San Diego’s top weekend events for July 28 - July 31: Ramona Country Fair, Transplant Games and more
Here are the top events happening in San Diego from Thursday, July 28 to Sunday, July 30.
Thursday
“Dial M for Murder”
The Old Globe presents the world premiere of Jeffrey Hatcher’s adaptation of Frederick Knott’s 1952 thriller about a tennis pro plotting to having his wealthy wife killed so he can keep her fortune. 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays. 8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays. 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays. 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays. Through Aug. 28. Sheryl & Harvey White Theatre, The Old Globe, 1363 Old Globe Way, Balboa Park, San Diego. $30 and up. (619) 234-5623. theoldglobe.org
“Puffs, Or: Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic”
Fenix Theatre Collective presents Matt Cox’s off-Broadway comedy inspired by author J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter book series. It’s the story of a group of nerdy, unpopular students in the “Puff” house at Hogwarts wizardry school witnessing Potter’s rise from the sidelines. 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays. 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Through Aug. 13. 10th Ave. Arts Center, 930 Tenth Ave., San Diego. $35. (619) 768-3821. fenixsd.org
Friday
‘Head Over Heels’
San Diego Junior Theatre presents this 2015 Elizabethan-themed jukebox musical comedy featuring songs by the ‘80s all-girl rock band, the Go-Go’s. Based on the 17th-century play “The Arcadia” by Philip Sidney, it’s about a royal family who embark on an epic journey to save their female-centric kingdom from an oracle’s prophecy of doom. Opens Friday and runs through Aug. 14. Showtimes, 7 p.m. Fridays. 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Casa del Prado Theatre, 1650 El Prado, #208, Balboa Park, San Diego. $16-$18. (619) 239-8355 or visit juniortheatre.com
Ramona Country Fair
This family-friendly celebration features a midway with plenty of carnival rides and games, livestock, live music, and food, craft and commercial vendors. Enjoy medieval and Renaissance re-enactments by the Adrian Empire, as well as performances from The Hole in the Wall Gang and the Victorian Roses Ladies Riding Society. Highlights include Noise Pollution, an AC/DC tribute band, on Friday; a cornhole tournament and Off-Road Car Show on Saturday; and Steal Dawn closing out the fair on Sunday. The Junior Livestock Fair and Auction will be finishing up its run this weekend (RamonaJuniorFair.com). Summer Santa will be dropping in, seeking donations for a new town Christmas tree. 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday. Ramona Outdoor Community Center, 431 Aqua Lane, Ramona. Free admission; $10 parking donation. Tickets for rides and parking passes available at RamonaChamber.com/Ramona-Country-Fair
“Witnesses”
CCAE Theatricals presents the closing weekend of this world premiere musical conceived by Jordan Beck, with book by Robert L. Freedman, about five Jewish teen diarists who perished in the Holocaust. 7:30 p.m. today. 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday. California Center for the Arts, Escondido, 340 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido. $35-$75. (800) 988-4253. artcenter.org
Donate Life Transplant Games
The Transplant Games of America honor organ donors and highlight the need for and importance of organ, eye and tissue donation. More than 30 national and international teams will compete in 20 sports to show the world the success of transplantation. Besides athletic competitions, the games will feature special events, kicked off at 9 a.m. Saturday with a parade starting outside the County Administrative Building and going down Harbor Drive to Pacific Highway, sponsored by Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego. Grand marshals are actor Jason Gray-Stanford (heart transplant recipient) and former Green Bay Packers player (and San Diegan) John Brockington (kidney). Also on Saturday, join the Transplant Games 5K Run/Walk along Harbor Drive. Register at TransplantGamesofAmerica.org/5KRunWalk. The TGA Village at the San Diego Convention Center will be open to the public with more events. TGA Village open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday to Wednesday. Free. Most events taking place at the San Diego Convention Center and UC San Diego. transplantgamesofamerica.org/2022schedule
SummerFest 2022 opens with ‘Side by Side’
La Jolla Music Society opens its SummerFest concert series with a program four leading international pianists playing together on the same stage: Inon Barnatan, Garrick Ohlsson, Joyce Yang and Wynona Yinuo Wang. Works include Bacewicz’ Quartet for Four Violins and Czerny’s Quartet for Four Pianos, among others. 7:30 p.m. Friday. Baker-Baum Concert Hall, Conrad Prebys Fine Arts Center, 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla. $45-$110. (858) 459-3728. ljms.org
Saturday
Filipino American Friendship Festival
The San Diego Filipino community and the Asian Pacific Islander Initiative present this festival marking Filipino American Friendship Day, commemorating the day the Philippines became independent of United States rule on July 4, 1946. This year’s bash also celebrates the U.S. Navy’s announcement that it will name an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer the U.S.S. Telesforo Trinidad (DDG-139). Trinidad is the only Filipino in the U.S. Navy to receive the Medal of Honor, the highest military award. Authentic Filipino food (yes, lumpia), music, a historical exhibit, a parade and more, including a tinikling performance by Mira Mesa High School students. This captivating folk dance involves stepping between rapidly moving bamboo poles. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, NTC Park at Liberty Station, 2455 Cushing Road, San Diego. Free. apiinitiative.org/filipino-friendship-festival
Channel your inner “Cathy”
The Pacific Beach/Taylor Library welcomes everyone to “The Most Wuthering Heights Day Ever.” Fans of Emily Brontë’s 1847 romantic-gothic novel “Wuthering Heights” or of Kate Bush’s 1978 song adaptation are invited to wear a red dress and dance to Bush’s song. All ages, genders and abilities welcome to dance or just to watch this flash mob/community performance. (For links to the song and dance videos so you can practice your moves, visit mysdpl.org/wuthering.) Afterward, everyone’s welcome to dance to other songs and bring a picnic to enjoy. Noon Saturday. Pacific Beach/Taylor Library, 4275 Cass St., San Diego. Free. sandiego.librarymarket.com/event/wuthering
Automotive garage sale
The San Diego Automotive Museum hosts a sale at its storage facility in National City. Automobile aficionados will find vintage tools large and small such as a hydraulic pipe bender, an English wheel, drill presses, electric cutoff and multiple rolling toolboxes. Vintage parts for sale include pieces for an Austin Healey 3000, 1980s Mercedes-Benz, and 1930s Cadillac, along with 1950s body panels and engine components, a set of “new” 1980s Ronal wheels, and other treasures. Proceeds benefit the San Diego Automotive Museum. 7 to10 a.m. Saturday. 600 W. 12th St., National City. Free. (619) 231-2886
“Point Counterpoint”
SummerFest continues with a concert exploring counterpoint in music from the baroque period to today, featuring the world premiere of a multimedia version of Steve Reich’s “New York Counterpoint” featuring clarinetists from all of the Lincoln Center performing ensembles. Also featured is Valentini’s Sonata for Two String Quartets and Bass “EnHarmonic,” Haydn’s String Quartet in F minor, Mozart’s Fantasy in F minor for Two Pianos, and Elgar’s Piano Quintet in A minor. 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Baker-Baum Concert Hall, Conrad Prebys Fine Arts Center, 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla. $45-$110. (858) 459-3728. ljms.org
Sunday
“Pretty Woman: The Musical”
Broadway San Diego presents the national touring production of this 2018 Broadway musical, based on the 1990 film starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere about a wealthy man who falls for a hooker with a heart of gold. 8 p.m. Friday. 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday. 1 and 6 p.m. Sunday. San Diego Civic Theatre, 1100 Third Ave., San Diego. $40.50 and up. broadwaysd.com
“Gail Roberts: Color Field Exhibition”
Oceanside Museum of Art opens this new exhibit of more than 130 20-by-24-inch paintings of singular flowers in a series completed over a five-year period, all of which vary in the hue and range of the color spectrum. Opens Saturday and runs through Nov. 27. Hours, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fridays. 704 Pier View Way, Oceanside. (760) 560-6434. oma-online.org
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