With summer in full swing and a high 70s in the forecast for this weekend, there is no better time to be outside, especially with the return of marquee events like the Over The Line World Championships, Beethoven by the Bay and the University of San Diego Wine Classic. Outdoor activities also include Marine Band San Diego’s annual show in Little Italy and the start of the Friday night concert series at Point Loma Park. But if you need a break from the heat, there’s plenty to do inside, too, like catching a retro film screening at Balboa Theatre or stopping by Thumbprint Gallery’s Cats & Castles exhibition, an artistic tribute to Studio Ghibli. Here are the best things to do this weekend in San Diego:
Food & Drink | Concerts & Festivals | Theater & Art Exhibits | More Fun Things to Do
Food & Drink Events in San Diego This Weekend
Malibu Barbie Cafe Pop-Up
Opening July 11
Come on Barbie, let’s go party! The newest location of the traveling Malibu Barbie Cafe will open its doors at Bayside Kitchen and Bar this Friday, inviting all to revel in the hot pink paradise of Barbie’s world. Features include photo-ops and exclusive Barbie merchandise, a menu crafted by chef Becky Brown and a skate rink with a $1 donation to skate (all proceeds will go to Girls Inc.). Tickets, starting at $25, come with 90-minute seating, a $10 food credit and a $5 merch credit; children ages 2 and under don’t need a ticket. Reserve your spot here.
2137 Pacific Highway, Little Italy
Summer Bash at Jitters Coffee Pub
July 12
Jitters Coffee Pub has recently undergone a facelift, with renovations, a new investor in local resident Jason Mraz and a revamped plant-based menu from Felix Alcaide of One Kitchen Collaborative. Now, Oceanside’s oldest coffee shop is planning on hosting more community events, including live music, comedy nights and Taco Tuesdays. To cement this new chapter, Jitters is hosting a free Summer Bash this Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. with live music, vegan fish tacos, and local vendors.
510 North Coast Highway, Oceanside
University of San Diego Wine Classic
July 12
There will be plenty of cork-popping at the University of San Diego Wine Classic, with over 20 wineries from California and around the globe pouring this Saturday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Held in USD’s scenic Garden of the Sea, adjacent to the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice, the event will fundraise for the school’s Alumni Endowed Scholarship Fund. Attendees can enjoy unlimited drink tastings and gourmet food, plus live musical entertainment, auction items, a commemorative wine glass and free parking. Tickets are $145 and $165 the day of the event.
5998 Alcala Park, Morena
Concerts & Festivals in San Diego This Weekend
Point Loma Summer Concerts
Fridays from July 11 – August 8
The Point Loma Summer Concerts series is celebrating a quarter century of summertime performances with a lineup of free Friday night shows at Point Loma Park beginning this week. The first of five installments in this year’s series will be headlined by the George Harrison tribute band By George (6:30 p.m.) and feature Against the Grain on the junior stage (5:30 p.m.) as well as a patriotic performance from Anna & Rice. Pull up to the park for this community concert and enjoy catering from the Point Loma Farmers Market.
1049 Catalina Boulevard, Point Loma
Soulja Boy & Bow Wow at Bayside Amphitheater
July 12
SeaWorld San Diego is welcoming Soulja Boy and Bow Wow for the next installment of its Summer Spectacular Concert Series this Saturday at 6 p.m. Soulja Boy is a digital rap pioneer with an iconic dance and an influential catalog to boot, while Bow Wow has amassed several classic songs throughout a career that first began in his early teens. All performances in the concert series at Bayside Amphitheater are included with park admission, but parkgoers can upgrade by purchasing reserved ($70) or VIP ($95) seating.
500 SeaWorld Drive, Mission Bay
Marine Band San Diego Summer Concert
July 12
This year marks 250 years of the U.S. Marine Corps, and the 35-piece Marine Band San Diego will mark the occasion with a free performance in the Piazza della Famiglia this Saturday at 7 p.m. This annual summertime concert highlights the musical talents of the armed forces, with the 2025 program focusing on illustrious American composers such as John Philip Sousa, Henry Fillmore, John Williams and George Gershwin.
523 West Date Street, Little Italy
Beethoven by the Bay at The Rady Shell
July 13
Beethoven by the Bay has become a seasonal tradition at the Rady Shell, with each summer showcase exploring the works of an incomparable composer. During Sunday’s performance (7:30 p.m.), the San Diego Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Marie Jacquot, will begin with Beethoven’s Overture to Coriolan and conclude with his Symphony No. 6. In between the two Beethoven compositions, violinist Clara-Jumi Kang will play the Violin Concerto of Beethoven’s German compatriot Felix Mendelssohn. Tickets range from $54 to $130 for this concert.
222 Marina Park Way, Embarcadero
Theater & Art Exhibits in San Diego This Weekend
Anastasia at Moonlight Amphitheatre
July 9-26
As with the 1997 animated film of the same name, the musical Anastasia stems from the myth of Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna escaping her family’s execution by the Bolsheviks. In this historical fantasy, a young amnesiac woman named Anya teams up with a pair of con men in the hope of reconnecting with her remaining family. Though the story of what happened in real life is much less enchanting, Anastasia posits this tall tale as a romantic story with an uplifting soundtrack. Tickets range from $45 to $67 for this production at the Moonlight Amphitheatre.
1250 Vale Terrace Drive, Vista
Pippin at the Star Theatre
July 11-20
A young prince in the Middle Ages searches far and wide to fulfill his life’s purpose, and maybe even find happiness, through acts of lust, power and desperation during Pippin. The Star Theatre Company’s upcoming production will be based on its 2013 Broadway revival and feature acrobatic choreography, a live orchestra, and—as with any performance of Pippin—plenty of fourth wall breaks. Tickets range from $22 to $32, with shows this Friday (7:30 p.m.), Saturday (7:30 p.m.) and Sunday (2 p.m.) at the Star Theatre.
402 North Coast Highway, Oceanside
Cats & Castles: A Studio Ghibli Fan Art Show at Thumbprint Gallery
July 11-26
The films of Studio Ghibli, the Japanese animation studio behind My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away and many more gems, depict mythical and magical worlds packed with wonderfully beautiful scenery and emotionally expansive stories. Through its newest exhibition, Cats & Castles: A Studio Ghibli Fan Art Show, Thumbprint Gallery is showcasing the nostalgic works of 10 artists inspired by the bountiful creations of the Studio Ghibli universe. Cats & Castles will have a free opening reception this Friday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
920 Kline Street, La Jolla
Conversations in Art: Dignity at the Museum of Photographic Arts
July 11 – Jan. 4, 2026
Through this installment of the Conversations in Art initiative, four local artists have drawn from pieces in the San Diego Museum of Art’s collection to thoroughly explore the theme of “dignity.” This exhibition will feature new works from Hugo Crosthwaite, Anthony Sigala, Cat Chiu Phillips and The Aja Project co-founder Shinpei Takeda. The AjA Project’s Back Alley Poets Club will perform and read poetry this Thursday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. to celebrate the exhibition’s opening at the Museum of Photographic Arts; RSVP for free here.
1649 El Prado, Balboa Park
Hiding in Plain Site: Retrospective of an Unknown Artist at Union Hall Gallery
July 12 – August 10
Hiding in Plain Site unveils over 30 years of private artwork crafted by Joseph A. Henseler, with 88 original works and limited edition prints on public display for the first time. This exhibition is a diverse spread of artistic mediums and includes skills Henseler learned under the tutelage of the legendary James Hubbell. Hiding in Plain Site will have a free opening night party this Saturday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Union Hall Gallery with live music, refreshments and a Q&A with the artist.
2323 Broadway, Golden Hill
Jean Lowe, Abraham Razo and Kim MacConnel: Down with the Hierarchy! At Best Practice
July 12 – August 16
In Down with the Hierarchy! Encinitas-based artist Jean Lowe and Mexicali-based graffiti artist Abraham Razo, plus a furniture element from Kim MacConnel, muddy the traditional definitions of highbrow and lowbrow by combining French period decoration, Persian carpet design and street art. This collaborative installation at Best Practice Gallery will include displays of graffiti, florals and furniture interacting with paintings and sculpture. Down with the Hierarchy! will have a free opening reception with the featured artists this Saturday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
1955 Julian Avenue, Logan Heights
More Fun Things To Do in San Diego This Weekend
The Basement Yard Experience at the Balboa Theatre
July 10 & 11
The Basement Yard Podcast co-hosts and longtime besties Joe Santagato and Frank Alvarez are bringing their wonderfully chaotic bickering to the Balboa Theatre with a pair of live shows. During The Basement Yard Experience, fans can enjoy absurdly funny debates, amusing personal stories and plenty of audience participation—with some fans potentially being invited onstage. Tickets are $64 for the The Basement Yard Experience, happening Thursday and Friday at 8 p.m.
868 Fourth Avenue, Gaslamp
Over the Line World Championships at Fiesta Island Park
July 12-20
Stop by Fiesta Island Park this weekend and next for a glimpse at the greatest show on sand during the 72nd annual Over the Line World Championships. Through this yearly tournament, Old Mission Beach Athletic Club keeps the local tradition alive with a series of high-stakes matchups between men’s and women’s teams across different age groups and skill levels. Spectators are free to come watch and cheer on their favorite teams, plus it’s still not too late to register for a spot (starting at $56).
1590 E Mission Bay Drive, Mission Bay
PARTNER CONTENT
Retro Rewind at the Balboa Theatre
July 13
This Sunday as part of its Retro Rewind series, the Balboa Theatre will host a double feature of essential ‘80s cinema with The Goonies at 1 p.m. and The Lost Boys at 6 p.m. These throwback films will be paired with old school concessions to take in the adventurous stories on the big screen. Plus, the theater’s second floor bar will be serving specialty cocktails for each screening, with the lemon-lime and vodka mixture of The Goonie Glow and David’s Blood, a red rum and citrus fusion. Tickets range from $18 to $36 for The Goonies and The Lost Boys.
868 Fourth Avenue, Gaslamp
