All eyes are on the Pads right now, with the city’s first-ever World Series win increasingly in sight. But there are more things to do in San Diego this week than cheering on the Friars. You can sip spooky drinks at a North Park pop-up, see Sweeney Todd onstage, or head to the ballet in Rolando. Better be wearing brown, white, and gold while you do it, though.
Come aboard the “Lost At Sea” experience at Cutwater Tasting Room & Kitchen, where every night in October brings a maritime setting with themed cocktails and food. Guests can also secure a spot on the waitlist for the Cutwater Cavern speakeasy on Wednesdays through Saturdays in October. For $25, guests will receive a specialty cocktail upon entry to the cavern, get access to an exclusive food and drink menu, and watch a barrel-tapping demonstration with the chance to sample rum from the cask in a take-home glass.
Delight in an island’s worth of eats at A Taste of Coronado from 5 to 9 p.m. this Wednesday. The Coronado Junior Woman’s Club invites patrons to meet at Rotary Park or one of three other check-in spots before embarking on a trek to collect lobster rolls, BBQ pulled pork, Parisian pastries, and more across Coronado. Partial proceeds from the event will go towards the San Diego Rescue Mission. VIP passes are already sold out, but general admission is still available for $65.
1002 Orange Avenue, Coronado
WASTED: Save the Food Festival & Dinner Experience
October 9 & 13
Local nonprofits Kitchens For Good and Big Table at Liberty Station are striving for sustainability with their two-part WASTED food event at Liberty Station. The festivities begin with Wednesday’s 21-plus dinner experience ($300) from 6 to 9 p.m. at Building 177, featuring a cocktail hour and a five-course, farm-to-table meal. Then, on Sunday, the Save the Food Festival from 12 to 3 p.m. in the South Promenade will include bites from over a dozen chefs, sustainable cooking tips, interactive activities, and crafts and games, with SD Mag content chief Troy Johnson serving as the festival MC. Combo VIP tickets for both events are $400, while VIP for the festival is $150 and general admission is $45 for adults and $15 for children.
2850 Roosevelt Road, Point Loma
Ocean Beach Oktoberfest
October 11 & 12
Ocean Beach Oktoberfest melds classic German holiday activities—stein holding, pretzel tossing, beer drinking—and uniquely San Diegan beachfront fun. Attendees can take part in a Guinness World Record–breaking toast with Joey Chestnut, pack the crowd at multiple live music stages, or compare local and international brews in the beer garden. Joining the festival’s live music lineup for 2024 is an electronica stage to showcase DJs alongside the typical two-day lineup of local bands. Entry is $15 at the gate, and VIP passes are $65 per day and can be bought on Eventbrite.
5099 Newport Avenue, Ocean Beach
Black Lagoon Halloween Pop-Up at Seven Grand
October 13–November 3
While you won’t find the scaly, green creature from the Black Lagoon at Seven Grand’s spooky season pop-up, there will be plenty of frightful remedies brewing for the occasion. Beginning this Sunday, Seven Grand will serve up creepy concoctions like the cinnamon syrup–infused Nosferatu’s Rise and the Memento Mori, which features rum, coffee liquor, cold brew concentrate, and Lustau Amontillado.
3054 University Avenue, North Park
Courtesy of UCSD ArtPower
Concerts & Festivals in San Diego This Weekend
La Jolla Music Society Presents Aída Cuevas Canta a Juan Gabriel at Balboa Theatre
October 13
As part of its Global Roots Series, the La Jolla Music Society hosts a Juan Gabriel tribute performance from ranchera music icon Aída Cuevas this Sunday at the Balboa Theatre. Cuevas’ new album Aída Cuevas Canta a Juan Gabriel 40 años después honors Gabriel’s legacy as one of the world’s most popular Spanish-language artists. Tickets for the performance start at $57.90 and can be purchased here.
868 Fourth Avenue, Gaslamp
Omar Apollo & Kevin Abstract at the Rady Shell
October 11
R&B singer Omar Apollo will take the stage at the Rady Shell tonight, fresh off his latest album God Said Know. The 27-year-old artist will bring his signature sad-boy vibes and slow jams, with songs inspired by his recent breakup. Opening the show is Kevin Abstract, best known for his role in the supergroup Brockhampton, which disbanded in 2022. Recently, Abstract released singles Tennessee featuring Lil Nas X and Big Dog, which he’ll be bumping the waterfront.
Roomful of Teeth at Conrad Prebys Concert Hall
October 13
Vocal ensemble Roomful of Teeth will perform at 2 p.m. this Sunday. Roomful of Teeth consists of eight vocalists, specializing in a capella and challenging the boundaries of what a 21st-century choir can be. Tickets range from $40 to $65 for this concert at the UCSD Department of Music’s Conrad Prebys Concert Hall.
9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla
Porter Robinson SMILE! World Tour at the Rady Shell
October 13
DJ Porter Robinson is bringing his massive world tour to the Shell this Sunday. He’s been on a whirlwind of a global tour, hitting stages from Australia to South America, performing tracks from his latest release SMILE!. The album serves up catchy, emo-esque anthems tackling themes of mental health, fame, and burnout. If you’re looking for a reason to get on your feet, Porter’s got you covered.
Day of the Dog
October 13
Reward the loyal companion in your life with a fun-filled afternoon at the Day of the Dog. This free traveling festival puts pups on a pedestal, with an assortment of dog-friendly activities, dozens of pet vendors, and loads of treats to raise money for Just Love Animals Society. Visitors can go home with a new furry friend after practicing yoga with adoptable puppies, and dogs can run around in foam, snow, and water; take part in fashion shows; enjoy adorable photo ops; and much more from 12 to 4 p.m. this Sunday.
4955 Voltaire Street, Ocean Beach
Courtesy of Coronado Playhouse
Theater & Art Exhibits in San Diego This Weekend
My Intimate Partner at Oceanside Museum of Art
Through March 16, 2025
The Oceanside Museum of Art’s latest exhibition, My Intimate Partner, is a powerful group show curated by Smadar Samson and featuring more than a dozen local artists. Through 3-D artwork, dance, and stop-motion animation, the participants share critical stories, insights, and resources related to combating domestic violence.
704 Pier View Way, Oceanside
The Thanksgiving Play at New Village Arts
October 10–November 3
After final previews Thursday and Friday, The Thanksgiving Play officially opens at New Village Arts this Saturday night. Larissa FastHorse’s topical satire revolves around four White educators at an elementary school who aim to make an inoffensive play about the first Thanksgiving, but as they strive for maximum political correctness, it becomes clear that they need to rethink what it means to be a real ally. Tickets are $35 for the previews, $60 for opening night, and $50 for general admission for the rest of the show’s run.
2787 State Street, Carlsbad
San Diego Ballet Presents Firebird and Mambomania at Joan B. Kroc Theatre
October 11–12
Dancers with the San Diego Ballet will take the stage on Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Joan B. Kroc Theatre. Firebird combines modern ballet and hip hop, while Mambomania is set to the latin jazz grooves of Perez Prado. Tickets for Friday night and Saturday afternoon’s show can be purchased online.
6611 University Avenue, Rolando
Sweeney Todd: the Demon Barber of Fleet Street at Coronado Playhouse
October 11–November 3
In Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler’s landmark musical, barber Sweeney Todd is on a trail of vengeance in 1800s London, leaving several victims at the mercy of his razor blade and baritone vocals. Tickets are starting at $27 for this singing slasher production at Coronado Playhouse.
1835 Strand Way, Coronado
Blossoming Borders: A Floral Celebration of Tijuana/San Diego at Dick Luab NTC Command Center
October 12
Enjoy interactive workshops from the San Diego Craft Collective along with live music and bites with painters, writers, and florists from the border region at the free opening reception of Blossoming Borders this Saturday from 12 to 4 p.m. Floral designer Ana Galena will host the festivities. The Blossoming Borders exhibition remains on display through November 12 at the Dick Luab NTC Command Center. Anyone interested in attending the reception can RSVP here.
2640 Historic Decatur Road, Point Loma
Courtesy of MLB
More Fun Things to Do in San Diego This Weekend
San Diego Padres vs. Los Angeles Dodgers at Petco Park
October 8–9
After disposing of the Dodgers with a record-breaking barrage of homers in game two, the Padres return to Petco Park for games three and four of the NLDS. For this two-game stint in front of raucous, sell-out crowds, the goal is simple: Beat LA. Those still searching for a seat, best of luck to you in the secondary market. Tickets start at $159 on SeatGeek.
100 Park Boulevard, Downtown
XTERRA Wetsuits Mission Bay Triathlon
October 12–13
This year marks five decades since the inaugural triathlon on Fiesta Island, and athletes will celebrate with an anniversary race at Mission Bay and Fiesta Island this Sunday. Competitors can sign up for race variations, like the duathlon or the aquabike, along with a range of triathlon options, ranging from the children’s itsy-bitsy race to the esteemed international contest. As part of the XTERRA Wetsuits Mission Bay Triathlon festivities, the San Diego Triathlon Series will host a pre-race dinner Saturday night at Bonita Cove Park from 5 to 7 p.m., featuring meet and greets with several legendary athletes, world record holders, and Olympians. Reservations for the Celebration of Triathlon Pre-Race Dinner are $50 per person. Register for your desired race event (from $44 to $286) here.
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.
