San Diego’s top weekend events: Oct. 28-Nov. 2
Here are the top events happening in San Diego from Thursday, Oct. 28 through Tuesday, Nov. 2:
Thursday, Oct. 28
San Diego Asian Film Festival
The popular film festival returns to in-person screenings and features over 130 films from over 20 countries — including 22 premieres and 15 West Coast premieres. Opens tonight and runs through Nov. 6. Various venues throughout San Diego County. Free to $16 for individual screenings; $60 for six-pack of films; $195 to $295 for all-fest pass; sdaff.org.
READ MORE: San Diego Asian Film Festival returns to theaters
Tijuana No
The 1990s Tijuana ska-punk group performs a 21+ show with Cumbia Machin and Las Sucias DJs. 9 p.m. Thursday. Casbah, 2501 Kettner Blvd., Midtown. $15 plus fees; casbahmusic.com.
Sun Room
Alternative/rock group Sun Room performs an 18-and-up show with San Diego indie band almost monday. 8:30 p.m. Thursday. Music Box, 1337 India St., Little Italy. $17 advanced and $22 day of show; musicboxsd.com. Proof of full vaccination or negative COVID test within previous 72 hours required for entry.
READ MORE: almost monday: the North County alt-pop trio to get you through the rest of 2020
Haunted Hip-Hop Night
Don your costumes for this local band showcase that spotlights San Diego hip-hop artists. Presented by Red Herring Entertainment, the night doubles as a Halloween Party. 7:30 p.m. Thursday. The Holding Company, 5046 Newport Ave., Ocean Beach. Tickets are $10 online and at the door; us.patronbase.com/_TheHoldingCompany/Productions/3S/Performances
Friday, Oct. 29
Rocket From the Crypt Halloween
The tradition returns, only now it’s all-ages! San Diego’s Rocket From the Crypt is known for legendary Halloween shows so if you’re only going to one event this weekend, make sure it’s this one. 8 p.m. Friday. Observatory North Park, 2891 University Ave., North Park. $35; casbahmusic.com.
READ MORE: Halloween 2021: Haunted houses, parties and more in San Diego
“Fate Now Conquers: Simon and Beethoven”
The San Diego Symphony continues its Jacobs Masterworks season with Music Director Rafael Payare conducting a program that features Beethoven’s powerful Symphony No. 7 and a short work by rising American composer Carlos Simon. 7 p.m. Friday and 5 p.m. Saturday. The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, 222 Marina Park Way, downtown. $25 to $108; theshell.org.
LED Presents Dream Eaters
Head to Gallagher Square at Petco Park for this two-day EDM festival, featuring headliners Illenium and DJ Madeon. 4 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Petco Park, 100 Park Blvd., East Village. $115-$135 (excluding fees); showclix.com/event/led-presents-dream-eaters
Black Friday Halloween Ball
Kick off the holiday weekend with the Black Friday Halloween Ball at Casbah, featuring performances from Second Skin and Some Ember, plus a dance party with sets from three DJs: Vaughn Avakian, Camilla Robina and Human Cruelty. 9:30 p.m. Friday. The Casbah, 2501 Kettner Blvd., Middletown. Tickets sold at the door; casbahmusic.com. Proof of full vaccination or negative PCR test within 72 hours of show is required.
Saturday, Oct. 30
John Mulaney
After a year of tabloid headlines, Mulaney is hitting the road in a tour called “From Scratch.” And one must assume that’s how he hopes to win back audiences — from scratch, with his specific brand of wry stand-up comedy that originally made him the darling of the comedy world. 5 and 9 p.m. Saturday. Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre, SDSU. Both performances are sold out, resale tickets available; johnmulaney.com
Halloween Silent Movie Night
If you’re looking for a unique — and free — Halloween experience, you’ll find it at Spreckels Organ Pavilion. Spooky silent comedies starring Laurel and Hardy and Buster Keaton will be screened with live organ accompaniment by Mark Herman. 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Spreckels Organ Pavilion, Balboa Park. Free; balboaparkconcerts.org.
San Diego Ballet’s Ritmos Latinos Afuera/Outside
San Diego Ballet presents this show that merges ballet with Latin music, featuring “Que Bonito Amor,” a ballet set to mariachi music, and “Mambomania,” one of the company’s signature works. 2:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday (and Nov. 6-7). Ingram Plaza at Liberty Station, 2751 Dewey Road, Point Loma. $10 to $40, plus fees; sandiegoballet.org.
City Heights Dia de los Muertos Celebration
This 14th annual event featuring community altars, entertainment, face painting and raffles plus performances from Mariachi Victoria de San Diego, Fern Street Circus, Grupo Colibrí and more. There will also be a tribute to COVID-19 victims at 7 p.m., and a walk-up vaccination site starting at 10 a.m. Guests are encouraged to wear a Catrina outfit! 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Officer Jeremy Henwood Memorial Park, 4455 Wightman St., City Heights. Free; facebook.com/CityHeightsDiaDeLosMuertos.
San Diego Distillers Guild Fest
This spirits festival in downtown San Diego features more than 20 craft distilleries, from big brands like Cutwater Spirits to small-batch operations like Santee’s Copper Collar Distillery. Ticketholders receive unlimited drinks and appetizers, plus cocktail and spirit samples. 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday. The Lane by Moniker Group, 900 Bayfront Court, Suite 200, Embarcadero. General admission is $60 and VIP tickets are $100; sddistillersguildfest.com.
“1707: A Sonic Youth”
Bach Collegium San Diego opens its 2021-22 with Handel’s “Dixit Dominus” and Bach’s “Christ Lag in Todesbanden BWV 4.” Both pieces were composed around 1707 when Handel and Bach were in their 20s, at the cusp of their careers. 7 p.m. Saturday. All Souls’ Episcopal Church, 1475 Catalina Blvd., Point Loma. $15 to $55; bachcollegiumsd.org.
Mostraland
Celebrate seven years of Mostra Coffee at its joint anniversary party and Halloween Fest! There will be more than 40 breweries at the event, including local spots like AleSmith, Harland and Societe Brewing. In addition to lots of coffee and beer, there will be food offerings from San Diego restaurants, live entertainment from Tribal Theory, dancing and a Halloween costume contest. A portion of ticket sales will benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. 7 to 11 p.m. South Promenade Liberty Station, 2850 Roosevelt Road. General admission is $50 (unlimited coffee) or $120 tickets (unlimited coffee and beer); mostracoffee.ticketspice.com/mostraland.
Pumpkin Bash
Get ready for a show at the big cat and exotic animal rescue, Lions Tigers & Bears! Watch the animals at the wildlife sanctuary devour pumpkins stuffed with goodies. 10 a.m. Saturday. Lions Tigers & Bears, 24402 Martin Way, Alpine. $35 (kids) and $60 (adults) with discounted tickets for members; lionstigersandbears.org/our-events/pumpkin-bash
Sunday, Oct. 31
Ofrenda: A Dia de los Muertos Celebration
Enjoy a celebration of Mexican culture with “Ofrenda,” an outdoor show at The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park that spotlights Ballet Folklórico de Los Ángeles and Mariachi Garibaldi de Jaime Cuéllar. 6 p.m. Sunday. The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, 222 Marina Park Way, downtown. $25 to $95; theshell.org/performances/Ofrenda
Alexander Malofeev
At age 13, Malofeev won the International Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians and became known as a “Russian genius.” Now the musician is 20 and he performs a concert of music by Schubert, Rachmaninoff and others. 3 p.m. Sunday. The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla. $48; ljms.org.
Inspired and the Sleep
Los Angeles-based indie pop duo Inspired and the Sleep — who are originally from Carlsbad — perform a “Spooky Soirée” at Belly Up. The 21-and-up concert features openers Trouble in the Wind and Imagery Machine. 9 p.m. Saturday. Belly Up Tavern, 143 South Cedros Ave., Solana Beach. $12 advanced and $15 day of show; bellyup.com
Trunk or Treat
Nonprofit organization Foundation for Women Warriors invites folks to its all-ages event in Vista, featuring tricks, treats and a costume contest. Noon to 2 p.m. Sunday. 1185 Park Center Drive, Vista (FFWW’s Vista office). Free; foundationforwomenwarriors.org/event/trunk-or-treat-2021.
Nas at Fluxx
Get ready for a treat: Legendary rapper Nas will make a Halloween appearance at one of San Diego’s hottest nightclubs. 8 p.m. Sunday . Fluxx nightclub, 500 Fourth Avenue, Gaslamp. $30; fluxxsd.com
Monday, Nov. 1
Dia de los Muertos at the Center for the Arts
California Center for the Arts, Escondido (CCAE) hosts its 26th event in person this year, both at the museum and its courtyard. Outside, there will be community participatory altars, as well as a craft market, DJ, and performances by Aztec dance group Xinachtli and Tierra Caliente Academy of Arts. 3 to 7 p.m. Monday. California Center for the Arts, Escondido, 340 North Escondido Blvd., Escondido. Free; artcenter.org/event/dia-de-los-muertos.
Perfume Genius
Musician Perfume Genius, who released his fifth album “Set My Heart on Fire Immediately” during the pandemic, performs 18-and-up show with Hand Habits. 8 p.m. Monday. Music Box, 1337 India St., Little Italy. $32; musicboxsd.com. Proof of full vaccination or negative COVID test within previous 72 hours required for entry.
Tuesday, Nov. 2
Sherman Heights Community Center Día de los Muertos
The public is invited to view the center’s collection of in-person altars, which will be on display through Nov. 2. There will also be a Procesión de Muertos, a candlelight walk through the decorated neighborhood. (Masks required for all guests.) 4:30 to 10 p.m. Tuesday. Sherman Heights Community Center, 2258 Island Ave., Sherman Heights. Free; shermanheightscc.org/ddlm-2021
Procesión to the Cemetery
Old Town San Diego’s traditional candlelight procession will start at sunset, starting at Immaculate Conception Church, then make its way down San Diego Avenue to El Campo Santo Cemetery. Guests are welcome to contribute personal items to the public ofrenda, located in the cemetery. The event begins at 6:30 p.m.. Tuesday. Procession starts at Immaculate Conception Church, 2540 San Diego Ave., Old Town. Free; facebook.com/visitoldtownsd
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