Things To Do in San Diego This Weekend
Check out this week’s Things to Do in San Diego This Weekend and make your plans!
Catch Alicia Keys’ Hell’s Kitchen at the San Diego Civic Theatre, support Shelter to Soldier aboard the USS Midway Museum, celebrate at Chula Vista’s Lemon Festival, and browse local makers at the San Diego Made Summer Market.
If that’s not enough… there’s plenty more below. Have a great weekend!
This Weekend’s Top Picks – Week of August 13
Catch the Hottest Concerts in San Diego
Whether you’re catching Benson Boone’s Wanted Man Tour, the country powerhouse pairing of Luke Bryan & Jason Aldean’s Double Down Tour, or the immersive electronic sounds of RÜFÜS DU SOL, there’s no shortage of great live music.
Eat, Drink, and Enjoy the Best of San Diego
The Craving is your source for the latest menu updates, new cocktail programs, happy hours, and special offers from San Diego’s best restaurants and bars.
Thursday
Feel the Fire on Stage
Experience Alicia Keys’ Hell’s Kitchen at San Diego Civic Theatre, where Ali’s coming-of-age story unfolds through new songs, greatest hits, Broadway-caliber direction, and electric choreography. Grab tickets, bring your theater crew, and feel the rhythm, heart, and fire live onstage.
Break Out the Paddles for Another Round of Urban Pickleball
Serve, rally, and socialize at Downtown San Diego’s first-ever street-style pickleball series. Play beneath the skyline, enjoy live DJs, browse the Game Day Market, score Paddle Hour specials, and soak up the lively Gaslamp atmosphere. All skill levels are welcome.
Enjoy Free Summer Concerts Under the Stars at Twilight in the Park
Twilight in the Park returns to Balboa Park with a season of free outdoor concerts featuring everything from big band and jazz to Latin, rock, and community ensembles. Bring a blanket, settle in under the trees, and enjoy one of San Diego’s favorite summer traditions.
Friday
Give Back Aboard the Midway
Support Shelter to Soldier aboard the USS Midway Museum with live music, dinner, drinks, auctions, and powerful moments with veterans and service dogs. Reserve your seat, give back, and help fund the mission of Saving Lives, Two at a Time.
Close Out Summer With Beer, BBQ, and Live Rock at SeaWorld
SeaWorld is closing out summer with 60-plus craft beers from AleSmith, Stone, Pizza Port, and six other San Diego breweries, plus loaded potatoes, mac and cheese, and BBQ hot dogs from Chef Zuric Ramirez. Saliva, Uncle Kracker, and Skillet play three Saturdays. Included with admission.
Unwind After Hours at The Nat After Dark
Every Friday night, the San Diego Natural History Museum stays open late for Nat at Night. Five floors of exhibits, rooftop drinks, small bites from Wolf in the Woods, tacos from The Craft Taco, and admission that drops to half price after 5 PM. Science has never looked this good.
Explore Art Through a New Lens at Signals in the Noise
Discover thought-provoking contemporary works that examine perception, technology, and the patterns hidden in everyday life. Signals in the Noise invites us to engage with immersive installations and compelling artwork that challenge how we see and interpret the world.
Spend Your Fridays at Downtown El Cajon’s Music on Main
Downtown El Cajon is turning up the energy with the return of Music on Main, an outdoor concert series bringing live music, community vibes, and warm summer nights to Prescott Promenade. Rotating performances, local flavor, and plenty of reasons to keep coming back all season.
Saturday
Celebrate Chula Vista’s Lemon Festival
Squeeze the most out of summer at Chula Vista’s annual Lemon Festival, where Third Avenue comes alive with lemon-inspired treats, live music, arts and crafts vendors, family activities, photo ops, and plenty of citrus-filled fun celebrating the city’s rich agricultural heritage.
Hear the Dating Stories Locals Only Tell Their Group Chat
Good dates end with a text back. Bad dates end up onstage. About Last Night brings San Diego locals to the mic to spill their worst dating and hookup disasters, then musician Jimmy Berry turns each confession into a song. Awkward, funny, and painfully real. Bring the friend who knows.
Shop Small at Summer Market
Shop small at the San Diego Made Summer Market with 130+ local makers, artisans, live music, gourmet food trucks, interactive art, workshops, kids’ activities, and a scavenger hunt. Head to Liberty Station, browse one-of-a-kind finds, and support San Diego creatives.
Explore Nature With Nature Collective’s Outdoor Adventures
Discover the beauty of San Diego’s wild spaces with Nature Collective’s August lineup of guided hikes, family programs, volunteer opportunities, and nature experiences. Get outside, connect with local habitats, and enjoy fun, educational activities designed for all ages.
Sparkle for a Meaningful Cause
Step into Haute with Heart at Hilton San Diego Bayfront, where “Hidden Diamonds” shines through a fashion show, luncheon, boutique shopping, auction, and champagne reception. Dress up, give back, and support SMSC’s programs for local adults with developmental disabilities.
Sip Into Something New
Discover your new favorite pour at Mission Bay Beach Club with 10 premium wine tastings led by sommelier Charlotte Randolph. Browse the Artisan Market, enjoy live music, soak up bay views, and bring home a bottle worth sharing with friends.
Little Shop of Horrors at Balboa Theatre
Celebrate Little Shop of Horrors’ 40th anniversary at Balboa Theatre with a special screening hosted by Ellen Greene, the original Audrey. Upgrade to VIP for premium seats, a meet-and-greet, signed memorabilia, and photo ops with the cult classic’s star herself.
Celebrate Ferragosto Under the Stars
Celebrate Italy’s beloved midsummer holiday at Convivio’s Ferragosto: Sotto Le Stelle in Little Italy, with live music, heavy appetizers, drinks, and community connection. Get your tickets, gather friends, and support cultural programs, scholarships, and Italian heritage.
Celebrate 100 Days of Summer Fun at Belmont Park
Belmont Park is going all out with 100 Days of Belmont, a season-long celebration packed with ride specials, food deals, birthday-themed treats, live music, and boardwalk fun. Whether you’re chasing thrills or soaking up the beachside atmosphere, there’s something happening all summer long.
Step Into Cecil Beaton’s Fashionable World
Experience the glamour and artistry of one of the 20th century’s most celebrated photographers. Featuring iconic fashion and portrait photography, this rare exhibition offers an intimate look at Cecil Beaton’s work.
Sunday
Treat Your Pup to Resort Fun
Treat your pup to Dog Days of Summer at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa, featuring waived pet fees, discounted stays, morning strolls, Pup Pilates, Zumpaw, crafts, pup cups, Yappy Hour, spa treatments, outdoor movies, and tail-wagging resort fun together.
Glide Through the Coronado Cays on a Private Gondola Cruise
Euro Summer vibes without the flight. The Gondola Company’s private Venetian-style cruises through the Coronado Cays are one of San Diego’s most underrated evening experiences. Sunset or after dark, it’s the kind of night that’s hard to top for a date or a celebration.
Skate the Bay at Ringer’s Roller Rink’s Seaport Village Grand Opening
Ringer’s Roller Rink is opening a second location right on the San Diego Bay at Seaport Village, and the grand opening includes free public skating, live DJ sets, skate performances, and giveaways. An open-air rink with harbor views – this one’s hard to pass up.
Dive Into Ocean Discovery With Birch Aquarium’s Summer Camps
Birch Aquarium’s Summer Camps blend marine science, outdoor exploration, and hands-on fun for young ocean lovers. From aquarium adventures and animal encounters to surfing, snorkeling, and beach discoveries, these immersive programs turn San Diego’s coastline into the ultimate classroom.
Shop Third Avenue Like a Local
Fill your tote at Chula Vista Farmers’ Market, where 100-plus vendors bring produce, flowers, wine, skincare, artisan goods, and ready-to-eat bites to Third Avenue. Bring cash, arrive hungry, meet local makers, and turn Sunday shopping into a community ritual together.
Great Things To Do in San Diego
Restaurants and Bars With the Best Outdoor Patios in San Diego
We asked our Instagram fam to tell us your favorite patios for outdoor dining, drinks, and relaxing in the fresh San Diego air. Here’s what you said.
North Park San Diego: The Complete Neighborhood Guide
This is the locals’ guide to North Park in 2026: what just opened, where to eat, where to drink, where to grab coffee, and how to spend an actual day here. We update it every month because North Park moves that fast.
Your 2026 Guide to San Diego’s Best Bars
We’re rounding up the best bars in San Diego right now, from laid-back neighborhood gems to standout cocktail spots. These are the places we keep coming back to in 2026.
Sip Local: Discover San Diego’s Hidden Wine Scene
Think you need Napa for great wine? Think again. San Diego is home to over 150 wineries, from urban tasting rooms to scenic vineyards. This guide highlights standout spots pouring everything from bold reds to crisp whites – perfect for a laid-back day of sipping, exploring, and discovering local favorites.
The Best Rooftop Bars in San Diego Right Now
From the classics that define the category to a few lesser-known spots that reward the people who know where to look, these are the San Diego rooftop bars worth planning a night around in 2026.
11 of the Best Hikes in San Diego… Most Within 15 Minutes of Your Door!
Ready to hit the trail without the long drive? These San Diego hikes are all close to home and packed with scenic views. From coastal paths to canyon climbs, it’s an easy way to get outside and reset.
Upcoming San Diego Events Worth Knowing About
Cheer on Super Girl Surf
Head to Oceanside Pier for Super Girl Surf Festival’s 20th anniversary, featuring world-class women’s surfing, free concerts, sports, wellness classes, speakers, art, food, and beachside festival energy. Bring the crew and celebrate female strength, confidence, and community.
Score Rare Finds at the Frontwave Arena Collectibles Expo
Browse hundreds of vendor tables packed with sports cards, Pokémon, trading card games, memorabilia, and collectibles at the Frontwave Arena Collectibles Expo. Meet fellow collectors, enjoy interactive experiences, enter raffles, and hunt for your next prized addition.
Celebrate 70 Years Under the Stars
Celebrate Cabrillo National Monument Foundation’s 70th anniversary with Cabrillo Under the Stars, an after-hours fundraiser featuring local food, craft drinks, live music, and sweeping views of the night sky, downtown, and Pacific Ocean. Grab tickets and support this coastal treasure.
Wander the Japanese Friendship Garden After Dark at Natsu Nights
On select Saturdays through August, Balboa Park’s Japanese Friendship Garden stays open late for Natsu Nights – a themed night market series with rotating vendors, discounted evening admission, and winding garden pathways after dark. Three different themes, three completely different evenings.
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See you there, San Diego!
