By the looks of it, this weekend is shaping up to be the most event-rich stretch of the year, with plentiful chances to go out, give back and experience all the diverse offerings San Diego has in store. Concerts, car shows, annual exhibitions and free festivals—the hardest part will be choosing which activities to check out. The return of marquee attractions like WOW Festival, Art Alive, Adams Avenue Unplugged, San Diego EarthFest and the La Jolla Concours d’Élégance means there is no better time than the present to revel in all that makes this city special. So don’t miss out.
Food & Drink | Concerts & Festivals | Theater & Art Exhibits | More Fun Things to Do
Food & Drink Events in San Diego This Weekend
Uncorked: San Diego at Embarcadero Marina Park North
April 25
The traveling Uncorked festival heads back to Embarcadero Marina Park North this Saturday from 1-5 p.m. for another 21+ bottle-popping celebration. Uncorked: San Diego promises more than 150 international wines and sparkling drink selections, plus a range of spirits, mocktails and canned cocktails. Plus, attendees can enjoy food trucks, live DJs and an assortment of lawn games. Ticket options include early admission ($95) and general admission ($79), which comes with entry at 2 p.m.; proceeds from this event will go toward the nonprofit Urban Surf 4 Kids.
400 Kettner Boulevard, Embarcadero
Filipino Food Pop-Up at San Diego History Center
April 26
In conjunction with the Taste of San Diego: Filipino Culinary Journeys exhibition, the San Diego History Center and the Council of Philippine American Organizations are hosting a Filipino Food Pop-Up. This complimentary culinary add-on, happening Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., will feature a Filipino menu of mainstays and desserts from Gabina’s Cuisine. History center visitors will be able to closely observe the cultural traditions within the exhibition while eating cuisine that reflects the city’s Filipino gastronomic evolution.
1649 El Prado, Balboa Park
Dawson’s Creek Brunch at Mic Drop Comedy
April 26
Up for an afternoon in Capeside? Fans of The WB’s golden era can reserve a spot at Mic Drop Comedy’s 21+ Dawson’s Creek Brunch, celebrating the iconic teen drama that launched the careers of Katie Holmes, Michelle Williams, Joshua Jackson and the dearly departed James Van Der Beek. Experience the series’ most memorable moments, including the love triangles and Dawson’s eternal crying face. Doors open this Sunday at noon, with the event beginning at 1 p.m. General admission is $26 and a VIP booth, which comes with five tickets, is $225.
8878 Clairemont Mesa Boulevard, Kearny Mesa
Concerts & Festivals in San Diego This Weekend
Charlie Puth at Viejas Arena
April 22
Six months after teasing his new project with a pair of intimate residencies at Blue Note Jazz Club in NYC and LA, Charlie Puth released his fourth studio album, Whatever’s Clever!, in late March. The smooth, nostalgic pop sound of the record is bolstered by an eclectic lineup of features, which include R&B dynamos Coco Jones and Ravyn Lenae, yacht rock icons Kenny Loggins and Michael McDonald and Japanese-American pop idol Hikaru Utada. Puth’s performance this Wednesday at Viejas Arena (7:30 p.m.) will feature singer-songwriters Daniel Seavey and Ally Salort as openers. Tickets range from $42 to $176 for this concert.
5500 Canyon Crest Drive, Rolando
Adams Avenue Unplugged
April 25
Roam along Adams Avenue and see a plethora of pop-up concerts this Saturday from noon to midnight during Adams Avenue Unplugged. Ninety performers will play across 26 stages spread throughout University Heights, Kensington and Normal Heights, with local venues including cafes, pubs, and the offices of Heights Optometry. All performances are free except for the headliner set at 7 p.m. from Latino rock legend Alejandro Escovedo at Normal Heights United Church ($40). The church will also host the festival’s beer garden, and those who purchase the VIP food & drink package ($25), will receive three beers and a taco combo plate.
Adams Avenue
Ichiko Aoba at Balboa Theatre
April 25
Japanese multi-instrumentalist Ichiko Aoba distills vivid dreams into awe-inspiring music, creating boundless worlds where natural beauty pairs with audial delight. Aoba’s most recent album, Luminescent Creatures, takes this concept to satisfying new heights with a collection of songs that balance the quiet, loving embrace of home with the enchanting allure of freedom, all brought together by her calm, whisper-like vocals. Concertgoers can get swept away in Aoba’s world when she performs this Saturday at 8 p.m. at Balboa Theatre as part of her Across the Oceans Tour. Tickets range from $55 to $136 for this concert.
868 Fourth Avenue, Gaslamp
Theater & Art Exhibits in San Diego This Weekend
WOW Festival at UC San Diego
April 23-26
Watch marching bands, tap dancers, boozy puppet cabarets and so much more across the UC San Diego campus this Thursday-Sunday during La Jolla Playhouse’s annual WOW Festival. This year’s lineup features an array of works from homegrown and international artists that boast weirdly creative concepts, unpredictable storylines and audaciously original flair that promises a performing arts spectacle like no other. Most performances are free, but reservations are encouraged to ensure spots are available; tickets for paid shows range from $10 to $29.
La Jolla
Art Alive at San Diego Museum of Art
April 23-26
In honor of the San Diego Museum of Art’s ongoing 100th anniversary, this year’s Art Alive fundraiser theme comes from the bohemian Parisian setting of the centennial exhibition Cafés and Cabarets, which highlights the work of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. The floral exhibition, where earthly treasures are equipped to recreate fine art from the museum’s collection and a resplendent rotunda, will be open Friday from noon to 4 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Special features include the interactive garden of activities (included with admission) happening throughout the weekend and Friday’s 21+ Bloom Bash kick-off party from 7 p.m. to midnight ($395). Timed ticket reservations are $45 for the exhibition.
1450 El Prado, Balboa Park
Lend Me a Soprano at Scripps Ranch Theatre
April 23 – May 17
Originally produced in 1986 as Lend Me a Tenor, Ken Ludwig’s comedy has received a second life in the female-driven Lend Me a Soprano, written by Ludwig in 2022. Just as with his original play, Lend Me a Soprano takes place behind the curtain of a 1934 performance of the Cleveland Opera Company, where eccentric characters and chaotic exchanges threaten to ruin the show before it even starts. Tickets range from $27 to $38 for previews this Thursday and Friday at 7:30 p.m., and from $30-$52 for the production’s opening night this Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
9783 Avenue of Nations, Scripps Ranch
Mission Fed ArtWalk
April 25 & 26
Admire rows of intriguing pieces from over 250 artists in Little Italy throughout 42nd annual Mission Fed ArtWalk. This Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., check out featured artists specializing in clay, mixed media, acrylics and more, as well as culturally resonant works in Plaza México and recycled vinyl records up for grabs in ArtReach’s online Charity Art Auction. Plus, there will be immersive art projects, a KidsWalk, a dozen food vendors and four live music stages with local musicians playing all day long.
India Street from Beech Street to Grape Street, Little Italy
Michael Kenna: Confessionali at Joseph Bellows Gallery
April 25 – May 30
Confessionals are resolute, imposing, holders of shared secrets and forgiven sins, but are they also architectural marvels? Confessionali, from British photographer Michael Kenna and curated by Lile Kvantaliani, spotlights the stark aesthetics and symbolic presence of these structures. Visitors to Joseph Bellows Gallery can analyze this collection of black-and-white images taken by Kenna between 2007-2016 in Reggio Emilia, Italy and decipher the religious subtext that lies beneath. Confessionali will have a free opening reception this Saturday from 6-8 p.m.
7661 Girard Avenue, La Jolla
More Fun Things to Do in San Diego This Weekend
Naturally Rising 2026 at Vesper
April 23
See leaders from five natural product companies present their business plans this Thursday from 4:30-7:30 p.m. at Vesper in Liberty Station. During Natural Rising 2026, Naturally San Diego’s Shark Tank-esque pitch competition, the founders of SUNMUD, Fave, ōku, Mezo Beverages and Flora Flora will showcase their ideas to an expert panel and the audience. Attendees will have the chance to network, enjoy refreshments and vote on their favorite presentation. Tickets are $65 for brand members and service provider members and $110 for non-members.
2875 Dewey Road, Point Loma
San Diego Sockers vs. Milwaukee Wave at Frontwave Arena
April 24
Dramatic, clutch-time strikes by Leonardo de Oliveira and Nick Perera mean the San Diego Sockers are now just two wins away from their 17th-ever indoor soccer title—and a seventh and final championship as a player for the retiring Kraig Chiles. The only team still standing in their path are the Milwaukee Wave, the Sockers’ date for this year’s Major Arena Soccer League finals. The best-of-three series begins Wednesday night in Milwaukee before heading back to SoCal this Friday at 7:30 p.m.; if necessary, the third match of the series will take place Monday, April 27 at 7 p.m. at Frontwave Arena. Tickets range from $26 to $87 for Friday’s finals match.
3475 Hero Drive, Oceanside
La Jolla Concours d’Élégance
April 24-26
Cruise into automobile heaven at the La Jolla Concours d’Élégance this Friday-Sunday. The festivities begin with Friday’s VIP Opening Soirée from 6-10 p.m. which includes a live auction, cocktails, bites, and a special look at the weekend’s standout cars. Next is Saturday’s Porsches & Power on Prospect in La Jolla Village from 5-9 p.m., a free celebration of style and substance. Then comes the big event, Sunday’s Concours d’Élégance from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., featuring live music, Champagne and classic cars lined up along the coastline. Ticket options include Sunday General admission ($129), the VIP Opening Soirée ($449) and the VIP weekend package ($799).
La Jolla
San Diego EarthFest
April 25
Learn how to keep the planet intact for generations to come during the free San Diego EarthFest, happening this Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the President’s Way Lawn at Balboa Park. Peruse more than 100 sustainability-minded vendors, a collection of local environmental nonprofits, all-day DJ sets, family-friendly activities and wellness classes; pre-registration is encouraged for classes due to limited space. Plus, the festival’s main stage will include acoustic and hip-hop musicians, as well as sessions on zero-waste living, collective climate action and how to make a sustainable impact through social media.
Park Boulevard and Presidents Way, Balboa Park
Chicano Park Day
April 25
This Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., community members are invited to gather where it all began on April 22, 1970 and commemorate the anniversary of Chicano Park. On this date, the roots of collective action sprung from the surface, leading to the birth of the Chicano Park Steering Committee and a hard-fought space for all, recognized in the National Register of Historic Places (2013) and as a National Historic Landmark (2016). Park visitors can celebrate the 56th annual Chicano Park Day and its legacy as “The Heart of the Chicano Movement” while enjoying live music, vendors, lowrider displays and Aztec dance performances.
1949 Logan Avenue, Barrio Logan
Creek to Bay Cleanup
April 25
I Love A Clean San Diego invites all to spend their Saturday morning (9 a.m. to noon) with Mother Nature as part of the 24th annual Creek to Bay Cleanup. To help ensure the preservation of San Diego’s waterways, volunteers can sign up online for shifts at 100+ San Diego County locations, such as the Tijuana River Valley, Sunset Cliffs National Park, Pine Valley and Fletcher Cove. Those who sign up are encouraged to dress comfortably and bring water, sun protection and sustainable supplies. Trash bags and disposable gloves will be provided to volunteers.
Citywide
PARTNER CONTENT
Panda Fest San Diego
April 25 & 26
San Diego is home to two pandas, and for this weekend only it’ll welcome a third: the giant inflatable mascot of Panda Fest. This Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Waterfront Park, explore street food, merchandise and panda-themed vendors, plus art demonstrations, dance performances and live entertainment that spotlight Asian culture. Ticket options include general admission (Saturday: $21; Sunday: $18) and VIP passes (Saturday: $43; Sunday: $41), which come with deluxe bathrooms, expedited entry and a complimentary bag; children ages 6 and under don’t require a ticket.
1600 Pacific Highway, Embarcadero
