Experience the high-flying life of a luchador, support local bookstores with the San Diego Book Crawl, and listen to local musicians along Adams Avenue
Inspired by the Mexican tradition of lucha libre, La Lucha is a featured off-site event of the La Jolla Playhouse’s WOW Festival. Get the full ringside experience as you witness the high-flying, pile-driving world of Mexican wrestling. Hour-long showings will be held through June 4 at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego. | 1100 Kettner Boulevard, Downtown
April 27–30
Without Walls (WOW) Festival
Held at The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, the La Jolla Playhouse’s Without Walls (WOW) Festival pushes the boundaries of theater by hosting several interactive, site-specific shows that are unpredictable, immersive, and unique. The fest is free to attend, but ticket reservations are recommended for certain shows and events. See our full guide to WOW Festival here. | 222 Marina Park Way, Embarcadero
Watch cowboys cling to bucking broncos at the Lakeside Rodeo, taking place April 27–30.
Lakeside Rodeo
Ride on down to Lakeside for a rousing four-day rodeo that will feature bull riding, barrel racing. steer wrestling, and much more. All proceeds from the Lakeside Rodeo will be donated to local youth education, arts, and sports programs. Tickets range from $15 to $25 per day. | 12584 Mapleview Street, Lakeside
April 29
Adams Avenue Unplugged
This neighborhood music event turns local restaurants, bars, cafes, and galleries into pop-up concert venues from noon to 10 p.m. this Saturday. Taking place on a two-mile section of Adams Avenue stretching from University Heights to Kensington, the festival features 20 stages and more than 60 performers. All shows are free and open to the public except the headlining concert—which has already sold out. | Adams Avenue
Linda Vista Multi-Cultural Fair & Parade
The Linda Vista Multi-Cultural Fair & Parade returns for its 38th year with a theme: “A Community Love Letter to Linda Vista.” This free celebration includes international food options, cultural exhibits, local vendors, and artistic performances. | 6900 Linda Vista Road, Linda Vista
Lucha libre wrestling is part of the entertainment at the SoCal Taco Fest, taking place at Waterfront Park this Saturday, April 29.
SoCal Taco Fest
From 12 to 10 p.m. this Saturday at Waterfront Park, the SoCal Taco Fest brings together several of the area’s best taco shops. They serve bites to the sounds of a jam-packed musical lineup headlined by Calibre 50 and Kool & The Gang. The massive event also features lucha libre wrestling, chihuahua races, and a margarita dance cantina. General admission tickets are $60. | 1600 Pacific Highway, Embarcadero
San Diego Book Crawl
Back for its sixth year, the 2023 San Diego Book Crawl kicks off with the national celebration of Independent Bookstore Day on Saturday. The three-day journey takes readers from Del Mar to Coronado, celebrating the best of the San Diego literary scene. Participants receive a passport at their first bookstore stop and collect a stamp when they spend $10 or more at any of the 13 participating bookshops. The more stamps you accrue, the bigger your prize. | Citywide
Calling all corgi captains and sheepdog skippers! City Cruises offers pet-friendly boat tours this Saturday, April 29.
San Diego Pet Day on the Bay
The cutest cruise imaginable sets sail from the bay this Saturday. City Cruises invites pups aboard for a quartet of one-hour sightseeing jaunts. Four-legged passengers (accompanied by their people) will enjoy special doggie treats courtesy of Kahoots alongside spectacular views of San Diego. Helen Woodward Animal Center will also bring some adoptable pets to the deck. Two cruises will leave from North Bay and two will leave from South Bay; for the full schedule of boarding and departure times, visit here. | Citywide
April 29-30
Spring Home & Garden Festival
This free festival showcases the best of home trends and appliances. Held inside the Del Mar Fairgrounds, the event includes several hands-on demonstrations, educational seminars, and home improvement products on display. You’ll also be able to get expert advice on everything from a DIY living room remodel to a long-overdue organizational overhaul. | 2260 Jimmy Durante Boulevard, Del Mar
Shop offerings from more than 450 vendors on April 29 and 30 at the Encinitas Spring Street Fair.
Encinitas Spring Street Fair
The Encinitas Spring Street Fair is a two-day festival in the heart of downtown Encinitas. Located just two blocks from the ocean, the fair will have four live music and entertainment stages and 450-plus vendors selling handmade arts and crafts and antiques. Plus, there are plenty of local food options, a beer garden, and children’s rides. | Highway 101 between D and J Streets, Encinitas
Mission Federal Artwalk
A Little Italy tradition for 39 years and running, the Mission Fed ArtWalk offers live music, engaging performances, and walkways filled with a variety of fine art. This two-day outdoor gallery promotes works from more than 250 visual and performing artists from the US and Mexico, all in benefit of local arts education nonprofit ArtReach. | 2210 Columbia Street, Little Italy
This Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., downtown Coronado welcomes more than 4,000 restored classic cars and trucks, each manufactured in the year 1973 or before. The 32nd edition of the MotorCars on Main Street Car Show is free to attend, and there will be live music and drawings held throughout the event. Those who would like to flaunt their hotrods can pay the show’s $50 registration fee here. | Isabella & Orange Avenues, Coronado
Ryan Hardison is a freelance arts and entertainment writer and recent graduate of San Diego State. When he's not staring at his laptop, he's likely eating an adobada burrito or getting sunburnt at the beach.
National Philanthropy Day, presented by PNC Bank, Celebrates the Best of Philanthropy in San Diego
The 53rd Annual National Philanthropy Day Takes Place on November 21. Join us from 11:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at the new Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center!
Once yearly, AFP San Diego joins with others worldwide to celebrate National Philanthropy Day (NPD), a special day set aside to recognize the great contributions of donors and nonprofits that enrich of our community and the world. San Diego’s NPD is one of the largest and most successful in the U.S., attracting nearly 900 participants, including philanthropists, nonprofit leaders, CEOs, board members, development professionals, and business, community, and civic leaders.
Sponsorship proceeds from National Philanthropy Day are reinvested in education, training, scholarships, career development, and the advancement of fundraising professionals throughout San Diego. These resources and training provide fundraising professionals with the tools necessary to support our region’s diverse array of nonprofit organizations, which rely on charitable giving for close to half of their annual revenues.
The National Philanthropy Day Honorees are selected by the NPD Honorary Committee, a group of highly respected, diverse nonprofit and business leaders. Our 2025 Honorees include:
Outstanding Development Emerging Leader – Taylor Thompson Self-Nominated
Outstanding Development Professional – Sharyn Goodson Nominated by: AJ Steinberg & Jeanne Schmelzer
Outstanding Organization for IDEA – Accessity Self-Nominated
Outstanding Philanthropic Institution – Life Science Cares San Diego Nominated by: Blair Search Partners
Outstanding Philanthropist – Dan & Phyllis Epstein Nominated by: CSU San Marcos & KPBS
Outstanding Student Volunteer – Camden Hall Nominated by: Curebound
National Philanthropy Day San Diego provides an opportunity to reflect on the meaning of giving and to celebrate the selfless contributions of individuals and organizations across the region. We look forward to celebrating with you!
Sponsorship opportunities and individual tickets are available. Please visit www.afpsd.org for more information.
Explore the mind of the Father of Modern Science at the San Diego Air & Space Museum.
Galileo Header
Sponsored Content Provided by San Diego Air & Space Museum
GALILEO: Space Visionary, an interactive, family-friendly – and most of all FUN! – special exhibition by the Artisans of Florence, is now showing for a limited time at the San Diego Air & Space Museum.
Galileo been called the “Father” of observational astronomy, physics, the scientific method and modern science. This limited time special exhibition is a hands-on experience engaging visitors by revealing the secrets of his groundbreaking science through interactive experiments and exhibits.
Galileo
With a hands-on simple machines lab, even the youngest scientist can have fun learning how yesterday’s science has shaped today’s modern world. The experience features 65 exhibits expertly handcrafted in Italy, historical documents, true ‘hands-on’ interactivity, award-winning craftsmanship, a young experimenters STEM lab, unique learning opportunities and content, and international appeal.
Included in the price of admission to the Museum, Gallieo: Space Visionary is an adventure for you and your entire family will be talking about for years. Don’t miss it!
The iconic 1,200-acre preserve’s history dates back more than 150 years, evolving from a scrub-filled plot atop a mesa overlooking what’s now Downtown to an urban oasis—the largest of its kind in the country—filled with an array of museums, attractions, gardens, trails, restaurants, and more. Balboa Park is an epic playground where San Diegans and visitors alike can experience the great outdoors just as easily as they can enjoy a world-class performance or explore groundbreaking discoveries.
Tucked away in the Spanish Colonial Revival-style architecture are 18 diverse museums that allow visitors to spend the day learning about, well, anything. A great place to start is the San Diego History Center. Located in the Casa del Balboa building, the museum tells the story of the city’s past, present, and future through photographs and art, clothing and textiles, and interviews with people who witnessed history-making events firsthand. The San Diego Natural History Museum takes visitors even farther back with interactive exhibitions that show what the region was like up to 75 million years ago.
Blast off on a simulated trip to space at the San Diego Air & Space Museum, then check out artifacts from aviation legends, including the Wright brothers, Amelia Earhart, and Buzz Aldrin. Discover new perspectives revolutionizing the science world, learn about an often overlooked but overutilized utility, and exercise your creativity at the Fleet Science Center.
Calling all theater-lovers, Balboa Park has something for you, too. The San Diego Junior Theatre will present their musical take on beloved children’s book A Bad Case of the Stripes from June 26 through July 12. And laugh, cry, and marvel in awe as the pros of The Old Globe perform Kim’s Convenience, the award-winning comedy that inspired the popular series, from May 15 to June 14.
There’s nowhere else in Balboa Park quite like WorldBeat Cultural Center. The institution celebrates African diaspora and indigenous cultures around the world using art, music, dance, and education. The building, a renovated water tower covered in colorful murals, houses a performing arts center, museum, gift shop, cafe, and outdoor classroom.
If you’d like a side of nature with your culture, Balboa Park has you covered there, too. Stroll through the gardens of the Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum, a monument to the relationship between San Diego and its sister city, Yokohama, Japan. Inspired by traditional Japanese design dating back centuries, the 10-acre respite features a living exhibition that showcases plants native to both cities.
If there seems like a lot going on in Balboa Park, it’s because there is. Let theBalboa Park Cultural Partnership be your guide. The organization is the umbrella for 24 of the park’s institutions and offers an Explorer Pass that allows visitors to access multiple museums for one affordable price. The hardest part is picking where to start.
16 Museums, One Pass
Save on admission to San Diego’s top museums with the Balboa Park Explorer Pass. Explore 16 museums of art, science, history and culture across Balboa Park — all with one affordable pass. Choose the option that fits your pace: the Limited Pass (one day for up to four museums), the Parkwide Pass (seven consecutive days of access to all 16 museums) or the Annual Pass (365 days of unlimited exploring).
Looking for an experience-driven gift? Let the museum lover in your life enjoy their favorite museums all year with a Balboa Park Explorer Annual Pass gift voucher.
Bigger experiments, brighter ideas, and boundless curiosity await at the newly reimagined Fleet Science Center. This summer, the Fleet debuts Element 8 Cafe, an expanded theater queuing and concessions space, two new gallery spaces, and, for the first time, a free entrance gallery exploring science in and around San Diego. The transformation marks a new chapter for the Fleet, keeping it a vital, innovative, and accessible science hub for the region. Visitors are invited to explore the experience this summer and connect with the power of science like never before.
Address: 1875 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101 Website:FleetScience.org Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily Phone: 619-238-1233
Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum
An accredited cultural gem, the Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum brings traditional Japanese garden design to life with koi ponds, curving walkways and layers of greenery. Guests explore bonsai trees, streams and peaceful nooks while taking part in exhibits, educational programs and festivals that illuminate Japanese culture. Situated in the heart of Balboa Park, the garden doubles as a meditative retreat and a dynamic gathering place, welcoming visitors to slow their pace and connect more deeply.
Address: 2215 Pan American Road E, San Diego, CA 92101 Website:Niwa.org Hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily; last admission at 6 p.m. Phone: 619-232-2721
The Old Globe
A San Diego summer favorite, The Old Globe invites audiences to experience a beloved local tradition in its outdoor Lowell Davies Festival Theatre.
This summer, the 2026 Shakespeare Festival presents two thrilling tales of power, passion and romance. Measure for Measure, running June 14 through July 12, 2026, is a riveting story of justice and hypocrisy that asks who holds power, who is punished and what it truly means to be virtuous. Much Ado About Nothing, playing Aug. 2–30, 2026, is a classic rom-com packed with schemes, sparks and laughter as opposites attract. Audiences can enjoy both shows for $44.
Address: 1363 Old Globe Way, San Diego, CA 92101 Website:TheOldGlobe.org Hours: Box office open Tuesday–Sunday, 1 p.m. to final curtain Phone: Box office, 619-234-5623
San Diego Air & Space Museum
Aviation and space exploration come to life at the San Diego Air & Space Museum. See an airworthy replica of the Spirit of St. Louis, a Gee Bee racer and historic aircraft from World War I, World War II and the Korean and Vietnam eras. Get up close to the Apollo 9 command module — one of only 11 of its kind in the world — along with Mercury and Gemini capsules, Mission Control and space shuttle simulators, and a selfie spot beside a lunar lander on the moon. Running through 2026, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! brings oddities from around the world to Balboa Park.
Address: 2001 Pan American Plaza, San Diego, CA 92101 Website:SanDiegoAirAndSpace.org Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Phone: 619-234-8291
San Diego History Center
History belongs to everyone. At the San Diego History Center, two experiences bring that history to life this summer: America at 250 and the Center for Women’s History. America at 250 traces San Diego’s place in 250 years of U.S. history, while summer programs invite children to learn and explore. The Center for Women’s History amplifies the voices of women whose leadership and creativity have shaped our region.
By understanding our past, we build a more vibrant and inclusive community together. These vital educational experiences are only possible through generous community support. Discover your roots, spark meaningful dialogue, and help keep San Diego’s stories alive for future generations.
Address: 1649 El Prado, Suite 3, San Diego, CA 92101 Website: SanDiegoHistory.org Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday–Sunday Phone: 619-232-6203
San Diego Junior Theatre
Junior Theatre is San Diego’s longest-running youth theatre program, empowering students ages 4 to 18 to explore storytelling, performance, and collaboration in a supportive environment. Through classes, camps, and productions, young artists build confidence, creativity, and lifelong skills onstage and off. Each season features a wide range of opportunities, from introductory experiences to advanced training in acting and musical theatre.
Looking for a summer adventure? Junior Theatre’s Summer Camps deliver dynamic programs for grades K–12, including musical theater intensives, acting academies and immersive JT Studio experiences. It’s a place where imagination truly takes center stage.
Address: 1650 El Prado, Suite 208, San Diego, CA 92101 Website:JuniorTheatre.com Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Phone: 619-239-1311
San Diego Natural History Museum (The Nat)
This summer, The Nat is talking trash—literally. Their newest exhibition, Washed Ashore: Art to Save the Sea, features larger‑than‑life marine sculptures made of ocean debris collected from beaches. It invites visitors to explore the impact of plastic pollution and discover ways to take action.
But the experience doesn’t stop at the gallery doors. Friday nights, the exhibition transforms into an ocean-themed “dive bar” during Nat at Night. Select Sundays bring something brand new: a rooftop brunch with sweeping Balboa Park views. Add two new giant-screen films and five floors of nature to explore, and The Nat is shaping up to be one of the season’s must-visit destinations.
Address: 1788 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101 Website: SDNat.org Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays in summer Phone: 619-232-3821
WorldBeat Cultural Center
The WorldBeat Cultural Center is a nonprofit multidisciplinary cultural organization dedicated to promoting, presenting and preserving Indigenous cultures worldwide through music, art, dance, education, sustainability and community programs. WorldBeat elevates multicultural artists, expands opportunities for cultural enrichment and fosters deeper understanding across traditions. WorldBeat offers a holistic cultural experience that inspires pride, unity, connection and belonging for all ages.
Address: 2100 Park Blvd., San Diego, CA 92101 Website:WorldBeatCenter.org Hours: Classes: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, 6–9 p.m. Exhibits and café: Friday–Sunday, 11 a.m.–6 p.m. Phone: 619-230-1190
Event Calendar
Throughout 2026: Ripley’s Believe It Or Not!
Step into a world of the weird and wonderful at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! at the San Diego Air & Space Museum in Balboa Park. Explore hundreds of bizarre artifacts, interactive displays and unbelievable stories that celebrate the curious and the extraordinary.
Presented in partnership with the San Diego Museum of African American Fine Arts, San Diego’s Lost Neighborhoods uses augmented reality, oral histories, and archival materials to explore communities and residents displaced by redlining, freeway construction, and other discriminatory policies.
Spend a summer night at The Old Globe. The Lowell Davies Festival Theatre stages Measure for Measure (June 14–July 12) and Much Ado About Nothing (Aug. 2–30), offering two unforgettable Shakespeare productions for just $44.
The Old Globe | 1363 Old Globe Way, San Diego, CA 92101
June 8–Aug. 7: Theatre Summer Camps
Summer camps at Junior Theatre spark creativity for grades K–12 with hands-on training, musical theatre intensives, acting academies, and JT Studio experiences.
A museum visit turns into a Sunday Funday with the addition of rooftop brunch, featuring mimosas, bloody Marys, and brunch bites from Wolfish by Wolf in the Woods (June 14, August 9) and Hash House a Go Go (July 12).
Nagashi at the Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum by floating a lantern to honor loved ones who have passed. Stroll merchant booths, enjoy cultural performances in the Inamori Pavilion, and sample food vendors plus a beer and sake garden in the lower garden.
Explore arts, science, history, and culture in the Balboa Park Cultural District with one convenient, affordable Pass. The Balboa Park Explorer Pass is your ticket to up to 16 museums and endless fun! Purchase your pass at BuyMyExplorer.com.
In the heart of Pacific Beach, bar Ella debuted in 2023 with Executive Chef Brendan Nugent at the helm. Drawing on experience from both coasts, Nugent crafts a sustainable, seasonal menu inspired by his Northeast childhood and master‑gardener grandmother. Expect East Coast classics like lump crab cake, garlic shrimp in Old Bay broth and scratch‑made spaghetti with clams. Nugent’s commitment to using every part of each ingredient keeps waste low and the cooking sustainable. At bar Ella, first‑time guests become family.
Try This!
Lamb Lollipop: 24-hour buttermilk and za’atar marinated lamb, roasted, seared and finished with housemade chermoula.
Giuseppe Annunziata, General Manager; Emiliano Muslija, General Manager; Marcello Avitabile, Executive Pizza Chef; & Joseph Serra, Pizza Manager
At Amalfi Cucina Italiana, dining is a celebration of Italian tradition, hospitality and craftsmanship. General managers Giuseppe Annunziata and Emiliano Muslija have created a welcoming atmosphere where every glass of wine and plate of pasta reflects Italy’s culinary heritage.
Executive chef Marcello Avitabile, a five-time world pizza champion, and pizza chef Joseph Serra bring craftsmanship and soul to every dish through handmade pastas, artisan pizzas and authentic Italian flavors. all.
Try This!
Margherita Pizza: With San Marzona tomato sauce, mozzarella, basil, extra virgin olive oil, and prosciutto.
