{"id":472856,"date":"2026-09-23T08:04:26","date_gmt":"2026-09-23T08:04:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/472856\/"},"modified":"2026-09-23T08:04:26","modified_gmt":"2026-09-23T08:04:26","slug":"from-fests-to-frights-and-art-to-authors-more-things-to-explore-doing-this-fall","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/472856\/","title":{"rendered":"From fests to frights and art to authors, more things to explore doing this fall"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"A<\/a>One Troller dancer has a view of the whole scene at Horton Plaza, with other performers and the crowd assembled below. (File photo by Adrian Childress\/Times of San Diego)<\/p>\n

Making plans for the fall? Let us help. In our fall arts guide<\/a>, we preview the best plays, concerts, fests and more coming to San Diego. Look for a roundup of the best in music, theater and festivals, with a spotlight feature in each category.<\/p>\n

Some art defies easy categories. <\/p>\n

But variety is the spice! So we created this special category to encompass a cornucopia of artful fall celebrations. Here we touch on fine arts, film, opera, dance, books and more.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Visiones Nocturnas<\/a> exhibition<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>A still from \u201cClubbing\u201d 2012 by Martine Gutierrez. (Image courtesy Martine Gutierrez\/Ryan Lee Gallery)<\/p>\n

Through Jan. 17, 2027. The new Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego exhibition, \u201cVisiones Nocturnas: Queer Nightlife in Contemporary Art<\/a>\u201d includes art that explores a variety of spaces \u2014 clubs, dive bars, backyards and bathhouses\u2014as sites of queer joy and possibility. More than a dozen artists have pieces in the exhibit, ranging from painting, performance and photography to sculpture, collage, video and more. Tickets, MCASD<\/a>.<\/p>\n

San Diego Italian Film Festival\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"FIlm\"<\/a>Inside Digital Gym Cinema, where half of the San Diego Italian Film Festival showings will be held. (Photo courtesy of Ethan van Thillo)<\/p>\n

Sept. 26 from 5:30-9:30 p.m. at The Brain Observatory (725 W Broadway). The festival is celebrating its 20th edition with a new launch event that honors the history that began with late founder Victor Laruccia and his legacy within Italian San Diego culture. Part of that legacy is the short film competition Ristretto Awards, now in its eighth edition. The evening starts with some of the most memorable short films from past competitions. Enjoy food from Forchettina, Italian wine and a silent auction. The rest of the feStivale, through Oct. 10, takes place at the Museum of Photographic Arts at the San Diego Museum of Art and Digital Gym Cinema in East Village. Tickets and schedules, San Diego Italian Film Festival<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Trolley Dances\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Two<\/a>A group of performers line up for a past Trolley Dances event. (File photo by Adrian Childress\/Times of San Diego)<\/p>\n

Trolley Dances takes place Oct. 3 and 4 starting at UTC Mall, then shifting to various locations. In partnership with the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System, dance companies and community groups perform at locations along public transit trolley lines and at stations. Former San Diego Dance Theater artistic director Jean Isaacs created the program over 25 years ago to make dance accessible to all of San Diego by taking art \u201cto the people.\u201d Tour guides lead audiences on and off the trolley to view original dances from over 50 local performers. Tickets, San Diego Dance Theater<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Po\u00e9ticas del Arrabal: Opera and Tango<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>The San Diego Museum of Art. (File photo by Brittany Cruz-Fejeran)<\/p>\n

Oct. 4 at 6:30 p.m. at the San Diego Museum of Art. Camarada, the chamber music group, celebrates its first season in residence at SDMA with a concert blending music and visual art. The museum\u2019s rotunda will host the Camarada Tango Quartet with singers Gabriela Boj\u00f3rquez and Mart\u00edn de Le\u00f3n for an exploration of tango through the music of Astor Piazzolla in arrangements by Andr\u00e9s Mart\u00edn. Tickets start at $50, San Diego Museum of Art<\/a>.<\/p>\n

An Evening with John Green\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Meet Cute and Library Shop SD bring author John Green to San Diego for his adult novel debut. (Photo courtesy of Library Foundation SD)<\/p>\n

Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido. The Library Foundation SD, in partnership with Meet Cute Bookshop in La Mesa, is bringing author John Green to town to introduce San Diego to his new book, \u201cHollywood, Ending,\u201d about two rising actors who shoot to fame after being cast in a buzzy biopic that makes them grapple with their new romance, celebrity and the attention economy. The novel is Green\u2019s first foray into adult fiction, after commercial success and even a few movie adaptations of his young adult romances, including \u201cThe Fault in Our Stars.\u201d Tickets<\/a>, $45.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Galbani Bella Vita Fest\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>A photo of chalk art taken at ENVZN. (Photo courtesy of Adam Straubinge)<\/p>\n

Galbani Bella Vita Fest<\/a> on Oct. 17 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Oct. 18 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Little Italy. Can\u2019t wait until flagship event ArtWalk San Diego to see chalk art? The ArtWalk team has you covered with the third annual fest, where chalk painters take over the streets of Little Italy for the weekend. And don\u2019t sleep on the Italian food and wine available for purchase at the all ages, free event. <\/p>\n

SDIFF galas and awards <\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>The 2026 Night of the Stars tribute will be held at The Conrad in La Jolla as part of the San Diego International Film Festival. (File photo courtesy of SDIFF)<\/p>\n

The San Diego International Film Festival celebrates 25 years at its After Dark Party on Oct. 17 at 8 p.m. at the Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach. The festival will hand out filmmaker awards at the industry party before the Mustache Bash Band takes the stage. The entire fest takes place from Oct. 13-18, and includes popular programs like Night of the Stars and Culinary Cinema in La Jolla. Admission<\/a> \u2013 festival passes start at $250 with individual tickets available for parties and screenings. <\/p>\n

Rigoletto<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>A scene from Giuseppe Verdi\u2019s intense tragedy \u201cRigoletto.\u201d (Photo courtesy of San Diego Opera)<\/p>\n

San Diego Opera presents \u201cRigoletto\u201d on Oct. 23-25 at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday. In this classic opera by Giuseppe Verdi, court jester Rigoletto is betrayed by the Duke of Mantua after a joke lands poorly, threatening his wellbeing, along with his daughter Gilda. What follows is a tale of sacrifice and revenge directed by Christopher Mattaliano and conducted by Yves Abel with libretto by Francesco Maria Piave. Tickets, San Diego Opera<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Oceanside Museum of Art: Art after Dark <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>The Oceanside Museum of Art at night. (Photo courtesy of Oceanside Museum of Art)<\/p>\n

This pre-Halloween party takes place on Oct. 24 from 7-11 p.m. at Oceanside Museum of Art (704 Pier View Way). OMA\u2019s signature after-hours event has a Halloween edition with a serious costume contest for wearable art and outrageous performances inspired by art. This 21-plus event includes themed cocktails. Adult tickets<\/a>, $85.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Silent Movie Mondays: \u2018Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde\u2019 (1920)<\/p>\n

\"Man<\/a>Ken Double plays the organ on its elevated platform inside Balboa Theatre. (Photo courtesy of Balboa Theatre)<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Headless Horseman\u201d on Oct. 26, 7 p.m. at Balboa Theatre. Organist David Marsh brings this eerie film to life with musical accompaniment that transports the audience back in time to 1920 to see the silent film the way it was meant to be heard, with a massive theater organ. The film stars John Barrymore as respectable Dr. Jekyll, whose evil alter ego spins his life out of control. Tickets<\/a>, $18.<\/p>\n

Yokai Masquerade<\/p>\n

\"Japanese<\/a>Japanese Friendship Garden in Balboa Park. (File photo by Chris Stone\/Times of San Diego)<\/p>\n

Yokai Masquerade on Oct. 31 from 6-10 p.m. at the Japanese Friendship Garden and Museum. Celebrate Halloween with this unique ode to folkloric Japanese spirits \u2013 see artistic displays, after-hours museum exhibits and the grandeur of a yokai parade \u2013 all while in masked costumes. Tickets<\/a>, $60.<\/p>\n

Worth a look\u00a0<\/p>\n

La Jolla Art and Wine Festival<\/a>, Oct. 10-11 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Girard Avenue; Sining Samahan<\/a>, 46th annual Concert of Filipino Folk Dances and Music, Oct. 17 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., Joan B. Kroc Theatre; \u00a0Contra-Tiempo Activist Dance Theater<\/a>, \u201cRoots of Loving Us,\u201d Oct. 16 at 6:30 p.m., The Epstein Family Amphitheater; Opera \u00c0 La Carte<\/a>, Oct. 20 at 7 p.m. at New Village Arts, Carlsbad; City Ballet\u2019s \u201cAmerican Icons<\/a>,\u201d Oct. 24 at 7:30 p.m. and Oct. 25 at 2 p.m., Balboa Theatre; Spooky Shakespeare<\/a>, Oct. 31 at 1 and 2:30 p.m., San Diego Museum of Art.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"One Troller dancer has a view of the whole scene at Horton Plaza, with other performers and the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":472857,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[124940,185031,74,76,75,186014,420],"class_list":["post-472856","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-san-diego","tag-arts-events","tag-fall-arts-guide","tag-san-diego","tag-san-diego-headlines","tag-san-diego-news","tag-silent-movie-monday","tag-things-to-do"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/472856","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=472856"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/472856\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/472857"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=472856"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=472856"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=472856"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}