{"id":290993,"date":"2026-04-29T06:00:17","date_gmt":"2026-04-29T06:00:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/290993\/"},"modified":"2026-04-29T06:00:17","modified_gmt":"2026-04-29T06:00:17","slug":"17-things-to-do-in-san-diego-this-weekend-april-29-may-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/290993\/","title":{"rendered":"17 Things to Do in San Diego This Weekend: April 29\u2013May 3"},"content":{"rendered":"

Enter May in resplendent style, with a lineup of exciting concerts, creative showcases and gastronomic festivals. Those looking for their live music fix<\/a> can sing along to the stylings of Ms. Lauryn Hill at Gallagher Square, catch indie rocker Snail Mail at The Observatory North Park or watch Star Wars: A New Hope with a live orchestra at The Rady Shell<\/a>. Artistically-inclined folks can immerse themselves in the imaginative and the innovative within the Art Garden at UCSD Park & Market and the Museum of Contemporary Art\u2019s Avant Garde Ball. As for the weekend\u2019s most appetizing events, there\u2019s the three-day Foodieland San Diego festival, the annual San Diego Zoo Food, Wine & Brew and a 54-hour excursion with chefs at Rancho Bernardo Inn. Here are the best things to do in San Diego this weekend.<\/p>\n

Food & Drink<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Concerts & Festivals<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Theater & Art Exhibits<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0More Fun Things to Do<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"Courtesy of FoodieLand<\/p>\n

Food & Drink Events in San Diego This Weekend<\/p>\n

54 Hours with James Beard Award-Winning Chefs at Rancho Bernardo Inn<\/p>\n

April 30\u2013May 3\u00a0<\/p>\n

Embark on a tasteful getaway to Rancho Bernardo Inn for 54 Hours with James Beard Award-Winning Chefs<\/a>. Patrons can spend intimate time with the cream of the culinary crop via dinners, cooking demonstrations, kitchen skill workshops, wine and whiskey tastings and deluxe activities, like a round of golf with the participating chefs. Ticket options include a seat at Sunday\u2019s Chef Tour Dinner ($240), the Gold Ticket for Friday and Saturday\u2019s events ($450) and the all-access Platinum Ticket ($600).\u00a0<\/p>\n

17550 Bernardo Oaks Drive, Rancho Bernardo\u00a0<\/p>\n

FoodieLand San Diego<\/p>\n

May 1\u20133<\/p>\n

Takoyaki, raspados, Japanese hot dogs and freeze dried honey cones are just some of the street food concoctions available to try at this year\u2019s FoodieLand San Diego<\/a> festival. This Friday from 3-10 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 1-10 p.m. at Del Mar Fairgrounds, attendees can peruse a smorgasbord of eye-catching and appetite-filling eats from 125 food stalls. But Foodieland doesn\u2019t solely consist of nourishment, with a plethora of shopping vendors offering up apparel, accessories and boutique finds. Single-day tickets<\/a> are $12.<\/p>\n

2260 Jimmy Durante Boulevard, Del Mar<\/p>\n

San Diego Zoo Food, Wine & Brew<\/p>\n

May 2<\/p>\n

Dine amongst the fauna at the annual San Diego Zoo Food, Wine & Brew<\/a>, a 21+ conservation fundraiser for the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance this Saturday from 7:30 to 10 p.m. Guests can navigate their way around the park for live music, wildlife encounters and all-inclusive samples from a lineup of restaurants, breweries<\/a> and wineries, plus complimentary soft drinks. General admission<\/a> is $179, while VIP passes, which come with early entry at 6:30 p.m. along with exclusive menu items, private lounges and a special wildlife encounter, are $299.\u00a0<\/p>\n

2920 Zoo Drive, Balboa Park<\/p>\n

Concerts & Festivals in San Diego This Weekend<\/p>\n

Ms. Lauryn Hill at Gallagher Square\u00a0<\/p>\n

April 30\u00a0<\/p>\n

Catch a rare live performance by Ms. Lauryn Hill this Thursday at 8 p.m. during the Padres Foundation\u2019s fifth annual Dinner on the Diamond<\/a>. This charitable gala, held on the Petco Park outfield, will feature auctions, an elegant dinner and appearances from Padres staff, players<\/a> and alumni. Plus, for the first time, tickets to the event\u2019s entertainment portion in Gallagher Square are open to the public. Hill, a few of the legendary Fugees, and the creative force behind The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, will be joined by a pair of special guests, her children Zion and YG Marley. Tickets<\/a> for this concert start at $50, with net proceeds going to the Padres Foundation.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

100 Park Boulevard, Downtown<\/p>\n

Star Wars: A New Hope in Concert at The Rady Shell<\/p>\n

May 1 & 3<\/p>\n

Since its debut on the silver screen in 1977, Star Wars has developed into a cultural behemoth, rich with iconic characters, epic lightsaber showdowns and grand space adventures. This Friday (7:30 p.m.) and Sunday (6:30 p.m.), fans of cinema and sci-fi can see the film that started it all, Star Wars: A New Hope<\/a>, outdoors at The Rady Shell. From the expository opening crawl to the Death Star\u2019s demise, audiences can experience the franchise\u2019s beginnings with a live rendition of John Williams\u2019 score, performed by the San Diego Symphony Orchestra and conductor Scott Terrell. Tickets range from $68 to $173 for Friday and $51 to $173 for Sunday.\u00a0<\/p>\n

222 Marina Park Way, Embarcadero<\/p>\n

Snail Mail at The Observatory North Park<\/p>\n

May 2<\/p>\n

Despite what her musical moniker, Snail Mail, may suggest, the career of Lindsey Erin Jordan has evolved rapidly since her breakout EP Habit in 2016. She has become a staple of hazy Gen Z indie rock, with her newest album Ricochet\u2014her first in five years\u2014showcasing a more sentimental side and falsetto vocals. This Saturday at 6:30 p.m., Snail Mail will headline an exciting night of alternative music at The Observatory North Park featuring Aussie band Armlock and psychedelic crooner Sharp Pins. Tickets<\/a> range from $45 to $48.\u00a0<\/p>\n

2891 University Avenue, North Park<\/p>\n

\"\"Courtesy of City Ballet of San Diego<\/p>\n

Theater & Art Exhibits in San Diego This Weekend<\/p>\n

Beau Jest at North Coast Repertory Theatre<\/p>\n

Through May 17<\/p>\n

A woman goes to farcical lengths to get her parents\u2019 approval in James Sherman\u2019s Beau Jest<\/a>, a sincere look at how love (and family) makes us do crazy things. In this play, opening Wednesday at North Coast Repertory Theatre, Jewish-American woman Sarah hires an actor to impersonate her gentile boyfriend\u2014a guy whose name is literally Cris Cringle\u2014and ends up with a bigger dilemma than she bargained for. Tickets<\/a> start at $69, with performances this Wednesday and Thursday at 7 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 and 7 p.m.<\/p>\n

987 Lomas Santa Fe Drive, Solana Beach<\/p>\n

New Works Festival<\/p>\n

April 30\u2013May 3<\/p>\n

Watch staged readings of nine original plays\u2014chosen from a pool of 1,011 submissions\u2014during Trinity Theatre Company\u2019s fourth annual New Works Festival<\/a> this Thursday-Sunday. During the festival, local actors will bring the new theatrical pieces to life across four days of performance, with the selected stories including suspenseful mysteries, explorations of belonging and unexpectedly successful first dates; Tickets<\/a> for each reading are pay-what-you-can.<\/p>\n

1640 Camino Del Rio North, Mission Valley<\/p>\n

Riverdance at Civic Theatre<\/p>\n

May 1\u20133<\/p>\n

It\u2019s been 30 years since the Irish folk steppers of Riverdance<\/a> first jigged into the hearts of millions, and to commemorate the occasion, a new class of dancers have laced up their shoes for a U.S. anniversary tour. Each performer who takes the stage current run wasn\u2019t born when the show first premiered at Eurovision in 1994, allowing them to write a dazzling new chapter in the history of Riverdance. Tickets<\/a> start at $47, with performances Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 1 and 6:30 p.m. at the Civic Theatre.\u00a0<\/p>\n

1100 Third Avenue, Gaslamp<\/p>\n

City Ballet of San Diego: The Firebird at California Center for the Arts, Escondido<\/p>\n

May 2 & 3<\/p>\n

To cap off its 33rd season, the City Ballet of San Diego will present a world premiere ballet and the company\u2019s first-ever full-length performance of George Balanchine\u2019s Who Cares?, a jazzy ode to composer George Gershwin. The City Ballet\u2019s centerpiece, The Firebird<\/a>, was crafted by resident choreographer Elizabeth Wistrich and will pair with Igor Stravinsky\u2019s eponymous music for a supernatural new story. Tickets<\/a> range from $39 to $119, with performances this Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido.\u00a0<\/p>\n

340 North Escondido Boulevard, Escondido<\/p>\n

Sublime\u2014Above the Mountains at San Diego Made Factory<\/p>\n

May 3<\/p>\n

Local multidisciplinary artist Maka Uddin will showcase her Afghan and Georgian lineage via her debut solo exhibition Sublime\u2014Above the Mountains<\/a> this Sunday from 4-8 p.m. at San Diego Made Factory. The exhibition will feature a sincere collection of paintings, drawing and photography that draw from the significance of cultural ancestry and shared memory. Further elements to explore include henna art, live musical performances and a complementary menu, with the evening set to be a multi-sensory occasion. Admission to Sublime is free with RSVP<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

2031 Commercial Street, Logan Heights<\/p>\n

\"\"Courtesy of Vanguard Culture and UC San Diego Craft Center<\/p>\n

More Fun Things to Do in San Diego This Weekend<\/p>\n

Art Garden at UCSD Park & Market<\/p>\n

April 30<\/p>\n

The communal and artistic powers of storytelling are the driving force behind Vanguard Culture and UC San Diego Craft Center\u2019s Art Garden<\/a> event this Thursday from 6-9 p.m. at UCSD Park & Market. The festivities will include performances by Blindspot Collective and Culture Shock San Diego, family-friendly activities led by Storytellers of San Diego, the exhibition Invisible Nation: Portraits of the Unhoused by Neil Shigley and the launch of the Jimi Appleseed Initiative. Admission<\/a> is $17, and free for kids ages 12 and under; those who make a $15 donation will receive a handmade ceramic bowl, with proceeds going to San Diego Rescue Mission<\/a>.<\/p>\n

1100 Market Street, East Village<\/p>\n

Atsuko Okatsuka at Balboa Theatre<\/p>\n

May 1\u20133<\/p>\n

Many great comedians have a signature, some notable shorthand that makes them stand out in the world of joke-makers. This differentiator can be a unique delivery, a fan-favorite punchline or, like for Atsuko Okatsuka<\/a>, a transcendent bowl cut. Okatsuka\u2019s bread and butter is turning hardships into hilarity, focusing on how the absurd challenges of her upbringing made her who she is today. This weekend, Okatsuka will be taking the Balboa Theatre stage for four stand-up sets on The Big Bowl Tour. Tickets<\/a> start at $52, with shows this Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 7 and 9:30 p.m. and Sunday at 7 p.m., with greatest availability for the Sunday performance.\u00a0<\/p>\n

868 Fourth Avenue, Gaslamp<\/p>\n

Avant Garde Ball: Larger Than Life at MCASD<\/p>\n

May 2<\/p>\n

Spend a Larger Than Life night at the Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego this Saturday from 8 p.m. to midnight during the Avant Garde Ball<\/a>. Attendees can treat themselves to an open bar, plus bites from Barrio Logan eateries<\/a> like Alchemy Choose Thy Poison, Hayes Burger and Fish Guts. There will also be DJ listening rooms, live music and dance performances, interactive showcases, and a meet and greet with photographers from the Hometown Heroes<\/a> exhibition. Ticket options<\/a> include general ($135 for MCASD members; $150 for non-members) and VIP admission ($405 for members; $450 for non-members); prices will rise by 20 percent on Wednesday.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

700 Prospect Street, La Jolla<\/p>\n

Soccer Doubleheader at Snapdragon Stadium<\/p>\n

May 2 & 3<\/p>\n

San Diego\u2019s pro soccer<\/a> sides will hit the pitch for a pair of intrastate matchups kicking off this weekend at Snapdragon Stadium. With five defeats in as many April matches, San Diego FC will look to flush away that miserable month and begin May with a win versus perennial contenders LAFC this Saturday at 6:30 p.m.; regular tickets<\/a> start at $60 and the Korean Heritage Night package starts at $54. Then on Sunday at 4 p.m., the first-place San Diego Wave will conclude a weekend of nationwide NWSL action with a NorCal v. SoCal clash against rivals Bay FC, with pre-game and halftime festivities planned for Kids Night; tickets<\/a> start at $26 for this match.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

2101 Stadium Way, Mission Valley<\/p>\n

Carlsbad Village Street Faire<\/p>\n

May 3<\/p>\n

The springtime iteration of the free Carlsbad Village Street Faire<\/a> will bring hundreds of local vendors and all-day activities to downtown Carlsbad<\/a> this Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The festivities will also include crafts, children\u2019s rides, live musical performances, a beer garden and global food options. Eventgoers are encouraged to skip the parking struggles by biking, or taking the complimentary shuttle, which runs to and from the Faire every 15 minutes from the Shoppes at Carlsbad and the Poinsettia Coaster Station.<\/p>\n

Grand Avenue from Carlsbad Boulevard to Jefferson Street, Carlsbad Village<\/p>\n

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San Diego French Film Festival<\/p>\n

May 3\u20137<\/p>\n

Watch a curated lineup of international movies from throughout the French-speaking world during the sixth edition of the San Diego French Film Festival<\/a>. The five-day programming at The Lot La Jolla begins with the Opening Night Gala on Sunday and continues into next week with daily screenings and a handful of filmmaker discussions. French actress Julie Delpy\u2014known best to American audiences for her leading role in the Before film trilogy\u2014will serve as the patron of this year\u2019s festival. Tickets range from $41 to $230 for opening night<\/a>, $36 to $39 for next Monday-Wednesday<\/a> and $18 to $23 for Thursday<\/a>.<\/p>\n

7611 Fay Avenue, La Jolla<\/p>\n

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