THINGS TO DO

The Bold, the Beautiful & the Brilliantly Weird

  • The 25th Swan

    Experience The 25th Swan film and live performance by Natasha Kozaily and Batya MacAdam-Somer on August 1 at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego.

  • Shredding: A New Lens in Surf Filmmaking

    Shredding is a powerful short film series redefining surf culture. From Morocco to California, these global stories challenge stereotypes and celebrate diversity, identity, and joy in the waves. Featuring films by Rabbi Chel Mandell, Lo Frentz, Serra Soyupak, and more—with filmmakers in attendance.

  • The Show of Hearts

    The Show of Hearts is an interdisciplinary art event celebrating love, creativity, and connection through live music, dance, poetry, and more. Featuring invited artists and a closing dance party, the evening invites audiences to embrace community and the heart in all its forms.

  • Native Voices’ 31st Festival of New Plays

    Celebrate Indigenous storytelling at La Jolla Playhouse’s 31st Festival of New Plays, featuring new works by Sierra Rosetta and Dillon Chitto exploring family and identity.

  • Tasting Notes

    J. Kenji López-Alt hosts Tasting Notes, a one-of-a-kind SummerFest experience blending live music and culinary artistry, where top chefs and musicians create and converse onstage in a multisensory celebration of creativity.

  • 2025 Staged Reading Festival

    Discover nine original new works at the 2025 Staged Reading Festival, celebrating bold storytelling and diverse voices. Presented by Dorris Staples Theatrical Conservatory apprentices.

  • San Diego International Children’s Film Festival

    Join the 21st San Diego International Children’s Film Festival on July 27 and August 16 at the Central Library—featuring over 70 global short films, panels, and filmmaker talks. Free admission!

  • Dance @ The JAI

    Award-winning dancer Caleb Teicher returns to The Conrad for a high-energy celebration of Appalachian traditions, joined by acclaimed percussive dancer Nic Gareiss and violinist Tessa Lark. Fusing folk, jazz, swing, and storytelling through movement, this joy-filled performance honors the roots of Irish and English dance with contemporary flair.

  • PechaKucha Night: Reverb: Echoes of Influence

    PechaKucha Night Vol. 53 returns August 19 with the theme Reverb: Echoes of Influence. Experience a dynamic evening of 20x20 presentations as speakers explore the moments, movements, and mentors that shaped their creative paths.

  • Shuuluk Wechuwvi – Where Lightning Was Born

    Shuuluk Wechuwvi – Where Lightning Was Born is a powerful new play and comic project by the Eyaay Ahuun Foundation that blends storytelling, cultural memory, and environmental justice to confront the ecological crisis in the Otay River Valley and beyond.

  • KPBS San Diego Book Festival

    Join KPBS for the first-ever San Diego Book Festival on August 23, featuring award-winning authors, live entertainment, bilingual programming, kids’ activities, and more. Free with registration.