Here are some of the best things to do this weekend in San Diego from Friday, May 17 to Sunday, May 19.
Friday
Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival: Founded in 1983, this three-day event today through Sunday draws 40,000 people for up to 50 hot-air balloon launches and rides, wine tasting, live music by Stone Temple Pilots, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Yachtoly Crew, George Thoroughgood, camping, food booths and more. Balloon launches begin at 6 a.m. Concert times vary. Wine and food booths open at 3 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Lake Skinner, 37701 Warren Road, Winchester. tvbwf.com
‘La bohème’: Newly formed Opera À la Carte San Diego debuts with a production of Puccini’s classic opera about starving artists in 1830s Paris. 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. 2 p.m. Sunday. Tenth Avenue Arts Center, 930 Tenth Ave., San Diego. $45, general; $25, students. operalacartesandiego
Saturday
Fiesta Del Sol: The 43rd annual beachside festival, co-produced by the Solana Beach Chamber of Commerce and Belly Up, returns for two days of live music, a battle of the bands, food and vendor booths and a kids zone. This year’s performers include The Wailers, Mustache Harbor, Ozomatli and Desperado. 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday; 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday. Fletcher Cove Park, Solana Beach. Free. fiestadelsol.net
OB Kite Festival: San Diegans of all ages are welcome at this long-running festival, where they can build, design, fly and watch kites. It’s also a community fair with food booths and games. Professional kite fliers will also display their skills. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Robb Field, 2525 Bacon St., San Diego. Free. oceanbeachkiwanis.org/kite-festival
Community Band Festival and Arts and Crafts Market: Local and regional groups, ranging from full concert bands to smaller ensembles, will entertain at Old Poway Park, where the Poway Arts and Crafts Guild will also host a crafts market. Acts scheduled to perform include the Sax Diego saxophone ensemble, Valley Winds Concert Band, Pomerado Community Band, Kearny Mesa Concert Band and Huntington Beach Concert Band. 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, and Sunday. Old Poway Park, 14134 Midland Road, Poway. Free. poway.org
Santa Ysabel Art Festival: Painters, sculptors, fiber artists and jewelry artisans will exhibit their work and live music, poetry and dance will be performed. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Near the post office at 21977 CA-79, Santa Ysabel. Free. (760) 765-1676.
Asian Pacific Cultural Festival of San Diego: Enjoy the foods, traditions, music and arts of multiple Asian Pacific cultures at this annual festival. It celebrates the year of the dragon with cooking demonstrations, a children’s interactive area, Asian food vendors, live art and other activities. Noon to 8 p.m. Saturday. Mira Mesa Community Park, 9575 New Salem Street, San Diego. Free. asianculturalfestivalsd.com
San Diego Women’s Chorus “In Harmony”: The lesbian-identified choir will present an eclectic mix of songs of unity and action. 7 p.m. Saturday; 4 p.m. Sunday. Hoover High School, 4474 El Cajon Blvd., San Diego. $25-$30. sdwc.org
‘Don Bartletti: Looking Back at Today’: The Photographer’s Eye Gallery hosts an exhibit of this local photojournalist’s work spanning 45 years on the U.S./Mexico border. Opens Saturday and runs through June 15. 326 E. Grand Ave., Escondido. thephotographerseyecollective.com
Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto & Wagner’s ‘Die Walküre’ Act I: San Diego Symphony, led by conductor Rafael Payare with violin soloist Daniel Lozakovich present an evening of symphonic music and opera in collaboration with San Diego Opera. 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, 222 Marina Park Way, downtown. $25-$90. theshell.org
Sunday
Navy Bay Bridge Run/Walk: This is a rare chance to walk or run across the San Diego-Coronado Bridge. The Navy Region Southwest Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) Program hosts this event to raise funds for programs and activities for San Diego’s military service members and families. Registration is open until 2 p.m. Saturday. Children as young as 4 can participate and locals can also sponsor a sailor, compete as a team, run to remember service members who have died in the line of duty or cheer on runners near the start or finish line. The starting line is located at Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel and it ends with a finish-line party at Tidelands Park in Coronado. 8 a.m. Sunday. Registration starts at $28. navybaybridgerun.com
Model Majority comedy show: In celebration of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, this show will feature all AAPI comedians and will be hosted by local comic Natasha Collier. 6 p.m. Sunday. Mic Drop Comedy, 8878 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., San Diego. $20. micdropcomedy.com/shows/260569
Shock’n The Park: Culture Shock hip hop dance company presents a free outdoor event with dance battles, performances, vendors and more. Noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. Legacy Plaza, Liberty Station, Point Loma. Free. cultureshocksandiego.org/2024-shockn-the-park
‘Coppelia and the Toymaker’: City Ballet of San Diego presents an ntroductory story ballet for all ages, with activities for children 30 minutes before showtime. 4 p.m. Sunday. Joan B. Kroc Theatre, 6611 University Ave., San Diego. $25. cityballet.org
Fundraiser Brunch: The American Legion Post 434 is hosting a fundraiser brunch and live performance for the Somethin’ Creative Dance Team on Sunday. The all-you-can-eat brunch will include waffles, scrambled eggs, sausage, salads, macaroni and cheese, hash browns, fried chicken, catfish, crawfish, cereal, biscuits and gravy, bacon, desserts and more. Funds from this brunch will help the dance team get to Las Vegas for a competition. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. 47 Fifth Ave., Chula Vista. $30. (619) 748-0308, eventbrite.com
