Welcome to the first weekend of May.
There are so many events this weekend in San Diego County, or you could consider using one of our guides to help you plan for some fun:
There are options for celebrating everything from “Star Wars” to the Kentucky Derby. Here’s your weekend lineup.
Thursday
May the Fourth Be With You Party: Celebrate the “Star Wars” franchise with this costume contest and Star Wars Trivia event. There will also be beer specials and a DJ, with a new release in the Death Start Double IPA small batch beer series. 5 p.m. AleSmith Brewing Company, 9990 AleSmith Court, San Diego. eventbrite.com/e/may-the-4th-be-with-you-featuring-death-star-double-ipa-release-tickets-620157416527
“Murder on the Links”: North Coast Repertory Theatre presents the world premiere of Steven Dietz’s stage adaptation of an Agatha Christie murder mystery novel. 7 p.m. Wednesdays; 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays; 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Through May 21. 987 Lomas Santa Fe Drive, Solana Beach. $54-$65. (858) 481-1055. northcoastrep.org
Pickleball at Westfield UTC: Through July 31, three pickleball courts will be available on the upper level of Westfield UTC above True Food Kitchen. They are open for play on a first come, first served basis. Bring your own gear. 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. 4545 La Jolla Village Drive. westfield.com/united-states/utc/events-detail/westfield-utc-pickleball
Taste of Cardiff: Cardiff 101 Main Street presents this self-guided culinary, beverage and music tour of downtown Cardiff and on its restaurant row. 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursda. $40. Buy online at cardiff101.com
Friday
Celebrating ‘Star Wars’ and Cinco de Mayo on a rooftop: The Rooftop Club Cinema Embarcadero is hosting an encore presentation of “Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back” tonight. Yes, May (the) Fourth (Be With You Day) was Thursday, but that screening was sold out, so the venue added Friday’s show at 10:15 p.m. The venue will also celebrate Cinco de Mayo with a double feature of special films: “Coco” (4 p.m.), followed by “Selena” (7:15 p.m.) Rooftop Club Cinema at the Manchester Grand Hyatt, 1 Market Place, San Diego. Kids’ tickets start at $11.75, adults (18-plus) from $16.50–$22.50. Military and student discounts available. rooftopcinemaclub.com/embarcadero
Cinco de Mayo, Old Town: The Fiesta de Reyes courtyard at the north end of Old Town state park will celebrate a family-friendly Cinco de Mayo with traditional Mexican street food stations, mariachis, folklorico dancing and local entertainers. 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, 2754 Calhoun St., San Diego. Free. fiestadereyes.com
‘Exotic Deadly: Or the MSG Play’: The Old Globe presents the final weekend of Keiko Green’s new fast-paced comedy about a Japanese American middle-school girl having an Asian identity crisis. 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays; 8 p.m. today; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday; 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday. Old Globe Theatre’s Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, Balboa Park. $29 and up. (619) 234-5623. theoldglobe.org
“Honky Tonk Angels”: Lamplighters Community Theatre presents Ted Swindley’s musical about three women who follow their Country-Western dreams to Nashville. 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. Through May 14. 5915 Severin Drive, La Mesa. $23-$28. lamplighterslamesa.com
FoodieLand Night Market: This three-day outdoor food festival features more than 150 multicultural vendors representing cuisines from all over the world. Vendor booths with arts and crafts, clothing, collectibles and other merchandise will also be on hand. 3 to 11 p.m. today, 1 to 11 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 10 p.m. Sunday. Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar. Tickets are $6, available only through Eventbrite. No tickets sold at the door. Children under 5 free. Parking $15. foodielandnm.com/san-diego
Garrick Ohlsson at Rady Shell: The acclaimed pianist joins the San Diego Symphony and conductor Robert Spano for Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3, Witold Lutoslawski’s Concert for Orchestra and Brian Raphael Nabors’ “Onward.” 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, 222 Marina Park Way, San Diego. $31-$114. (619) 235-0804. sandiegosymphony.org
Cinco de Mayo party: This event will feature music and performances from Ballet Folklorico El Tapatio, Nosis and Mariachi Sonidos De Mexico San Diego, along with food from Temakeria San Diego and Barra Cruda Cevicheria. There will also be a Cinco de Mayo Mexican Lager available for sale. 5 p.m. Saturday. NOVO Brazil Brewery, 901 Lane Ave. #100, Chula Vista. novobrew.com
“The Last Romance”: Vista’s Broadway Theatre presents Joe DiPietro’s play about an 80-year-old widower who finds unexpected love late in life, but his sister is determined to break up the romance. 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. 2 p.m. Sunday.340 E. Brodway, Vista. $27. (760) 806-7905. broadwayvista.biz
Saturday
Campo Days: Explore East County history with a two-day celebration in Campo. This event offers free admission to museums, equestrian events, military history, live music, food trucks and other activities. Participating venues include the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum, the Gaskill Brothers Stone Store Museum and Camp Locket Event and Equestrian Facility. 9 a.m to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. visitcampo.com
Oceanside Jazz Festival Concert: MiraCosta College relaunches the Oceanside Jazz Festival. Close to 50 school bands from around the United States will perform during the day, with clinics and master classes that are all free and open to the public. Saxophonist Ernie Watts is guest artist for the evening concert with multiple Downbeat Award-winning band MOJO. 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday; free. Concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Concert tickets $20 general admission, $15 students/seniors/staff. MiraCosta College, 1 Barnard Drive, Oceanside. oceansidejazzfestival.com/band-festival
Spring Garden & Butterfly Festival: Enjoy workshops throughout the garden’s trails, World Labyrinth Walk, specialty vendors and the Coyote Music Festival. Ticketed events for purchase include Ms. Smarty-Plants Pollinator Party (10:15 a.m.), butterfly releases, petting zoo and Bee Bath and/or Wearable Pollinator Wings crafts. Cuyamaca College’s Ornamental Horticulture Department will offer a plant sale, and the Heritage of the Americas Museum will be hosting tours. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Free. Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College, 12122 Cuyamaca College Drive West, El Cajon. thegarden.org/spring-garden-festival
Walk for Animals: The San Diego Humane Society’s annual spring fundraiser includes pancake breakfast, doggie activities, live music and vendor village — and plenty of good dogs. 7 a.m. registration, 9 a.m. walk Saturday 5/6. NTC Park at Liberty Station, 2455 Cushing Road, San Diego. Entry fees start at $40 (adults) or $20 (ages 17 and younger). Online registration closes at 5 p.m. today; onsite registration begins at 7 a.m. Saturday. Virtual participation available. sdwalkforanimals.org
La Jolla Symphony & Chorus: “Echoes of Color”: LJSC welcomes guest conductor Sameer Patel for a program that includes Anna Clyne’s “Within Her Arms” and “Colored Field,” as well as Leon Littlebird and Max Wolpert’s “When Echoes Speak” and excerpts of Aaron Copland’s “Rodeo.” 7:30 p.m. Saturday. 2 p.m. Sunday. Mandeville Auditorium, UC San Diego, La Jolla. $19-$41. ljsc.org
Kentucky Derby big hat watch party: Join with fellow horse racing fans to watch the Kentucky Derby with $5 mint juleps and Miss B’s juleps. A hat contest will take place with a $100 gift card prize. 3:57 p.m. Miss B’s Coconut Restaurant, 3704 Mission Blvd., San Diego. missbcoconutclub.com
Krentz Johnson: Inner Soul Outer World”: Santa Ysabel Art Gallery presents a solo show by this plein-air painter. Opens Saturday with a reception from 4 to 7 p.m. Exhibit continues through July 2. 30352 Highway 78, Santa Ysabel. santaysabelgallery.com
La Jolla Symphony & Chorus: “Echoes of Color”: LJSC welcomes guest conductor Sameer Patel for a program that includes Anna Clyne’s “Within Her Arms” and “Colored Field,” as well as Leon Littlebird and Max Wolpert’s “When Echoes Speak” and excerpts of Aaron Copland’s “Rodeo.” 7:30 p.m. May 6. 2 p.m. May 7. Mandeville Auditorium, UC San Diego, La Jolla. $19-$41. ljsc.or
Sunday
Ethnic Food Fair: The House of Pacific Relations presents its 40th annual taste-fest with foods from 31 international cottages, as well as multicultural live performances. The event supports each of the nonprofit cottages, and guests can interact with volunteers who showcase different cultures, education, travel ideas, crafts and volunteerism. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, The International Cottages in Balboa Park, 2191 Pan American West Road, San Diego. Free entry to event; tastes available for purchase. sdhpr.org
The Daniel Bennett Group plays Synergistic Jazz: This New York quartet performs a mix of jazz, folk and minimalism. 3 p.m. Sunday. Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave., Coronado. Free. (619) 522-7390.
“Evanescent” by Kathleen Kane-Murrell in the solo exhibit “Wayfinding in Suspended Times” at Sparks Gallery in San Diego.
(Courtesy of Kathleen Kane-Murrell)
Kathleen Kane-Murrell: “Wayfinding in Suspended Times”: Sparks Gallery presents this solo show of mixed-media collages inspire by the connectivity of nature and her longing to reconnect after the pandemic. Opens Sunday with a reception from 5 to 8 p.m. Continues through July 2. 530 Sixth Ave., San Diego. sparksgallery.com