This weekend’s weather is expected to side-step the May gray for a few warm and sunny days, making it the perfect time to roam San Diego for things to do. Seasonal shoppers can find unique hand-crafted items in abundance at the San Diego Spring Made Market in La Mesa Village and Bernardo Winery’s annual Arts & Crafts Fair. The philanthropically inclined can attend an Elton John concert for cancer research at Petco Park or charitable galas for children experiencing homelessness and San Diegans fighting food insecurity. Plus, those still scrambling for a Mother’s Day celebration are in luck, we have the 411 on all the restaurants celebrating mom this weekend.
Food & Drink | Concerts & Festivals | Theater & Art Exhibits | More Fun Things to Do
Food & Drink Events in San Diego This Weekend
Coronado Art & Wine Festival
May 10
Spend the afternoon supporting local artists, wineries and schools during the Coronado Art & Wine Festival Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. The festivities will include over 100 artist booths, kids-focused art and STEM areas, a live DJ, and gourmet food options from Coronado eateries. Festival admission is free, but for more elevated experiences, the Wine Village ($50), Bubbles Lounge ($75) and all-inclusive VIP option ($100) include exclusive bites and wine tastings. Proceeds from this community event will go towards STEM and arts education in Coronado.
1125 10th Street, Coronado
Junior League of San Diego’s Party for a Purpose: Dancing in the Moonlight
May 10
Help individuals affected by food security during Party for a Purpose: Dancing in the Moonlight, an elegant evening by the San Diego Bay with the women-led nonprofit Junior League of San Diego. Guests can enjoy raffles, auctions, a live DJ, a menu of bites and signature cocktails and a night of dancing at Bali Hai Restaurant Saturday night. General admission is $100, while $150 VIP admission comes with a gift bag and a tour of San Diego Bay on the Aolani Catamaran. VIPs can enter the event at 4:30 p.m. while general admission grants access at 5:30 p.m.
2230 Shelter Island Drive, Shelter Island
Father Joe’s Villages Children’s Charity Gala
May 10
Fundraise for children experiencing homelessness at Father Joe’s Villages’ 75th anniversary Children’s Charity Gala this Saturday at the US Grant Hotel. The night will begin with a cocktails and hors d’oeuvres reception with a silent auction, followed by a multi-course dinner, live auction and uplifting testimonials. This will be followed by an afterparty with live music and a coffee and dessert bar. Tickets include $425 general admission and $600 VIP tickets that come with premier seating, tableside Champagne and complimentary valet parking.
326 Broadway, Downtown
Mother’s Day Tea at the Fairmont Grand Del Mar
May 11
Looking for a luxurious Mother’s Day activity that’s sure to impress? Consider the Fairmont Grand Del Mar’s Mother’s Day Tea, with tea times from noon to 3:30 p.m. this Sunday in the opulent setting of The Lobby Lounge. Sip your afternoon tea with all of the classic treats: finger sandwiches, a selection of crafted pastries, and fresh scones paired with clotted cream and jam. Reservations are $125 per adult, $65 for children ages 4-11 and complimentary for kids under 3 (not including tax and gratuity).
5300 Grand Del Mar Court, Del Mar
Concerts & Festivals in San Diego This Weekend
GI Film Festival
May 7-9
Active service members and military veterans will showcase their acting and directing skills throughout the three-day GI Film Festival. Over five showtimes Wednesday through Friday, 16 films will be screened at the Museum of Photographic Arts, including several narrative short films, and documentaries on the historic Montford Point Marines and the sinking of the HMT Rohna. General admission is $15 per showtime and multi-ticket packs, which come with admission to all films and events, are on sale for $60.
1649 El Prado, Balboa Park
Gator by the Bay
May 8-11
Get transported to the French Quarter at Gator by the Bay, the best bayou bash this side of New Orleans. From the seven stages of live music (like zydeco, blues, swing and roots) to the array of Cajun and Creole eats (with gumbo, beignets and 10K pounds of crawfish), Spanish Landing Park will be filled to the brim with Louisiana love this Thursday through Sunday. This annual festival from the Bon Temps Social Club also includes interactive dance lessons, kid-friendly activities, cooking demos, and a southern-themed marketplace. Single-day general admission starts at $68, while 4-day passes range from $254 to $653.
3900 North Harbor Drive, Point Loma
Curebound Concert For Cures: Elton John at Petco Park
May 9
Curebound’s annual benefit show Concert for Cures is back with a new venue and a legendary name. This Friday at 8 p.m., Elton John, fresh off the release of his collaborative album Who Believes in Angels? with Brandi Carlile and a debilitating eye infection, will serve as headliner for this philanthropic show at Petco Park. Concert for Cures raises money for early-phase adult and pediatric cancer research in San Diego, with Curebound having already invested $43 million. Tickets start at $43 for this fundraiser performance.
100 Park Boulevard, Downtown
Spring Arts & Crafts Fair at Bernardo Winery
May 10 & 11
Entry is free all weekend at Bernardo Winery’s 48th Annual Spring Arts & Crafts Fair, an artisanal affair full of locally sourced and handmade goods. Saturday and Sunday from 10 p.m. to 5 p.m., peruse jewelry, fine art, clothing and more from over 125 SoCal vendors on the winery grounds. Attendees can also explore an international food court, outdoor wine bars and winery village shops throughout the festival.
13330 Paseo Del Verano Norte, Rancho Bernardo
FLO at The Observatory North Park
May 11
Following in the proud lineage of SWV, Destiny’s Child, and the Spice Girls, pop trio FLO flaunts a stylish confidence that can be found all over their music. The British girl group reached new heights on their debut album, Access All Areas, with addictive and ambitious tracks like “On & On” and “In My Bag,” showing they are poised to not only evolve, but flourish. Opening FLO’s Sunday concert at The Observatory North Park will be pop artist Jae Stephens. Tickets start at $25 for this performance, with doors opening at 7 p.m.
2891 University Avenue, North Park
Theater & Art Exhibits in San Diego This Weekend
Hamilton at Civic Theatre
May 6-18
With over 3,400 Broadway performances (and counting) as well as an emphatic cultural imprint, Hamilton is one of the defining musicals of the 21st century. Lin-Manuel Miranda’s masterpiece chronicles the life and legacy of Alexander Hamilton with an audacious contemporary lens and a transcendent score that transforms meetings of the Founding Fathers into hip-hop-inspired showdowns. Hamilton will begin its two-week engagement at the Civic Theatre Tuesday night, with 15 additional performances through May 18. Tickets start at $61.
1100 Third Avenue, Gaslamp
Sleeping Beauty
May 10 & 11
Dozens of performers with the State Ballet Theatre of Ukraine will awaken the slumberous fairytale of Sleeping Beauty through a pair of performances in San Diego this weekend. The production will incorporate elaborate scenery, sets and costumes along with Tchaikovsky’s vivid score to tell the centuries-old story of Princess Aurora. Sleeping Beauty will be performed Saturday night (7 p.m.) at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido, followed by a Sunday matinee show (2 p.m.) at the Balboa Theatre. Tickets start at $54 for these performances.
340 North Escondido Boulevard, Escondido | 868 Fourth Avenue, Gaslamp
Shipyard Nocturnes and Taco Stand Vernacular at The Photographer’s Eye Gallery
May 10 – June 7
This Saturday, aligning with Escondido’s 2nd Saturday Art Walk, The Photographer’s Eye Gallery will welcome a pair of black-and-white night photography exhibitions. Philipp Scholz Rittermann’s Shipyard Nocturnes depicts the creation of the ill-fated Exxon Valdez oil tanker, while Marshall Williams’ Taco Stand Vernacular captures several SoCal taco shops illuminating at dusk. The gallery will host a free artist walk-through (4 p.m.) and opening reception (5 p.m. to 7 p.m.) this Saturday for both exhibitions. Plus, local photographers can sign up for a $45 night photography session led by Ritterman and Williams on May 15, with 25 spots available.
326 East Grand Avenue, Escondido
The Tellings and Pneumatic at Bread & Salt Gallery
May 10 – July 19
This Saturday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Bread & Salt Gallery will open two innovative exhibitions, The Tellings and Pneumatic with a dual opening reception this Saturday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Liz Stringer’s The Tellings will employ sculpture and 2D work to explore traits and contradictions of the physical body through concepts like science fiction and biopolitics. Lyndsay Bloom’s Pneumatic, an experimental and erotic 16mm film project featuring sound by Judith Hamann, will debut in the gallery’s video space.
1955 Julian Avenue, Logan Heights
More Fun Things To Do in San Diego This Weekend
The Sound Healing Symphony: Taking off at the San Diego Air & Space Museum
May 8
Lay down and let your mind wander during The Sound Healing Symphony: Taking off, an immersive sound meditation at the San Diego Air & Space Museum. Conductor Guy Douglas will lead this auditory enrichment session that blends gongs, singing bowls, didgeridoo, Celtic harp, Native American flutes and more within a soothing ensemble. Come prepared with water, a yoga mat, a blanket, and for extra comfort and support, a nice pillow. Tickets are $46 for The Sound Healing Symphony, beginning Thursday at 7 p.m..
2001 Pan American Plaza, Balboa Park
San Diego Made Spring Market in La Mesa Village
May 10
Fulfill your springtime shopping fix with a lineup of more than 125 makers at the San Diego Made Spring Market, happening from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday in La Mesa Village. Entry to the market is free, and shoppers will get to enjoy gourmet food trucks, photo booths, floral stands, art installations, craft stations, live music and specials at select businesses along La Mesa Boulevard. RSVP for the market here and enter the drawing for a prize pack giveaway.
La Mesa Boulevard between Spring Street and 4th Street, La Mesa
Balboa Park Pow Wow
May 10 & 11
Participate in a weekend of Indigenous cultural preservation at the Balboa Park Pow Wow, a free two-day festival organized annually by the San Diego American Indian Health Center. From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, explore various activities, traditional Native American dishes from local vendors, and handmade arts and crafts from Native artists. Plus there will be a range of family-friendly performances, such as bird singing, along with gourd, inter-tribal and Aztec dance showcases..
Park Boulevard and Presidents Way, Balboa Park
