From lunar new year celebrations to sumo wrestlers, a book festival and the Harlem Globetrotters, this weekend is all about coming together. Call it a Tết-a-tête and San Diego is pulling up a chair for everyone.
Soak in roots reggae and positive vibes at the 45th annual Tribute to the Reggae Legends – also known as Bob Marley Day – at the WorldBeat Culture Center in Balboa Park. The two-day celebration centers reggae’s legacy of unity and social awareness with performances honoring icons such as Bob Marley and Peter Tosh. Friday night starts at 7 p.m., Saturday’s lineup kicks off at 3 p.m. Tickets start at $45.
Who will be the next Miss Vietnam San Diego? Find out this weekend at the San Diego Tết Festival in Liberty Station, where Vietnamese lunar new year festivities get going Friday at 5 p.m. Catch lion dances, freestyle dance battles, a fashion show and group competitions for cash prizes at NTC Park, plus carnival rides and a petting zoo with baby goats and bunnies. Admission is free; rides and games require tickets.
Get a crash course in sumo rules and rituals at Sumo + Sushi, running all weekend at Del Mar’s Wyland Center. Legendary former wrestler Konishiki leads 12 live exhibition matches and a Q&A with athletes, and tickets can include a curated bento box from local sushi chefs. Friday and Saturday shows at 5 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. are 21-and-over; Sunday’s all-ages performances run at 1:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. Tickets range from $124 to $450.
Take in the scenic vineyards and orange groves at the 9th annual San Pasqual Valley Trail Race in Escondido Saturday. The 20-mile race starts at 6:30 a.m., the half-marathon at 7:30 a.m. and the 10K at 8 a.m. Cross the finish line and enjoy free wine tasting from local vineyards. Registration starts at $73.
Welcome the Year of the Horse at the Chinese New Year Fair, hosted by House of China San Diego at Balboa Park’s International Cottages Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. A San Diego tradition since 1935, the free, family-friendly festival features lion dances, martial arts, music, calligraphy, crafts and traditional foods.
Spend your Saturday browsing books, art and records at Libros y Sonidos, a free daytime festival taking over Logan Avenue in Barrio Logan from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Local bookstores, artists, record vendors and educators gather for a celebration of storytelling and sound, with a community book drive running alongside the festivities.
Experience the heart of City Heights at the Multi-Cultural Festival of Love, held Saturday at Officer Jeremy Henwood Memorial Park from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The free event features live performances, food, arts and crafts and activities for all ages, celebrating the neighborhood’s diverse and vibrant community.
Two Southern California artists with deep roots in surrealism take center stage Saturday at Oolong Gallery, where a new duo exhibition featuring William Leavitt and Raul Guerrero opens with a reception from 6-8 p.m. Leavitt’s work spans 1970s photography to science fiction-inspired cyborg paintings, while Guerrero’s richly colored canvases explore memory, identity and place. The show runs through March 21 at the Rancho Santa Fe gallery.
San Diego FC kicks off its 2026 MLS season at Snapdragon Stadium Saturday, with a home opener against CF Montréal. Pregame festivities on the east lawn — live music, games, bounce houses — begin well before the 7:30 p.m. start. General tickets cost around $50. Some lucky fans will receive signed jerseys after players “pinned the tail” on the stadium seat (watch below).
The surging San Diego Seals host the Halifax Thunderbirds Saturday at Pechanga Arena for Margaritaville Night, with faceoff at 7 p.m. The first 2,000 fans receive a free Seals visor, and Jimmy’s Buffet performs at halftime. Winners of four of their last five games, the Seals look to build momentum at home. Tickets start at $21.
Rarely shown works by artist James Hubbell and longtime collaborators Peter Mitten and Wendell Perry go on display Sunday in a one-day exhibition hosted by the IIan-Lael Foundation at the Circle Center Art Garden in Escondido. “Collaborators and Friends” runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and includes never-before-seen sculptures, watercolors and collages, along with a newly unveiled collaborative piece. RSVP to info@circlecentergallery.com or call 760-504-6620.
The Harlem Globetrotters bring their 100 Year Tour and jaw-dropping “No Way!” moves to Pechanga Arena Sunday, taking on longtime rivals the Washington Generals at 3 p.m. Doors open at 2 p.m. for a pre-show experience featuring the debut of their 100 Year jerseys and a fifth-quarter autograph session. Tickets start at $50.
