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 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
• The Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center presents “An Afternoon with Nili Margalit: Hero, Nurse and Survivor” at 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 11 at 4126 Executive Drive, La Jolla. $18. lfjcc.org/about/upcoming_events.aspx
• 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 the founding 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
• The La Jolla Woman’s Club hosts the League of Women Voters of San Diego as it offers a non-partisan breakdown of items on state, county and local propositions, measures and initiatives at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13 at 7791 Draper Ave. Light appetizers provided. lajollawomansclub.org
• The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library presents La Jolla Symphony and Chorus music director and orchestra conductor Sameer Patel as he delivers a lecture, “The Podium and Beyond: Demystifying the Art of Conducting” 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13 at 1008 Wall St., La Jolla. $13 for students, $37 for members and $47 for non-members. ljathenaeum.org/events/sameer-patel-1013
• La Jolla/Riford Library presents Bilingual Storytime with former youth services librarian and Librarian on the Go founder Katia Graham at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 16 at 7555 Draper Ave. The program is designed for preschool children to experience both English and Spanish through stories, songs, dancing and play. The series will continue every third Friday of the month. Free. lajollalibrary.org/kids
• The Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center presents Z3@SAN 2026, a two-day forum featuring discussions about Israel, Jewish identity and more, at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17 and at 9 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 18 at 4126 Executive Drive, La Jolla. $72 for members, $100 for non-members. my.lfjcc.org/16629/16631
• The Museum of History and Culture La Jolla (formerly the La Jolla Historical Society) presents a walking tour of La Jolla’s lanes and alleyways at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18 starting at 780 Prospect St. The two-hour tour marks the beginning of La Jolla historian Carol Olten’s fall/winter series of La Jolla explorations, and will continue monthly with other themes. $10-20. secure.qgiv.com/for/lajollahistoricalsociety/event/walkingtourlanesalleyways
Meenakshi Wadhwa is vice chancellor for marine sciences at UC San Diego and director of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. (Arizona State University)
• The La Jolla Woman’s Club presents its Women in Leadership speaker series, starting with Scripps Institution of Oceanography director Meenakshi Wadhwa at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21 at 7791 Draper Ave. Free. Snacks and drinks will be made available at the event. lajollawomansclub.org
• The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library hosts an artist talk by Lizzie Zelter about her career, process and her La Jolla mural, “Southeast Exchange” at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22 at 1008 Wall St., La Jolla. A reception starts at 6 p.m. Free. ljathenaeum.org/events/zelter-1022
• The Republican Women of California — La Jolla meets at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 22 at a location given upon RSVP. The event will include remarks from Cooper Elle Rodenburg, one of the youngest CEOs in American history. $50 including lunch. RSVP by Oct. 16. Email skipandtoby@yahoo.com for more.
Ongoing exhibitions and events
• 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. quintgallery.com
• 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 session includes gallery discussion, coffee, 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
• La Jolla Presbyterian Church’s art gallery presents “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.
• The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego presents “Visiones Nocturnas: Queer Nightlife in Contemporary Art,” through Jan. 10 at 700 Prospect St., La Jolla. A free “Focused Narratives” public tour will take place at 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15, starting at MCASD’s Browar Lobby. mcasd.org/exhibitions/visiones-nocturnas
• The Museum of History and Culture La Jolla (formerly the La Jolla Historical Society) presents “The Scientific Art of Historic Preservation,” through Sunday, Jan. 31 at 780 Prospect St. This new exhibition gives visitors a look at the process behind saving historic places. mhclajolla.org/events-calendar
Art & film
• The San Diego International Film Festival runs from Tuesday, Oct. 13 to Sunday, Oct. 18 at various San Diego locations including La Jolla. It kicks off with the Night of the Stars Tribute at the Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center at 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla on Oct. 13, honoring Viola Davis with the Gregory Peck Award for Cinematic Excellence. The opening night film, “The Debut,” will be shown at The Lot movie theater at 7611 Fay Ave. in La Jolla on Oct. 15, followed by four full days of screenings. Three ticket packages are available: a VIP pass package for $575, a full festival pass package for $375 and a weekend pass for $250. Individual tickets are available for the Night of the Stars Tribute at $185 for general admission and $250 for VIP, and for the opening night premiere and party at the Lot for $85. sdfilmfest.com
• ArtPower presents an “Arrival” film screening and conversation at 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17 at UC San Diego’s Epstein Family Amphitheater, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla. Free, with RSVP recommended. The screening coincides with the film’s 10-year anniversary and features science fiction writers Ted Chiang and Kim Stanley Robinson as panelists. amphitheater.ucsd.edu/event/arrival
Music & dance
• La Jolla Music Society presents Joyce DiDonato & Time for Three’s “Emily — No Prisoner Be” at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8 at The Baker-Baum Concert Hall within the Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla. $70-124. theconrad.org/events/didonato-time-for-three
• ArtPower and Le Patin Libre present “Melt” at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8 at UC San Diego’s Epstein Family Amphitheater, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla. “Melt” blends movement, theater, and live music to tell a story about a scorching post-apocalyptic world without ice or music in which two skaters survive on what remains: humor, love and each other. $30-55. amphitheater.ucsd.edu/event/le-patin-libre
• ArtPower presents the Punch Brothers band at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9 at UC San Diego’s Epstein Family Amphitheater, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla. The show will feature music from the band’s first all-instrumental album, “The Unsung Adventures of Punch Brothers.” $31-81. artpower.ucsd.edu/event/punch-brothers
• La Jolla Music Society presents the Poiesis Quartet at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 11 at The Baker-Baum Concert Hall within the Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla. A pre-show interlude will be hosted at The JAI within the center at 2 p.m. $40-77. theconrad.org/events/poiesis-quartet
• ArtPower and Contra-Tiempo: Activist Dance Theater presents “Roots of Loving Us” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16 at UC San Diego’s Epstein Family Amphitheater, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla. The world-premiere dance work explores what it means to create, sustain, and redefine family in the 21st Century. $30-55. amphitheater.ucsd.edu/event/contra-tiempo-activist-dance-theater
• Bach Collegium San Diego and La Jolla Music Society presents “Salzburg Connections: Mozart & Michael Haydn” at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17 at The Baker-Baum Concert Hall within the Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla. $15.50-72.50. theconrad.org/events/salzburg-connections
• La Jolla/Riford Library and San Diego Early Music Society present “La Jolla Cove Baroque: Musical Time Travel to Europe in the Early 1600s” at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17 at the library’s community room at 7555 Draper Ave. Free. sandiego.events.mylibrary.digital/event?id=371131
• ArtPower presents Los Angeles-based soul and R&B group Thee Sinseers at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21 at UC San Diego’s Epstein Family Amphitheater, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla. $35-50. amphitheater.ucsd.edu/event/thee-sinseers
• Common Read and ArtPower presents “Common Read: The Power of Poetry,” led by author Ada Limón and moderated by UCSD professor Brandon Som, at 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22 at UC San Diego’s Epstein Family Amphitheater, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla. Free, with RSVP required ahead of time. amphitheater.ucsd.edu/event/ada-limon
The Rob Thorsen Quartet, performing at The Conrad’s Wu Tsai QRT.yrd Concert Series, consists of Thorsen on bass; Melonie Grinnell on piano; Richard Sellers on drums and special guest Gilbert Castellanos on trumpet. (La Jolla Music Society)
• La Jolla Music Society presents the Rob Thorsen Quartet featuring special guest Gilbert Castellanos as part of its fall 2026 Wu Tsai QRT.yrd concert series at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22 at The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla. Free. theconrad.org/events/rob-thorsen-quartet
• ArtPower presents Grammy-winning band La Santa Cecilia as they perform songs from their latest album, “Los Años,” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23 at UC San Diego’s Epstein Family Amphitheater, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla. $27-57. amphitheater.ucsd.edu/event/la-santa-cecillia-los-anos
Pianist Gabriela Montero’s program at The Baker-Baum Concert Hall within the Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center on Friday, Oct. 23 features works by Isaac Albéniz, Enrique Granados and Alicia de Larrocha. (La Jolla Music Society)
• La Jolla Music Society presents pianist Gabriela Montero at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23 at The Baker-Baum Concert Hall within the Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla. $40-123. theconrad.org/events/gabriela-montero
• La Jolla Symphony & Chorus presents “Confluence,” conducted by Sameer Patel, the weekend of Oct. 24-25 at UC San Diego’s Mandeville Auditorium, 9390 Mandeville Lane. $22-51. ljsc.org/concerts/confluence
• The 2026-2027 season of Le Salon de Musiques runs 4 p.m. the second Sunday of the month through June at the La Jolla Woman’s Club, 7791 Draper Ave. The lineup is as follows: music by Robert and Clara Schumann, and Woldemar Bargiel on Nov. 8; music by Mozart, Samuel Barber and Schubert on Dec. 6; music by Richard Wagner, Joachim Raff and Robert Schumann on Jan. 10; music by Edvard Grieg, Felix Mendelssohn and Henry Litolff on Feb. 7; music by Henri Duparc, Reynaldo Hahn, Camille Saint-Saens and Fernand de la Tombelle on March 7; music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Nikolai Myaskovsky and Juliusz Zarebeski on April 4; music by Johannes Brahms, Ottorino Respighi and Arthur Foote on May 2; and music by Robert Schumann, Louise Farrenc and Mendelssohn on June 6. $120 per concert ($69 for students); $432 for four-show package; $864 for full-season subscription. lesalondemusiques.com
• Camarada presents its 32nd season of live performances, themed “Out of this World,” in matinee and evening shows through Tuesday, Feb. 23 at various locations including The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla. The La Jolla shows are as follows: “Time Traveler” on Saturday, Nov. 14; “Charlie Brown Jingles & Jazz” the weekend of Dec. 19-20; “Where Beauty Persists” on Saturday, Jan. 23; “The Art of Tango III” on Wednesday, Feb. 27; and “The Wild Blue” on Sunday, April 25. Tickets range between $25-110. camarada.org
• The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library presents its 2026-2027 Barbara and William Karatz Chamber Concert Series on select Mondays at 7:30 p.m. through April 19 at the Athenaeum’s Joan & Irwin Jacobs music room at 1008 Wall St., La Jolla. The shows are as follows: Valencia Baryton Project on Nov. 16; Baumer Quartet with Kate Hatmaker and Alex Greenbaum on Jan. 10; Sophie Shao and John Blacklow on March 1; Owls on April 5; and Formosa Quartet on April 19. Individual tickets are $18 for students, $62 for members and $67 for non-members. Series tickets are $110 for students, $329 for members, $360 for non-members. ljathenaeum.org/events/chamber-series-2026-2027
Books
• Author Miriam Pawel discusses and signs her book, “California Dreams: The Making and Remaking of the University of California” with University of California’s Board of Regents chair Maria Anguiano at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13 at Warwick’s bookstore at 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. Free, or $32 for a reserved seat and book copy. warwicks.com/event/pawel-2026
• Warwick’s bookstore presents author Lisa Cheek as she discusses and signs her new book, “The Big Day: Saying ‘I Do’ Only to Discover I Didn’t,” alongside writer and writing coach Tracy J. Jones at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14 at 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. Free, or $19 for a reserved seat and book copy. warwicks.com/event/cheek-2026
• Author Donna Miscolta discusses and signs her new book, “Ofelia and Norma” at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15 at Warwick’s bookstore, 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. Free, or $21 for a reserved seat and book copy. warwicks.com/event/miscolta-2026
• Warwick’s bookstore presents Robin Dahlberg as she discusses and signs her new book, “Breaking Point” with Justin Brooks, a University of San Diego professor, and Eddie Lowery, who was exonerated after spending nine years in prison, at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19 at 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. Free, or $56 for a reserved seat and book copy. warwicks.com/event/dahlberg-2026
• Author Nafissa Thompson-Spires discusses and signs her new book, “The Four Wives and Five Deaths of Richard Milford” alongside UC San Diego creative writing professor Jac Jemc at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20 at Warwick’s bookstore, 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. Free, or $26 for a reserved seat and book copy. warwicks.com/event/thompson-spires-2026
• Warwick’s bookstore presents Sally J. Pla as she discusses and signs her new book, “Rowan and Gemma” alongside nonspeaking autistic writer, actor and advocate Otto Lana at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22 at 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. Free, or $20 for a reserved seat and book copy. warwicks.com/event/pla-2026
Theater
• 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 Museum of History and Culture La Jolla (formerly the La Jolla Historical Society) hosts its La Jolla Modernism & Architecture Week through Sunday, Oct. 11 at numerous locations throughout La Jolla. The yearly event offers guests access to private modernist homes and landmark architecture. Upcoming events include the “Modernism 101: From Bauhaus to Our House” lecture at 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8; a “Discover the Story of Scripps Institution of Oceanography” lecture at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 10; and the 2026 Jewel Awards at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 11. Several ticket options are available, with members receiving 20% off their ticket purchase. mhclajolla.org/la-jolla-modernism-home-tour
• Artists Paula McColl, Cherry Sweig and Ann Craig host “The Artful Masketeer’s Studio Sale Fundraiser,” 5-7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10 and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 11 at the St. James by-the-Sea Episcopal Church gallery at 743 Prospect St., La Jolla. Proceeds from the event will go Bodhi Tree Concerts and Episcopal Community Services. The first 60 guests will receive embellished Venetian masks. sjbts.org
• The La Jolla/Riford Library presents its annual Filipino American History Month Festival, 2-5:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10 at 7555 Draper Ave. The event includes Philippine folk dancers, singers and food. sandiego.events.mylibrary.digital/event?id=374485
• The Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa hosts its final 2026 Tea in the Garden installment, “A Curious Mad Hatter Tea Party,” from 12-3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18 at 9700 North Torrey Pines Road. $75 per person. eventbrite.com/e/tea-in-the-garden-series-tickets-1982386840404?aff=erellivmlt
• Birch Aquarium presents Halloween Aglow 6-8:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23 and Saturday, Oct. 24 at 2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla. The annual Halloween celebration includes trick-or-treating, music, underwater pumpkin carving demonstrations, slime science demonstrations and more. $50 for children, $60 for adults, with a 20% off discount for members. aquarium.ucsd.edu/events/halloween-aglow
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.