Top events and things to do in San Diego for the weekend of September 8-11
UPDATE: Alicia Keys’ San Diego concert has been postponed. Read more about weather-related cancelatons and postponements here:
For now, tonight’s Ben Platt concert at The Shell and Keith Urban’s concert at North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre are going ahead as planned, rain or shine
Here are the top events happening in San Diego from Thursday, Sept. 8 to Sunday, Sept. 11.
Thursday
Taste of One Paseo: This Del Mar Heights-area shopping center hosts a self-guided tasting tour with participants that include Parakeet Cafe, Sweetfin, Le Macaron, Tocaya, Shake Shack and Harland Brewing. 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday. One Paseo, 3725 Paseo Place, San Diego. $20. onepaseo.com/events/tasteofonepaseo
Sycuan Powwow: The Sycuan Powwow is a sacred social gathering held each year by the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation. Native Americans meet to dance, sing, socialize and honor their cultures, which includes dancing competitions from other Native American Nations as well as Sycuan bird singing and dancing. Food, arts and crafts each day, plus a fashion show of Native American designers at 7 p.m. Thursday at Sycuan Casino, 5469 Casino Way, El Cajon (tickets $25 at bit.ly/3KyAKwP). Grand entry for the powwow is at 8 p.m. Friday, 1 and 8 p.m. Saturday, and 1 p.m. Sunday. Bird singing and dancing contest start at 4:30 p.m. Saturday. Bring chairs. 6:30 p.m.-midnight Friday, 11:30 a.m.-midnight Saturday, 11:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday. Sycuan Indian Reservation, 5469 Casino Way, El Cajon. Call (619) 672-4840 or (619) 445-2613.
“Mine Vaganti”: The San Diego Italian Film Festival returns to La Paloma theater in Encinitas with a screening of the comedy “Mine Vaganti” (Loose Cannons) on Thursday. The screening also celebrates the festival’s late founder and president Victor Laruccia and is one of his favorite movies. This fundraiser in his honor will also treat moviegoers to a pre-show free gelato from local company GelatoLove and Italian music by violinist Heidi Yenney. The festival plans to present an award-winning recent Italian film each month in Italian with English subtitles. 7 p.m. Thursday. La Paloma Theatre, 471 S. Coast Highway, Encinitas. Tickets $20 online or at the box office (cash only) on event day. sandiegoitalianfilmfestival.com
Friday
Alicia Keys: ALICIA The World Tour arrives in San Diego this weekend just a few weeks after the release of “KEYS II,” the deluxe edition of her 2021 album “KEYS.” 8 p.m. Friday. Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre at SDSU, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego. Sold out. aliciakeys.com
The 15-time Grammy Award winner, now a La Jolla resident, will perform her first concert here of the decade at SDSU
Ben Platt: Originally scheduled for April 3, Ben Platt brings his The Reverie Tour to San Diego with special guests Aly & AJ. Platt said in an interview with the Union-Tribune that this tour is “more pop-leaning” than his pervious tour. 7 p.m. Friday, The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, 222 Marina Park Way, San Diego. Tickets $24.50-$156. theshell.org
Ahead of his concert at The Rady Shell in San Diego, Ben Platt did an interview on getting back to performing as a solo artist and more
‘Silent Sky’: Lamplighters Community Theatre presents Lauren Gunderson’s play about the real-life early 20th-century American astronomer Henrietta Swan Leavitt, who discovered how to measure the distance of stars by their pulsating light. 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. 2 p.m. Sundays. Through Sept. 18. 5915 Severin Drive, La Mesa. $22-$25. (619) 303-5092. lamplighterslamesa.com
Art San Diego: Now in its 14th season, Art San Diego brings contemporary and modern work from local, national, and international galleries to the San Diego Convention Center, as well as show programming, live entertainment and more. Meet artists and check out live demonstrations. Noon-9 p.m. Friday , 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. San Diego Convention Center, 111 W. Harbor Drive, San Diego. Tickets start at $20 general, $10 students/military/seniors. redwoodartgroup.com/rave
The event, now in its 14th year, will be held at the San Diego Convention Center from Sept. 9 to 11
“The Lion King”: The national touring production of this Disney musical about an African lion cub’s coming of age is in its final weekend of performances. 7:30 p.m. Friday. 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday. 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets start at $70. San Diego Civic Theatre, 1100 Third Ave., San Diego. Visit broadwaysd.com
‘A Penny, for What It’s Worth’: The Institute of Contemporary Art, San Diego, opens a new exhibition Friday by Ghanaian artist Yaw Owusu. Running through Nov. 20 at the Institute’s North campus, the exhibit will feature artworks made from oxidized pennies that are transformed into elaborate wall art pieces. Owusu will be in residence at the North campus through Oct. 9, with open studio hours from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, when he will be available to meet with the public to discuss his work. 1550 S. El Camino Real, Encinitas. Free. icasandiego.org/events
Saturday
San Diego Blues Festival: Billy F. Gibbons returns to San Diego Saturday for the AimLoan.com San Diego Blues Festival with his newly expanded nine-piece band, where he’ll likely feature some numbers from his most recent solo album, 2021’s aptly titled “Hardware.” The lineup also includes Southern Avenue, The Phantom Blues Band and Eddie 9V. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday. Embarcadero Marina Park North, 400 Kettner Blvd., downtown. $60 advance ($70 at the gate) general admission, $300 VIP. Children 12 and under receive free entry to the festival with a paid general admission adult ticket. Cash donations and cans of food will be accepted at the front gate, with all proceeds benefiting the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank. sdbluesfest.com
Lead singer Tierinii Jackson, a native of Memphis, is married to the band’s lead guitarist, Israeli native Ori Naftaly. Two of her sisters are also in the lineup of the Grammy-nominated band.
San Diego Festival of the Arts: The 2022 San Diego Festival of the Arts showcases painting, sculpture, photography, glass, jewelry, ceramics, wood, fiber and mixed media art for sale from more than 150 renowned artists. Guests can also enjoy live music and entertainment, outdoor lawn games and cuisine options for every taste. Ticket sales, a silent auction and wine and beer sales all benefit local adaptive sports programs supporting thousands of San Diegans with disabilities. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. San Diego Surf Sports Park, 14989 Via de la Valle, Del Mar. Tickets start at $13; parking is $12. Ages 21 and up. sdfestivalofthearts.org
Cardiff Greek Festival: It’s time again for the Cardiff Greek Festival, ending a two-year hiatus because of the pandemic. This annual fundraiser features Greek food (and oh, the pastries!), music, dancing, shopping and church tours to see the beautiful mosaics. 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday; church tours at noon, 2:30 and 6:30 p.m. Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church, 3459 Manchester Ave., Cardiff. Tickets are $3, kids under 12 free. Get them at cardiffgreekfestival.com or at the door.
Sunday
“What We Talk About when We Talk About Anne Frank”: The Old Globe presents the world premiere of this modern comedy about friendship by Pulitzer Prize finalist Nathan Englander. It’s about two female friends who years-long bond is strained by their vastly different experiences of culture, religion and family. Opens Sunday and runs through Oct. 23. 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays. 8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays. 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays. 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays. Sheryl & Harvey White Theatre, The Old Globe, 1363 Old Globe Way, Balboa Park, San Diego. $45-$99 (619) 234-5623. theoldglobe.org
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