WEEKEND FUN GUIDE
Your Guide to FUN this weekend in San Diego: August 8 – 11.
Looking for fun things to do this weekend? We’ve got you covered with our all-new Weekend Fun Guide featuring amazing events and new exhibitions across the San Diego County.
Here are some of the best things to do this weekend in San Diego from Thursday, August 8 to Sunday, August 11.
Thursday
Giant Pandas at the San Diego Zoo Starting / August 8 (noon – 9 p.m.)
Beginning Thursday, August 8, 2024 at noon there will be three ways to experience giant pandas at the San Diego Zoo. The Zoo opens at 9 a.m.
- Giant Panda Timed Tickets Make the most of your day by securing a complimentary Giant Panda Timed Ticket when you arrive at the Zoo. Simply scan the ticket QR code located on signs posted throughout the Zoo, select an available time, and head to the Timed Ticket line at Panda Ridge at your designated time. You may also seek assistance with timed tickets at any Admissions Booth.
- Standby Line No ticket is needed to join the standby line at Panda Ridge any time from 9:30 a.m. until giant pandas are off habitat or the Zoo closes, whichever occurs earlier. Wait times may vary.
- Early Morning with Pandas Walking Tour The Zoo offers a special 60-minute paid Early Morning with Pandas Walking Tour, where an expert guide will lead you to exclusive viewings of giant pandas.
Visitors will be able to finally welcome the two new bears and see Panda Ridge, a habitat that’s four times larger than the zoo’s previous panda space. The zoo has a long history of caring for pandas. Pandas first came to the San Diego Zoo in 1987 under an exhibition loan and returned in 1996 under a conservation agreement focused on improving panda reproduction. That program resulted in six cubs being born and scientists helped develop techniques credited with keeping nursery-reared cubs alive, including creating panda-milk formula. The zoo also orchestrated the first successful artificial insemination of a giant panda outside of China. Find the FUN here.
Thursday
Access for All Day at the Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego / August 8 (10 a.m. – 5 p.m.)
The San Diego Museum of Art is now offering FREE general admission and arts programming to all visitors on the second Thursday of every month. Unfold art’s landscape at MCASD in La Jolla, where every visit enriches, every time. Experience our special exhibitions, renowned collection, waterfront sculpture garden, and seaside dining— all against coastal vistas and views of the Pacific. Learn more here.
FUN TIP: Make a plan to attend the next ‘Chef’s Dinner: The Study of Melon’, Thursday, August 8 from 5 – 8 p.m. This month’s dinner celebrates spring with a unique five-course menu featuring melon in every course, with wine pairings available and will be curated by Executive Chef and Partner Tim Kolanko of The Kitchen.
Thursday
Books & Art: Storytime in the Library at San Diego Museum of Art, Balboa Park / August 8 (10:30 – 11:30 a.m.)
Gather to listen to some exciting storytelling in The San Diego Museum of Art Library. Families are invited to come and enjoy an hour of lively storytelling and readings of some of our favorite art-inspired children’s books. Please RSVP here to save your spot for this FREE event! Registration is limited to 15 people.
FUN TIP: The San Diego Museum of Art is now offering FREE general admission and arts programming to all visitors on the Second Thursday (August 8) of every month. Check the Museum event calendar for Access for All programming details here.
Friday
FREE Friday at Water Conservation Garden, El Cajon / August 9 (9 a.m. – 5 p.m.)
Dr. Dirt will be at the Water Conservation Garden on August 9th for Free Friday to answer all your garden questions at the Master Gardener Association of San Diego County table. He will be set up in the Sam Ciccati Education Center. Grab a popsicle and learn some gardening tips!
The San Diego County Water Authority will also have a table to answer your water questions and have some fun giveaways! There will be FREE garden tours with the ambassador team and the volunteer-run gift shop, ‘Gifts from the Garden’, will be open with special items for sale, plants and more!
Friday
Toro Nagashi Festival at Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum, Balboa Park / August 9 & 10 (9 a.m. – 5 p.m.)
The Japanese Friendship Garden and Museum’s annual Toro Nagashi Festival is back on August 9th & 10th, 2024! This traditional festival celebrates the circle of life together, as done each summer in Japan for generations. The Garden welcomes everyone to join the celebration! Enjoy tasty food, performances, vendors and Toro Nagashi, all in one beautiful location.
FUN TIP: While your at the Garden, explore the new Kaga Traditional Craft Exhibition that celebrates the rich sense of beauty, exceptional techniques, and enduring spirit rooted in the prosperous Kaga domain. The Kaga domain, which roughly corresponds to modern-day Ishikawa and Toyama prefectures, was one of the wealthiest domains in early modern Japan. The Maeda clan ruled the domain from Kanazawa for nearly 300 years, from 1583 until the beginning of the Meiji era (1868–1912).
Friday
Family Overnight Aboard The Star Of India at Maritime Museum of San Diego / August 9 (10:30 – 11:30 a.m.)
Don’t miss this truly rare opportunity to see the Star of India, as you never have before! Not only will you see areas of the ship that are closed to the public, but you will be able to get a taste of what life at sea might have been like in the 19th century. The Maritime Museum of San Diego is proud to offer this unique opportunity to spend a night aboard the 1863 Star of India. Although you will not technically leave the dock, you will be embarking on an imaginary voyage to relive the lives and times of the many emigrant passengers in the Great Age of Sail. Explore the FUN and get your tickets here.
FUN TIP: Visit the Maritime Museum of San Diego to see the newest exhibit, The Art of Navigation, featuring artifacts used during the voyages of European exploration beginning in the mid-sixteenth century at the dawn of the Scientific Revolution. This exhibit is included with your admission to the museum.
Friday
Jimbo’s Garden Workshop at San Diego Children’s Discovery Center / August 9 (11 – 11:30 a.m.)
Enjoy a special Trudy Bronner Discovery Garden workshop with local, seasonal ingredients from Jimbo’s! Hop on in this Friday and create fruit frogs with organic ingredients. Make delicious recipes with local, seasonal ingredients from Jimbo’s! Parents and little ones will get to participate and learn together. No registration required. FREE with Museum Admission.
Saturday
Science & Engineering Night at the San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum / August 10 (5– 7:30 p.m.)
Science & Engineering Night at the San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum is this Saturday, August 10! Have you bought your ticket? Explore over 15 hands-on activity booths, purchase treats from food trucks, & enjoy a live presentation from Science Guys of San Diego.
- Animals and biodiversity with Biology Through Art
- Aerodynamics with Fleet Science Center
- Physics of golf with San Diego Pop Up Mini Golf
- Hands-on ocean science with Ocean Connectors
- Archaeology with San Diego Archeological Center
- Satellites with Sally Ride Science Program
- The engineering of firefighting with the Escondido Fire Department
- Strawberry DNA with Thermo Fisher Scientific
- Optical science with Saint-Gobain Performance Film Solutions
- Science of scent
- Electrical engineering with Snap Circuits
- Nano Materials
Saturday
BIG FUN at the Miniature Engineering Craftsmanship Museum, Carlsbad / August 10 (9 a.m. – 4 p.m.)
Beat the HEAT this Saturday and check out Carlsbad’s Miniature Engineering Craftsmanship Museum. The museum features more than 200 functional miniature engines, ships, autos, cranes, clocks, tools, toys and more. Explore 13,000 square feet of exhibits, live demonstrations, and a working machine shop space. The Museum is open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The museum is always FREE. Discover more at http://craftsmanshipmuseum.com.
Saturday
Future of Food at the Soap Factory, Logan Heights / August 10 (4 – 10 p.m.)
4:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Food and Beverage Tasting Stations Open
4:30 PM
Garden Talks Start
4:30 PM Food Entrepreneurship /Tanya Hertz, Executive Director, REC Innovation Lab, Mir
5:00 PM Urban Agriculture / Chris Sanchez, Early Girl Creations
6:00 PM Farming Sustainability /Jason Neese, Farm Fresh to You
Swing Dance Lesson with Nightshade
Nightshade
7:00 PM
Live Band & Social Swing Dance with Nightshade
Nightshade
9:00 PM
Burlesque Show
Saturday
Summer Market at the Liberty Station’s North Promenade, Point Loma / August 10 (11 a.m. – 6 p.m.)
Summer Market, San Diego-centric market place, will open this weekend in Liberty Station with more than 120 local craft makers, small businesses and brands selling unique items. Visitors will also be able to see live music, participate in family activities and games, attend workshops and pose for photo opportunities. Food trucks and other vendors will also sell various cocktails, mocktails and other dining options. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday / 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Free. Liberty Station’s North Promenade, 2875 Dewey Road, San Diego. sdmademarkets.com/summer-market
FUN TIP: While you’re at Liberty Station visit the Nautical History Gallery & Museum in the Dick Laub NTC Command Center and Visions Museum of Textile Art next door in building 202.
Saturday
Chula Vista’s Art Fest at Chula Vista Centy Hall Courtyard / August 10 (Noon – 6 p.m.)
Chula Vista’s Art Fest is coming back for a second year — come experince South Bay’s strengthening arts scene. Last summer, the city’s inaugural festival brought together dozens of local artists to display their work on the courtyard outside Chula Vista City Hall. Walls of paintings, tables of pottery, printmaking stands and photographs filled the plaza, along with food trucks and live music.
The 2024 Chula Vista Art Fest is a free-to-attend public event that will take place Saturday, August 10 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the City Hall courtyard located at 276 Fourth Avenue, Chula Vista 91910.
Sunday
FREE Second Sunday at San Diego Chinese Historical Museum, Downtown San Diego / August 11 (Noon – 5 p.m.)
Second Sunday is almost here! Join us at the San Diego Chinese Historical Museum this Sunday, August 11 for FREE admission and the chance to learn about the history of San Diego downtown! The San Diego Chinese Historical Society & Museum celebrates the Second Sunday of each month by offering free admission at its Asian Pacific Historic District location in downtown San Diego (at the corner of 3rd and J Streets). The Museum is open Fridays noon to 4 p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. Find out more at https://sdchm.org/.
FUN TIP: Now through September 2 (Labor Day), the museum will provide free admission to all active-duty military personnel and their families, including National Guard and Reserve, through the NEA’s Blue Star Museums initiative.
Sunday
Final Day foe Two Exhibits at the Mingei International Museum, Balboa Park / August 11 (Noon – 5 p.m.)
Last call for Mingei current exhibitions! “Shirin Towfiq: Threaded Journeys” and “Cups to Connections: Global Gestures of Hospitality” are wrapping up their final days in the Gallery Level. Spend a day at Mingei International Museum in Balboa Park with inspiring collections of multi-cultural folk art! These two exhibits are on view until August 11. Visit Mingei.org for more details.
Barona Cultural Center & Museum
On the Barona Band of Mission Indians’ reservation near Lakeside, the Barona Cultural Center & Museum involves students at the adjacent Barona Indian Charter School, Laurie Egan-Hedley, director and curator of the museum, works on an annual project for the school’s seventh-graders on their seed library.
Read how seed libraries are spreading across the County of San Diego in this story from Caron Golden in the The San Diego Union-Tribune at www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2024/08/03/seed-libraries-are-sprouting-across-san-diego-county/.
Vanguard Culture
ShoutOut SoCal recently interviewed with Vanguard Culture Executive Director, Susanna Peredo Swap! Read more about her story and mission to advance the region’s creative workforce here. You’ll also learn about Saturday, September 14’s huge visual & performing arts festival called ENVZN24 Urban Art Takeover, hosted by Vanguard and featuring some of the region’s most notable creatives from both sides of the US/Mexico. border.
