Top weekend events in San Diego for Feb. 2-5: Chinese New Year, Black History Month and more
Here are some of the best things to do in San Diego County this weekend, including a Padres FanFest, Chinese New Year Fair, other events, theater, concerts and more.
Welcome to the first weekend of Black History Month and also San Diego Museum Month.
Discounted admissions will be available at San Diego County’s range of museums, historical sites, aquariums and other cultural attractions throughout February. Museum Month passes are available from San Diego County and San Diego city libraries.
Popular program promotes San Diego with half-price admission to more than 60 local museums, gardens, cultural sites and other attractions
Here are some other highlights this weekend.
Thursday
Peltokoski, Thayer and Mozart: Finnish conductor Tarmo Peltokoski is making his U.S. debut with a pair of San Diego Symphony concerts this week. Violist and Concertmaster Jeff Thayer will play Mozart’s third violin concerto, also known as the “Strassburg Concerto,” at this week’s concerts. 7:30 p.m. Thursday. California Center for the Arts, 340 North Escondido Blvd., Escondido. $25-$70 7:30 p.m. Friday. Southwestern College Performing Arts Center, 900 Otay Lakes Road, Chula Vista. $25-$55. sandiegosymphony.org
The symphony welcomes Tarmo Peltokoski, conducting Sibelius and annual favorite concertmaster, Jeff Thayer, playing Mozart
Human Rights Watch Film Festival: This festival starts Thursday and runs through Feb. 9 with in-person and virtual screenings of films spotlighting women’s rights, including sexual abuse in the military, LGBTQ+ issues, and who gets to decide a woman’s identity. Thursday’s in-person screening of “Clarissa’s Battle” depicts the fight of single mother and organizer Clarissa Doutherd to build a nationwide coalition of parents fighting for child care and early education funds. 6 p.m. Thursday reception, 7 p.m. screening. Museum of Photographic Arts, 1649 El Prado, San Diego. Tickets $10 public, $8 museum members; film festival pass $35. ff.hrw.org
“Beyond King Tut: The Immersive Experience”: This exhibit plunges spectators into the splendor of the Egyptian boy king’s rule, burial chamber and treasures via nine multi-sensory galleries. 10 a.m. Friday and daily through March 26; closing times 8 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays (last entry 7 p.m.) and 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays (last entry 8 p.m.) Wyland Center at Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar. Tickets $38-$44. beyondkingtut.com/city/san-diego
The walk-through show at the Wyland Center, featuring educational displays and projection-mapped rooms, was co-created by the National Geographic Society
Friday
“Motions & Emotions: Filipino American Stories of Healing”: This event showcases more than a dozen Filipino American artists, presented by mental health advocate The Thoughtful Beast and New Americans Museum. It includes an art exhibit with painting, rap, dance and embroidery and three performances addressing Filipino American intergenerational trauma. Performances 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 5 p.m. Sunday; $20. Gallery open various times through Feb. 19; $5. New Americans Museum, 2825 Dewey Rd, Liberty Station. bit.ly/3R6x3Bv
“El Huracán”: Cygnet Theatre presents the West Coast premiere of Charlise Castro Smith’s play about three generations of Cuban American women facing a massive hurricane. 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; 8 p.m. Fridays; 3 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. Through Feb. 19. 4040 Twiggs St., San Diego. $30 and up. (619) 337-1525, cygnettheatre.com
Playwright Charise Castro Smith’s play was inspired by own multigenerational family in Florida and William Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest’
“Animation Academy” & “Cover Story”: The Comic-Con Museum in Balboa Park opens two new exhibits on Saturday. “Animation Academy” features 20 interactive stations where visitors can create stop-motion animated shorts and more. “Cover Story: Five Decades of Comic-Con” features Comic-Con program covers and original art by artists including Will Eisner, Jack Kirby and Milton Caniff. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays. 2131 Pan American Plaza, San Diego. $18-$25. comic-con.org/museum
“The Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci”: The Old Globe presents Mary Zimmerman’s creative exploration of the notebook pages of the genius painter of the “Mona Lisa.” 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 Feb. 26. 1363 Old Globe Way, Balboa Park, San Diego. $33 -$116. (619) 234-5623, theoldglobe.org
“Lucky Stiff”: Scripps Ranch Theatre presents Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens’ musical about a man who must take the corpse of his uncle on a Monte Carlo gambling trip to inherit the dead man’s fortune. 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. Through Feb. 19 Legler-Benbough Theatre, Alliant International University, 9783 Avenue of Nations, San Diego. $15-$42. (858) 395-0573, scrippsranchtheatre.org
“Ripped”: Loud Fridge Theatre Group presents Rachel Bublitz’s play that takes an unflinching look at the gray areas in a case of college campus sexual assault. 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. OnStage Playhouse, 291 Third Ave., Chula Vista. $17.50- $35. loudfridge.com/shows.
“The Revlon Girl”: Lamplighters Community Theatre presents Neil Anthony Docking’s drama inspired by a real-life 1966 coal mine disaster in Wales, where a landslide killed 144 people, most of them schoolchildren. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. 5915 Severin Drive, La Mesa. $20-$25. (619) 303-5092, lamplighterslamesa.com
Saturday
San Diego Chinese New Year Fair: This fair celebrating the Lunar New Year in the Gaslamp Quarter takes place this weekend, with Asian art, lion dances, kung fu, traditional instruments, classical dance troupes, Chinese and Asian food, and much more. The fair takes place in San Diego’s old Chinatown, now known as the Asian Thematic District. 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday . Free. J Street and Third Avenue, San Diego. sdcny.org
Women of Color Roar Black History Month Breakfast: This fifth annual event brings together hundreds of community members and leaders, and this year has a theme of “Sheroes Lead.” Secretary of State Shirley Weber is the keynote speaker and there will be a special tribute to Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. 7 a.m. Saturday. Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation, 404 Euclid Ave., San Diego. Sold Out. womenofcolorroar.com
Taste of Barrio Logan: This event offers varied tastes and sips from places including Maggie’s Cafe, Lia’s Lumpia, Pho Bo and Karina’s Seafood, and ends with a mixer party at La Davina Restaurant and Bar. Proceeds benefit Natives in Recovery San Diego. Pick up passes at 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Attitude Brewery, 1985 National Ave., Ste 1115, San Diego. Event runs 1 to 4 p.m. Tickets $55 at tasteofbarriologan.com.
“The Marvelous Wonderettes”: The Theatre at Welk presents Roger Bean’s revue about four female high school song leaders in 1958 forced to perform at their prom and comedy ensues. 1 and 7 p.m. Saturdays; 1 p.m. Sundays. Through March 26. 8860 Lawrence Welk Drive, Escondido. $62. tickets.thewelksandiego.com
Padres Fanfest: This weekend, Padres fans will get their first taste of the 2023 season during FanFest at Petco Park. The event will include appearances by players, autograph sessions, a garage sale, music, a kidsfest and more. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Petco Park, 100 Park Blvd., San Diego. General tickets sold out, but member tickets are still available. mlb.com/padres/fans/fanfest
Miniatures Show & Sale: The San Diego Miniature Crafters hold their 48th annual Miniatures Show & Sale with more than 40 vendors. Marvel at the exhibits, browse the sales and check out the workshops for crafters, artists and collectors of dollhouse-size miniatures of everything from furniture to autos. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. University of San Diego, Hahn University Center, 5998 Alcala Park Way, San Diego. Tickets $10 adults, $5 children (8-12), free Sunday with paid Saturday. sdminiatureshow.com
“R-E-S-P-E-C-T”: Lamb’s Players Theatre presents Kerry Meads and Vanda Eggington’s revue of music by American women singers and songwriters of the 1960s. Opens Saturdayand runs through March 12. 7 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; 2 and 7 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. 1142 Orange Ave., Coronado. $67-$72. (619) 437-6000, lambsplayers.org
Community climate action day: Love Your Wetlands Day is a Community Climate Action Day organized by the UC San Diego Natural Reserve System and the San Diego Audubon Society. At Kendall Frost Marsh Reserve, to learn more about wetlands and join activities such as guided marsh and kayak clean-ups; guided birding; educational presentations by local scientists; and cultural activities with Indigenous leaders. Check-in at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, event runs 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Kendall-Frost Mission Bay Marsh Reserve, 2055 Pacific Beach Drive, San Diego. Free. Register at bit.ly/3wtnjYU.
Camarada pays tribute to the tango: The San Diego chamber ensemble Camarada will present “The Essence of Tango,” a program of tango music from the 1900s to today, including the world premiere of a new piece by Andrés Martín, who will join the ensemble on bass. Other featured composers are Pugliese, Paulos, Gardel, Sosa, Troilo, Mores and Piazzolla. Tango dancers Carolina Jaurena and Marcelo Mesa will also perform. Camarada plans to take the program on a concert tour of South America next fall. 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Baker-Baum Concert Hall, Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla. $35-$95. (858) 459-3728, theconrad.org
Warrior Run/Walk: The 14th annual Mitchell Thorp Foundation Warrior Spirit 5K Run/Walk will be supporting families whose children have life-threatening illnesses and disorders. The event includes a skydiving demo, live bands, a DJ, warmup with a fitness team, dance contest, vendors, games and more. Prizes will be awarded to the person and team raising the most money. All proceeds go to the Mitchell Thorp Foundation Programs: Medical & Home Assistance, Healing & Rehabilitation, and Wheelchair Van Conversion. To register, donate and/or create/join a team, go to mitchellthorp.org/2023-5k-runwalk.html. Check-in at 8 a.m., opening ceremony at 9 a.m., race starts at 9:30 a.m. Saturday. Poinsettia Park, Carlsbad. Entry fees from $25-$55. flipcause.com/secure/cause_pdetails/MTY0OTcx
“The Ferryman”: New Village Arts presents Jez Butterworth’s award-winning play about a family enduring the Irish “Troubles.” Opens Saturday and runs through March 5. 2 p.m. Wednesdays; 7:30 p.m. Thursdays; 8 p.m. Fridays; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. 2787 State St., Carlsbad. $30-$50. (760) 433-3245, newvillagearts.org
“Biophilic Harmonies”: The San Diego City Library’s Taylor branch in Pacific Beach hosts a solo exhibition of mixed-media works by Rachel Berkowitz that explore how human interactions with the natural world are expressed. Opening reception 3 to 5:30 p.m. Saturday. Runs through May 31. 4275 Cass St., San Diego. sandiego.gov/public-library
Sunday
“Chopin: His Piano as Confidant”: The Le Salon de Musiques chamber ensemble, with soprano Elissa Johnston, will perform works by Chopin and Schumann and the U.S. premiere of Philipp Scharwenka’s String Quartet in D minor. 4 p.m. Sunday. La Jolla Woman’s Club, 7791 Draper Ave., La Jolla. $45-$90. lesalondemusiques.com
City of Lights at the circus: Circus Vargas returns with “Bonjour Paris,” channeling the City of Lights. The animal-free show delivers action-filled performances including aerialists, acrobats, trampoline artists, contortionists and — the Wheel of Death. Afternoon and evening performances of varying times through Feb. 13; dark Tuesdays. Westfield Mission Valley, 1640 Camino Del Rio North, San Diego. Tickets from $19 to $75. circusvargas.com
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