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Best Bets: A quick guide to La Jolla entertainment and experiences

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8 minutes ago

October 14, 2025

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Best Bets: A quick guide to La Jolla entertainment and experiences

The La Jolla Light presents this continuing listing of local in-person events and online activities.

Halloween and fall events

• Nightmare on Nautilus haunted trail: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16, La Jolla High School, 750 Nautilus St. $7. ljhstheatre.com

• Family Fall Festival: Shoreline Community Services’ second annual Family Fall Festival, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, La Jolla United Methodist Church, 6063 La Jolla Blvd. The event will feature carnival games, pumpkin painting, a pie walk, rides, treats and more. $10-$50. bit.ly/SCS-Fall-25

• Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead): “Día de los Muertos Storytime with Ms. Jackie,” 3-5:45 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 22, and Día de los Muertos concert, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 27, both in the La Jolla/Riford Library’s Community Room, 7555 Draper Ave. Children are encouraged to wear traditional Día de los Muertos makeup.

• Halloween Aglow: 6-8:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 24-25, at Birch Aquarium, 2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla. The event will include games, trick-or-treating, special lighting and decorations, live music by Billy Lee and the Swamp Critters, divers doing underwater pumpkin carving, and pop-up science stations. $20-$45. Reservations are required. aquarium.ucsd.edu/events/halloween-aglow

• Dogoween: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, The Kitchen at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, 700 Prospect St., La Jolla. The event will feature a costume contest, pop-up tents and music to raise funds for local pet adoption organizations. $30-$100. lajollalovespets.org.

• Movie Night: “Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein”: 4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 29, La Jolla Community Center, 6811 La Jolla Blvd. Refreshments will be provided. Free for Community Center members, $10 for non-members. ljcommunitycenter.org/specialevents

• Trunk or Treat: 5:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 29, on Draper Avenue between La Jolla Presbyterian Church and the La Jolla Recreation Center. Pre-approved cars will offer trick-or-treating, non-alcoholic apple cider, chili with toppings and pie in a cup. Pumpkin carving also will be available.

• “Beyond the Rainbow”: 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30, Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa, 9700 N. Torrey Pines Road. The “Wizard of Oz”- and Halloween-themed event for ages 21 and up will feature cocktails, bites, characters, entertainment and more. $115. bit.ly/4q9qMX0

• Halloween Lunch & Costume Contest: Noon to 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31, La Jolla Community Center, 6811 La Jolla Blvd. Free for Community Center members, $25 for non-members. Registration is required. ljcommunitycenter.org/specialevents

• Creepy Candy Crawl: 3-6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31, at participating shops in La Jolla’s Village. Children of all ages can go trick-or-treating with goodie bags available at the Real Estate Brokers Association, 908 Kline St. The event also will include a costume contest featuring prizes donated by Geppetto’s toy store. bit.ly/42x0aoQ

Lectures & learning

• The Peer Learning Collaborative at the La Jolla Community Center continues “Oceanography and How We Get Fish on the Plate” with oceanographer John Ugoretz at 3 p.m. Thursdays, Oct. 16 and 23, at 6811 La Jolla Blvd. The remaining topics are: Oct. 16, “Sharktober! Shark Incidents in California and San Diego;” Oct. 23, “What We Need to Understand about Marine Protected Areas, Especially in La Jolla.” ljcommunitycenter.org/plc

• “The Precarity of ‘Privilege’: Intermarried Families in Prague during the Holocaust,” featuring Tatjana Lichtenstein, kicks off UC San Diego’s Holocaust Living History Workshop series at 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16, at UCSD’s Geisel Library, 9701 Hopkins Drive, La Jolla. Free. calendar.ucsd.edu/event/HLHW-Tatjana-Lichtenstein

• “Judeo-Sephardic (Ladino) for Beginners” is presented at 10 a.m. Mondays from Oct. 20 through Nov. 24 online. The six-class course is taught by Agnieszka August-Zarebska, an assistant professor in the Taube Department of Jewish Studies at the University of Wroclaw, Poland. Registration is $250 until Thursday, Oct. 16, and $300 afterward. yiddishlandcalifornia.org/ladino-judeo-spanish-for-beginners

• The La Jolla Garden Club presents “Learning About Sogetsu Ikebana” with Sharon Bristow at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 21, at the La Jolla Woman’s Club, 7791 Draper Ave. Free.

• “Afternoon Insights: The Silent Epidemic of Loneliness: Identifying and Addressing Loneliness in Our Aging Population” is scheduled for 3 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 22, at the La Jolla Community Center, 6811 La Jolla Blvd. Free. ljcommunitycenter.org/specialevents

• The Korea-Pacific Program at the UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy presents “Economic Statecraft in a Divided Peninsula,” a roundtable discussion of how the United States and South Korea are tasked with aligning their economic policies and finding strategies to deter North Korea, at 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30, in UCSD’s Great Hall, 9810 International Lane, La Jolla. Free, though registration is required. bit.ly/4n8plWb

Health & fitness

• The La Jolla Newcomers Club presents Saturday Morning Walkers at 9:30 a.m. Oct. 18, meeting in front of the La Jolla Shores Hotel, 8110 Camino del Oro. A walk will proceed along the water and through the surrounding neighborhood. Those interested can meet for coffee or brunch afterward. lajollanewcomers.org

• The relaxation class “Fit & Flexible” is presented at 9:30 a.m. Tuesdays through Oct. 28 at the La Jolla Cove Bridge Club, 1160 Coast Blvd. Free for newcomers, $25 for others. Register via email at solyoga@yahoo.com.

• “Restorative Bliss Yoga with Ocean Savasana” is offered at 4:30 p.m. Wednesdays through Oct. 29 at the La Jolla Cove Bridge Club, 1160 Coast Blvd. Free for newcomers, $25 for others. Register via email at solyoga@yahoo.com.

Art & film

• “Alex Katz: Theater and Dance” continues at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego through Sunday, Jan. 4, at 700 Prospect St., La Jolla. The exhibit is the first comprehensive exploration of Katz’s collaborations with choreographers, dancers and members of avant-garde theater ensembles over six decades, showcasing rare archival materials, major sets and paintings and previously unexhibited sketches. mcasd.org/exhibitions/alex-katz-theater-and-dance

Dance scholar Emma Clarke and MCASD’s manager of education, Maru Lopez, will explore works and themes of the exhibition in a lecture at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, at the museum’s Strauss Galleries. $5. mcasd.org/events/lecture-emma-clarke

• Quint Gallery presents a reception with artist Kim MacConnel at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, for her exhibition, “Tilt-A-Whirl,” which continues through Saturday, Nov. 1, at 7655 Girard Ave., La Jolla. Free. quintgallery.com/exhibitions/260-kim-macconnel-tilt-a-whirl

• R.B. Stevenson Gallery hosts an opening reception for artist Geoffroy Tobé from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, at 7661 Girard Ave., La Jolla. Tobé will present the exhibition “Here and There” with new paintings and ceramics through Saturday, Nov. 8. Free. rbstevensongallery.com

• The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library hosts an opening reception for “Nolan Oswald Dennis: Demonstrations (i)” at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, at 1008 Wall St., La Jolla. The art exhibition will run through Saturday, Jan. 17. ljathenaeum.org/events/exhibition-2025-insite

• Artwork by Katherine Keeling is on display through October at Bird Rock Coffee Roasters, 5627 La Jolla Blvd., La Jolla. birdrockcoffee.com/cafes/la-jolla

• Joseph Bellows Gallery presents the art exhibition “Kate Breakey: In Pursuit of Light” through Friday, Oct. 31, at 7661 Girard Ave., La Jolla. josephbellows.com/exhibitions/kate-breakey2

• “Prospect 2025,” this year’s renewal of an annual exhibition highlighting artworks being considered for acquisition, runs through Sunday, Nov. 2, at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, 700 Prospect St., La Jolla. The show features five sculptural artworks by Hugh Hayden, Daniela Gomez Paz, Ryan Preciado, Sarah Rosalena and Barbara Sanchez-Kane. mcasd.org/exhibitions/prospect-2025

• The Salon of Art Gallery presents artist Concetta Antico’s exhibition “Ethereal Beauty” through Friday, Nov. 14, at 7655 Fay Ave., La Jolla. Free. bit.ly/4fRGK3h

• UC San Diego’s Mandeville Art Gallery hosts “Omni Intelligent,” an exhibition by nine artists and collectives in a range of media from scent and holography to ceramics and film, exploring artificial intelligence and the intersections of humans and machines. The exhibit continues through Saturday, Dec. 6, at 9390 Mandeville Lane, La Jolla. mandevilleartgallery.ucsd.edu/exhibitions/omni-intelligent.html

• “Land and Sea: Selections from the Collection,” an exhibit featuring land and seascapes by more than 20 artists with connections to the region, runs through Wednesday, Dec. 31, at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, 700 Prospect St., La Jolla. It includes pieces in the museum’s current collection, as well as new acquisitions. mcasd.org/exhibitions/new-on-view

• The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego presents “A Burial in Shanghai,” an exhibit of large paintings by Chinese-born artist Yan Pei-Ming, through Sunday, Jan. 4, at 700 Prospect St., La Jolla. mcasd.org/exhibitions/yan-pei-ming

Music & dance

• The La Jolla Music Society presents jazz by the Peter Sprague Trio, featuring Sprague on guitar, Mackenzie Leighton on bass and Danny Green on piano, at 4:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17, at the Wu Tsai QRT.yrd at the Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla. Free. theconrad.org/events/qrt-yrd-peter-sprague

• Art of Elan presents music by Foote, Ginastera and Debussy at 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 19, at The JAI at the Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla. $18-$53. theconrad.org/events/art-of-elan-at-the-jai

Cellist Santiago Cañón-Valencia (left) and pianist Victor Santiago Asuncion will perform Monday, Oct. 20, at the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library in La Jolla. (Athenaeum Music & Arts Library)

• Cellist Santiago Cañón-Valencia and pianist Victor Santiago Asuncion play at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 20, at the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, 1008 Wall St., La Jolla. The performance is part of the Barbara and William Karatz Chamber Concert Series. $16-$58. ljathenaeum.org/events/chamber-2025-1020

• ArtPower at UC San Diego presents the dance and music ensemble La Mezcla in “Ghostly Labor,” a rhythmic performance, at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, at UCSD’s Epstein Family Amphitheater, 9480 Innovation Lane, La Jolla. $30-$50. amphitheater.ucsd.edu/event/la-mezcla

• The La Jolla Community Center concludes its 2025 Fourth Friday Jazz Series with Holly Hofmann presenting “Some of My Best Friends are Guitar Players” at 8 p.m. Oct. 24 at 6811 La Jolla Blvd. $25 for Community Center members and $30 for non-members in advance; $35 at the door. ljcommunitycenter.org/ffjs

Bach Collegium San Diego will present "When in Rome: A. Scarlatti, Corelli and Handel" on Saturday, Oct. 25, at the Baker-Baum Concert Hall in La Jolla. (La Jolla Music Society) — Bach Collegium San Diego will present “When in Rome: A. Scarlatti, Corelli and Handel” on Saturday, Oct. 25, at the Baker-Baum Concert Hall in La Jolla. (La Jolla Music Society)

• Bach Collegium San Diego presents “When in Rome: A. Scarlatti, Corelli and Handel” at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at the Baker-Baum Concert Hall, 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla. $38-$73. theconrad.org/events/when-in-rome

• Pianist Dmitry Shishkin performs at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26, at the Baker-Baum Concert Hall, 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla. $48-$75. theconrad.org/events/dmitry-shiskin

• The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library presents its four-concert Jazz Fall Series from Oct. 29 to Dec. 5 at two venues in La Jolla. Performances are: Kris Davis Trio, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 29, Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, 1008 Wall St.; Anthony Wilson Nonet: 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 9, Scripps Research Auditorium, 10620 John Jay Hopkins Drive; Django Festival Allstars with Veronica Swift, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 19, Scripps Research Auditorium; and Matt Wilson’s Christmas Tree-O, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5, Athenaeum Music & Arts Library. $188 for the series for Athenaeum members, $208 for non-members. Individual concerts are $50-$55. ljathenaeum.org/jazz

• The La Jolla Symphony & Chorus opens its 2025-26 season with “The French Connection” at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 2, at the Mandeville Auditorium at UC San Diego, 9390 Mandeville Lane, La Jolla. The performances will feature French and French-inspired works by Kevin Puts, Igor Stravinsky, Jean-Philippe Rameau, Betsy Jolas, Claude Debussy and Erik Satie. $20-$45. ljsc.org

• San Diego Baroque presents its 2025-26 Bach’s Lunch Concert Series at 12:30 p.m. the first Wednesday of each month, except January, through May 6 at St. James by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, 743 Prospect St., La Jolla. Upcoming performances are: Nov. 5, Mozart string quintet; Dec. 3, Vivaldi Gloria; Feb. 4, Handel and Scarlatti vocal works; March 4, French baroque; April 1, Vivaldi Stabat Mater; May 6, works based on Shakespeare and Cervantes. Free. sdbaroque.com

Books

• Wayne Thiebaud holds a book release event for “A Radical Realism” at 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16, at Tasende Gallery, 820 Prospect St., La Jolla. tasendegallery.com

• The Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center will host a series of Jewish authors speaking about their books at 4126 Executive Drive, La Jolla. The schedule: Yardena Schwartz, 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16; Dara Horn, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18; Pamela Nadell, 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 17. $115-$150. my.lfjcc.org/15540/15541

• Author Leslie Johansen Nack discusses her book “Nineteen” in conversation with Judy Reeves at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16, at Warwick’s bookstore, 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. Free, or $17.99 for a reserved seat and book copy. warwicks.com/event/nack-2025

• Warwick’s bookstore presents a meet-and-greet and book signing with Dave Berke and Jocko Willink for their book “The Need to Lead” at 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17, at 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. $35. One ticket admits two and includes a book copy. warwicks.com/event/berke-and-willink-2025

• Warwick’s bookstore presents La Jolla author Loni Belle discussing her children’s book “Moo-Nay R U Monet?” at 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 19, at 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. Free. warwicks.com/event/belle-2025

• The La Jolla Historical Society presents the “Kumeyaay Visual Storytelling Project,” an exhibition that brings together the graphic novels “Our, Past, Present and Future” and “Beyond Gaming,” written by Kumeyaay tribal historians Ethan Banegas, Michael Connolly Miskwish, Lorraine Orosco and Stanley Rodriguez and illustrated by John Swogger. The event runs through Sunday, Oct. 19, at 780 Prospect St. Free. lajollahistory.org/current-and-upcoming

Jill Hall of Point Loma is the author of "On a Sundown Sea: A Novel of Madame Tingley and the Origins of Lomaland." (Provided by Jill Hall) — Jill Hall, author of “On a Sundown Sea: A Novel of Madame Tingley and the Origins of Lomaland,” will appear at Warwick’s bookstore in La Jolla on Monday, Oct. 20. (Provided by Jill Hall)

• Author Jill Hall discusses her book “On a Sundown Sea: A Novel of Madame Tingley and the Origins of Lomaland” at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 20, at Warwick’s bookstore, 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. Free, or $18.99 for a reserved seat and book copy. warwicks.com/event/jill-g-hall-2025

Theater

• La Jolla Playhouse presents the world-premiere musical “Working Girl” from Tuesday, Oct. 28, through Sunday, Dec 7, at the Mandell Weiss Theatre, 2910 La Jolla Village Drive. The production, based on the 1988 movie, features music and lyrics by Cyndi Lauper, a book by Theresa Rebeck and choreography by Sarah O’Gleby and is directed by Christopher Ashley. lajollaplayhouse.org/show/working-girl

Galas & events

• The Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa concludes its Tea in the Garden Series of themed afternoon high teas on Sunday, Oct. 19, at 9700 N. Torrey Pines Road. $75. bit.ly/4jZblwR

• The Corazon de Vida Foundation presents its annual fundraiser Noche de Gala beginning at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, at the Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa, 9700 N. Torrey Pines Road. The gala benefits orphaned and abandoned children in Baja, Mexico, and will include champagne, cocktails, silent and live auctions, entertainment, dinner and dancing. $250. ndg.givesmart.com

• The La Jolla/Riford Library hosts “Remember Us the Holocaust,” or “RUTH,” an exhibit that features stories of Holocaust survivors living in San Diego County and artifacts from the Holocaust and World War II, through June 28 at 7555 Draper Ave. Free. bit.ly/49TLiDr. sandiego.librarymarket.com/event/ruth-exhibit-program-418127.

Do you have an event — online or in person — that you’d like to see here? Email your leads to Rob Vardon at robert.vardon@lajollalight.com by noon Friday for publication in the following week’s edition. ♦

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Opinion: Providing connection and care by the San Diego River

Published

12 hours ago

October 14, 2025

Press Room

Opinion: Providing connection and care by the San Diego River

It’s 4 a.m. on a recent Sunday at the San Diego River, and volunteers from various organizations are gathering to conduct an annual census of people experiencing homelessness. The count is part of the San Diego River Park Foundation’s ongoing efforts to better understand the needs and challenges along the river. They work closely with my colleagues on the outreach team at PATH, and that morning, Assemblymember Chris Ward and college student volunteers joined the effort.

At first glance, it might not be obvious why an environmental organization is on the front lines of the homelessness crisis. But the reality is that when people use the river as a home and build encampments for survival, the environmental impact and the unsafe conditions that can result cannot be ignored.

The riverbed has long been a refuge for people experiencing homelessness. Many who relocate there have been displaced from other neighborhoods and seek stability after being shuffled around. Data collection events like this census have demonstrated the need for a specialized team dedicated to outreach along the river. Thanks to state funding from the Encampment Resolution Fund that is administered through the city of San Diego, PATH teams have been deployed to provide person-centered, trauma-informed care to those in need.

Having the Assembly member there was especially meaningful and personal. During his time on the San Diego City Council, he supported a PATH pilot program that reshaped how outreach is conducted. I was working as a community representative in his office at the time and was proud to be a part of that effort. Previously, outreach teams rotated through different areas each day, often meeting new people without the opportunity to build deep relationships. In 2018, Ward’s office provided some of the seed funding for the Mid-City Homeless Outreach program, a neighborhood-based case management model spearheaded by PATH. Instead of constantly moving, outreach workers were assigned to a specific community, allowing them to get to know people, build trust and address unique needs. The program’s success led to multi-year, citywide outreach contracts with PATH, which have since expanded across San Diego County.

On the morning of the count, volunteers encountered a small group of deaf individuals that had already built rapport with the River Park Foundation team. The group included a couple who were ready to enroll in services. Kat Moore, a member of PATH’s team, approached them and used her phone to communicate, following up on previous conversations they had with her colleague, Kendall Burdett, about providing support. Before leaving, she supplied them with a San Diego River Park Foundation-provided care kit that included socks, water, granola bars, trash bags and hygiene supplies. Most importantly, she left them with a pathway to stability and hope.

The following Monday, Kat enrolled them in case management and secured them a spot at the city of San Diego’s Safe Sleeping site. She arranged for an interpreter to be present at their intake. That is what outreach is all about — meeting people where they are, building trust and offering solutions tailored to their needs. Kat is part of a dedicated team that provides this level of tailored support to people experiencing homelessness in all the communities that PATH serves. Her level of compassion and commitment is what we look for when building our diverse outreach teams.

From June 2024 to July 2025, PATH’s city of San Diego outreach teams enrolled 1,283 unhoused people in services. The ultimate goal is to secure housing, but there are many important steps to navigate along the way. With support from our teams, 968 of those individuals achieved temporary exits, meaning they moved into a shelter, substance use treatment program, long-term care facility, or reconnected with friends or family. More than 300 people were connected to permanent housing, ending their homelessness.

While results and data are crucial to measuring impact and the efficacy of these programs, there is one thing they cannot capture: human connection. For people with few resources or social connections, a consistent relationship with a case manager, someone who checks in, helps you work toward your goals and genuinely cares, can be a lifeline. Along the San Diego River and across San Diego County, outreach offers more than services. It offers connection, care and a path to home.

Renner is the communications director for PATH, a statewide homeless services provider, and a board member of San Diego Pride. He lives in University Heights.

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Startling video captures gorilla smashing glass wall of San Diego Zoo enclosure

Published

23 hours ago

October 13, 2025

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Startling video captures gorilla smashing glass wall of San Diego Zoo enclosure

A massive gorilla was seen charging at the wall of its enclosure at a California zoo, smashing a portion of a thick glass panel in front of horrified onlookers, shocking video captured.

Denny, a 10-year-old western lowland gorilla, shattered one layer of a three-layered tempered glass panel at the San Diego Zoo’s gorilla forest habitat on Saturday, zoo officials confirmed, according to CBS8.

Footage obtained by the outlet captured him catapulting toward the glass wall, causing several onlookers to gasp and scream as they walked away from the habitat.

Images also showed members of the crowd investigating the partially shattered panel, following the smashing session.

Denny was not injured in the incident. He and the other gorilla living in the enclosure will be cared for while the panel is replaced, the outlet reported.

Previously, Denny had lived with his other siblings, including his brother Maka, who suddenly died in August at the age of 30 from a cardiac event, the zoo announced.

Dr. Erin Riley, an anthropology professor at San Diego State University, said several factors could have provoked the behavior, including Denny’s grief for his late brother, CBS8 reported.

“Gorillas, particularly males, will often do what we call ‘charging displays,’ as a kind of an act of like showing off,” Riley told the outlet. “What I don’t know, of course, since I wasn’t there, is whether or not there was something that kind of provoked, that display behavior.

“One of the things that gorillas actually don’t like is to be stared at directly in the eyes, and that’s not something that zoo visitors always understand.”

It’s also possible that the large primate was simply having fun, but since his attention was directed at the glass, it could indicate something occurring amongst spectators that could have made him feel “a little bit threatened,” Riley theorized.

Western lowland gorillas are the largest primates in the world, with adult males weighing up to 500 pounds, according to the zoo’s website.

The species is endangered due to deforestation in its central African habitats.

The San Diego Zoo did not respond to The Post’s request for comment.

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‘Bubble Queen of Mission Bay’ Reggie Dyer Veit reigns with joy

Published

2 days ago

October 13, 2025

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‘Bubble Queen of Mission Bay’ Reggie Dyer Veit reigns with joy

A young child reaches up to touch the “Bubble Queen’s” masterpiece at Mission Bay Park. (Photo by Barry Alman)

About half an hour before sunset, something extraordinary happens at Mission Bay Park. Giant, iridescent bubbles float through the air, some stretching 8 to 12 feet, occasionally drifting over Interstate 5 and past apartment windows, leaving wonder in their wake.

Behind this phenomenon is a bubble artist who has called San Diego home since 1987 and spent the past nine years perfecting her craft and earning the nickname “Bubble Queen of Mission Bay.”

Reggie Dyer Veit’s journey into bubble artistry began nearly 40 years ago at the Ocean Beach Christmas Parade, where she first saw a bubble artist perform.

“I just fell in love with it. I thought that’s so neat,” Dyer Veit said.

An onlooker snaps a picture of the “Bubble Queen” at Mission Bay Park. (Photo by Barry Alman)
The “Bubble Queen” in the zone at Mission Bay Park. (Photo by Barry Alman)
Dyer Veit with her apprentice Steve Coy. (Photo by Barry Alman)
The “Bubble Queen” smiles as a child chases a bubble behind her at Mission Bay Park. (Photo by Barry Alman)

But life got in the way and she waited three decades before pursuing her passion. The turning point came when she spotted someone creating giant bubbles on the dunes in Pacific Beach.

“I went home that night and started learning everything I could about bubbles,” Dyer Veit said.

What followed was an intensive self-education. Dyer Veit discovered a wiki site with information about bubble physics and history, spending four or five days absorbed in reading. Within her first year, she became a certified bubbleologist — a designation requiring both theoretical knowledge and practical skill.

“You have to take a test to become a bubbleologist,” Dyer Veit said. “You have to be able to do certain tricks with the bubble.”

One of the most challenging tricks she learned is called “the cube,” created by renowned bubble artist Tom Noddy, who performed on “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.” The trick involves blowing five bubbles around two connected bubbles to form a cube shape in the center.

Like other bubble enthusiasts, Dyer Veit is part of a community with its own vocabulary.

“We have our own bubble language,” she said. “You’ll hear us talk about things like the dragon and the wick.”

Dyer Veit said October is often her best month for bubbling, as higher humidity helps the bubbles last longer. She has spent years perfecting her bubble juice recipe, a secret mix of five ingredients besides water. Her goal is to create bubbles that can withstand wind and drift for extended periods.

“If you can get a bubble to last over 30 seconds, that’s pretty good,” she said. “I’ve had them go for almost three minutes.”

Mission Bay provides ideal conditions due to the moisture in the air. However, she also ventures to La Jolla, Dog Beach in Ocean Beach and the Torrey Pines Gliderport, where updrafts can send bubbles soaring over cliffs.

The reactions she witnesses range from pure delight to the downright surreal. Her most unusual encounter happened at De Anza Cove when one of her giant bubbles floated over the freeway, high above the hillside.

“A hawk was circling and dive bombed the bubble,” she said. “That was the strangest thing I’ve ever seen.”

More often, Dyer Veit sees faces light up, moods shift and she hears a lot of “wows.”

“I know that I’m going to turn somebody’s day around,” she said.

Dyer Veit has made many friends through bubbling, including Steve Coy, who has apprenticed with her for two years. While she favors a few giant bubbles at a time, Coy prefers a garland that releases 20 to 60 medium bubbles with each sweep.

The “Bubble Queen’s” passion isn’t confined to California skies. Nearly three years ago, Dyer Veit took her bubble wands on a four-day train trip from Sacramento to Detroit.

“Every time the train stopped long enough, I got off and did bubbles,” she said, sharing her art with strangers along the way.

What Dyer Veit didn’t expect was how deeply the practice would affect her. Once shy and introverted, she found herself opening up through her art.

“It just takes a little bubble in the air to change your whole attitude,” Dyer Veit said.

These days, she spends most evenings at Mission Bay, delighting onlookers with giant bubbles.

“I wish I were like that before I started bubbles,” Dyer Veit said. “Bubbles did that to me.”

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