Whether you’re a San Diego resident or a summertime visitor to America’s Finest City, this weekend offers a lineup of events that prove SD is the place to be. San Diego Pride brings a plethora of activities, including the free Pride Parade and the two-day festival at Marston Point in Balboa Park. Up the coast, the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club will be off to the races once more as Opening Day kicks off its 86th summer season. Plus, the live entertainment options are plentiful, with several concerts (such as Iration, Mereba, and Incubus) and theater productions (like Steel Magnolias and A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder) to explore.
Food & Drink | Concerts & Festivals | Theater & Art Exhibits | More Fun Things to Do
Whiskey & Fire
Food & Drink Events in San Diego This Weekend
Bill Oakley Presents An American Culinary Curiosity Dinner
July 15–16
Comedy writer Bill Oakley, a creative force on shows like The Simpsons, Portlandia, and Futurama, is bringing his An American Culinary Curiosity Dinner series to San Diego for a pair of culinary events this week. Oakley will spotlight unique regional dishes through a surprise menu and dish out insights from his foodie travels. Tuesday’s dinner at Ponyboy (7:30 p.m.) is $114 per person (with gratuity) and includes five courses, while Wednesday’s at Ballast Point Miramar (6 p.m.) is $120 per person and comes with seven courses.
1410 Rosecrans Street, Point Loma | 9045 Carroll Way, Miramar
Whiskey & Fire San Diego
July 20
Whiskies of the World and Heritage Fire are teaming up for a tasteful takeover of Liberty Station’s North Promenade, with over 20 local chefs and more than 50 whiskey partners serving samples at Whiskey & Fire San Diego. This Sunday from 4:15 p.m. to 7 p.m., there will be chef demos, entertainment, exclusive tastings, and live-fire cooking, with attendees voting for their favorite bites after sampling the spread. The ticket options for Sunday’s event are general admission ($125) and VIP admission ($175), which comes with early entry at 3:30 p.m.
2848 Dewey Road, Point Loma
Concerts & Festivals in San Diego This Weekend
The Driver Era at Gallagher Square
July 16
Formed out of their adolescent band R5—a Radio Disney staple and a favorite for those who grew up watching Austin and Ally—The Driver Era has allowed Rocky and Ross Lynch to grow into their adult careers and mature as artists in an alt-rock duo. Tickets start at $30 for The Driver Era’s upcoming concert at Gallagher Square this Wednesday at 7 p.m.
899 J Street, Downtown
San Diego Pride
July 16–20
Join the local celebrations and show support for the LGBTQ community with the return of San Diego Pride. Saturday brings the free Pride Parade (10 a.m. to 3 p.m.) and the start of the Pride Festival, featuring four stages of music, drag, and dance performers, with a lineup headlined by Kehlani and Kim Petras. The festival will run Saturday (noon to 10 p.m.) and Sunday (noon to 9 p.m.) at Marston Point in Balboa Park; tickets range from $39 single-day passes to $233 weekend VIP tickets. Additional San Diego Pride events include University Christian Church’s Annual Pride BBQ (Friday) and the TEEN-Versionary 2025 program at Diversionary Theatre (Friday through Sunday).
Citywide
Filipino American Friendship Festival at NTC Park
July 19
Celebrate Filipino culture in Liberty Station this Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at NTC Park during the free fifth annual Filipino American Friendship Festival. Attendees can enjoy live entertainment, sign up to sing on the karaoke stage, peruse the vendors in the Palengke Village, and partake in a lumpia-eating contest. Plus, there will be a kids’ zone, a cultural corner, a storytellers’ space, interactive games, and line-dancing. RSVP for the festival here.
2455 Cushing Road, Point Loma
Incubus at North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
July 19
Longtime fans of Incubus can enjoy a performance of the band’s 2001 album Morning View in its entirety at their upcoming concert in Chula Vista. This show, taking place at 7 p.m. on Saturday night at North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre, will serve as a career revue, highlighting Incubus’ most popular album and their greatest hits. Tickets start at $30 for this concert.
2050 Entertainment Circle, Chula Vista
Iration at Gallagher Square
July 20
Spend your Sunday with a breezy lineup of reggae music at Gallagher Square, headlined by SoCal reggae staple Iration. Sunday’s performance will also feature Through the Roots; Boostive; Mouse Powell; and the legendary Inner Circle, who first formed in Kingston, Jamaica back in 1968. Tickets start at $30 for this concert, with doors opening at 3 p.m.
899 J Street, Downtown
Mereba at Music Box
July 20
Mereba’s The Breeze Grew a Fire, a blend of folk, pop, and R&B, is the Grammy-nominated artist’s first full-length project in six years. See the new tunes live this Sunday at 8 p.m. at Music Box. Tickets start at $33.
1337 India Street, Little Italy
Theater & Art Exhibits in San Diego This Weekend
Water Stories at The Photographer’s Eye
Through August 2
The Photographer’s Eye presents the group exhibition Water Stories, featuring Stefan Frutiger, William Bay, and Terri Warpinski. Bay’s Parts Per Million centers on pollution in the Tijuana River; the mixed-media focus of Frutiger’s Forgotten Waters is on the water troubles of the American Southwest; and Warpinski’s Ground / Water, part of her Restless Earth project, offers beautiful visions of nature. Water Stories will be on display for free Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and by appointment through August 2.
326 East Grand Avenue, Escondido
Steel Magnolias at Lamplighters Community Theatre
Through August 3
See Robert Harling’s Steel Magnolias in a new production directed by Kara Tuckfield at Lamplighters Community Theatre. As with its 1989 film adaptation, the stage play tells the story of a tight-knit group of Southern women who regularly convene in their local Louisiana beauty salon. General admission is $30 for Steel Magnolias, with performances Friday through Sunday through August 3.
5915 Severin Drive, La Mesa
A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder at North Coast Repertory Theatre
July 16–August 17
Passion, poison, and a devious succession plot lead to mayhem in the musical comedy A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder, opening Wednesday at the North Coast Repertory Theatre. When a commoner learns of his royal lineage upon the death of his mother, he cunningly devises a plan to eliminate those standing in the way of his inheritance one by one. Tickets are $65 for previews (Wednesday through Friday) and $75 for all successive performances.
987 Lomas Santa Fe Drive, Solana Beach
More Fun Things to Do in San Diego This Weekend
prAna presents: San Diego Wellness Week
Through July 19
Take part in Pilates, yoga, breathwork and much more throughout San Diego Wellness Week, with activities happening citywide, primarily in La Jolla. The week will conclude Saturday at the Museum of Contemporary Art with the Novo Dia Wellness Experience (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.), which includes a wellness market and a variety of classes, workshops, and panels, and the Closing Party (7 p.m.), featuring an immersive set from electronic composer Christian Loffler. Tickets range from the free Networking pass to the $269 all-inclusive Elevate pass, which grants access to all the events, experiences, and amenities. View the full schedule for the week here.
Citywide
To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar at UltraStar Mission Valley Cinemas
July 16
Thirty years after its release, To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar remains a trailblazing film in LGBTQ cinema and is particularly beloved for its camp sensibilities. In this cult classic, a trio of drag queens—played by Patrick Swayze, Wesley Snipes, and John Leguizamo—driving to the Drag Queen of America pageant get stranded in rural Nebraska, leading to a memorable fish-out-of-water story. Tickets are $16 for FilmOut San Diego’s screening of To Wong Foo! this Wednesday at 7 p.m. at UltraStar Mission Valley Cinemas.
7510 Hazard Center Drive, Mission Valley
San Diego FC vs. Toronto FC & San Diego FC vs. Vancouver Whitecaps at Snapdragon Stadium
July 16 & 19
San Diego FC will look to keep their hold on first place in the Western Conference as they host two home matches this week, the first coming Wednesday (7:30 p.m.) against Toronto FC. Then Saturday (7:30 p.m.), they’ll welcome the Vancouver Whitecaps to town for Community Night at Snapdragon Stadium, where SDFC will celebrate San Diego County’s 18 cities with a silent auction, a pre-game fan fest, and a giveaway of 24,000 rally towels. Tickets start at $21 for Wednesday’s match and $30 for Saturday’s match.
2101 Stadium Way, Mission Valley
Opening Day at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club
July 18
This Saturday, the 86th summer season at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club will begin with Opening Day. Watch the horses round the racecourse from the Stretch Run or a VIP section (such as The Grand or the Celebrity Grill) or join The Party at the Seaside Cabana, complete with DJs, craft beers, cocktail bars, and photo booths. Attendees are highly encouraged to dress in their summer best and show off their elegant style in the Hats Contest (11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.) where there will be awards for Most Glamorous, Best Fascinator, Best Flowers, and Best Racing Theme. Opening Day admission starts at $72.
2260 Jimmy Durante Boulevard, Del Mar
Opening Day After Party at L’Auberge Del Mar
July 18
Toast to the first summer races at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club at L’Auberge Del Mar’s 21-plus Opening Day After Party this Friday at 5 p.m. Revel in the good life with the Italian-inspired theme of La Dolce Vita by the Sea, with handcrafted cocktails, delectable bites, live music, DJs, and scenic ocean views. Tickets are $275 online and will rise to $300 the day of. Visitors can also reserve a poolside cabana or a Pacific Terrace Cabana for the event or stay overnight with an Opening Day Room Package.
1540 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar
