The La Jolla Light presents this continuing listing of local in-person events and online activities.
Holiday events
• The La Valencia Hotel presents its annual holiday tree lighting event from 4:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4, at 1132 Prospect St., La Jolla. The lighting will take place at 5:45 p.m. The event also will include live music, carolers, letters to Santa and more. Free. lavalencia.com/events/la-jolla
Other La Valencia Christmas-related events include the “Holiday High Tea” on Fridays from Dec. 5 to 19 and “Santa’s Storytime Brunch” on Saturdays and Sundays from Dec. 13 to 21. The Holiday High Tea costs $95 per person, with 10% of proceeds going to Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego.
• The Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa at 9700 N. Torrey Pines Road hosts “Santa’s Suite” on Fridays and Saturdays from Dec. 5 to 20, with photos, cookie decorating, hot chocolate and more. Also, throughout December the Estancia will enable guests to drop off letters for Santa Claus and guess the number of gumdrops in the lobby for a chance to win a free stay at the hotel. The winner will be announced Christmas Eve. estancialajolla.com/holiday-happenings.
Drummer and band leader Matt Wilson’s Christmas Tree-O will wrap up the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library’s Jazz Fall Series on Friday, Dec. 5. (Athenaeum Music & Arts Library)
• The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library’s Jazz Fall Series concludes Friday, Dec. 5, with Matt Wilson’s Christmas Tree-O, a festive performance by jazz drummer Matt Wilson, saxophonist Jeff Lederer and bassist Paul Sikivie. The concert will start at 7:30 p.m. at 1008 Wall St., La Jolla. $50 for Athenaeum members, $55 for non-members. ljathenaeum.org/events
• Ginger Minj’s Holiday Spectacular is set for 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 5-6, at UC San Diego’s Epstein Family Amphitheater, 9480 Innovation Lane, La Jolla. The show is billed as a high-energy romp from Minj, winner of “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 10.” $30-$80. artpower.ucsd.edu/event/ginger-minj-holidayspectacular
• Warwick’s Holiday Dog Party welcomes dogs and their owners to meet Santa Claus and pick up treats and prizes from 11 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 6, at Warwick’s bookstore, 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. warwicks.com/event/dog-party-2025
• Art in the Garden presents holiday creations, handmade soaps, garden and home decor, homemade treats, seasonal gifts, custom jewelry and more from local artisans from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, at the Davis Garrity garden at the corner of Forward Street and Bellevue Avenue in Bird Rock. The event, sponsored by the Bird Rock Artist Guild, will give a portion of proceeds to local nonprofit organizations.
• The La Jolla-based Pacific Coast Harmony chorus joins the Masters of Harmony in the show “Merry & Bright, Holidays in Harmony” at 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, at Sts. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church, 3459 Manchester Ave., Cardiff-by-the-Sea. $25. stsconstantinehelen.ludus.com
• Bach Collegium San Diego presents Handel’s “Messiah” at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, at the Baker-Baum Concert Hall, 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla. $38-$73. theconrad.org/events/handels-messiah
• The La Jolla Garden Club offers handcrafted holiday centerpieces for sale at the La Jolla Open Aire Market from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, at Girard Avenue and Genter Street. Proceeds from the sale will support community projects funded by the club around La Jolla.
• The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego presents its first holiday Yappy Hour for dogs and their owners from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, in Strauss Plaza at 700 Prospect St., La Jolla. The event will offer views of the La Jolla Christmas Parade, hands-on holiday activities, seasonal bites available for purchase and a special Paw Prints activation inspired by the museum’s newest exhibition, “A Decade of Pop Prints and Multiples: The Frank Mitzel Collection, 1962-1972.” Free for museum members, $10 for non-members. mcasd.org/events/yappy-hour
• The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center’s annual Holiday Open House is set for 4 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 11, at 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla. The event will include a musical instrument “petting zoo,” a holiday market, photo opportunities with Santa Claus, pet adoptions, arts and crafts, seasonal drinks and more. Free admission. theconrad.org/events/holiday-open-house-2025
• “The Holidays with Canadian Brass” concert features festive tunes such as “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year and” “Jingle Bell Rock” at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 11, at the Baker-Baum Concert Hall, 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla. $60-$80. theconrad.org/events/canadian-brass
• The La Jolla Community Center Holiday Celebration offers live music, shopping, a silent auction and more from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12, at 6811 La Jolla Blvd. Reservations are required by Tuesday, Dec. 9. $10 for Community Center members, $25 for non-members. ljcommunitycenter.org/holiday-celebration-2025
Art & film
• Artist Lori Brunner presents a solo show from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5, at Roam Homeware, 5661 La Jolla Blvd., La Jolla. roamhomeware.com
• La Jolla’s Lisa Maher Ceramics and Threefoot Clay Studio are part of the 18th annual San Diego Pottery Tour from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 6-7. The work of artists Maher, Izzy Elizondo, Katie Francis, Hiromi Minemura, Patti Rague, Amy Threefoot Valeiras and Lynn Zimmer will be on display. A total of 50 artists will showcase their work across 17 locations. sdpotterytour.com
• UC San Diego’s Mandeville Art Gallery hosts “Omni Intelligent,” an exhibition by nine artists and collectives in a range of media from scent and holography to ceramics and film, exploring artificial intelligence and the intersections of humans and machines. The exhibit continues through Saturday, Dec. 6, at 9390 Mandeville Lane, La Jolla. mandevilleartgallery.ucsd.edu/exhibitions/omni-intelligent.html
• R.B. Stevenson Gallery hosts an array of work from artists Charles Arnoldi, Jennifer Anne Bennett, Tim Craighead, Stephen Curry, Alan Disparte, Jeanne Dunn, Wayne Hulgin, Frances McCormack, Richard Allen, Morris Geoffroy Tobé and Chris Trueman through Saturday, Dec. 20, at 7661 Girard Ave., La Jolla. rbstevensongallery.com
• “Land and Sea: Selections from the Collection,” an exhibit featuring land and seascapes by more than 20 artists with connections to the region, runs through Wednesday, Dec. 31, at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, 700 Prospect St., La Jolla. It includes pieces in the museum’s current collection, as well as new acquisitions. mcasd.org/exhibitions/new-on-view
• Joseph Bellows Gallery in La Jolla presents an online exhibition of Tine Poppe’s series “Gilded Lilies” through December. josephbellows.com/exhibitions/tine-poppe
• “Double Bill: The Art of Manny Farber and Patricia Patterson” runs through Sunday, Feb. 1, at the La Jolla Historical Society’s Wisteria Cottage gallery, 780 Prospect St. It features paintings, sketches, photographs and excerpts from never-before-seen interviews. Its sister exhibition,
• “Manny Farber: An Up Beat Title,” runs through Saturday, Jan. 3, at Quint Gallery, 7655 Girard Ave., La Jolla. It includes a selection of Farber’s large-scale paintings. Free. lajollahistory.org/current-and-upcoming, quintgallery.com
• The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego presents “A Burial in Shanghai,” an exhibit of large paintings by Chinese-born artist Yan Pei-Ming, through Sunday, Jan. 4, at 700 Prospect St., La Jolla. mcasd.org/exhibitions/yan-pei-ming
• The art exhibit “Color It Contemporary” runs through Saturday, Jan. 17, at the La Jolla/Riford Library, 7555 Draper Ave. The show features the work of Grant Pecoff, Mona Ray, Sally Samins and Kelly Villasenor. Free. 858-552-1657
• The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library hosts the art exhibition “Nolan Oswald Dennis: Demonstrations (i)” through Saturday, Jan. 17, at 1008 Wall St., La Jolla. ljathenaeum.org/events/exhibition-2025-insite
• “A Decade of Pop Prints and Multiples, 1962 to 1972: The Frank Mitzel Collection” runs through Sunday, March 15, at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, 700 Prospect St., La Jolla. The exhibit marks the public debut of Mitzel’s gift to the museum of more than 60 pop art prints he collected over three decades. It includes works by Peter Blake, Richard Hamilton, Gerald Laing, Joe Tilson and more. mcasd.org
Music & dance
Mireya Ramos and her band will perform mariachi music Friday, Dec. 5, at The JAI in La Jolla. (La Jolla Music Society)
• The La Jolla Music Society presents Latin Grammy-winning mariachi musician Mireya Ramos and her six-piece band at 5:30 and 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5, at The JAI at the Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, 7600 Fay Ave. $55-$62. theconrad.org/events/mireya-ramos
• The La Jolla Symphony & Chorus presents “Trinity” at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, at the Mandeville Auditorium at UC San Diego, 9390 Mandeville Lane. The concert will include John Adams’ “Doctor Atomic Symphony” and Beethoven’s “Mass in C.” ljsc.org/trinity
• Le Salon de Musiques presents violinist Martin Chalifour leading a program of classical music by Mozart, Schumann and Howells at 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, at the La Jolla Woman’s Club, 7791 Draper Ave. The concert, also featuring Ray Ushikubo on violin, Carson Rick on viola and Allan Hon on cello, will be introduced by musicologist Kristi Brown-Montesano and followed by a Q&A with the musicians and a high tea buffet with French champagne. $69-$120. lesalondemusiques.com
• ArtPower presents the Soweto Gospel Choir performing South African freedom songs, traditional spirituals and more at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10, at UC San Diego’s Epstein Family Amphitheater, 9480 Innovation Lane, La Jolla. $30-$55. amphitheater.ucsd.edu/event/soweto-gospel-choir
• “Alex Katz: Theater and Dance” continues at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego through Sunday, Jan. 4, at 700 Prospect St., La Jolla. The exhibit is the first comprehensive exploration of Katz’s collaborations with choreographers, dancers and members of avant-garde theater ensembles over six decades, showcasing rare archival materials, major sets and paintings and previously unexhibited sketches. mcasd.org/exhibitions/alex-katz-theater-and-dance
• San Diego Baroque presents its 2025-26 Bach’s Lunch Concert Series at 12:30 p.m. the first Wednesday of each month, except January, through May 6 at St. James by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, 743 Prospect St., La Jolla. Upcoming performances are: Feb. 4, Handel and Scarlatti vocal works; March 4, French baroque; April 1, Vivaldi Stabat Mater; May 6, works based on Shakespeare and Cervantes. Free. sdbaroque.com
Books
Author Ann Packer will appear Thursday, Dec. 4, at Warwick’s bookstore in La Jolla. (Warwick’s)
• Warwick’s bookstore presents author Ann Packer discussing her book “Some Bright Nowhere” in conversation with Jason Blitman at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4, at 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. Free, or $28.99 for a reserved seat and book copy. warwicks.com/event/packer-2025
• Rep Night provides recommendations for holiday book-giving at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9, at Warwick’s bookstore,7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. The event will feature publisher representatives Tom Benton and Liz Camfiord of Penguin Random House, Julia Callahan of Hachette Book Group, Shannon Grant of Simon & Schuster, Brittany Greenway of Macmillan and Suzi Hough of Harper Collins. Free admission. warwicks.com/event/rep-night-2025
Theater
• La Jolla Playhouse hosts readings of new plays in the 2025 DNA New Work Series from Thursday, Dec. 4, to Sunday, Dec. 14, in the Play Development Center at the playhouse, 2910 La Jolla Village Drive. The DNA New Work Series gives playwrights and directors the opportunity to develop new projects with access to the playhouse’s spaces, staff and other resources, culminating in public readings and workshops. Free, though reservations are required. lajollaplayhouse.org/dna-2025
• La Jolla Playhouse presents the world-premiere musical “Working Girl” through Sunday, Dec. 14, at the Mandell Weiss Theatre, 2910 La Jolla Village Drive. The production, based on the 1988 movie, features music and lyrics by Cyndi Lauper, a book by Theresa Rebeck and choreography by Sarah O’Gleby and is directed by Christopher Ashley. lajollaplayhouse.org/show/working-girl
Galas & events
• The La Jolla/Riford Library hosts “Remember Us the Holocaust,” or “RUTH,” an exhibit that features stories of Holocaust survivors living in San Diego County and artifacts from the Holocaust and World War II, through June 28 at 7555 Draper Ave. Free. bit.ly/49TLiDr
Holocaust survivor Jill Oliver will discuss her experiences at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9, as part of the exhibit’s Speaker Series in the Community Room at the library. bit.ly/43RWI8Z
Do you have an event — online or in person — that you’d like to see here? Email your leads to Rob Vardon at robert.vardon@lajollalight.com by noon Friday for publication in the following week’s edition. ♦