Here are some of the best things to do this weekend in San Diego from Friday, Aug. 21 to Sunday, Aug. 23.
Friday
San Diego International Kids Film Festival: For the 22nd time, this festival celebrating young filmmakers will screen projects from around the world. This year’s lineup is slated to represent over 30 countries. There will also be panels, a live show, an award ceremony and other events. 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday through Sunday. Schulman Auditorium at Carlsbad City Library, 1775 Dove Lane, Carlsbad; Senior Center, 799 Pine Ave., Carlsbad; MiraCosta Concert Hall, 1 Barnard Drive, Oceanside. Tickets start at $6.58 for children, $11.83 for adults. sdkidsfilms.org
‘Water for Elephants’ continues through Sunday: Broadway San Diego presents the national touring production of this high-flying 2024 Broadway musical based on the 2006 novel about an orphaned young man who runs away to join a Depression-era circus. 8 p.m. Friday; 2 and 8 p.m Saturday; 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday. San Diego Civic Theatre, 1100 Third Ave., downtown. $68 and up. ticketmaster.com
“Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” in Concert: The San Diego Symphony, conducted by Justin Freer, will perform music from John Williams’ film score, accompanied by scenes from the film. 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday. 222 Marina Park Way, downtown. $51-$98. theshell.org
“Cyrano”: The Old Globe premieres Jason O’Connell and Brenda Withers adaptation of Edmond Rostand’s 1897 French play “Cyrano de Bergerac.” 7 p.m. Friday; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday; 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday. Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, The Old Globe, 1363 Old Globe Way, Balboa Park, San Diego. $44 and up. 619-234-5623, theoldglobe.org
“Scapin”: North Coast Repertory Theatre presents Bill Irwin and Mark O’Donnell’s zany adaptation of Molière’s 17th-century comedia delle-arte farce about a schemer who helps two young men marry the women of their dreams. 7 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; 8 p.m. Friday; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday; 2 and 7 p.m.Sunday. 987 Lomas Santa Fe Drive, Solana Beach. $63.50-$85.50. 858-481-1055, northcoastrep.org
“The Family Album”: La Jolla Playhouse presents the world premiere of this musical by MILCK, AG and Sam Chanse about an aspiring singer-songwriter whose responsibilities to her family put an unexpected roadblock in her life and career. 7:30 p.m. Friday; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday; 1 and 7 p.m. Sunday. Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre, 2910 La Jolla Village Drive, La Jolla. $74 and up. 858-550-1010, lajollaplayhouse.org
“Guys and Dolls”: Moonlight Stage Productions presents the classic 1950 Frank Loesser musical comedy about gamblers, showgirls and missionaries in 1930s Manhattan. 8 p.m. Friday-Sunday. Through Aug. 29. Moonlight Amphitheatre, Brengle Terrace Park, 1200 Vale Terrace Drive, Vista. $39.25 and up. 760-724-2110, moonlightstage.com
“Much Ado About Nothing”: The Old Globe presents Broadway veterans Tally Sessions and Eden Espinosa in William Shakespeare’s witty romance about two couples whose love is thwarted, one by pride and the other by jealousy. 8 p.m. Friday through Sunday. Through Aug. 30. Lowell Davies Festival Theatre, The Old Globe, 1363 Old Globe Way, Balboa Park, San Diego. $38 and up. 619-234-5623, theoldglobe.org
“We Will Rock You”: New Village Arts presents the San Diego premiere of this Queen jukebox musical featuring characters inspired by some of the English rock band’s songs. 2 and 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. Through Sept. 20. 2787 State St., Carlsbad. $45-$85. 760-433-3245, newvillagearts.org
“American Rhythm”: In honor of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Lamb’s Players Theatre has revived its high-energy musical celebration of 100 years of American music, from ragtime to swing, jazz and rock and roll. 7 p.m. Fridays; 2 and 7 p.m. Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. Through Oct. 4. 1142 Orange Ave., Coronado. $48-$98. 619-437-6000, lambsplayers.org
SummerFest at 40!”: La Jolla Music Society’s SummerFest presents Lutosławski’s Paganini Variations; Williams’ Quartet La Jolla; a new work by Steven Banks, Tchaikovsky’s Souvenir de Florence. Featuring: Steven Banks, Inon Barnatan, Benjamin Beilman, Jay Campbell, Jennifer Johnson Cano, Jeremy Denk, Jeremy Kurtz-Harris, Teng Li, Cho-Liang Lin, Nina Lee, Yura Lee, Rose Lombardo, Paul Neubauer, Julie Smith Phillips, Simone Porter, Jonathan Swensen, and John Bruce Yeh. 7 p.m. Friday. The Baker-Baum Concert Hall at the Conrad, 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla. $65-$99. 858-459-3728, theconrad.org
“Serenade, Expressions of Magic in the Moonlight”: City Ballet of San Diego brings a few of its most popular works to the outdoor stage. Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings in C major, Op. 48 accompanies George Balanchine’s “Serenade.” Geoffrey Gonzalez’s contemporary piece “Rhapsody in Blue” is performed to a George Gershwin score and Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s mesmerizing “Ecliptic” is performed with large, gilded hoops. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Epstein Family Amphitheater, 9500 Gilman Drive, UC San Diego, La Jolla. $40-$84. cityballet.org
Saturday
HarborFest: The City of Chula Vista and Port of San Diego are reviving HarborFest in Chula Vista. Visitors to the event will find food, live music and activities including a Lucha Libre fight, a classic car expo and harbor activities such as paddleboarding and kayaking. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. 999 Bayside Parkway, Chula Vista. Free. cvharborfest.com
KPBS San Diego Book Festival: The second annual KPBS San Diego Book Festival will take place Saturday with larger gathering spaces and new programming designed to transform the event into an even bigger celebration of books and reading. This year’s festival also marks the 20th anniversary of KPBS’s One Book, One San Diego program. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. University of San Diego, 5998 Alcala Park Way, San Diego. Free. kpbs.org/sdbookfestival
SAMAFEST: The 39th Philippine Cultural Arts Festival will take to Balboa Park this weekend. Filipino culture, art, music, dance are at the forefront of this long-running festival. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Corner of Presidents Way and Park Boulevard. Free. eventbrite.com/e/samafest-2026-39th-philippine-cultural-arts-festival-at-balboa-park-tickets-1990709936007
TAP-SD Taiwan Festival: Taiwanese culture will be on display at this third annual festival by Taiwanese American Professionals – San Diego. Visitors will find art, music, cultural games, raffle prizes and food as well as Taiwanese American community organizations in San Diego. 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday. NTC Park, Liberty Station. Free. tap-sd.org/taiwan-festival-2026
“Ni Mi Madre”: Diversionary Theatre presents queer actor-playwright Arturo Luíz Soria’s solo play where he plays his Brazilian mother. Opens Saturday and runs through Sept. 6. 7 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. Diversionary Theatre, 4545 Park Blvd., University Heights. $32-$72. 619-220-0097, diversionary.org
‘Changing Terrain’ exhibit opens Saturday in two locations: On Saturday, Oceanside Museum of Art and San Diego History Center will jointly open “Changing Terrain: Regional Artists Interpret Our Landscape. The contemporary art exhibit will features work by more than 50 artists in Southern California and Baja California at both museum locations through Jan. 17. OMA, 704 Pier View Way, Oceanside; oma-online.org/changing-terrain; SDHC, 1649 El Prado, Suite 3, San Diego. sandiegohistory.org
Native American Heritage Night: SDFC will celebrate Native American Heritage Night during its game against Colorado Rapids. The first 25,000 fans will get a free Native American drawstring bag. 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Snapdragon Stadium, 2101 Stadium Way, San Diego. $33.32. sandiegofc.com/tickets/celebrationnights
Sunday
National City Cars and Culture Festival: This family-friendly event brings together cool cars and community. Cars of all kinds will be on display and there will be food and craft vendors as well as a kids’ zone. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. Kimball Park, 12th Street and D Avenue. Free. nationalcityca.gov/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/24442/786
North Park Square Dance: Southern Pacific Sessions will host a square dance for all ages and levels of experience. Locals can learn the steps in real time and dance along with live fiddle players. 7 p.m. Sunday. Verbatim Books, 3793 30th St., San Diego. $25. verbatimbooks.com/events
Bike the Bay: Founded in 2007, Bike the Bay is a non-competitive community bike ride across the San Diego-Coronado Bridge and along the Bayshore Bikeway. This year, participants can do 5, 25 or 50-mile trips. After the ride, a festival will offer entertainment, food and beverages. Helmets are required for all cyclists, who are invited to register through 7 a.m. on event day. 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. Embarcadero Marina Park South, San Diego. Registration starts at $81.13. bikethebay.net
“Old Country, New Age”: SummerFest continues with Vaughan Williams’ On Wenlock Edge; Elgar’s Piano Quintet in A Minor, Op. 84; and Walton’s Façade. Featuring: Thomas Adès, Steven Banks, Benjamin Beilman, Jay Campbell, Jeremy Denk, James Ehnes, Njioma Chinyere Grevious, Sidney Hopson, Nina Lee, Teng Li, Rose Lombardo, Brandon Ridenour, Jonathan Swensen, Robin Tritschler, Stephen Waarts, and John Bruce Yeh. 3 p.m. Sunday. The Baker-Baum Concert Hall at the Conrad, 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla. $75-$115. 858-459-3728, theconrad.org
Fiesta at the Chapel: A community music and dance event includes more than a dozen dancers, an interactive Altar of Memories, an art exhibit, and global-inspired drinks and flavors. Yoneme Grupo Folklorico provides the music. 3:30 to 8 p.m. Sunday. Chapel at Liberty Station, 2881 Roosevelt Road, San Diego. $45-$75, youth ages 12-18, $30. eventbrite.com/e/fiesta-tickets-1993362160883