the on-the-spot thinking and impeccable comedic timing they perfected on the show. Tickets start at $79 and can be purchased here.
The highly acclaimed yet scarcely available documentary No Other Land arrives for a week-long run at Digital Gym Cinema this Friday. The Oscar-nominated film focuses on an unlikely friendship that forms amidst the devastation of the Masafer Yatta region and displacement of Palestinian residents by the Israeli military. Tickets range from $9 to $13.
1100 Market Street, East Village
Fido Fest
February 22
Have a paw-sitively fun time at Fido Fest, a free dog-themed festival at Town Center Community Park East this Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visitors, along with their furry friends, can check out doggy agility courses, a pet vendor village, and an adoption alley with canines from more than 20 local shelters. Fido Fest will also include a pet costume contest, a dog wellness zone with free microchipping and pet health tips, and a donation drive for attendees to drop off new dog food, bedding, blankets, and toys for rescue pups.
Ryan Hardison is a freelance arts and entertainment writer and recent graduate of San Diego State. When he's not staring at his laptop, he's likely eating an adobada burrito or getting sunburnt at the beach.
