Here are some of the best things to do this weekend in San Diego from Friday, Oct. 17 to Sunday, Oct. 19.
Friday
“Kimberly Akimbo”: Scripps Ranch Theatre presents the original play version of David Lindsay-Abaire’s bittersweet tale about a teenage girl who has a premature aging disorder that makes her an old lady at 16. 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. Scripps Ranch Theatre at the Legler Benbough Theatre, 9783 Avenue of Nations, Alliant International University, San Diego. $30-$52. 858-578-7728, scrippsranchtheatre.org
Master of the Macabre: Stories by Master of the Macabre, Edgar Allan Poe, will be featured at 6 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays Oct. 17 to Nov. 1 at Villa Montezuma Museum in Sherman Heights. The performances, “Poe and More Poe” are co-directed by Rachael VanWormer and Veronica Murphy and hosted by Write Out Loud. Tickets are $30 at writeoutloudsd.com.
Approximately 20,000 streamers, creators, viewers, cosplayers, gamers, and artists gather at TwitchCon San Diego 2024. (Twitch)
TwitchCon: TwitchCon is celebrating its 10th anniversary with three days of live streaming, networking, workshops and a Q&A with its CEO. Live streamers and their fans will be flocking to the San Diego Convention Center for TwitchCon 2025 this weekend. The three-day conference, similar to Comic-Con International, brings together Twitch community members and the general public to meet other livestreamers, attend interactive workshops, hear industry leaders and play video games. Some of the event highlights include a block party, esports competitions, and a cosplay game show. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 17-19. 111 Harbor Drive, San Diego. $60-$249. twitchcon.com/san-diego-2025
“Small”: The Old Globe presents Robert Montano in the West Coast premiere of his Drama Desk-nominated solo play about outgrowing his career as a horse-racing jockey to become a successful Broadway dancer. 8 p.m. Friday; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday; 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday. Sheryl & Harvey White Theatre, The Old Globe, 1363 Old Globe Way, Balboa Park, San Diego. $44-$118. 619-234-5623, theoldglobe.org
Meet-and-Greet with Dave Berke & Jocko Willink: Retired U.S. Marine Corps officer, fighter pilot and ground combat leader and retired Navy SEAL Jocko Willink will sign their now book “The Need to Lead: A TOPGUN Instructor’s Lessons on How Leadership Solves Every Challenge.” 6 p.m. Friday. Warwick’s, 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. $35.01. warwicks.com/event/berke-and-willink-2025
HauntFest: The city of El Cajon is putting on a Halloween event from 4 to 9 p.m. Oct. 17 in downtown El Cajon with a costume contest, amusement rides, a candy trail, trunk or treat with classic cars and a haunted maze along with dancing and a DJ, an outdoor movie screening of Monsters University and a reptile petting zoo. There will also be a sensory tent offering a quiet space. The Magnolia will host its annual Haunted Circus: Monsters at Play, featuring jugglers, contortionists, stilt walkers, hoop throwers, aerialists and acrobats at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Free. elcajon.gov.
Rilo Kiley: Indie rock group Rilo Kiley will be joined by special guest Waxahatchee. 8 p.m. Friday. 840 K St., San Diego. $68.70. mlb.com/padres/tickets/concerts
Haunted Hotel: The historic grounds of the Olivenhain Meeting Hall will be transformed into a Haunted Hotel Friday and Saturday nights from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Oct. 10-11, Oct. 17-18 and Oct. 24-25 at 423 Rancho Santa Fe Road. There will be spooky scenes ranging from a Haunted Swamp, Dr. Frankenstein’s laboratory and a Witches’ Lair to a Candy Mystery Trail. Actors are Scouts, ages 11 to 17. There will be games at the carnival and refreshment to purchase. Tickets are $8; cash and credit are accepted at the door. The event is a fundraiser for Scout Troop 2000. For questions, email troop2kcommunityoutreach@gmail.com.
Spooky campout: The annual Spooky Camp-o-Ween is back from Oct. 17-19 and Oct. 24-26 at Lake Jennings, 10108 Bass Road. Check in Friday and pick up creepy crafts, then listen to and tell spooky stories around the campfire. There will be campground trick-or-treating, a scavenger hunt and a campsite decorating contest. Bring your costumes. Camping fees apply. This weekend is for registered campers only and campsites fill up fast. Reserve a campsite at (619) 390-1623. Visit lakejennings.org.
A cheese wheel pasta from Roman Wolves, which is offering 50% off the normal price on National Pasta Day. (Arlene Ibarra)
Pasta discount: Foodies who want to celebrate National Pasta Day with some specials can visit Roman Wolves in Little Italy. The restaurant is offering 50% off its cheese wheel pasta during happy hour. Piping-hot pasta is tossed into a well carved in a wheel of Parmesan cheese. Guests can also get other deals on the happy hour menu, such as bruschetta and calamari for $8, the flatbread pinsa margherita for $12 and beer and a house wine for $5. 4 to 6 p.m. Friday. 1980 Kettner Blvd. Suite 10, San Diego. 619-539-7344, romanwolves.com
“Follies”: Cygnet Theatre presents this 1971 musical about a group of long-retired showgirls gathering on the even of their old theater’s demolition. 7 p.m. Friday; 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. Clayes Theatre at The Joan, 2880 Roosevelt Road, Arts District Liberty Station, San Diego. $44 and up. 619-337-1525, cygnettheatre.com
San Diego Symphony: Gemma New conducts Lera Korngold’s Violin Concerto and Mendelssohn’s Overture and Nocturne from A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Symphony No. 4 (“Italian”). 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.. Jacobs Music Center, 1245 Seventh Ave., Downtown. $30-$108. 619-235-0804, sandiegosymphony.org
Quarterly dinner series: It’s spiny lobster season at Vistal Bar + Restaurant as it is spotlighting this seafood dish at its Behind the Catch quarterly dinner series. This multiple-course educational dinner teaches diners about the local shellfish species and recreational and commercial lobster fishing. The course includes spiny lobster chawanmushi, spiny lobster culurgione, a spiny lobster surf and turf with lobster tail and a chocolate-glazed pumpkin spiced cake with coffee cinnamon cream. 6 p.m. Friday. 901 Bayfront Court, San Diego. 619-535-0485. $95, vistalsd.com
The three San Diego concerts you certifiably don’t want to miss this week
Pokémon speakeasy: This weekend, Union Kitchen and Tap in the Gaslamp Quarter is morphing into a Pokémon speakeasy during TwitchCon. Customers can taste themed cocktails, enter raffles and collect special Pokémon items. There are six cocktails named after Pokémon characters that match their skin tone: Eevee, a vodka espresso martini; Flareon, a hard apple cider with a cinnamon whiskey; Glaceon, a frozen margarita; Jolteon, a whiskey lemonade; Leafeon, a gin mojito; and Vaporeon, with blue pineapple rum. The Pokémon speakeasy will be behind the restaurant’s back alley entrance and decorated with neon lights and video game decor. 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to midnight Sunday. 333 Fifth Ave., San Diego. 619-795-9463, gaslampunion.com
“Huzzah!”: The Old Globe presents this world premiere musical by the co-writers of “Legally Blonde: The Musical” about a family fighting to keep their Renaissance fair alive. 8 p.m. Friday; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday; 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday. Old Globe Theatre, 1363 Old Globe Way, Balboa Park, San Diego. $55 and up. 619-234-5623, theoldglobe.org
Harvest Fest: The public has a few more weekends to visit the 2025 Harvest Fest at Julian Farm and Orchard. New to this year’s family-friendly event are food trucks, face-painting, John Deere tricycles children can ride, apple cannons to shoot at targets and added sandboxes for kids. There is also a pumpkin patch, petting zoo, hayrides, cider-making demonstrations, an axe-throwing station and a rock climbing station. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 26. 4381 Julian Highway, Julian. $10-$30. 760-765-5494, julianfarmandorchard.com/harvest-fest-fall-season
Mission Bayfest: Three days of American reggae, pop and alternative music are landing in San Diego at the 2025 Mission Bayfest. This year’s lineup includes more than 30 bands and musicians such as 311, Chromeo, Pepper, Rebelution, Slightly Stoopid, Sublime and Tuxedo. New to this year’s festival is a second stage called the Ventura Cove Stage. The event also features food trucks and local pop-up food vendors and a marketplace to purchase handmade goods from local artists and designers. 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. 3119 Mariners Way, San Diego. $100-$1,000 bayfestsd.com
Fright for Future: The horrors can impact humans, animals and Earth are on full display at Fright for Future. This interactive haunted maze is designed to educate visitors about the dangers of pollution, animal abuse and climate change through 20 interactive activations. Some of these attractions in the maze include a biohazard unit, a butcher shop, a poacher camp and a witch’s cauldron. New this year are four attractions: tech-known terrors, the harm of processed foods, the influence of big tobacco and pain caused by pharmaceutical companies. This haunted maze is intended for those 10 years and older. It is free for students with a school identification. Oct. 17-19, 24-26. 37ECB, 3720 El Cajon Blvd., San Diego. $10. frightforfuture.org
“& Juliet”: This Broadway musical comedy mixes the energetic pop music of Swedish hitmaker Max Martin with a modern twist on Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet.” 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. $57.25-$87. broadwaysd.com
Movies in the park: This fall, the public can enjoy free showings of movies across various city and county parks, including Halloween-themed family classics. Some of these films are “The Nightmare Before Christmas” on Oct. 17, “Coco” on Oct. 18, and “Hocus Pocus” on Nov. 1. Movies will start 15 minutes after sunset. summermoviesinthepark.com
Saturday
Borrego Days Desert Festival: This two-day event celebrates life in the desert, starting with a fly over and a parade on Saturday morning. Also that day are a festival, live entertainment and a beer garden. Sunday includes more live entertainment and dance performances. Both days feature a kids zone, food trucks, art and other booths. 8:45 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday. 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Christmas Circle in Borrego Springs. Free. borregodays.com/festival-events-schedule
Battle of the Burgers: Visit Temecula Valley hosts its annual Battle of the Burgers next week at Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula. Area chefs will compete for the title of best burger. There is also a best “loaded fries” student competition. Pechanga Resort Casino chefs Amanda Colello and Ronald Sanchez worked with more than 30 third-year students in Temecula Valley High School’s culinary class to develop and test their recipes. The public gets to participate in the competition, a well, by sampling all of the burgers and fries and casting their own votes. Noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18. Grand Ballroom, Pechanga Resort Casino, 45000 Pechanga Parkway, Temecula. $43, adults; $32.50 for ages 6 to 18 if purchased online. Limited $50 tickets available at the door. visittemeculavalley.com/battle-of-the-burgers
Petco Links golf event at the ballpark on Oct. 15, 2023 at Petco Park in San Diego, California. The event runs Oct. 18 to Oct. 26 this year. (Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres)
The Links at Petco Park: For nine days, Petco Park will be the scene of a haunted golf trail, allowing golfers to participate in a round of golf, taking shots from tee boxes all around the ballpark. Food and drink will be available for purchase. Spectator tickets are available for $31. Oct. 18-26. 100 Park Blvd., San Diego. $278.80. padres.com/thelinks
‘BOO-gie Night’ dance show in Carlsbad: Negative Space Dance Collective will perform a spooky improvised contemporary dance show where audience members can step into the creative process and influence the direction of the performance. 7 p.m. Saturday. White Family Stage, New Village Arts, 2787State St., Carlsbad. $20. newvillagearts.org/event/boogie-night
MiraCosta College Symphony: The Orchestra will present Christoph Rayburn’s world premiere 45-minute concerto written for melodica and orchestra (the first ever written for the toy air-blown keyboard instrument). 7:30 p.m. Saturday. 3 p.m. Sunday. Concert Hall OC2406, MiraCosta College, 1 Barnard Drive, Oceanside. $8-$10. 760-795-6815, miracosta.edu
Jean Isaacs’ “The Legacy Concert”: The San Diego dance icon directs this program of works from her more than 50-year career as a choreographer and dancer. 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Light Box Theater, 2590 Truxtun Road, Suite 205, San Diego. $25-$40. ticketleap.events/tickets/jean-isaacs/legacy-concert
Clay Artists of the Vineyard show: Artists in the co-op gallery at Bernardo Winery will host a sale of members work. Saturday and Sunday. 13330 Paseo Del Verano Norte, Rancho Bernardo. instagram.com/clayartistsatthevineyard
Sunday
Art of Elan at The Jai: Flutist Rose Lombardo, oboist Sarah Skuster and mor will perform works by Arthur Foote, Alberto Ginastera and Debussy. 7 p.m. Sunday. The JAI, Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla. $15-$50. 858-459-3728, theconrad.org
DrumatiX Show: This San Diego rhythm and dance-theater companywill perform tap dance, body percussion, inventive drumming and theatrical storytelling. 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday. Bornemann Theater, Teri Campus of Life, 555 Deer Springs Road, San Marcos. $32.46. events.humanitix.com
Berry Gordy’s “The Last Dragon” returns to theaters: For a few days only, to celebrate its 40th anniversary, fans can see “The Last Dragon” in theaters. Show times will be available Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Fans can see screenings locally at AMC Mission Valley, Cinepolis Del Mar, Cinepolis Vista Village, Cinepolis La Costa Town Square, Regal Escondido Stadium 16, Regal Mira Mesa, Regal Parkway Plaza, Regal Rancho Del Rey, Regal Rancho San Diego, Regal Carlsbad, Regal Oceanside and Regal San Marcos. Get tickets and see showtimes here: iconicreleasing.com/events/the-last-dragon
Originally Published: October 15, 2025 at 1:18 PM PDT