San Diego listeners, if you’re wondering what to do this week, you’ve got a full sleigh of options, from sunrise surf meetups to twinkling bay parades and late-night museum adventures.
Start your Friday bright and early with SD Founders Surf, a casual meetup of founders, investors, and startup supporters at “Pipes” in San Elijo State Beach. According to SD Tech Scene, they’re in the water from about 6:30 to 8:30 in the morning, so you can catch a few waves, talk ideas, and still make it to your day job with salt in your hair and a grin on your face.
If you’ve got little ones, San Diego Moms reports that Play City Vista is hosting a Christmas Party from 4 to 6 p.m., with hands-on crafts, activities, and holiday surprises. It’s indoors, it’s kid-friendly, and it’s a great way to burn off that pre-Christmas energy in a controlled, air-conditioned environment.
Art lovers, KPBS highlights a free photography exhibition at Luxe Gallery at San Diego City College downtown, with local photographers showing their work and an opening reception from 6 to 8 p.m. You can stroll through, meet emerging artists, and enjoy free parking in nearby Lot 100. For something a little more experimental, The Front Arte y Cultura in San Ysidro is wrapping up “Prophecy: Joy Futurism in a World Renewing,” a one-week-only exhibition of sculpture, installation, and social practice by Asian American and Pacific Islander emerging artists.
As the sun goes down, Balboa Park comes alive with Nat at Night at the San Diego Natural History Museum. KPBS notes the museum stays open from 5 to 10 p.m. with half-price admission after 5, plus a rooftop bar, tacos, cocktails, and the chance to wander the exhibits under the stars. It’s perfect for a relaxed date night or a low-key hang with friends.
Live music fans have plenty to choose from. House of Blues San Diego lists Queensrÿche’s Volume and Vengeance Tour in the main Music Hall and Letter Kills in the more intimate VooDoo Room. If you prefer a holiday vibe, KPBS features Camarada’s “Charlie Brown Jingles & Jazz” in La Jolla, where guitarist Peter Sprague and friends reinterpret Vince Guaraldi’s classic Charlie Brown Christmas tunes. Over at The Rady Shell, the San Diego Symphony’s “Noel Noel” mixes full orchestra, choirs, projections, and storytelling into a big, open-air holiday spectacle on the bay.
The weekend cranks things up. KPBS spotlights Golden State Ballet’s The Nutcracker at the San Diego Civic Theatre, a full professional production with the San Diego Symphony playing Tchaikovsky live. One performance even includes a cameo by skateboarding legend Tony Hawk, giving this Nutcracker a uniquely San Diego twist. If you’re further north, City Ballet’s Nutcracker at the CCAE Concert Hall in Escondido is another polished, traditional option with live orchestra.
For theater with a twist, La Jolla Playhouse is hosting “Burnout Paradise,” a wild treadmill-based show from Australian company Pony Cam. According to KPBS, the performers cook, bathe, read Shakespeare, and more while constantly moving on treadmills, mixing comedy, feats of strength, and performance art. Shows run through the weekend with both matinees and evening performances.
If you want lights and holiday atmosphere, you can head to the final night of the San Diego Bay Parade of Lights on Sunday. KPBS reports that around 80 decorated boats glide through the bay, starting near Shelter Island around 5:30 p.m., passing Seaport Village after 6, and wrapping up near Coronado Ferry Landing around 7:40. It’s free, visible from multiple waterfront spots, and one of the most photogenic events of the season.
And if you’re thinking ahead to next week, the WorldBeat Cultural Center in Balboa Park is preparing a multi-night Kwanzaa celebration with drumming, poetry, guest speakers, and a community feast, as highlighted by KPBS. It’s a meaningful way to experience African and African American culture and wrap the year with intention, unity, and good food.
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