San Diego, CA
17 Things to Do in San Diego This Weekend: Oct. 17–20
Celebrate the best part of the week with 17 exciting things to do in San Diego, from a bunch of boozy festivals to a Stranger Things–inspired musical and a gathering of zine makers and enthusiasts, plus several other San Diego events.
Food & Drink | Concerts & Festivals | Theater & Art Exhibits | More Fun Things to Do
Food & Drink Events in San Diego This Weekend
Rancho BEERnardo Festival
October 19
Though the name of this event is all about the brews, there will be much more than beer on tap at Rancho BEERnardo, with over 35 local breweries, wineries, and distilleries to check out from 2 to 5 p.m. at Webb Park this Saturday. This 21-plus event will include live music from Setting Sons and Par Avion and food from Mama V’s Lumpia, Tony’s Pepperoni Pizzeria, and Duffs Doggz. General admission ($65) comes with unlimited two-ounce pours, while VIP ($90) includes early admission at 1 p.m., an exclusive lounge, preferred parking and complimentary food. Tickets for Rancho BEERnardo can be purchased here.
11666 Avena Place, Rancho Bernardo
Santee Brews and Bites
October 19
Find a nice balance of neighborhood eateries, chain food spots, and local drink makers at Santee’s Brews and Bites fundraiser at Town Center Community Park East from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. this Saturday. Fast Times will provide the ’80s-inspired soundtrack for the night. Attendees can also place their bids at the silent auction and try their luck in the opportunity drawing to win weekend getaways, free yoga classes, in-home wine samplings, and more. Tickets, including general admission passes ($59.78), can be purchased on Eventbrite.
550 Park Center Drive, Santee
San Diego Spirits Festival
October 19–20
The Museum of Contemporary Art hosts the 15th annual San Diego Spirits Festival this weekend. Enjoy unlimited sips from a selection of more than 65 spirit brands serving bourbon, gin, mezcal, and more (or cocktails and seltzers if that’s your preference). There will also be bites from local restaurants, a silent auction for the Center for Culinary Culture, and plenty of live entertainment, including belly dancers, DJs, and a flamenco guitarist. Tickets are $75 for Saturday (2 to 6 p.m.) and $85 for Sunday (1 to 5 p.m.)
700 Prospect Street, La Jolla
Concerts & Festivals in San Diego This Weekend
San Diego International Film Festival
October 16–20
Watch the California premiere of the Amy Adams horror-comedy Nightbitch, dive into the works of female filmmakers in the Women’s Film Series, and take a bite of movie magic with Culinary Cinema at the San Diego International Film Festival. Attendees can stop by industry parties, Q&As, and special events like the glamorous Night of the Stars Tribute. Participating festival venues include the Museum of Photographic Arts, AMC 14 UTC, and the Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center. Explore the variety of ticket options, from $20 individual screening tickets to the upscale $550 VIP pass, here.
La Jolla & Balboa Park
Charli XCX & Troye Sivan at Viejas Arena
October 18
Over the course of “Brat Summer,” Charli XCX’s inescapable masterpiece evolved from an album into a full-fledged phenomenon, spreading from limeade green billboards to politicians’ social media accounts. But just because summer is gone doesn’t mean the moment is over; the party is still raging, and fans will hear “Von Dutch,” “Mean Girls” and all of the club classics at Viejas Arena Friday night. Charli is joined by pop sensation Troye Sivan, whose music embraces the “Rush” of a night on the dancefloor. Resale tickets for this concert start at $211.82 on Ticketmaster.
5500 Canyon Crest Drive, Rolando
BirdStock
October 19
La Jolla Boulevard will be closed from Midway Street to Camino De La Costa as BirdStock, the Bird Rock neighborhood’s free annual music festival, returns bigger than ever. This Saturday, listen to all-day live music from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. as local bands (including headliners Lioneer) hit the main stage. Plus, stop by an artisan market, a pop-up pickleball court, a kids’ entertainment stage, and several nearby shops for discounted items. Proceeds from BirdStock will go towards Bird Rock Elementary and future iterations of the festival.
5509 La Jolla Boulevard, La Jolla
University Heights Fall Festival
October 19
While supporting local artisans, makers, and growers from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. this Saturday at the Birney Joint Use Field, attendees at the free University Heights Fall Festival can pick a gourd in the pumpkin patch, play field games, take a community yoga class, and enjoy plenty of live entertainment from mariachi groups, ballet folklorico troupes, and tribute bands. Additional paid activities include a horse drawn hayride, a pie-baking contest, and a make-your-own-caramel-apple station. Proceeds benefit Birney Elementary.
4324 Park Boulevard, University Heights
San Diego Zine Fest
October 19–20
Dive into San Diego’s DIY zeitgeist at the 12th annual San Diego Zine Fest, where dozens of local artists will display and sell their self-published writing, photography, and artwork at Bread & Salt all weekend long. Drinks from Mujeres Brew House and food from Murillos Menu and Flavor Lab will be available for purchase at this weekend’s festival.
1955 Julian Avenue, Barrio Logan
Bella Vita Fest
October 19–20
At Bella Vita Fest, ArtWalk San Diego’s two-day celebration of Little Italy, explore over 50 chalk art paintings, hear live music, and learn recipes from local chefs cooking onstage from 12 to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Plus, there will be more than 20 neighborhood wine samples to try, plus Italian culinary favorites like cannoli, Neapolitan-style pizza, and cheese wheel pasta. Admission to the festival is free. Wine-tasting tickets for five ($27.05) and 12 ($60.05) samples for each day can be purchased here.
550 West Date Street, Little Italy
Escondido Grand Avenue Festival
October 20
The Grand Avenue Festival offers live entertainment, international culinary options, and shopping from more than 400 retail, craft, and artisan vendors this Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Downtown Escondido’s favorite fall festival will also feature children’s rides, four live music stages, and a beer and wine garden.
Grand Avenue, Escondido
Theater & Art Exhibits in San Diego This Weekend
Stranger Sings! The Parody Musical at Brooks Theater
Through October 20
Stranger Sings! flips the hair-raising adventures of Stranger Things into irresistible rompy fun. The musical embraces the zaniness of the ’80s, with songs inspired by the show and tons of love for nostalgia, geek culture, and unlikely heroes. There will be four final shows this weekend at the Brooks Theater as the production ends its first run in SoCal. Tickets for Stranger Sings! are available for $40.
217 North Coast Highway, Oceanside
Carlos Castro Arias: The Splinter In The Eye at the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library
October 19–January 11, 2025
The new Athenaeum Music & Arts Library exhibition The Splinter In The Eye will feature 11 new paintings from La Mesa–based artist Carlos Castro Arias, plus an assortment of created objects, sculpture and natural elements that supplement his insight on shared and solo identity. There will be a free opening reception for the exhibition this Friday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
1008 Wall Street, La Jolla
Foster + Partners: Architecture of Light and Space at San Diego Museum of Art
October 19–April 27, 2025
SDMA’s new Foster + Partners exhibition showcases the designs and models of architect Norman Foster, whose global firm of architects focuses on open space, daylight, and sustainability. The show explores his nature-driven ethos in three sections: Working with History, Embracing the Environment, and Community and Culture.
1450 El Prado, Balboa Park
More Fun Things to Do in San Diego This Weekend
Haunted Hangar Halloween Bash
October 18
The USS Midway Museum’s annual Haunted Hangar Halloween Bash features group and solo costume contests, a flash mob set to Michael Jackson’s Thriller, and spooky cocktails and snacks this Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. Other highlights from this family-friendly event include Halloween bag decorating, face painting, trick-or-treat stations, music from DJ Danny, and AirCombat flight simulator sessions ($5). General admission is $25 for this event and $20 for museum members.
910 North Harbor Drive, Embarcadero
San Diego Gulls Home Opener vs. Coachella Valley Firebirds at Pechanga Arena
October 18
The San Diego Gulls are back on home ice at Pechanga Arena and looking for their first win of the 2024–25 season as they face off against the Coachella Valley Firebirds in this Saturday’s home opener. Players to watch this season for the Gulls include highly touted prospect Nathan Gaucher, along with newly acquired veterans Roland McKeown and Ryan Carpenter. Fans in attendance at Saturday’s game will receive a rally towel, belt bag, and light-up wristband. Tickets range from $37 to $182 on AXS.
3500 Sports Arena Boulevard, Midway
Fright For Future
October 18–20
While most haunted attractions focus on the supernatural, Fright For Future finds horror in our everyday reality. While there will still be witches, mad scientists, and ghouls, the real-world inspirations for the haunted maze include polluted waters, fast-fashion consequences, and cruel treatment of animals. Over three days at the San Diego Made Factory, thrill seekers ages 10 and up can stand face-to-face with man-made horrors. Reserve your free spot at Fright For Future on Eventbrite.
2031 Commercial Street, Logan Heights
The Big Birthday Block Party at The Nat
October 19
The Nat celebrates 150 years of archeological preservation with a Big Birthday Block Party this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. At the party, chat with scientists, partake in themed games and activities, check out relics from the museum’s past, enjoy cocktails at The Nat’s rooftop bar, and much more. Admission to the block party, as well as the museum and the halls of its new Paleontology Center, is free.
1788 El Prado, Balboa Park
The San Diego State Aztecs’ have moved off the bubble and back into the NCAA Tournament’s Field of 64 in the latest ESPN’s Bracketology projections.
The Aztecs must feel like a yo-yo, but now it’s in a good way. Bracket expert Joe Lunardi moved them from the bottom of the First Four Out — No. 72 — to holding the Mountain West’s automatic bid after an 89-72 home romp Wednesday night over Utah State, which had held the auto-bid in bracketology for a few weeks now.
Lunardi now has the Aztecs as the No. 11 seed in the West Region, with a projected first-round date against former MW rival BYU in Portland.
Lunardi wrote that SDSU’s auto-bid “shifts the entire bubble.”
Wednesday night’s victory not only pulled the Aztecs (19-8, 13-4) into a tie with Utah State (23-5, 13-4) atop the MW standings, but it was just their second Quad 1 victory in six such opportunities.
SDSU’s next two games are both Quad 1 chances, at New Mexico on Saturday and then at Boise State on Tuesday night.
The win lifted the Aztecs only one spot in the NCAA NET Rankings, to No. 43. Those rankings are used by the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee as the primary sorting tool for selection and seeding for March Madness.
SDSU’s resume for earning an at-large berth has been on shaky ground all season, and was seriously damaged last week when the Aztecs lost at home to Grand Canyon and were then routed at Colorado State, both Quad 2 games.
SDSU’s best bet to assure a trip to March Madness for the sixth straight season is to win the MW tournament in Las Vegas and claim the automatic bid. That requires winning three games in as many days, and perhaps a third showdown against the Aggies, who beat the Aztecs 71-66 in Logan on Jan. 31.
Lunardi now has Utah State projected as an at-large team, but still with the No. 7 seed in the East, facing No. 10 Texas A&M in a first-round game in St. Louis.
New Mexico (21-7, 12-5), lurking just a game behind SDSU and USU, has dropped from the Last Four In at No. 68 to the First Four Out at No. 70.
The Aztecs were the unanimous preseason pick to win the MW regular-season title in their final season in the league before moving into the Pac-12 along with Utah State, Boise State, Fresno State and Colorado State.
Saturday’s game at New Mexico is set to tip off at 11 a.m. PT and will air on CBS.
The top teams in the West Coast Conference are jockeying for position in the standings as the regular season draws to a close, and the Oregon State women took care of business Thursday night, blowing out the San Diego Toreros 83-49 to move to 21-9 on the season, and 13-4 in conference play.
Oregon State’s Tiara Bolden Grabs WCC Honor After 44 Points Over Two Games
The Toreros have been a basement dweller in the conference for the last few seasons, so this result isn’t surprising, though it’s magnitude is a bit eye-raising. The Beavers wasted no time putting San Diego into a hole, opening the first quarter on an 8-0 run that Tiara Bolden and Kennedie Shuler getting involved early. Oregon State held a 14 point, 26-12 lead after one.
The second quarter wasn’t as lopsided, but San Diego wasn’t able to make much headway into the Beaver lead. Six points from Olivia Owens kept San Diego within shooting distance, but defensive pressure from Kennedie Shuler and strong rebounding from Lizzy Williamson kept the Toreros under control. Oregon State ended the first half up by 13, 40-27.
Oregon State Dominates Cougars in 79-51 Blowout
Oregon State tightened their grip in the third. While Olivia Owens and Kylie Ray managed to give the Toreros some hope early in the quarter, Oregon State went on a run late in the period to get their lead to 21 at the highest. San Diego finally snapped the Beaver hot streak, but a three from Kennedie Shuler ended the quarter in a 61-43, 18 point Beaver lead.
The bottom seemed to fall out of San Diego in the fourth, with the Toreros only putting six points on the board. Tiara Bolden and Kennedie Shuler kept the points flowing for the Beavers, while Lizzy Willilamson continued to dominate the boards. A layup with an and one from Elisa Mehyar were the last Beaver points of the game, giving Oregon State a 34 point, 83-49 win.
Oregon State Takes Down Portland 64-54 in Season Saving Game
It was a good night for several Beavers, with Kennedie Shuler once again leading the team in scoring. She finished the night with 22 points, four rebounds, three assists, two blocks and two steals. She can do just about everything on the court.
Tiara Bolden continued her hot streak with a 17 point night, along with four rebounds and four assists. Jenna Villa added 14 points, one rebound and one assist. Lizzy Williamson added another double double to her resume, with 10 points and 12 rebounds.
Oregon State’s Winning Streak Ends With 55-51 Loss to LMU
There’s one last item on the agenda for Oregon State, a season-closing meeting with the Loyola Marymount Lions Saturday at Gill Coliseum. The Lions handed Oregon State their first WCC loss of the season back in January, so getting some revenge before the conference tournament would be a good statement from the team. Tip off is set for 1 PM PT.
Mayor Todd Gloria sought the public’s feedback Thursday in shaping San Diego’s 2026-27 fiscal year budget, as the city launched a digital survey to help determine which programs and services are prioritized and which are reduced.
The survey is available at datasd.typeform.com/2027budget.
Officials will use responses in crafting the new budget, which takes effect on July 1. The City Charter deadline to release a draft budget is April 15, “allowing ample time for resident feedback to be considered during budget discussions,” officials said.
Gloria said that the city has already “closed hundreds of millions of dollars of a longstanding structural deficit, but we are not done. The next budget will require even tougher choices, and I want to be clear with residents: We will not be able to do everything we might like to do.
“I’m asking San Diegans to take a few minutes to tell us what matters most to them, and what they’re willing to forgo, as we build next year’s budget,” he added.
The five-minute survey is open to residents living within San Diego city limits. Those without home computer access can fill out the survey at any city library.
According to Gloria’s office, the city’s projected deficit is $120 million for the next budget, which the city is required by law to keep balanced.
In addition to asking what residents’ top priorities are, the survey asks if the city “should generate more revenue to protect services.”
Offered in English and Spanish, the survey is available until the start of May.
Officials said residents can also sound off on the budget process by attending City Council budget meetings either in person or via Zoom.
Council members will discuss the budget during their March 10 meeting, which starts at 6 p.m. at the City Administration Building downtown.
Public library locations can be found at sandiego.gov/public- library/locations.
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