Annual film festivals, acclaimed musicians, and special sporting moments headline a stellar week of events across San Diego County. Moviegoers will have plenty of options as the Coronado Island Film Festival and the San Diego Asian Film Festival return with screenings of shorts, classics, new features, and more. “American Pie” artist Don McLean will perform a patriotic Celebrating America’s 250th Birthday show at Belly Up while Deftones will anchor their latest Dia De Los Deftones festival at Petco Park. As for local sports fans, San Diego Wave FC will clash against Utah Royals FC in their NWSL playoff quarterfinal and the Bill Walton Classic will tip off for the first time with a pair of college basketball matchups.
A family-style seafood feast, a full day in the Valle de Guadalupe, and a two-day international sampling party are just some of what’s in store for this year’s San Diego Food + Wine Festival. The festivities have already begun, but Thursday’s lineup is packed, with the Legacy of the Land Dinner at the Fairmont Grand Del Mar ($399), the Oyster Jam feast at Cherryfish ($195), and a Baja Culinary Expedition led by Baja Wine + Food founder Fernando Gaxiola ($660). However, save room for the Californian and Mexican flavors of the Grand Weekend at Embarcadero Marina Park North, with Saturday’s Grand Tasting ($235) and Sunday’s Grand Fiesta ($178–$280).
Though SD is the “Capital of Craft” year-round, San Diego Beer Week is a prime opportunity to try the city’s most standout brews. Thus, the San Diego Brewers Guild invites patrons to support their neighborhood establishment, or venture out and look for a new hangout—and luckily, there are over 150 breweries to choose from. Keep an eye out for any limited-edition beer releases, pairing events, discounts, and more throughout San Diego County.
Citywide
Ramona Art, Wine and Music Festival
November 7
Explore regional businesses, musicians, and artmakers during the 14th annual Ramona Art, Wine and Music Festival at Ramona Outdoor Community Center. This Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., spend the day perusing auctions, four live music stages, a selection of wine and other libations from Ramona-area purveyors, and a lineup of artisan and merchant vendors, including featured artist Terry Truett. Ticket options for this 21-plus festival include general admission ($70 online and $80 the day of) and designated driver passes ($55 online and $65 the day of).
421 Aqua Lane, Ramona
Courtesy of Pacific Arts Movement
Concerts & Festivals in San Diego This Weekend
Coronado Island Film Festival
November 4-8
Beginning with Wednesday’s annual Leonard Maltin Industry Tribute Awards Gala, the 11th annual Coronado Island Film Festival will proceed with five days of movie magic. At venues across the island, check out cinematic showcases like ShortsFest (Thursday-Sunday) and Culinary Cinema (Thursday & Friday), highly anticipated films like Paper Tiger and Mouse (both Sunday), plus panels, workshops, parties, and special Q&A engagements. Screening tickets start at $17, while festival badges include the all-inclusive Emerald Badge ($495) and the supersized Marquee Badge ($895), which comes with entry to Wednesday’s gala.
Coronado
Don McLean — Celebrating America’s 250th Birthday at Belly Up
November 5
Who better to commemorate the U.S. Semiquincentennial than Don McLean, the folk rock icon behind one of the best-known and beloved ballads in this country’s history. At this point, “American Pie” is about as American as pie itself. This Wednesday (8 p.m.) during his 21-plus Celebrating America’s 250th Birthday concert at Belly Up, McLean will aim to show why he’s one of the most revered singer-songwriters of the 20th century. Ticket options include general admission ($110) and a Gold Circle Seat ($192), which guarantees a seat in the first four rows.
143 South Cedros Avenue, Solana Beach
San Diego Asian Film Festival
November 5-14
Catch recently restored classics like Lee Hsing’s 1961 film Good Neighbors, a wide range of Asian American stories, and movies from over 35 countries during 27th annual San Diego Asian Film Festival. For ten days, Pacific Arts Movement (PAM) will celebrate international Asian cinema with several special events and over 190 screenings, kicking off Thursday with a shorts program at MCASD (happening through Sunday) and a showing of the animated film In Waves at The Nat. General admission is $15 for the majority of screenings and the festival’s All-Fest Pass ($215 for PAM members and $325 for non-members) grants access to the entire festival.
Citywide
Dia De Los Deftones at Petco Park
November 7
Though the holiday has passed, the Day of the Dead spirit doesn’t truly leave San Diego until the last note of Dia De Los Deftones emits at Petco Park. Back for its 7th annual iteration, this festival acts as both a yearly fall showcase for alt-metal giants Deftones as well as a plethora of other alternative talent. This Saturday (3:35 p.m.), the bill will feature Deftones (of course), along with alt-rock group The Neighbourhood, punk acts AFI and Brooklynites Lip Critic, hardcore band Converge, and many more. Though the show is officially sold out, resale tickets are still available starting at $98.
Three years after its original run at the La Jolla Playhouse, the musical production of The Outsiders returns to San Diego with heaps of Broadway acclaim, including four Tony Award wins. Set in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1967, this story of class, adolescence, and underdogs, originally adapted from S.E. Hinton’s iconic novel and Francis Ford Coppola’s 1983 film, remains easy to love. Tickets start at $58, with performances this Tuesday and Wednesday at 7 p.m., Thursday (8 p.m.), Friday (8 p.m.), Saturday (2 & 8 p.m.), and Sunday (1 & 6:30 p.m.) at the Civic Theatre.
1100 Third Avenue, Gaslamp
Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas! at The Old Globe
November 4 – December 31
Who-ville’s most dedicated hater plots to ruin the town’s favorite holiday during Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, back for year 29 at The Old Globe. Though some say he’s a nasty wasty skunk and his heart is full of gunk, the journey of this musical’s villainous, green star is proof the yuletide spirit can penetrate even the smallest of hearts. Tickets start at $34, with performances this Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 4:30 p.m. Special shows include all-ages performances on select weekends and the Spanish-language production ¡Cómo el Grinch robó la Navidad! (Nov. 19–22) later this month.
1363 Old Globe Way, Balboa Park
The Surge: An Ode to Sinéad O’Connor at Balboa Theatre
November 7
Conceived by choreographer Sonya Tayeh, The Surge: An Ode to Sinéad O’Connor celebrates the strength of O’Connor’s convictions with mesmerizing dance theater. This Saturday (7:30 p.m.) at the Balboa Theatre, a troupe of 10 experienced female dancers will perform to O’Connor’s music and narration from her 2021 memoir Rememberings. This ArtPower at UCSD production is a tribute to an incomparable artist that’s equally heartfelt and original. Tickets start at $59 for The Surge.
868 Fourth Avenue, Gaslamp
Eight in the Hall at Union Hall Gallery
November 7-29
Eight visual artists, each tasked with portraying a unique, personally tailored world, comprise the upcoming exhibition at Union Hall Gallery, one which spans several mediums from photography to oil paint. Eight in the Hall will have an opening reception this Saturday from 2-5 p.m. and a closing reception on Nov. 28 from 2-5 p.m. Plus, gallery visitors can get a closer look at the works of two of the exhibition’s featured artists via an in-person painting session by Robert Green on Nov. 14 and an interactive workshop on Nov. 21 from 1-3 p.m. led by Sue Britt.
Celebrating Women Summit at Fairmont Grand Del Mar
November 4
Join San Diego Magazine for an evening of networking, food and drink sampling, and well-earned recognition during this year’s Celebrating Women Summit at the Fairmont Grand Del Mar. This Wednesday from 4-6:30 p.m., female pioneers and rising stars across 15 industry sectors—nominated and voted on by our readers—will be awarded for their accomplishments. The event will also feature local women-owned retail pop-ups, photo moments, and a keynote speech by One Love Movement founder Kim Bauman. General admission is $80 online.
5300 Grand Del Mar Court, Del Mar
San Diego Wave FC vs. Utah Royals FC at Snapdragon Stadium
November 6
Stellar seasons by the likes of striker Trinity Byars, center back Kennedy Wesley, and rookie right back Mimi Van Zanten—just to name a few—have powered Wave FC to a postseason berth for the fourth time in the team’s five-year existence. Though they narrowly missed out on the NWSL Shield, San Diego enters the playoffs on a hot streak, with wins in 8 of their last 10 matches. For their quarterfinal matchup this Friday (7 p.m.), San Diego has drawn another possession-oriented team in Utah Royals FC, whom the Wave beat twice during the regular season. Tickets start at $29 for this playoff match at Snapdragon Stadium.
2101 Stadium Way, Mission Valley
Bill Walton Classic at Pechanga Arena
November 7
There are numerous descriptors for Bill Walton: basketball superstar, proud Deadhead, delightfully bizarre broadcaster. Though Walton passed in 2024, his love for hoops and his La Mesa roots have inspired the inaugural Bill Walton Classic. This Saturday at Pechanga Arena, men’s teams from Colorado and San Diego State (12:30 p.m.), followed by the women’s squads from UC San Diego Tritons and University of San Diego (3 p.m.), will duke it out on the hardwood in honor of a local legend. Tickets range from $78-$185 for Saturday’s basketball doubleheader. San Diegans can also celebrate Walton during the Bill Walton Memorial Blood Drive (Thursday) and a benefit concert from Electric Waste Band at Belly Up (Friday).
3500 Sports Arena Boulevard, Midway
Slow Fashion Day 2026
November 8
This Sunday, Slow Fashion Day will make its grand (and sustainable) return to San Diego with an afternoon of interactive, sustainability-themed activities at The Lane. From noon to 8 p.m., attendees can swap, repair, and rework their clothes, as well as partake in embroidering, a clothing swap, upcycled sewing workshops, and make-and-take craft stations. Plus, guests can check out a designer’s market highlighting local artists and makers, a slow fashion runway show with new locally made looks, live painting, and more during this free event. RSVP online.
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.
