The La Jolla Light presents this continuing listing of local in-person events and online activities.
Lectures & learning
• La Jolla Community Center’s Peer Learning Collaborative for September offers lectures on immigration, 3 p.m. Thursdays through Sept. 27 at 6811 La Jolla Blvd. Free for members, or $20 for non-members. ljcommunitycenter.org/plc
• Birch Aquarium’s Aquarium Adventure Club for children ages 8-10 returns at 1 p.m. Saturdays through Oct. 17 at 2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla. The remaining sessions are as follows: “Sharks and Food Webs” on Sept. 19; “Aquarium 101” on Sept. 26; “Deep Sea Discoveries” on Oct. 3; “Tropical Reefs” on Oct. 10; and “Scripps Science” on Oct. 17. $25 per session. aquarium.ucsd.edu/events/marine-science-club-aquarium-adventure-club-ages-8-10
• The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego hosts “Reflections: Changing Landscapes,” at 10 a.m. Fridays through Oct. 30 at MCASD’s Prebys Education Center, 700 Prospect St., La Jolla. Reflections is an art-making workshop series for adults 55 and older. Each date includes gallery discussion, coffee and mingling time and an art-making activity. The full series costs $250 for members and $300 for non-members. mcasd.org/events/reflections-showcase-2026-3
San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan speaks at the Bilateral Safety Corridor Coalition’s “Be the Light” event against human trafficking on April 24, 2025 at The Lot in La Jolla. (Noah Lyons)
• The Republican Women of California — La Jolla meets at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 24 at a location given upon RSVP. The event will include remarks from San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan. $50 including lunch. RSVP by Friday, Sept. 18. Email skipandtoby@yahoo.com for more.
• La Jolla Community Center’s Peer Learning Collaborative for October offers lectures on how to run a successful restaurant, 3 p.m. Thursdays from Oct. 8-22 at 6811 La Jolla Blvd. Free for members, or $20 for non-members. ljcommunitycenter.org/plc
• Birch Aquarium’s Aquarium Explorers Club for children ages 6-7 returns at 1 p.m. Sundays from Oct. 11 to Nov. 15 at 2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla. The sessions are as follows: “Fishy Friends” on Oct. 11; “Magical Molluscs” on Oct. 18; “Sensational Sea Turtles” on Oct. 25; “Playful Penguins” on Nov. 1; “Marvelous Marine Mammals” on Nov. 8; and “Amazing Amphibians” on Nov. 15. $25 per session. aquarium.ucsd.edu/events/marine-science-club-aquarium-explorers-club-ages-6-7
• Birch Aquarium presents its 2026 Jeffrey B. Graham Perspectives on Ocean Science Lecture Series at 7 p.m. the second Monday of every month through Nov. 9 at 2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla. The fall series coincides with the 25th anniversary of Scripps Institution of Oceanography’s Center for Marine Biodiversity and Conservation and will look at the center’s history and future vision. Topics include “Current Research, Future Impact: Student Perspectives of CMBC” on Oct. 12; and “Vision for a Thriving Ocean” on Nov. 9. Free for Birch Aquarium members or $12 for non-members. aquarium.ucsd.edu
Health & Fitness
• Jaruska Solyova hosts “Longevity & Spinal Flexibility” yoga classes 9:30 a.m. Tuesdays through Sept. 29 and “Sunset Yoga & Deep Relaxation” yoga classes 9:30 a.m. Wednesdays through Sept. 30 at the La Jolla Cove Bridge Club, 1160 Coast Blvd. $30 per class with RSVP required. Email solyoga@yahoo.com.
Art & film
• R.B Stevenson Gallery presents “Echoes in Nature,” made up of paintings by San Diego artist Jennifer Anne Bennett, Saturday, Sept. 19 to Thursday, Oct. 15 at 7661 Girard Ave., La Jolla. An opening reception will take place 5-8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19. rbstevensongallery.com
• The La Jolla/Riford Library displays photos from the San Diego Underwater Photographic Society through Sept. 25, in the Community Room at 7555 Draper Ave. sandiego.events.mylibrary.digital/event?id=326164
• The La Jolla/Riford Library hosts “In the Land of…” through Sept. 30 at 7555 Draper Ave. The exhibition was put together by Feminist Image Group artists with their interpretation of the realities of censorship. sandiego.events.mylibrary.digital/event?id=374852
• The San Diego Art Directory presents “In Situ: La Jolla,” a curated installation placing original works by local artists inside Unscripted Spaces, a luxury interior design showroom at 7730 Girard Ave., La Jolla. The show runs through Sept. 30. Free. (619) 361-1055.
• The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library presents its 2026 art exhibitions at 1008 Wall St., La Jolla. The remaining schedule is: 34th annual Juried Exhibition, on view through Oct. 9; and works by Sylvia Fernandez, with an opening reception 5:30-7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16. ljathenaeum.org/upcoming-exhibitions
• Quint Gallery presents “Christine Lee: By Hand,” through Oct. 10 at 7722 Girard Ave., La Jolla. The exhibition includes weavings using materials like cotton, wool, and copper wire; and hand-stacked wall compositions built from painted shims. An opening reception will be held 6-8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19. quintgallery.com
• La Jolla Presbyterian Church’s art gallery presents its latest exhibition, “Pilgrimage” by painter Lori Mills, on view 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sundays through Nov. 8 at 7715 Draper Ave. with the access point on Eads Ave. The exhibition predominantly features images of the Camino de Santiago in Spain.
Andres Payan Estrada’s installation, “Visiones Nocturnas” became a central part and the namesake of the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego’s newest exhibition, “Visiones Nocturnas: Queer Nightlife in Contemporary Art.” (Andres Payan Estrada)
• The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego showcases its newest exhibition, “Visiones Nocturnas: Queer Nightlife in Contemporary Art,” from Sept. 19 to Jan. 10 at 700 Prospect St., La Jolla. To kick off this latest exhibition, MCASD is hosting a preview party from 6-10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18. Free for members or $40 for non-members. A free public opening will be 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19. mcasd.org/exhibitions/visiones-nocturnas
• The Museum of History and Culture La Jolla, formerly known as the La Jolla Historical Society, presents its newest exhibition, “Scientific Art of Historic Preservation,” from Saturday, Sept. 26 to Sunday, Jan. 31. This new exhibition gives visitors a look at the process behind saving historic places. Opening night is Friday, Sept. 25, with a members preview from 5-6 p.m. and a public opening from 6-7:30 p.m. at 780 Prospect St. mhclajolla.org/events-calendar
• The Museum of History and Culture La Jolla, formerly known as the La Jolla Historical Society, presents La Jolla Modernism & Architecture Week from Friday, Oct. 2 to Sunday, Oct. 11 at numerous locations. The yearly event offers guests access to private modernist homes and landmark architecture. Events include an evening soiree on Friday, Oct. 2 featuring music, wine, savory bites and a tour of a private modernist residence at a yet-to-be-announced location; The La Jolla Modernism Tour on Saturday, Oct. 3 with viewings of a selection of privately owned mid-century modern residence; and a “Discover the Story of Scripps Institution of Oceanography” lecture on Saturday, Oct. 10. Several ticket options are available, with members receiving 20% off their ticket purchase. mhclajolla.org/la-jolla-modernism-home-tour
• Summers Salon in La Jolla commemorated what would have been the 100th birthday of late film legend Marilyn Monroe in June by decorating the walls with photos of her. The exhibit will be on display through the end of the year at 7946 Ivanhoe Ave., La Jolla. facebook.com/asummerssalon
Music & dance
• ArtPower presents José González on his Against The Dying Of The Light Tour at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19 at UC San Diego’s Epstein Family Amphitheater, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla. From selling out tours on virtually every continent to headlining prestigious festivals around the world to being asked to perform at 2020’s Nobel Prize Award Ceremony and seeing his recorded music exceed 1 billion streams, González is considered one of the most exciting and in-demand touring artists working today. $40-75. amphitheater.ucsd.edu/event/jose-gonzalez
• La Jolla Music Society and visiting presenter Ballet Collective host “Revel” at 5 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19 at the Baker-Baum Concert Hall within the Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, 7600 Fay Ave. An evening of dance accompanied by The Killing Contemporary String Quartet. $50-95. theconrad.org/events/ballet-collective-revel
• La Jolla Music Society hosts the Fred Hersch Trio at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 20 at the JAI within the Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center at 7600 Fay Ave. $75-85. theconrad.org/events/fred-hersch-trio
• ArtPower presents musician Vieux Farka Touré, referred to as “The Hendrix of the Sahara,” at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24 at UC San Diego’s Epstein Family Amphitheater, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla. $35-55. amphitheater.ucsd.edu/event/vieux-farke-toure
• La Jolla Music Society presents Linda May Han Oh Trio at 5:30 and 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25 at the JAI within the Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center at 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla. $70-82. theconrad.org/events/linda-may-han-oh
• ArtPower presents Ghostbusters in Concert at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25 at UC San Diego’s Epstein Family Amphitheater, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla. $35-75. The 1984 film will be synced to a live performance of the score. amphitheater.ucsd.edu/event/ghostbusters-in-concert
• The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library presents “Glissade,” featuring double bassist Jeremy Kurtz-Harris, at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25 at 1008 Wall St., La Jolla. The name, a glissade, means a linking step in ballet or a controlled slide downward on a snow-covered slope. $15 for students, $30 for members and $35 for non-members. ljathenaeum.org/events/jeremy-kurtz-0925
• ArtPower presents “Sugar Skull!: A Día de Muertos Musical Adventure” at 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26 at UC San Diego’s Epstein Family Amphitheater, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla. $27-42. amphitheater.ucsd.edu/event/sugar-skull
• La Jolla Music Society presents its 2026 State of The Conrad at 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 28 at The Baker-Baum Concert Hall within the Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla. Featuring La Jolla Music Society president and CEO Todd Schultz, music from violinist Alexi Kenney and pianist Janice Carissa and a dessert reception. Free, with RSVP required. theconrad.org/events/2026-state-of-the-conrad
Books
• Author Patrick A. Howell discusses and signs his new book, “Getting Deals Done: The Memoirs of a Super-Achiever in an Era of Apex Capitalism,” at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23 at Warwick’s bookstore, 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. Free, or $20 for a reserved seat and book copy. warwicks.com/event/howell-2026
• Former baseball player and Hall of Famer Dave Winfield discusses and signs his new book, “Touching All the Bases” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25 at Warwick’s bookstore, 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. Free, or $31 for a reserved seat and book copy. warwicks.com/event/winfield-2026
• Author Elizabeth Letts discusses and signs her new book, ”Fallen for France” at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30 at Warwick’s bookstore, 7812 Girard Ave, La Jolla. Free, or $32 for a reserved seat and book copy. warwicks.com/event/letts-2026
• Author Tania Lombrozo discusses and signs her new book, “Why We Ask Why: The Science of Explanation and the Human Drive to Understand” at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 1 at Warwick’s bookstore, 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. Free, or $30 for a reserved seat and book copy. warwicks.com/event/lombrozo-2026
Theater
The cast in rehearsal for La Jolla Playhouse’s world premiere production of the play “A Black-billed Cuckoo.” (Samantha Laurent)
• La Jolla Playhouse presents its newest world-premiere play, “A Black-billed Cuckoo,” through Oct. 11 at the Mandell Weiss Forum, 2910 La Jolla Village Drive. In the production, over 24 hours in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park, a close-knit birding group is turned upside down when some of its members glimpse the rare and elusive black-billed cuckoo and others don’t. $30-74. lajollaplayhouse.org/show/a-black-billed-cuckoo
Galas & events
• The fifth annual children’s benefit Fashion Show Luncheon takes place starting at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 19 at Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines, 10950 North Torrey Pines Road. Featuring boutique shopping, a silent auction, lunch, entertainment and a fashion show. Individual tickets cost $150 per person for adults and $50 for children 12 and under. sdsparklesfoundation.org/events
• BirdStock returns to La Jolla from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19 along the 5500-5700 block of La Jolla Blvd. The free annual event features live music, activities including a pumpkin patch, pet adoptions, a beer garden and pop-ups from local vendors. birdstockmusicfestival.com
• The La Jolla Community Center presents a happy hour at Roppongi Restaurant & Lounge at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 875 Prospect St., La Jolla. Guests are responsible for the cost of their own food and drinks. ljcommunitycenter.org/specialevents
• The 17th annual San Diego Spirits Festival returns to La Jolla Saturday, Sept. 26 and Sunday, Sept. 27 at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego at 700 Prospect St., La Jolla. The festivities run from 2-6 p.m. on Saturday and from 1-5 p.m. on Sunday. General admission tickets cost $89 and $68, respectively. sandiegospiritsfestival.com
• The Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa invites guests to its Tea in the Garden series 12-3 p.m. one Sunday a month through October at 9700 North Torrey Pines Road. The remaining events are: “Harvest & Herb Tea” on Sept. 27 and “A Curious Mad Hatter Tea Party” on Oct. 18. $75 per person per event. eventbrite.com/e/tea-in-the-garden-series-tickets-1982386840404?aff=erellivmlt
• The La Jolla Community Center hosts an End-of-Summer Ice Cream Social at 1 p.m., Monday, Sept. 28 at 6811 La Jolla Blvd. Free for members and $5 for non-members, with registration required ahead of time. ljcommunitycenter.org/specialevents
• The Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center presents stand-up comedian Max Amini at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29 and Wednesday, Sept. 30 at the center’s David & Dorothea Garfield Theatre, 4126 Executive Drive, La Jolla. $35-300, including a $150 package for a post-show meet and greet and photo opportunity with Amini. lfjcc.org/about/upcoming_events.aspx
Do you have an event — online or in person — that you’d like to see here? Email your leads to Noah Lyons at noah.lyons@lajollalight.com by noon Friday for publication in the following week’s edition.