17 Things to Do in San Diego This Weekend: Oct. 1-6

Fall has arrived, and it’s finally time to break out the cozier side of your wardrobe and dive into these autumn activities! This week, San Diego is sizzling with food festivities including the highly anticipated Del Mar Wine + Food Festival, returning for its second year, along with a Taste of North Park, and the always popular La Mesa Oktoberfest. But that’s not all—the San Diego Filipino Film Festival and Fashion Week kick off, the Padres gear up to take on the Atlanta Braves in their first postseason showdown, and so much more.

Food & Drink | Concerts & Festivals | Theater & Art Exhibits | More Fun Things to Do

Food & Drink Events in San Diego This Weekend

Local Bounty Farm Dinner at Mille Fleurs

October 2

This Thursday, Mille Fleurs hosts a five-course dinner that is certifiably farm fresh. The restaurant’s executive chef, Harrison Axelrod, and pastry chef, “Papa” Moussa Ndiaye, are teaming up with San Diego County farmers, fishers, and ranchers to include locally sourced ingredients like berries, cod, and lamb, along with regional wine pairings. Reservations are $135 per person and can be made on OpenTable. 

6009 Paseo Delicias, Rancho Santa Fe

Del Mar Wine + Food Festival

Oct 3-7

Wednesday kicks off a week of festivities featuring celebrity guests, TV personalities, pro athletes, and the best of Southern California food, wine, and culture. The second annual Del Mar Wine + Food Festival brings a stellar lineup of events to locations throughout the county, including wine seminars, a pickleball tournament with former NFL player Drew Brees, exclusive dinners with Top Chef contestants, and the Grand Tasting on Saturday and Sunday at Surf Sports Park. Find tickets to individual events here or Grand Tasting passes here.

14989 Via De La Valle, Del Mar

La Mesa Oktoberfest

October 4–6

Raise your steins for a Bavarian-style party in La Mesa Village. La Mesa Oktoberfest is a three-day celebration of Europe’s favorite drinking holiday with tons of family-friendly fun to be had, including traditional games, dancing, and dachshund races. Admission is free for all, but the event also offers a variety of VIP options, including an all-biergartens pass.

8633 La Mesa Boulevard, La Mesa

Taste of North Park

October 5 

Eat, drink, and shop ’til you drop from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. this Saturday. Taste of North Park will spotlight more than 65 neighborhood businesses, and with free MTS transit passes, ticketholders can make their way to stops all over the map. For the full tasting fun (food and drinks), nab a deluxe pass for $73. The food-only pass is $56.

North Park

10th Annual Taste of Oceanside

October 5

Taste of Oceanside celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. From 1:30 to 5 p.m., ride the Taste Trolley to over 40 eateries to explore local bites and sips. A portion of event proceeds will go to the Lived Experiences nonprofit, which helps provide equitable services for underserved families. Tickets can be purchased online now ($50 for food and $65 for food and drinks) or for $10 more the day of.

Oceanside

Concerts & Festivals in San Diego This Weekend

San Diego Filipino Film Festival at AMC Plaza Bonita

October 1-6

The San Diego Filipino Film Festival takes place this week at AMC Plaza Bonita, offering screenings from Filipino filmmakers—including the gripping centerpiece feature Where Is the Lie?—as well as the Philippine Film Trade Fair, live mural art, and interactive panels. Day passes start at $30 for the festival. All-access passes ($330) and all-screening passes ($165) are also available here.

3050 Plaza Bonita Road, Chula Vista

Dashboard Confessional at SOMA

October 4

Dashboard Confessional comes to SOMA this Friday night. The Boca Raton–based emo group packs an emotional punch, and the lyrics hit even harder when you sing along live. Tickets are $52.24 for this concert on TicketWeb.

3350 Sports Arena Boulevard, Midway

San Diego Tijuana International Jazz Festival

October 4-6

The San Diego Tijuana International Jazz Festival will host performances on both sides of the border. See the Gilbert Castellanos All-Star Sextet, the Binational Youth Ensemble, Magos Herrera, and other artists at venues like the California Center for the Arts, Tijuana Jazz & Blues Festival, and Quartyard San Diego. Saturday and Sunday’s portions of the festival are free, while tickets for Friday range from $42 to $167.80.

340 North Escondido Boulevard, Escondido | 1301 Market Street, East Village

Pacific Beachfest

October 5

From 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. this Saturday, live the PB life at Pacific Beachfest. This free event by the boardwalk provides a dream day at the shore: a morning 5K workout, a four-versus-four beach volleyball tournament, fish taco samplings, a beer garden, and three stages of live music where local bands will play into the sunset.

Boardwalk between Felspar Street and Thomas Street, Pacific Beach 

Theater & Art Exhibits

Theater & Art Exhibits in San Diego This Weekend

Latinx New Play Festival at La Jolla PLayhouse

October 4-6

Latin American playwrights will premiere powerful original works this weekend at the La Jolla Playhouse’s Latinx New Play Festival. There will be four public readings, plus panels and other interactive theater events at the free fest. Spots can be reserved online. 

2910 La Jolla Village Drive, La Jolla

Masa at OnStage Playhouse

October 4-27

In Salomon Maya’s Masa, a woman renowned for her tamale recipe leans on her Mexico City community after the tragic loss of her husband. Tickets for this production at the OnStage Playhouse are $25 for adults over 30; $20 for seniors, students, and educators; and $15 for those under the age of 30. 

291 Third Avenue, Chula Vista

Embodied Pacific: Ocean Unseen at Birch Aquarium

Opens October 4

Opening at the Birch Aquarium this Saturday, Embodied Pacific: Ocean Unseen is an immersive group exhibition exploring ocean science technology. Part of PST ART, a Getty initiative that brings together more than 70 SoCal institutions to mount shows exploring the relationship between art and science, the exhibition is included with admission to the aquarium ($29.95 for adults). 

2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla

National Comedy Theatre 25th Anniversary Show at Home & Away

October 5

Audiences have been keeping National Comedy Theatre performers on their toes for a quarter of a century, and now as the troupe reaches 25 years of unpredictable improv magic, it’s time to mark the milestone. This Saturday’s anniversary performance begins with a celebration at 6:30 p.m., followed by a 7:30 p.m. comedy show at the theater. Afterward, party with the cast down the block at Home & Away. Tickets for the show are $22. 

3717 India Street, Mission Hills

Fashion Week San Diego at Andaz

October 5-6

Fashion Week San Diego will send models down the catwalk from 6 to 9 p.m. this Saturday at Andaz San Diego. At Sunday’s trunk show, attendees can purchase runway-ready looks, munch on complimentary breakfast and coffee, and chat with designers from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. General admission tickets for the runway event are sold out, but VIP passes (starting at $150) and truck-show only tickets ($10) can be found here. 

600 F Street, Downtown

The Art of Flora and Fauna at The Borrego Art Institute 

October 5 – November 3

The Borrego Art Institute opens its 2024–2025 season with an exhibition dedicated to the natural world. In The Art of Flora and Fauna, explore regional artists’ interpretations of the beauty all around us. The show will open with a free reception this Saturday from 5 to 7 p.m.

665 Palm Canyon Drive, Borrego Springs

More Fun Things To Do in San Diego This Weekend

San Diego Padres vs. Atlanta Braves at Petco Park

October 1-3

Postseason baseball is back in San Diego! The Padres will kick off their playoff campaign with a best-of-three Wild Card series at home against the Atlanta Braves beginning on Tuesday. A series win for the Friars would set up a can’t-miss rematch against the Dodgers. Tickets start at $127.60 for this playoff matchup as San Diego continues its search for its elusive first-ever World Series title. 

100 Park Boulevard, Downtown

Kids Free San Diego

October 1-31

October is a golden opportunity for families to check out the many museums, botanic gardens and cultural monuments that San Diego County has to offer during Kids Free San Diego. As part of this annual discount promotion, children 12 years old and younger, and at some locations the entire family, will receive free admission at more than 50 local artistic institutions. After grabbing the necessary coupons online, children are free to make memories all month long. 

October offers the opportunity for families to check out San Diego’s many museums, botanic gardens, and cultural institutions with coupons from Kids Free San Diego. As part of this annual discount promotion, children 12 years old and younger will receive complimentary admission at more than 50 local artistic institutions (and some even waive fees for the whole family). 

Citywide

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