WEEKEND FUN GUIDE

Your Guide to FUN this weekend in San Diego: Aug. 29 – Sep. 2.

Looking for fun things to do this Labor Day 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 29 to Monday, September 2, 2024.

Thursday

Final Weekend “Picture This: Recent Acquisitions” at The Museum of Photographic Arts at The San Diego Museum of Art., Balboa Park / Through September 1 

Visit MOPA@SDMA this weekend to discover a diverse range of processes spanning nearly two hundred years, from anonymous nineteenth-century photographers to renowned artists like Berenice Abbott, Martín Chambi, Mary Ellen Mark, Arnold Newman, Alison Rositer, Aaron Siskind, Mike and Doug Starn, Louise Dahl Wolfe, and many more. Organized into three sections—Portraiture, Abstraction/Manipulation, and Modernism—this exhibition illustrates that a photograph is truly worth a thousand words.

“Picture This: Recent Acquisitions” is on view now through September 1. MOPA@SDMA is a pay-what-you wish museum open Thursdays through Sundays 11 a.m.– 5 p.m.

Friday

FUN Animal Friday at The San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum, Escondido / August 30, 10 -11:30 a.m.

Meet tidepool creatures with Zovargo on Friday, August 30, from 10 to 11:30 a.m.  at the San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum. The event will include a live presentation, meet & greet, storytime, special craft, and more! Pre-registration is not required. Free with Museum admission. Opportunities to pet the animals are limited and timed tickets will be provided upon check-in. Discover more here.

FUN TIP: Save the Date! Explore the garden and practice your green thumb with the KPBS Kids Event: Curious George on Saturday, September 14 from 10 a.m. – noon for storytime, crafts, and a costume character photo opportunity. Find the FUN here,

Friday

Nat at Night at the San Diego Natural History Museum, Balboa Park / August 30

Kick off your weekend at the rooftop bar that offers one of the best views in Balboa Park! Join the FUN on Friday, August 30 at the Nat. The San Diego Natural History Museum will be open until 10 p.m. with half-price admission after 5 p.m. The Museum is packed with immersive exhibitions, cool pop-up programming and more.

Grab your friends and indulge in the ultimate fall experience. Enjoy refreshing drinks and delectable small plates curated by Wolf the Woods. Sip a signature cocktail as you leisurely explore the Museum. Find the FUN at https://www.sdnhm.org/calendar/nat-at-night/.

FUN TIP: Join the FUN on Friday, September 27, from 6-10 p.m for the Nat’s Big Birthday Bash celebrating their 150th birthday. The San Diego Natural History Museum will be celebrating our region’s best and brightest with local chefs on every floor of the Museum, plus innovative cocktails, scientist meet-and-greets, a peek behind the scenes, live music, and a silent auction of cool stuff. Tickets and details here.

Saturday

Swift Boat Naval History Tour at the Maritime Museum of San Diego, Bay Front / Aug. 31, Sep. 1 & 2 

Looking for activities to do in San Diego this Labor Day weekend? Plan now to add this exceptional experience to your Maritime Museum of San Diego general admission ticket for only $15 more! Explore the San Diego Bay and learn from Veteran Volunteer Docents about our region’s Naval History. You’ll take a 75-minute ride aboard the Vietnam-era PCF 816 Swift boat with narration and storytelling provided by the crew. Enjoy this Bay tour before or after you explore the Museum fleet of ships and exhibits. Book in advance here or check availability when you arrive at the Ticket Booth this Saturday, August 31st, and Sunday and Monday, September 1-2, 2024.

FUN TIP: While your exploring the Maritime Museum, peek into the newest exhibit The Art of Navigation featuring highlights 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 Maritime Museum of San Diego.

Saturday

Volunteer Recruiting Fair at the Comic-Con Museum, Balboa Park / August 31 

Join the San Diego Cultural Volunteer Managers Council’s Volunteer Recruiting Fair at the Comic-Con Museum in Balboa Park this Saturday, August 31 from 9:30 – 11 a.m. Connect with San Diego County museums, parks, aquariums, gardens, and more making a real impact in our community. If you are passionate about giving back and looking for new opportunities to make a difference, this event is for you!

At this event, you’ll have the opportunity to:

• Discover volunteer opportunities that match your passions
• Meet like-minded individuals who care about making a difference
• Learn about the missions of various organizations
• Find out how you can contribute your time and skills

Saturday

Mingei Museum Field Trip to Visions Museum of Textile Art, Liberty Station / August 31 

Membership has its benefits! Take a field trip to Arts District Liberty Station! This Saturday, August 31 at 10 a.m., join the Mingei International Museum‘s Membership Manager, Allison Manch, for a visit to Visions Museum of Textile Art (VMOTA) in Liberty Station and explore exhibitions that are part of World Design Capital San Diego Tijuana 2024!

The event is 🎟️ Free – Mingei Members receive 10% off at the VMOTA Gift Shop (Active Membership card must be present.) RSVP at https://mingei.org/events/reciprocal-offering/visions-museum-of-textile-art-museum-exchange.

Sunday

Explore More than 60 Exhibits at the USS Midway Museum, Bay Front / September 1 

Have you seen the USS Midway Museum’s most immersive exhibition yet? Crafted with state-of-the-art technology, “Midway’s Engineers: Service, Sacrifice, and Everyday Life” allows visitors to step into the shoes of Midway’s crew, offering a sensory-rich journey through the demanding conditions faced by naval engineers. Find tickets and details here. The USS Midway Museum is an unforgettable adventure for the entire family. Guests can spend the day exploring more than 60 exhibits with a collection of 29 restored aircraft.

FUN TIP: Tickets are now on sale for Midway’s Haunted Hangar Halloween Bash! Prepare for a spooktacular night filled with thrilling activities, exciting contests, delicious treats, bewitching cocktails for the grown-ups, and more aboard the USS Midway Museum. Don’t forget to flaunt your most spine-chilling costume to win a fang-tastic prize! Dig up your tickets here.

Sunday & Monday

Sunset Scripps Pier Walk led by Birch Aquarium Naturalists, La Jolla / Sept. 1 & 2 

Want to experience one of the most unique sunset views in San Diego? Join the Birch Aquarium at Scripps for a Sunset Scripps Pier Walk! Discover the research happening down at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, observe plankton under a microscope, learn about our local sharks and more! Advanced reservation required. Tour times will vary with sunset times. Find tickets here.

Monday

Labor Day Wine Tasting at the Deer Park Winery and Auto Museum, Escondido / September 2 

Come for the wine & stay for the vintage autos. Or vice versa. Both are worth a visit to unique Deer Park Winery & Auto Museum in Escondido. Deer Park produces such award-winning varietals as Merlots, Sangioveses and dinner-style reds. The tasting room is open at 10 am. Thursdays through Mondays. From the gift shop, visitors can pick up wine, plus deli-style, picnic spreads to enjoy on the patio. No reservations are required.

Deer Park, featured in MOTORTREND magazine boasts of having the largest convertible car collection in the world, and we have no reason to doubt them after visiting. Their collection is impressive to say the least. They have vehicles ranging from the 1800s to the 1980s at the museum, plus tons of other stuff including vintage radios, televisions, neon signs, and even a Barbie collection. Barbie? An entire room devoted to Barbie. The room proves that Barbie prefers convertibles and that neon signs will always rule. Find the FUN here.