This weekend is actually getting an early start, with two big festivals beginning on Thursday on top of a packed weekend slate.
As you read this, the San Diego LGBTQ Film Festival is set to raise the curtain on its 26th annual film showcase. The screenings start tonight with Sam McConnell’s film “Test,” at 7 p.m. at the Natural History Museum (1788 El Prado) in Balboa Park, followed by an opening night party featuring a silent auction fundraiser.
The festival closes on Sunday night with a showing of Mike Doyle’s “Bookends” at the Museum of Photographic Arts (1649 El Prado) at 7:30 p.m. While the museum and MOPA will host the screenings over the weekend, Saturday’s 1 p.m. panel “Queer Horror and the Modern Market” will be held at the Thornton Theater in the San Diego History Center. Tickets to each film cost $17.50, while a pass to the whole festival costs $190.
Also, ImprovCon is about to kick off at the Town and Country Resort (500 Hotel Circle N.) in Mission Valley, featuring more than 100 performances on top of 128 workshops from tonight and running through Sunday. The roster of talent announced includes troupes like 3Peat, Asian AF, Rat City, TJ & Dave and a literal weekend’s worth of performers.
Tickets for Thursday night’s performances run $40, rising to $80 on Friday and $100 on Saturday, before dipping to $60 for Sunday. For $200, though, you can attend shows all four days — but if you’re staying at the hotel, that price drops to $20.
Yes, and? We’re glad you asked.
Friday, Aug. 21
North Park Film Festival: As we mentioned last week, this monthlong series of screenings continues with a special showing of the 1973 animated feature “La Planète Sauvage“(“Fantastic Planet” in English) with a live soundtrack provided by New York City band Morricone Youth at 7 p.m. at the Golden Ghost downtown (624 Broadway), with tickets costing $17.85.
On Sunday, the festival will present a screening of shorts by writer and filmmaker Aaron Rose at the Digital Gym Cinema (1100 Market St.) starting at 8 p.m. followed by a Q&A session. Tickets cost $15.
Paint & Purrs: A bit further north in North Park, Whiskers & Wine Bar (2856 Adams Ave.) is hosting this special adoption event for its resident kitties, where visitors can enjoy a wineglass while practicing their painting with instruction from local artist Suchita Rathi. Tickets cost $75 and the event starts at 7:15 p.m.
Red Bull BC One USA National Final: The international 1-on-1 breakdancing competition, presented by the energy drink brand, selects its U.S. representative this weekend with the winners going on to the World Final in Toronto on Nov. 29.
The event kicks off on Friday afternoon at the Soap Factory in Logan Heights (2995 Commercial St.) with a 3 p.m. workshop hosted by the Footworkerz; three hours later is an open preliminary round with two B-boys and two B-girls qualifying for Saturday night’s final. Participants must be at least 16 years old.
The final day at Port Pavilion on Broadway Pier (1000 N. Harbor Dr.) starts with a 1 p.m. workshop hosted by Moy Rivas, better known as B-Boy Moy; doors open for the competition at 2 p.m. with the show starting two hours later. Tickets start at $5.25.
Super Girl Surf Festival: First held in Mission Beach in 2007, the 20th installment of this celebration of female athletics has grown into the biggest pro surfing event around the world for women.
These days Super Girl, which runs through Sunday, makes its home at the Oceanside Pier (300 The Strand N.) and encompasses not just the competition, but a free music festival kicking off at noon Friday with local rockers Go Scarlet as well as a vendors’ village.
One note on the festival: as Fox 5 reported on Wednesday, attendee registrations for the festival were high enough this year that organizers cut them off and even canceled some registrations.
Saturday, Aug. 22
Chula Vista HarborFest: A week after the Lemon Festival downtown, Bayside Park (700 Sandpiper Way) gets the spotlight with its own free event from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. There will be live entertainment all day on two stages as well as a classic cars exhibition and maritime-themed areas like the “coastal collective” and “mermaids and mariners cove.” Shuttles to and from the event will also be available from five separate areas to help ease parking worries.
KPBS San Diego Book Festival: More than 90 authors are expected to take part as exhibitors as this free event returns to the University of San Diego (5998 Alcalá Park) for its second year. Panel discussions and musical performances on the main stage will start at 10 a.m., with authors Oliver James, Chuck Tingle and Claudette Zepeda headlining.
Oceanside VFW Post 10577 Annual Car Show: Our first car show of the weekend is a free event at the at the Oceanside Elks Lodge (444 Country Club Ln.) from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., with a raffle at noon where the prizes include a cash drawing, as well as the chance to check out some classic cars and motorcycles.
SAMAFest 2026: Formally known as the Philippine Cultural Arts Festival, this free celebration at the Balboa Park Presidents Way lawn returns for its 39th year, presented by the SAMAHAN Filipino American Performance Arts & Education Center from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
San Diego Taiwan Festival: Speaking of cultural events, the San Diego chapter of the networking group Taiwanese American Professionals presents this free event at NTC Park in Liberty Station (2248 Cushing Rd.), with a theme of “Around the Island.”
Organizers have already revealed that among the food offerings this year will be an exclusive five-dish bento prepared by a trio of renowned chefs: Chef Michael Hung, the executive chef for the Steve Hermann resorts in Palm Springs; and siblings Ethan and Henry Yang, who collectively bring more than 40 years of cooking expertise to this special collaboration. The event will also have a raffle with the grand prize being a 9-day cycling tour of Taiwan.
Temecula Valley Record Fair: Discovery Temecula is opening up the crates for its biggest fair of the year at Chubby Cheeks Meadery (42225 Remington Ave #A6) from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Besides featuring local vendors and live music, visitors can also take part in a meet-and-greet with L.A. hip-hop legend Pigeon John.
Sunday, Aug. 23
Fiesta at the Chapel: Independent artist Lilian Ibarra Pantoja, the organizer of this first-year event, told us that it “grew out of a personal wish to honor my family and the community that has supported my career.”
She said she chose the Chapel at Liberty Station (2881 Roosevelt Rd.) because she felt it was “a space that truly honors community and history.” The event will feature not just live music and dance performances — Pantoja herself will premiere a 16-minute dance ensemble piece set to Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture,” but an interactive “altar of memories” and a 3D art exhibit.
Tickets start at $30, and admission is free for kids 12 and under. But Pantoja is also offering a promo code for Times of San Diego readers — use FIESTA15 to get a discount.
National City Cars and Culture Fest: The National City Chamber of Commerce and the Mile of Cars present this free event at Kimball Park on the corner of 12th Street and D Avenue from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. According to organizers, there will be a “special emphasis” on electric vehicles, though owners of any make and model of cars, race cars, motorcycles and trucks are encouraged to enter the car show, with awards in every category.
North Park Square Dance: Verbatim Books (3793 30th St.) closes the weekend out with this all-ages party at 7 p.m. The store says no experience is necessary, since visitors will learn all the moves from scratch before hitting the floor with Megan Tresenriter of the San Diego Squares group calling the dance alongside live music from By The Lee, Clinton Davis, Ryan Finch and Kate Rubin. Tickets cost $25.
