Here are some of the best things to do this weekend in San Diego from Friday, Jan. 23 to Sunday, Jan. 25.
Friday
Wildflowers in bloom: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is inviting the public to visit now that its wildflowers are starting to bloom. Visitors can find various type of wildflowers such as sand verbena and brown-eyed primrose, along Henderson Canyon Road, Coyote Canyon and Borrego Palm Canyon, according to the state park. 200 Palm Canyon Drive, Borrego Springs. 760-767-4684, parks.ca.gov/anzaborrego
“Healing Energy: The Texas Group Show”: LOS/NR Gallery presents this diverse exhibit of works by 10 Texas-based artists. Opening reception, 6-8 p.m. Fridaycq comment=”Jan. 23″ ]. Runs through March 6. 7910 Ivanhoe Ave., La Jolla. losnotrequired.com
“Louisa Gillis”: North Coast Repertory Theatre presents the world premiere of Joanna McClelland Glass’ psychological thriller “Louisa Gillis,” about a family ripped apart by haunting secrets from their past. 7 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. Through Feb. 8. 987 Lomas Santa Fe Drive, Solana Beach. $58.50-$80.50. 858-481-10055, northcoastrep.org
“Red White Winter”: OnWord Theatre opens its 2026 season with Adam Rapp’s drama about a love triangle that develops when two longtime American friends fall for athe same sex worker in Amsterdam’s red light district. Play has strong sexual content and some nudity. 7 p.m. Friday; 4 and 8 p.m. Saturday. Light Box Theatre, 2590 Truxtun Road, #205, Arts District Liberty Station, San Diego. $30-$40. onwordtheatre.com
Patricia Williams arrives at the 74th Emmy Awards. The comedian will perform four shows at Mic Drop Comedy this weekend. (Photo by Danny Moloshok/Invision for the Television Academy/AP Images)
Ms. Pat: The comedian who achieved one of the most popular “Subway Takes” on Instagram in recent months will perform four shows this weekend in San Diego. Ms. Pat is the star of the Emmy-nominated BET+ and Paramount+ “The Ms. Pat Show” and a veteran of the stand-up industry. 7 and 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Mic Drop Comedy, 8878 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., San Diego. $51.50. micdropcomedysandiego.com/events/121353
John Cusack: Fans of “Say Anything” can see a discussion about the movie and other things with actor John Cusack. 7 p.m. Friday. The Magnolia, 210 E. Main St., El Cajon. $76. magnoliasandiego.com
Music by the Sea: This classical concert series from the city of Encinitas and San Diego Music Society continues with a performance of works by Saint-Saens, Faure and Massanet by cellist Paul Tseng and pianist Justin Hansen. 7 p.m. Friday. Encinitas Library, 540 Cornish Drive, Encinitas. $13-$23. 760-753-7376, encinitaslibrary@sdcounty.ca.gov.
“Swing State”: OnStage Playhouse opens its 2026 season with Rebecca Gilman’s drama about Peg, a grieving widow who lives alone on her 40-acre Wisconsin property. Her life is disrupted by the appearance of an old family friend with a checkered past. 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. 5 p.m. Sundays. Through Feb. 1. 291 Third Ave., Chula Vista. $15-$25. 619-422-7787, onstageplayhouse.org
Garage Night at car museum: The San Diego Automotive Museum will host its first Garage Night. Highlights of the community event include tours of the campus and a display of vehicles owned and worked on by IGNITE Academy students. Drinks and food will be sold. Proceeds support the IGNITE Academy, a hands-on program that prepares students for internships and careers in the automotive industry. The program is for high school students who are not four-year college bound and provides free mentorship and early career exposure along with help building skills. 6:30 to 9 p.m. Friday. IGNITE Academy campus, 8630 Argent St. Visit sdautomuseum.org.
“Monty Python’s Edukational Show”: Trinity Theatre Company presents this staged series of sketches from England’s Monty Python’s Flying Circus TV show, including “Dead Parrot,” “The Ministry of Silly Walks,” “The Lumberjack Song” and more. 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. Mission Valley Mall, 1640 Camino Del Rio North Suite 129, San Diego. $30. 619-500-4985, trinityttc.org
“Of Mice and Men”: Lamplighters Community Theatre preents the stage adaptation of John Steinbeck’s novel about two laborers in Central California struggling to survive and make a life for themselves during the Great Depression. 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays (no evening performances on Jan. 31). Through Feb. 1. 5915 Severin Drive, La Mesa. $25-$30. 619-303-5092, lamplighterslamesa.com
Saturday
San Diego Jewish Film Festival: San Diego’s Jewish Film Festival returns for the 36th time, including its annual Joyce Short Film Series. Leonard Maltin will be the keynote speaker on Feb. 1. Screenings begin at 4 and 7 p.m. Saturday. 10 a.m., 1, 4 and 7 p.m. Sunday. Runs through Feb. 4. David & Dorthea Garfield Theatre, Lawrence Family JCC, Jacobs Family Campus, 4126 Executive Drive, La Jolla. 36thsdijffmid.eventive.org/schedule
Try Every Day: Container Gardening The San Diego County library system is hosting a Try Every Day series and this Saturday’s topic is container gardening. UC Master Gardener Sommer Cartier will teach about which kind of plants can be grown in containers and participants can pot their first plants and decorate. Online registration required. 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday. North County Mall,Library Events (#163), 272 E Via Rancho Parkway, Escondido. Free. escondido.libcal.com/event/15646060
Olivia Chilcote author event: Local author and professor Olivia Chilcote will present her book, “Unrecognized in California: Federal Acknowledgment and the San Luis Rey Band of Mission Indians.” The first 15 attendees get a free book. 10 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday. Civic Center Library, 330 North Coast Highway, Oceanside. Free. oceansidepl.librarycalendar.com/event/olivia-chilcote-author-event-40799
Documentary screening: “THE DONN OF TIKI”: The documentary “The Donn of Tiki” will have several showings in San Diego this weekend. Each screening will be followed by a Q&A with the director. VIP tickets come with entry to a VIP gathering at False Idol from 1 to 4:30 p.m. with one free drink and a chance to mingle with the directors. 12:30, 3, 5:30 and 8 p.m. Saturday. 1100 Market St., San Diego. $20 general admission, $25 VIP. digitalgym.org/movies/the-donn-of-tiki/
Star Wars Night: The San Diego Clippers will host a Star Wars-themed game on Saturday with entertainment and possible appearances by characters. The first 1500 fans will get free light saber thunder sticks. 7 p.m. Saturday. Frontwave Arena, 3475 Hero Drive, Oceanside. $10.04. frontwavearena.com/events/detail/san-diego-clippers-vs-oklahoma-city-1
60th Annual Local Author Showcase: Local authors will present some of their latest published work, followed by an open mic hosted by Michael Klam of the San Diego Poetry Annual. Dean Nelson, author, journalist and host of the Writer’s Symposium by the Sea will give a keynote speech. Register online to attend. Noon to 4 p.m. Central Library, 330 Park Blvd., San Diego. Free. sandiego.librarymarket.com/event/hold-concert-series-duo-performance-461528
Adult ballet and youth ballet/jazz classes: San Diego Ballet is offering free dance classes. Open adult ballet class goes from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Youth ballet and jazz class goes from noon to 1:30 p.m. City Heights/Weingart Library, 3795 Fairmount Ave., San Diego. Free. sandiego.librarymarket.com/event/ballet-jazz-classes-471620
Orchids in the Park show and sale: The San Diego County Orchid Society will host its winter show and sale. Noon to 5 p.m. Saturday. 10 a.m, to 4 p.m. Sunday. Balboa Park’s Casa del Prado. Free. sdorchids.com/up-coming-show
George Harrison tribute band: The Bornemann Theatre is kicking off its 2026 concert series with a George Harrison tribute band. By George is the tribute band that tells the story of George Harrison through his music. The show spans Harrison’s time with The Beatles, the Traveling Wilburys and his solo projects. 7 p.m. Saturday. 555 Deer Springs Road, San Marcos. $30. 858-356-4546, thebornemann.com
“Disney on Ice presents Let’s Dance!,” runs Jan. 22-25 at Pechanga Arena San Diego. (Geo Rittenmyer)
‘Disney on Ice presents Let’s Dance!’: Disney on Ice is presenting one of its newest ice-skating shows in San Diego this weekend. The new show features characters from the Disney films “Frozen 2,” “Wish,” “The Lion King,” “The Little Mermaid” and “Moana.” In addition to the live show, attendees ages 2 and up can take part in an optional ticketed pre-show interactive character experience called “Frozen Fun” that begins one hour before showtime. Regular showtimes, 7 p.m. tonight; 11 a.m. 3 and 7 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Sunday. Pechanga Arena San Diego, 3500 Sports Arena Blvd., San Diego. Show-only tickets are $30.46 to $103.52. “Frozen Fun” pre-show is $79.90 per person. disneyonice.com/en-us/lets-dance/san-diego-ca-pechanga-arena-san-diego/
Monster Jam: The annual truck show, Monster Jam, is back for its final weekend of the year. One hour before the start of the event, visitors get a preview of the competition, see the pit crews, listen to driver interviews and get driver and truck introductions. Featured competitors include Grave Digger, Sparkle Smash, Digatron and Lucas Stabilzer. There is also a meet and greet after the monster truck races and competitions. Saturday and Sunday Snapdragon Stadium, 2101 Stadium Way, San Diego. $43-$191. monsterjam.com/en-us/san-diego-2026
Dance photographer Douglas McMinimy’s 2025 digital print of Sona Jaeger of The Rosin Box Project and The Ballet Collective. It’s featured in his exhibit “Museum Suite” at San Diego Museum of Art. (Douglas McMinimy)
Dance photography show opens Saturday at SDMA: The interplay of dance and visual art is explored in dance photographer Doug McMinimy’s exhibition “Museum Suite,” which opens Saturday at the San Diego Museum of Art and continues through July 12. With his intimate images of local dancers, McMinimy creates a conversation that reflects motion and stillness with the museum’s sculptures and paintings. His photos represent seven local dance organizations, with captured images an audience wouldn’t catch in the speed of a performance. San Diego Museum of Art, 1450 El Prado, Balboa Park. $15-$25. sdmart.org
“The Trip to Bountiful”: Lamb’s Players Theatre presents Horton Foote’s drama about an elderly woman who takes a trip back to her childhood hometown to reconnect with fond memories from her past. 7 p.m.Wednesdays-Saturdays; 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Through March 1. 1142 Orange Ave., Coronado. $39-$78. 619-437-6000, lambsplayers.org
San Diego Symphony: Music Director Rafael Payare conduct the orchestra in a program of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 1 in C Major and Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 8 in C monir. 7:30 p.m. Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. Jacobs Music Center, 750 B St., downtown. $42-$103. sandiegosymphony.org
Wings Over Wetlands: Parks and Rec, the Nature Collective and other partners will host a family-friendly educational event about birds in San Diego County. There will be educational activities, crafts, birds and other things to do. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve, 2710 Manchester Ave., Cardiff. Free. sdparks.org/content/sdparks/en/participate/calendar.html
Camarada presents “Creativity and Madness”: The San Diego classical music ensemble will perform Haydn’s Concerto in F, Marin Marais’ “Les Folies de’Espagne,”the world premiere of Del Mar composer Jordan Kuspa’s “Breath of the Ocean” and more. 7:30 p.m. Saturday.The Baker-Baum Concert Hall, Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla. $28-$98. 858-459-3728, camarada.org
“Border Ecologies: Between Water and Land”: The Border Design Lab and Promontora de las Bellas Artes are co-presenting an exhibition exploring conservation, coastal protection and urbanresilence at the U.S.-Mexico border through architectural research, community engagement and student-led work. Opens with a reception from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday and runs through Jan. 31. The exhibition will be on view through January 31. The FRONT Arte & Cultura, 147 W. San Ysirdo Blvd., San Ysidro. 619-428-1115, thefront.casafamiliar.org
Sunday
Ceramic luminary workshop: Instructor Yuso Lee will teach participants to make a ceramic lantern. Beginners are welcome at this class and the creations will be glazed and fired before taking them home. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday. ICA North, 1550 S El Camino Real, Encinitas. $67.50 for members, $75 for nonmembers. icasandiego.org/event/ceramic-luminary-workshop/
“Spamilton: An American Parody”: From the creators of “Forbidden Broadway,” this new musical spoof parodies Lin-Manuel’s musical about American founding father, “Hamilton.” 7 p.m. Sunday. Balboa Theatre, 868 Fourth Ave., downtown. $50.20-$116.87. ticketmaster.com