Ready for more fun after a brief, four-day week? There are plenty of things to do in San Diego this weekend, from a tasting tour through Barrio Logan and a fall festival at Belmont Park to a Petco Park showdown between the Pads and the Giants, plus 13 more San Diego events.
Food & Drink | Festivals & Concerts | Art Exhibits & Theater | More Fun Things to Do
Food & Drink Events This Weekend in San Diego
KICKcancER Cocktails for a Cause
September 5
Help kids kick cancer for good at KICKcancER’s Cocktails for a Cause this Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. Twenty percent of drink sales from this fundraiser at Pacific Coast Spirits will help KICKcancER fund 30 scholarships for young athletes to stay active as they fight cancer. The event will include live music from acoustic musician John Manley, hors d’oeuvres, a silent and live online auction, and specialty KICKcancER cocktails. Cocktails for a Cause is free to attend, and any donations and auction bids can be made here.
404 South Coast Highway, Oceanside
Julian Grape Stomp Festa
September 7
Dive feet-first into winemaking at the 27th annual Julian Grape Stomp Festa. This Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., the juicy shindig at Menghini Winery gives attendees the chance to play games, sample wines, and step right into the stomping vat. The event’s many I Love Lucy traditions are still going strong, with a performance from the All-Star Lucy Band and the return of the Lucy look-alike contest. General admission is $25 and comes with a wine glass and one tasting (additional tastings are $1 each), and admission for youth ages 6 to 20 is $8.
1150 Julian Orchards Drive, Julian
Sabór Del Barrio
September 8
Feast on a fusion of Chicano art, culture, and cuisine at the Barrio Logan Association’s second annual Sabór Del Barrio this Sunday from 12 to 3 p.m. Attendees can eat their way through the heart of the Barrio Logan Cultural District, sampling tantalizing bites and sips from over 40 local vendors. The community tasting event is also a chance to explore the neighborhood art scene, with free entry to the Chicano Park Museum and Cultural Center and the Atheneum at Bread & Salt. Tickets are $40 online and $50 in-person the day of, and all tickets must be picked up at the will-call booth.
Barrio Logan
Festivals & Concerts in San Diego This Weekend
Peso Pluma at Pechanga Arena
September 5
Peso Pluma has become a dominant force with the Mexican music scene, combining regional traditions with reggaeton and Latin trap while building a global audience. Hear his Spanish-language party anthems at Pechanga Arena this Thursday. Tickets range from $74 to $623.
3500 Sports Arena Boulevard, Midway
Dan + Shay: Heartbreak On The Map Tour
September 6
Charming Nashville country duo Dan + Shay specialize in writing twangy, heartfelt earworms like “Tequila” and “Speechless.” Fresh off the release of their 2023 album Bigger Houses and a turn as coaches on the voice, the pair will stop by North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre for a Friday show. Tickets start at $19.89.
2050 Entertainment Circle, Chula Vista
Cardiff Greek Festival
September 7–8
Live your Mamma Mia! dreams at the Cardiff Greek Festival this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church. Try platefuls of Greek food and enjoy traditional Greek music, dancing, and wine. Additional festival highlights include a kids’ corner, a marketplace with a plethora of souvenirs, and Greek cultural exhibits. Admission to each day of the festival is $4 for adults and free for children under 12 years old.
3459 Manchester Avenue, Cardiff by-the-Sea
Belmont Park Fall Fest
Begins September 7
At Belmont Park’s annual Fall Fest, attendees can taste the amusement park’s seasonal eats with the $35 Fall Flavor Pass, which features festive “Belmont Bites” such as loaded pumpkin pie milkshakes, enchanted churros, and mini caramel apple funnel cakes. Belmont Park has several autumn events in store through October 27, with live music, workshops, spooky activities, and more. Admission to Belmont Park starts at $49.95 online.
3190 Mission Boulevard, Mission Beach
Blanket Sounds at Waterfront Park
September 8
The final installment of Blanket Sounds, SD Melanin’s free community concert series, arrives this Sunday. Attendees are invited to bring picnics and get cozy on the grass for grooves from DJ Drumright, a performance from Latin dance band Kini Kini, and immersive installations from artist-in-residence Aambr Newsome and Jennifer Swedell. Anyone interested in attending this chill evening in the park can RSVP here.
1600 Pacific Highway, Embarcadero
Art Exhibits & Theater in San Diego This Weekend
The Guam Artist Collective: 19Forgotten at Thumbprint Gallery
Opens September 6
Beginning this Friday at Thumbprint Gallery, The Guam Artist Collective will share their deep ties to Chamorro culture in the group’s newest exhibition, 19Forgotten. More than 15 artists are a part of the showcase, which features poetry, photography, and 3D art. Stop by the gallery for a free opening reception this Friday from 4 to 9 p.m.
920 Kline Street, La Jolla
Stan Goudey: Eclectic Vision at Santa Ysabel Art Gallery
Opens September 7
In his upcoming exhibition Eclectic Vision, Julian-based artist Stan Goudey brings tranquil landscapes rendered in watercolor, acrylics, and oils to Santa Ysabel Art Gallery. Following a free opening reception this Saturday from 4 to 7 p.m., the work will be on display through October 27.
30352 Highway 78, Santa Ysabel
Wonders of Creation: Art, Science, and Innovation in the Islamic World at SDMA
Opens September 7
Named after a 13th-century book of Arabic and Persian cosmology, the San Diego Museum of Art’s new exhibition, Wonders of Creation, will highlight the culture and inventions of the Islamic World with more than 200 fascinating works spanning the 8th century to the modern day. The show runs through January 5.
1450 El Prado, Balboa Park
Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express
Opens September 7
The Old Globe invites audiences aboard the Orient Express for a production of Agatha Christie’s locomotive murder mystery. During a winding trip through Europe, an American businessman is killed in his cabin, and with a dozen potential suspects, the exquisitely mustachioed detective Hercule Poirot attempts to crack the case. Though this weekend’s performances have already sold out, tickets can be purchased for shows through October 6.
1363 Old Globe Way, Balboa Park
More Fun Things to Do in San Diego This Weekend
Sycuan Pow-Wow
September 5–8
The 35th annual Sycuan Pow-Wow, happening all weekend long in El Cajon, will feature Native American food, vendors offering handmade arts and crafts, and Indigenous singing and dancing competitions. The Pow-Wow festivities will kick off Thursday with a fashion show from the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, featuring 11 Indigenous designers. Tickets range from $30 for general admission to $1,000 for a VIP table for 4.
Fashion Show: 5469 Casino Way, El Cajon | Pow-Wow: 5577 Dehesa Road, El Cajon
San Diego Padres vs. San Francisco Giants at Petco Park
September 6–8
Now that Fernando Tatis Jr. is back in the lineup after two months away, the Padres may have gotten the jolt they need to cement their spot in the postseason. This weekend series against the Giants gives the Friars the chance to sink their Bay Area rivals’ season completely. Tickets start at $33.95 for the Padres’ three-game set against San Francisco, which will include pre-game events such as Party in the Park: BeerFest (Friday), a performance from the house band (Saturday), and Padres Kidsfest (Sunday).
100 Park Boulevard, Downtown
Alta Vista Botanical Gardens 25th Anniversary Gala
September 7
Alta Vista Botanical Gardens presents a night of nature-filled philanthropy at the 25th Anniversary Gala this Saturday from 5 to 10 p.m. The gala will begin with a cocktail hour, followed by a seated three-course dinner in Alta Vista’s rose garden, and it includes an auction, live music from The Night Owls, and dancing. The funds raised from this event will help the North County native plant sanctuary continue to flourish. Tickets are $250 per guest.
1270 Vale Terrace Drive, Vista
19th Annual Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon
September 8
Dog owners can let their pups hang ten at Del Mar Dog Beach this Sunday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the 19th annual Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon in support of the Helen Woodward Animal Center. While the competitors Marma-duke it out in the water, peruse wares from more than 20 vendors and enter your fur baby in an adorable costume contest. (Tip: The theme is “classic Americana.”) Attendees can RSVP for the event for free or make a donation on Eventbrite.
3902 29th Street, Del Mar
