Here are some of the best things to do this weekend in San Diego from Friday, Feb. 14 to Sunday, Aug. 16.
Friday
“Love Linda: The Life of Mrs. Cole Porter”: New Village Arts presents this solo musical by Sandra Ochoa Rice about the wife and muse of the witty songwriter. 2 p.m. Fridays; 7:30 p.m. Sundays. Through Feb. 23. 2787 State St. Carlsbad. $30-$35. newvillagearts.org
Circus Vargas: Circus Vargas is back with a “Hollywood Dreams!” theme for its 2025 show, which pays tribute to Hollywood’s Golden Age. The two-hour performance features artists, aerialists, acrobats, comedians and daredevils. Circus Vargas is hosting shows at three different locations through April 7. North County Mall, 272 E. Via Rancho Pkwy, Escondido, will host the circus through Feb. 24. Then the show moves to Westfield Plaza Bonita, 3030 Plaza Bonita Road, National City, from Feb. 28 to March 10. The local stand concludes at the Mission Valley Mall, 1640 Camino Del Rio North, San Diego, from March 14 through April 7. circusvargsandiegouniontribune.noticiases.info
“Hello, Dolly!”: San Diego Musical Theatre presents this 1964 Broadway musical about an 1880s New York matchmaker who finds her ideal mate in a reluctant merchant. 7 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays; 8 p.m. Fridays; 2 and 7 p.m. Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. Through March 9. 650 Mercury St., San Diego. $37.50-$75. 858-560-5740, sdmt.org
Eagles Super Bowl parade watch party: Eagles fans can gather at Pretzels and Pints in North Park to celebrate the team’s Super Bowl win. The restaurant will show the parade and offer pints for $5.90. 8 a.m. to noon Friday. 3812 Ray Street, San Diego. pretzelsandpints.com/san-diego-north-park-pretzels-and-pints-events
Pro wrestling: Danger Pro Wrestling is hosting cage matching at Wicked West in Barrio Logan. This event, for fans aged 21 or older, features multiple wrestling cage matches, including two championship matches. Some of the wrestlers scheduled to fight are Dirty Ron McDonald, Captain Maverick, Inframundo, Doble Cara, Malefica and Lady Lee. The event will also feature vendors selling merchandise. 6 to 10 p.m. Friday. Wicked West, 1735 National Ave., San Diego. $0-20. wickedwestsd.com
Valentine’s Day 2025: 13 specials at San Diego County bars, restaurants and event spaces
‘White’ opens in Scripps Ranch: Scripps Ranch Theatre presents the San Diego premiere of James Ijames comedy play about a White artist who hires a Black woman to pretend she created the canvas he plans to submit for an art museum’s “diverse voices” exhibition. Opens Friday and runs through March 9. 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. Legler Benbough Theatre, Alliant International University, 9783 Avenue of Nations, San Diego. $29-$49. 858-395-0573, scrippsranchtheatre.org
“Other Desert Cities”: Cygnet Theatre presents Jon Robert Baitz’s drama about a family rocked by secrets from the past while they are gathering for Christmas at their wealthy parents’ home in Palm Springs. 7 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays; 2 and 7 p.m. Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. Through March 2. Cygnet Theatre, 4040 Twiggs St., Old Town State Historic Park, San Diego. $34 and up. 619-337-1525, cygnettheatre.com
Salsa Under the Stars: For those who want to celebrate Valentine’s Day by dancing, Quartyard is hosting Salsa Under the Stars. El Comal Restaurant will serve food and the Manny Cepeda Orchestra Quartet will provide the music. Happy Hour prices will be available from 5 to 6 p.m. Music will be played from 6 to 9 p.m. All ages are welcome, and the event is free with an RSVP. 5 to 9 p.m. Friday. Quartyard, 1301 Market Street San Diego. Free. eventbrite.com/e/valentines-day-salsa-under-the-stars-w-the-manny-cepeda-orchestra-quartet-tickets-1131220534069
“Alabaster”: OnStage Playhouse presents the San Diego premiere of Audrey Cefaly’s dark comedy about the healing relationship between a reclusive folk artist and world-renowned photographer who comes to take her picture. 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays. 5 p.m. Sundays. Through March 2. 291 Third Ave., Chula Vista. $25 and up. onstageplayhouse.org
“The Half-Life of Marie Curie”: New Village Arts presents Lauren Gunderman’s play about the relationship between the widowed Nobel Prize-winning physicist and her best friend. 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays; 2 p.m. Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Through Feb. 23. 2787 State St., Carlsbad. $35-$60. 760-433-3245, newvillagearts.org
“Appropriate”: The Old Globe presents the San Diego premiere of Brandon Jacob-Jenkins play about a group of estranged siblings who discover their late father’s shockingly past when they meet at his plantation-style home in Arkansas to settle his estate. 7 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays. 8 p.m. Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays. Through Feb. 23. Old Globe Theatre, 1363 Old Globe Way, Balboa Park. 619-234-5623, theoldglobe.org
Saturday
Harlem Globetrotters: The Harlem Globetrotters 2025 World Tour is arriving in San Diego. The show highlights basketball players showcasing their skills, including ball handling, ball spinning and slam dunks. The show will also feature contests where players face off in trick-shot competitions and a basketball game versus the Globetrotters’ rival, the Washington Generals. 3 p.m. Saturday. Pechanga Arena, 3500 San Diego Sports Arena Blvd., San Diego. $58-$456. harlemglobetrotters.com
Chinese New Year Fair: The public can celebrate the Year of the Snake at the Balboa Park Chinese New Year Fair. This event will feature Chinese food vendors, cultural performances, arts and crafts, calligraphy and lion dances. The fair is organized by the House of China. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Balboa Park, 2191 Pan American West Road, San Diego. Free. chinesenewyearfair.com
Chocolate festival: Chocolate aficionados can feast on various sweets and drinks at the For the Love of Chocolate festival in Escondido. This ticketed event provides guests with a port map to sample chocolate given at various tasting locations. They also receive a tasting glass to sample craft beer, wine, champagne and nonalcoholic beverages. Guests will also get a swag bag, and the event will feature art on display. Noon to 5 p.m. Saturday. Maple Street Plaza, Escondido. $45-$65. downtownescondido.com/events
MTT’s Street Songs and Winter Daydreams: Teddy Abrams (replacing the ailing Michael Tilson Thomas) conducts the San Diego Symphony, with pianist Parker Von Ostrand, in Thomas’ “Street Songs for Symphonic Brass,” with other works by Rachmaninoff and Tchaikovsky. 7:30 p.m. Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. Jacobs Music Center, 750 B St., downtown. $39-$120. sandiegosymphony.org
Black Com!x Day: Black Artists are showcasing their talents at the Black Com!x Day 2025. The free event focuses on Black comics and is designed to inspire future artist, according to organizers. The two-day event will present an exhibit hall where comic book creators will sell their work, sign autographs and talk to fans. On Saturday, there will also be a discussion about how someone can create a comic and sell it independently. On Sunday, find a titled “How to Rise Above Negative Energy and Achieve Your Goals” will be presented. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. (Feb. 15-16) 2100 Park Blvd., San Diego. Free. 619-230-1190, worldbeatcenter.org
Three exhibits open Saturday in Escondido: The California Center for the Arts, Escondido Museum, will open a trio of exhibits featuring regional and international artists. All three open Saturday. Rancho Santa Fe artist Kerry Soori McEachern presents “Of Love and Light,” a two-part show focused on unity and shared experiences. McEachern’s “Oneness” is an interactive installation with hundreds of origami flowers inscribed with messages of piece and multilingual audio recordings. And McEachern’s “Ephemeral Echoes” is an outdoor installation of 200 suspended fabric s decorated with poetic verse. Also opening Saturday is “Prelude to Resonance,” a curated exhibit of works by contemporary Iranian artists. Each week, the artwork will change to reflect a different theme.The third exhibit, “Staging the Future: Investigations into the Unknowable,” is an exhibit of work by regional artists and designers exploring how art transforms unpredictability into a tool for reimagining the world. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, Saturday through March 15. 340 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido. Free to $12. 760-839-4138, artcenter.org
80s Prom Nightmare Murder Mystery Party: Ballast Point is hosting a murder mystery party where participants will have to solve a case. No experience with similar games is required. This event is 80s themed and costumes are welcomed. 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday. Ballast Point Brewing, 2215 India St., San Diego. $27.72. eventbrite.com/e/fun-interactive-murder-mystery-party-80s-prom-nightmare-tickets-1222634876829
“Afra Eisma: Hush”: ICA San Diego presents the first American solo exhibit by this Dutch artist who creates vibrant weavings and stuffed sculpture to process her own trauma. Opens Saturday with a reception from 4 to 7 p.m. and runs through June 1. 1439 El Prado, Balboa Park, San Diego. Free. icasandiego.org
Harold López-Nussa: La Jolla Music Society presents this Cuban-born Latin jazz pianist in two intimate concerts. 6 and 8:30 p.m. Saturday. The JAI, Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla. $63.50-$70. theconrad.org
Blake Horstmann at Oxford Social Club: Former “Bachelorette” star Blake Horstmann will present a DJ set for Valentine’s Day weekend. 10:30 p.m. Saturday. Oxford Social Club, 435 Fifth Ave., San Diego. $28.52. eventbrite.com/e/special-guest-dj-blake-horstmann-at-oxford-tickets-1226906423139
Ramón Ayala farewell tour: Known as the “king of the accordion,” Ramón Ayala is on his final tour as a performer. 8 p.m. Saturday. Frontwave Arena, 3475 Hero Drive, Oceanside. $94. frontwavearena.com/events/detail/httpswwwaxscomeventsramonayalatickets
Sunday
“Once”: Lamb’s Players Theatre opens its 2025 season with a revival of its award-winning 2018 production of “Once,” the Broadway musical based on the 2007 film about a lonely busker in Belfast, Ireland, who finds musical and romantic harmony with an immigrant woman from the Czech Republic. 2 and 7 p.m. Wednesdays; 7 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays; 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Through March 30. 1142 Orange Ave., Coronado. $48-$118. 619-437-6000, lambsplayers.org
