Top events and things to do in San Diego for the weekend of August 25 through 28
Here are the top events happening in San Diego from Thursday, Aug. 25 to Sunday, Aug. 28.
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Here’s your weekend lineup of events.
Thursday
”Ragtime”: Moonlight Stage Productions presents this epic, Tony Award-winning musical about life in New York at the turn of the 20th century for the clashing communities of upper-class Whites, striving but oppressed Blacks and newly arrived immigrants, featuring a cast of 38 actors and a 25-piece orchestra. 8 p.m. Wednesdays-Sundays. Through Sept. 3. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. Moonlight Amphitheatre, Brengle Terrace Park, 1200 Vale Terrace Drive, Vista. $17-$61. (760) 724-2110. moonlightstage.com
“Steel Magnolias”: Backyard Renaissance Theatre presents a 35th anniversary production of Robert Harling’s play about six strong Southern women who argue, gossip, celebrate and grieve together at a Louisiana beauty salon. 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays. 2 p.m. Sundays. Through Sept. 17. Tenth Avenue Arts Center, 930 10th Ave., San Diego. $32-$40. backyardrenaissance.com
“The Weight of Color, the Shape of Light”: The San Diego Mesa College Art Gallery has opened a new exhibition of “pictorial and sculptural investigations on color, light and texture,” featuring work by San Diego-based artists Christian Garcia-Olivo, Kaori Fukuyama and Melissa Walter. “The advent of Modernism inspired artists to explore abstraction and in the 20th Century painters were motivated to pursue explorations with a variety of media in order to capture both the material and the immaterial. ... The three artists whose works are assembled together in (this exhibition) delve into these legacies.” Through Sept. 8. Artist talk by Fukuyama at 2 p.m. today. San Diego Mesa College, Fine Arts Building, Art Gallery, FA103, 7250 Mesa College Drive, San Diego. Free. (619) 388-2829. sdmesa.edu/art-gallery
Friday
Disney presents ‘The Lion King:’ The national tour of Disney’s “The Lion King” has arrived in San Diego and will be showing at San Diego Civic Theatre all weekend and through Sept. 11. Based on Disney’s animated coming-of-age 1994 film, the musical adaptation by director-designer Julie Taymor features more than 200 innovative mask, puppetry and kite designs that required 17,000 hours of design work for the Broadway staging, which opened in 1998. Showtimes are 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays. 7:30 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays. 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays. 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sundays. Tickets start at $30.50. The Civic Theatre is at 1100 Third Ave., San Diego. Visit broadwaysd.com.
Stone celebration: Celebrating its 26th anniversary, Stone Brewing hosts happenings at all its tap rooms starting Friday (and throughout the weekend while kegs last). The big party is Saturday at the Escondido “mothership,” followed by a party Sunday at the Liberty Station outpost. Tickets get you two 20-ounce tastes of beers from 40-plus guest breweries, live music, a commemorative glass and food for purchase. Escondido offers a pricier Rare Beer session from noon to 3 p.m., which includes an exclusive beer list, plus early admission to the main event. The Liberty Station site hosts a similar celebration Sunday. Bring school supply donations to either brewery to support this year’s #Kulture4DaKids initiative. Escondido, 3-7 p.m. Saturday. Tickets $40 (designated drivers $15) or $120 for the Rare Beer session. Stone Brewing, 1999 Citracado Parkway, Escondido. bit.ly/3QvFZ2s Liberty Station, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday. Tickets $40 (designated drivers $15). Liberty Station, 2816 Historic Decatur Road, San Diego. bit.ly/3pmX0jh
Ramona Rodeo: The 41st annual Ramona Rodeo will bring traditional Western entertainment to town this weekend. Events include bareback, saddle bronc and bull riding; timed events including tie-down roping, steer wrestling and team roping; and Women’s Professional Rodeo Association barrel racing. Youngsters ages 11 and 12 representing the Southern California Youth Bull Riders will be riding junior steers. Dances follow the Friday and Saturday evening shows. Rodeos start at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, dances at 10:30 p.m. Parking opens at 5 p.m., gates open at 6 p.m. Rodeo starts at 4 p.m. Sunday, with Cowboy Church at 10 a.m. and parking open at 1 p.m. Fred Grand Arena in the Ramona Outdoor Community Center, 421 Aqua Lane. Tickets are $20 for ages 7 and older, $5 for ages 2 to 6 on Friday and Sunday. Saturday admission is $25 for ages 2 and older. Preferred and VIP tickets are also available. ramonarodeo.com
San Diego Symphony at the Rady Shell: Tchaikovksy’s Symphonic Tales: This concert of waltzes and overtures replaces the annual “1812 Overture” concert out of sensitivity to Russia’s unprovoked war on Ukraine. 7:30 p.m. Friday. The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, 222 Marina Park Way, San Diego. $40 to $90. (619) 235-0804. sandiegosymphony.org
“Silent Sky”: Lamplighters Community Theatre presents Lauren Gunderson’s play about real-life early 20th-century mathematician and astronomer Henrietta Swan Leavitt, who discovered how to measure the distance between stars. Opens Friday and runs through Sept. 18. 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. 2 p.m. Sundays. 5915 Severin Drive, La Mesa. $22-$25. (619) 303-5092. lamplighterslamesa.com
“As You Like It”: This is the closing weekend of New Fortune Theatre’s outdoor production of the William Shakespeare comedy about love, trickery and fairies in the Forest of Arden. 7 p.m. Friday through Sunday. New Fortune at Westminster Presbyterian Church outdoor amphitheater, 3598 Talbot St., San Diego. $10-$30 (beach chairs and blankets recommended). newfortunetheatre.com
SummerFest Finale: “Metamorphosis”: La Jolla Music Society presents the final concert of its 2022 summer season, featuring 12 individual artists and the SummerFest Chamber Orchestra performing Strauss’ “Metamorphosen” and transformative works by Strauss-Hasenöhrl and Schubert. 7:30 p.m. Friday. Baker-Baum Concert Hall, Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla. $53-$113. (858) 459-3728. ljms.org
Saturday
South Bay Pride Art & Music Festival: Chula Vista’s Bayfront Park is the venue for this annual festival featuring live local bands, DJs and dancing, and artisans galore. Food and beverages, beach activities and more. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday . Free. Bayfront Park, 980 Marina Way, Chula Vista. southbaypride.org
Women’s Equality Day Festival: The Women’s Museum of California is hosting an event with music, dance, storytelling, a suffrage parade, food trucks and more to celebrate Women’s Equality Day. There will also be crafting opportunities, activism workshops, a makers’ market and other activities. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Joe and Vi Jacobs Center, 404 Euclid Ave., San Diego. Free. womensmuseumca.org/womensequality.
Grupo Firme: Grupo Firme is set to perform in San Diego as part of its first U.S. stadium tour, making it the first Tijuana and first Mexican act to headline at Petco Park. 7 p.m. Saturday. Petco Park, 100 Park Blvd. San Diego. Remaining tickets start at $70. padres.com/concerts
Free film at the beach: Solana Beach invites all to its 17th annual Beach Blanket Movie Night. Bring a blanket, pack a picnic, and head to Fletcher Cove Park for a free movie under the stars. The evening starts with live music by Jackstraws, followed by a showing of “The Endless Summer.” Refreshments available (cash only). Silent auction features prizes including a Firewire surfboard, beach cruiser bicycle, wetsuits and gift baskets. No alcohol, tobacco, pets or personal BBQs, please. Proceeds benefit future Solana Beach Parks and Recreation events. 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday. Free. Fletcher Cove Park, 111 S. Sierra Ave., Solana Beach. https://bit.ly/3K0k2G7
“Taste of New Orleans” at the track: The Del Mar Thoroughbred Club hosts this food and music festival featuring booths serving gumbo, po’boys, beignets, red beans and rice and jambalaya with live Cajun music. 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday. Seaside Cabana, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar. $29 and up (ticket includes four 5-ounce beer tasters and free track admission). dmtc.com/calendar/allevents
Annie Dover: “Human Nature”: Santa Ysabel Gallery opens a solo exhibit of oils on canvas, linen and board by artist Annie Dover. She draws her inspiration from capturing her everyday experiences with a paintbrush. Opening reception 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday. Exhibit runs through Oct. 2. 30352 Highway 78, Santa Ysabel. (760) 765-1676. santaysabelartgallery.com
No adoption fee event in Chula Vista: The Chula Vista Animal Care Facility will be holding a special event on Saturday with prizes, pet treats and pet clothing and accessories for sale. There will also be food trucks and a raffle for concert tickets. Pet adoption fees will be waved. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. 130 Beyer Way, Chula Vista. cvacf.org
Second Chance Beer Company anniversary: Celebrating its seventh anniversary, Second Chance Beer Company will have a special event Saturday with a cornhole tournament, drink specials, the launch of its New Day IPA and a bar with beer specials for one day only. From 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., a late-night happy hour will take place. 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday.15379 Avenue of Science, #222, San Diego. Free. secondchancebeer.com/scbc-7th-anniversary
Sunday
The Stadium Tour with Def Leppard, Motely Crue, Poison and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts: These rock legends will combine for a massive stadium show in Petco Park. 7 p.m. Sunday. Petco Park, 100 Park Blvd. San Diego. Remaining tickets start at $65. padres.com/concerts
LeucadiART Walk: This annual event presented by the Leucadia 101 Mainstreet Association lets you stroll and stop along the way to chat with artists, explore fine art, see art demos and dance performances, enjoy music — and a “libation garden.” A Children’s Art Pavilion and a Makers Market will also be open. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Free. North Coast Highway 101 between Encinitas for Equality, 1900 N. Coast Highway 101, and Coastal Animal Hospital, 434 N. Coast Highway 101. https://bit.ly/3c6cTHM
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