Here are some of the best things to do this weekend in San Diego from Friday, July 3 to Sunday, July 5.
See our guide to fireworks and drone shows this weekend here:
Where to see Fourth of July weekend fireworks and drone shows in San Diego County
See our complete holiday guide here:
Friday
‘American Rhythm’ now playing in Coronado: 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. Friday; 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. 1142 Orange Ave., Coronado. $48-$98. 619-437-6000, lambsplayers.org
Lemon Grove celebrates 250: The City of Lemon Grove will host a celebration in a local park featuring vendors, games, live music and more. “The Sandlot” will be shown at 7:45 p.m. Attendees are invited to bring their own chairs and blankets. 4 to 9:30 p.m. July 3. Treganza Park, 3200 Main St., Lemon Grove. Free. lemongrove.ca.gov/parks-events
80s HEAT Vs. 90s ICE – A USA Birthday Blowout Dance Party: Bella Lux and DJ KOKO will host a dance party featuring 80s and 90s hits at Belly Up. 8:30 p.m. Friday. Belly Up, 143 S. Cedros Ave., Solana Beach. $24.30 online in advance. ticketweb.com/event/80s-heat-vs-90s-ice-belly-up-tickets/14157494?pl=bellyup&REFID=bupwebsite
A view of the annual Oceanside fireworks show from Frontwave Arena. (Meredith Jarvis)
Third of July Summer Spectacular: On Fourth of July eve, Frontwave Arena will be the location for a Third of July Summer Spectacular event. There will be live music headlined by Morgan Leigh Band, raffles, giveaways, food and drink and a view of Oceanside’s fireworks show. This event is for ages 21 and older. Guests can choose from a range of seating options, from general admission to VIP fireside lounges. 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. Friday. Tickets start at $31.55. Frontwave Arena, 3475 Hero Drive, Oceanside. frontwavearena.com/events/detail/july-3rd-summer-spectacular
Lakehouse Resort Carnival: The Lakehouse Resort will host its annual family carnival on Lake San Marcos, open to both hotel guests and the public. The event will include carnival food, games and rides, along with contests and family-friendly activities. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday. Lakehouse Resort, 1025 La Bonita Drive, San Marcos. $5 for adults. Admission free for children ages 10 and under. thelakehouseresort.com/Independence-Day-Carnival
Fourth of July Carnival: The National City Lions Club and National City are hosting the annual Fourth of July Carnival through Sunday. This includes a fireworks show at at 9 p.m on the Fourth of July. There will also be carnival rides, food and drinks, entertainment and games. Miss National City will be selected in a pageant at 7 p.m. tonight. 5 to 11 p.m. tonight, 1 to 11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Kimball Park, 12th and D streets, National City. Free. Ride wristbands are available for $40. instagram.com/p/DZnTezQli-r
Santee Salutes America 250: The city of Santee is dedicating its Fourth of July celebrations to the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence. Its regular community celebration will feature a special color guard presentation, “Santee Salutes America’s 250th,” at 6 p.m. The day will also feature entertainment, a flyover and fireworks. 4 to 10 p.m. Saturday. Town Center Community Park East, 550 Park Center Drive, Santee. Free. cityofsanteeca.gov/calendar/events/santee-salutes—america250/46207
San Diego Symphony presents ‘Blockbuster Broadway!’ at The Shell: The San Diego Symphony, conducted by Evan Roider, will present a musical celebration of the Great White Way at The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park. The program features songs and music from the Broadway shows “Wicked,” “Jersey Boys,” “Cats,” “Chicago,” “The Phantom of the Opera” and more. Vocalists include Jessica Hendy, Alex Getlin, Scott Coulter and John Boswell. 7:30 p.m. Friday. 222 Marina Park Way, downtown. $39-$129. theshell.org
Street Level X Art Walk: Oceanside Museum of Art will host a free, all-ages reception in connection with the city’s art walk. There will be docent-led tours of the museum’s exhibits, artists’ work for sale, and cocktails for sale for ages 21 and up. 5-8 p.m. Friday. 704 Pier View Way, Oceanside. Free but RSVPs requested. oma-online.org/events/street-level-x-art-walk-jul-3/
“Boy My Greatness”: Loud Fridge Theatre Group presents the West Coast premiere of Zoe Senese-Grossberg’s play that explores how male actors played women’s roles in the plays of Shakespeare and others during the 1500s and 1600s. Preview, 8 p.m. Friday. Opens Sunday. Loud Fridge at Moxie Theatre, 6663 El Cajon Blvd., Rolando. Free; donations of any amount encourage. loudfridge.com
“1776”: Vanguard Theatre and Point Loma Community Presbyterian Church are co-producing this classic Sherman Edwards-Peter Stone musical about America’s Founding Fathers, in honor of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It features a cast of 27. 7 p.m. Friday. 2 p.m. Saturday. 2 p.m. Sunday. 2128 Chatsworth Blvd., San Diego. $25. vanguardsd.org/shows
Jacob Caltrider, left, Andrew Hey, Morgan Hollingsworth and Eli Wood in North Coast Repertory Theatre’s “The Most Happy Fella.” (Aaron Rumley)
“The Most Happy Fella”: North Coast Repertory Theatre presents an intimate production of Frank Loesser’s 1956 musical about an aging vineyard farmer who falls for a much-younger woman and uses deception to win her heart. 2 p.m. Friday; 2 p.m. Sunday. 987 Lomas Santa Fe Drive, Suite D, Solana Beach. $68.50-$90.50. northcoastrep.org
“The SpongeBob Musical”: Cygnet Theatre presents this musical comedy based on the animated TV series “SpongeBob SquarePants.” 7 p.m. Friday. 2 p.m. Sunday. Joseph Clayes III Theater at The Joan, 2880 Roosevelt Road, Arts District Liberty Station, San Diego. $54 and up for adults. Children 5 to 15 are half-off. No children under 5 will be admitted. cygnettheatre.org
“Measure for Measure”: The Old Globe presents an outdoor production of William Shakespeare’s drama about complications that arise when a duke leaves his community in the hands of a puritanical deputy with twisted morals. 8 p.m. Friday and Sunday. Lowell Davies Festival Theatre, The Old Globe, 1363 Old Globe Way, Balboa Park, San Diego. $38 and up. 619-234-5623, theoldglobe.org
“Hairspray”: New Village Arts presents the musical comedy about a spunky 1960s Baltimore teen aiming to integrate the city’s TV dance party show. 2 and 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. Through July 19. 2787 State St., Carlsbad. $35-$70. 760-433-3245, newvillagearts.org
“Isaac’s Eye”: OnStage Playhouse presents Lucas Hnath’s surrealistic play about the fierce rivalry between 18th century British scientists Isaac Newton and Robert Hooke. 8 p.m. Friday. 5 p.m. Sundays. Plus 7:30 p.m. July 13. Through July 19. OnStage Playhouse, 292 Third Ave., Chula Vista. $20-$25. onstageplayhouse.org
“Stories Worth Telling”: Photographer and painter Kim Hannan is featured in a solo exhibition of artworks that combine nature-inspired photography with impressionistic realism. The exhibit features paintings of the San Diego’s wildlife and botanical collections, as well as American and international landscapes. Opening reception, 5 to 7 p.m. Friday. Runs through July 31. Hours, 3 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays. East County Art Assocation Gallery 2, 124 Main St., El Cajon. kimhannanfineart.com
Saturday
$4 beers for Fourth of July: Karl Strauss Brewing Company will serve all its beers on tap for $4 per pint on the Fourth of July. The discount is available at the 4S Ranch, Carlsbad, downtown San Diego and Sorrento Mesa locations. karlstrauss.com
America the Beautiful 250 concert: Conductor, trumpet player and vocalist Byron Stripling will lead the San Diego Symphony Orchestra and other performers in a concert featuring classic songs like “Stars and Stripes Forever” and “Yankee Doodle Dandy.” 7:30 p.m. July 4. The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, 222 Marina Park Way, San Diego. Tickets start at $57. theshell.org/performances/america-the-beautiful-250/
On Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, in San Diego, visitors attend the grand opening of the Navy SEAL Museum. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Fourth of July at the Navy SEAL Museum: To celebrate the 250th, Navy SEAL Museum San Diego will offer special outdoor activities. There will be food, a scavenger hunt, stories from Navy SEAL veterans, giveaways and more. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Navy SEAL Museum San Diego, 1001 Kettner Blvd., San Diego. July 4. Free. navysealmuseumsd.org
Old-Fashioned Fourth of July: California State Parks is going back in time for this year’s Fourth of July activities. There will be history demonstrations, 19th century past times and family-friendly fun such as tug of war, sack races, a watermelon-eating contest and a quilt raffle. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 4. Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. Free. parks.ca.gov/EventDetails/18583
World Classic Rockers: America’s 250th Anniversary Benefit Concert and 4th of July Fireworks Celebration: The USS Midway Museum’s flight deck will be the scene of a patriotic concert by World Classic Rockers, which is made up of former members of Boston, Journey, Santana and Lynyrd Skynyrd. 6 p.m. July 4. USS Midway Museum, 910 North Harbor Drive, San Diego. $100. midway.org/event/world-classic-rockers-americas-250th-anniversary
Sunday
The view heading northwest on the Guy Fleming Trail at Torrey Pines Natural State Reserve. (Maura Fox / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Mindful Walks: Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve hosts mindful walks on Sundays that are led by knowledgeable docents. Participants should meet at the Guy Fleming Trail. No registration is required. 9 a.m. Sunday. 12600 N. Torrey Pines Road, San Diego.Free. parks.ca.gov/EventDetails/18363
By the Bay Concert Series: San Diego Mission Bay Resort is hosting a new concert series on July 5, Sept. 3 and Oct. 3. Sunday, locals can enjoy Yacht Rock Night with a performances by Band Overboard and High Tide Society. Cocktails and food will be available for order. 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday. San Diego Mission Bay Resort, 1775 East Mission Bay Drive, San Diego. $60 for general admission, includes parking. missionbayresort.com/by-the-bay-concert-series
Bluegrass Music Day: A mix of performers will play string instruments and showcase their talent at Bluegrass Music Day at the San Diego County Fair. Guests can expect to hear the sounds of blues, jazz, gospel, square dance fiddling and some popular music. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Michelob ULTRA Avenue Stage, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar. Free with fair admission. sdfair.com/events/2026/bluegrass-festival
Black and Brown Festival Showcase: The nonprofit organization Movement Be is presenting the San Diego County Fair’s first Black and Brown Festival Showcase. The lineup of performers includes Big Steppers, Paid In Full Dance Community and Mike Sweet. 2 to 5:30 p.m. Sunday. Chevrolet Paddock Stage, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar. Free with fair admission. sdfair.com/events/2026/black-and-brown-festival-showcase-presented-by-movement-be