The Coastal Communities Concert Band, an Encinitas-based symphonic band of more than 75 musicians, presents its Summer Pops Concert at 2 p.m. Aug.
17 at the Carlsbad Community Church, 3175 Harding St. The program features Broadway and movie standards, including medleys from “Music Man,” “Pirates of the Caribbean” and “Indiana Jones” along with Queen, Stevie Wonder, Frank Sinatra and Earth, Wind and Fire. Vocalist Michael Ruhl will perform “Singin’ in the Rain” and other classics.
Admission is $20, $15 for seniors, and free for students at the door. Visit cccband.com or call (760) 415-6099.
Batiquitos Lagoon will hold a family walk at 10 a.m. Aug.
17. The walk and talk will focus on the geology of the lagoon area and the larger region. The walk will be led by Eleanora Robbins, a geologist retired from the U.
S. Geological Survey and San Diego State University. Her specialties are paleopalynology and geomicrobiology.
The walk will be about a mile. Bring a hat, sunscreen and water. Space is limited; it is recommended to come 15 minutes early.
Meet at the Nature Center, 7380 Gabbiano Lane. Visit batiquitoslagoon.org .
The North San Diego County Genealogical Society continues the “Learning from Members” series from 10 to 11 a.m. Aug.
13 at the City of Carlsbad Faraday Center, 1635 Faraday Ave. Colin Whitney will give a presentation on “Exploring the Newly-Released Features of the FamilySearch Website.” Whitney will also discuss the new artificial intelligence features.
Admission is free. To attend virtually, visit nsdcgs,org for the Zoom link. The DNA Interest Group, sponsored by the North San Diego County Genealogical Society, will meet at 1 p.
m. Aug. 17 at the Georgina Cole Library, 1250 Carlsbad Village Drive, for a presentation by DNA expert Beth Swartz on “Adoption Meets DNA.
” The speaker will present virtually. No registration is necessary if attending in person. To attend via Zoom, get the link at nsdcgs.
org . The 27th annual Lemon Festival in downtown Chula Vista is from 11 a.m.
to 6 p.m. Aug.
17. Third Avenue will be filled with all things lemon as part of a celebration of Chula Vista’s agricultural heritage. Highlights include lemon-themed bites and sips, two stages of live music, a lemon cook-off competition, arts and crafts vendors, photo opportunities and the Little Lemons kids’ area in Memorial Park.
Visit downtownchulavista.com/events/lemon-festival . The Living Coast Discovery Center hosts a Sweetwater Park Hike on an equestrian trail from 9 to 11 a.
m. Aug. 18.
Hikers can learn about native and non-native plant species and their plant adaptations along with wildlife. There are sunny and shady areas. Meet at Sweetwater Park Trail, off Bonita Road.
Visit thelivingcoast.org/programs-events-upcoming-events/trail-to-bay-sweetwater-park-hike . A Coronado Promenade Summer Concert starts at 5 p.
m. Aug. 18 featuring The Zippers, who are back for an encore performance, at Spreckels Park, 601 Orange Ave.
Visit coronado.ca.us .
Local nonprofit Shelter to Soldier puts on its 12th annual “Be the Light” Gala from 5 to 9 p.m. Aug.
18 at L’Auberge Del Mar, 1540 Camino Del Mar. Proceeds benefit the nonprofit, which adopts dogs from local shelters and trains them to be service dogs for post-9/11 veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and other injuries associated with traumatic military service. Highlights include music by the Tim Apple Band, small bites and a three-course dinner overlooking the ocean along with silent and live auctions emceed by Clint Bell.
There will be a chance to meet veteran recipients and the Shelter to Soldier Canine Ambassadors therapy dog team. Visit bit.ly/STSGala12 .
A free distribution of fruits and vegetables for community members in need starts at 8 a.m. Aug.
16 at 1527 E. Main St., while supplies last.
The event is organized by East County Transitional Living Center, Bienestar is Well-Being and Molina Healthcare. The event runs until all the produce is gone. Visit ectlc.
org . The new Pacific View Arts Center will offer a variety of classes and workshops starting Aug. 13, including performing arts, dance, singing, songwriting, drawing, painting, watercolor, sculpture, writing and sewing.
The center is at 380 W. F St., and hours are from 10 a.
m. to 3 p.m.
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. To register for classes, visit pacificviewartscenter.com .
An exhibit of gourd artwork by local artist Grace Swanson runs through Sept. 4 at the Encinitas Community Center, 1140 Oakcrest Park Drive. The exhibit features 10 artworks by Swanson and 17 pieces from her collection of gourds from around the world, including gourd spoons, bowls and a musical instrument from Nigeria and Niger, Yerba Mate gourds from South America and burned gourds from Peru.
The center’s hours are from 8 a.m. to 8 p.
m. Mondays through Fridays, 8 a.m.
to 5 p.m., Saturdays and noon to 5 p.
m. Sundays. Admission is free.
Visit gourdsbygrace.com . The Hidden Valley Vista City Council of Beta Sigma Phi International will celebrate a Beginning Day “Cheers to HVVC” at 10:30 a.
m. Aug. 22 at J&M’s Family Restaurant, 1215 E.
Valley Parkway. Cost is $15, including breakfast. Beta Sigma Phi is a social, cultural and philanthropic international sorority.
All chapter members of Beta Sigma Phi, active, inactive, on leave, transferees and their guests can make a reservation by Aug. 15 at (760) 889-3552. The inaugural TEDxEscondido event themed “Hidden No More” will be held from 10:30 a.
m. to 4:30 p.m.
Aug. 17 at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido, 340 N. Escondido Blvd.
A diverse group of innovators will share their groundbreaking ideas and stories. Speakers include Steve Dilley, executive director of the Veterans Art Project; Tad Seth Parzen, president and CEO of the Burnham Center for Community Advancement; and cellist Paul Tseng, founding member of the Logos Trio and the artistic director of the San Diego Music Society. Each year, thousands of independently run TEDx events bring people together to share ideas and bridge divides in communities around the world.
Tickets are $120, including continental breakfast and buffet lunch. Visit artcenter.org/event/tedxescondido .
The Escondido Public Library offers Law Library services from 10 a.m. to 2 p.
m. Aug. 15 at 239 S.
Kalmia St. Reference librarians from the San Diego Law Library will be there to provide guidance on legal resources, help with new databases and give referrals to legal aid organizations. Visit escondido.
gov/162/library . The Hospice of the North Coast and Senior Service Council of Escondido is hosting five free seminars from 10 a.m.
to noon on the third Monday of the month at 728 N. Broadway. The next session on Aug.
19 is about “Caregiver Burnout & Dementia.” Register at (760) 480-0611 or bit.ly/3xr4MQG .
Escondido Together joins other interfaith groups in observing Interfaith Awareness week with a viewing and discussion of the documentary “Bridging Divides: Sharing Heartbeats” from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Aug.
11 at Baha’i Faith Community Center, 1761 S. Escondido Blvd. Susan Polis Schultz’s new documentary film focuses on six groups who are bringing people together “whose ideas and opinions differ, but who are united in their heart to find a common bond.
” For the Zoom link, call (760) 522-2751. The Rincón Literario Bilingual Book Club meets from 10:30 to 11:45 a.m.
Aug. 17 at the Escondido Public Library, 239 S. Kalmia St.
Attendees can participate in discussions in both English and Spanish about this month’s book, “Seven Empty Houses” (“Siete casas vacías”) by Samanta Schweblin. The discussion offers a chance to practice a new language or express ideas in your native language. Visit escondido.
gov/162/library . The American Cancer Society’s resale store, Discovery Shop, celebrates National Thrift Store Day on Aug. 17 with 25 percent off everything in the store.
The shop is staffed by volunteers and features upscale items such as clothing, accessories, jewelry, furniture, artwork, antiques, collectibles and household items. Donations are accepted. The shop is at 2570 Vista Way, and hours are from 10 a.
m. to 5 p.m.
daily. The Veterans’ Writing Group of San Diego County meets from 11 a.m.
to 2 p.m. Aug.
17 at the Veterans Association of North County, 1617 Mission Ave., and via Zoom. Veterans, dependents and active-duty military members can attend the free event.
The group has published four books of collective works. Coffee and snacks will be served. For the Zoom link, visit veteranswritinggroup.
org . B’nai Tikvah hosts a Shabbat at the Beach and barbecue at 6:30 p.m.
Aug. 16 at the Oceanside Harbor Beach by the gazebo. Cantor Larry Kornit will lead the shabbat.
Bring something to eat and share along with a nonperishable food donation for Interfaith Community Services. For information, call (760) 650-2262. The veterans group at Ocean Hills Country Club is holding a diaper drive for families at Camp Pendleton through Aug.
17 as part of the Armed Services YMCA Camp Pendleton’s diaper drive. Community members can drop off diaper donations for ages 3 months to 3 years at 4899 Galicia Way. Monetary donations are also appreciated.
For questions, email [email protected] or call/text (209) 663-5088 from 8 a.m.
to 5 p.m. daily.
A career fair will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.
m. Aug. 21 at the Oceanside Public Library and Civic Center Plaza, 330 N.
Coast Highway. The job fair will features more than 40 employers from a range of industries, such as manufacturing, hospitality, health and education, and offers some on-site interviews. Job seekers planning to attend the job fair should register in advance at bit.
ly/46EJKvo . The READS Learning Center will host two free workshops before the Oceanside career fair to help job seekers with interview skills, one-on-one interview practice and printing of résumés. The workshops are from 3 to 4:30 p.
m. Aug. 14 and 5 to 6:30 p.
m. Aug. 19 at 804 Pier View Way.
Registration is recommended at oceansidepl.librarycalendar.com/events .
The Oceanside Chamber of Commerce’s annual North County Health & Wellness Fair is from 9 a.m. to 1 p.
m. Aug. 15 at the Oceanside Civic Center Plaza, 330 N.
Coast Highway. The free event features information from local health and wellness businesses and provides screenings for community members. The fair runs with the downtown farmers market.
Visit oceansidechamber.com . El Camino Quilters Guild will meet at 9:30 a.
m. Aug. 13 at El Corazon Senior Center, 3302 Senior Center Drive.
The guest speaker is Colleen Granger, who will give a presentation on “A Bodacious Trunk Show.” Guest fee is $10. Granger’s workshop, “Fantabulous!” will be held Aug.
14 at the Quilt in a Day quilt shop in San Marcos. The workshop fee is $55. The nonprofit donates quilts and other handmade items to Rady Children’s Hospital, senior centers, hospitals, police and military groups.
Visit elcaminoquilters.com . Rancho Bernardo Community Presbyterian Church sponsors a drive-thru collection of new school shoes and socks for school-age kids in need from 9 to 11 a.
m. Aug. 17 at 17010 Pomerado Road.
Donations will be given to children served by Solutions for Change, the Poway Unified School District Youth in Transition program, Interfaith Community Services and San Diego Rescue Mission. Visit rbcommunity.org .
The Mission Beach Women’s Club recently held its annual fundraiser, which drew 100 men and women and featured keynote speaker San Diego District Attorney Summer Stephan. The club raised raised $65,000 and gave the funds to local nonprofit G.R.
A.C.E.
(Girls Rising Above Child Exploitation), which helps trafficked, exploited and at-risk youths throughout San Diego County. In addition, the club gave $33,000 in grants to a number of local nonprofits ranging from Wounded Warrior Homes, San Diego Food Bank and Reality Changers to Operation Hope San Diego and Birthline of San Diego County. Club members volunteer on community projects and provide first responders with lunches on Memorial Day, July 4th and Labor Day.
The club also gave 15 nonprofits and schools use of its Cottage on the Bay on Bayside Walk in Mission Beach, at no cost or at a reduced rate, which amounted to $25,000 that the club underwrote. The club was established in 1926 to serve the community. Nonprofit groups can apply for 2024-2025 grants through Dec.
31 at mbwc.org . The Taste of East Village is from 4 to 8 p.
m. Aug. 28-29.
Attendees can sip and stroll their way through the neighborhood sampling appetizers, entrees, desserts and beverages from more than 35 restaurants showcasing the culinary diversity of the neighborhood. Ticketholders will receive a Taste Passport at check-in to use as a guide for mapping out participating restaurants. Tickets are $45, plus a service fee.
Visit tasteofeastvillagesd.com . Home Start, an El Cajon-based nonprofit that works to prevent child abuse and provides services to strengthen families, will hold a pop-up event from 10 a.
m. to 6 p.m.
Aug. 17 at its boutique thrift store at 3611 Adams Ave., in Normal Heights.
The event marks National Thrift Store Day and includes discounts from 25 to 50 percent off along with music and more. The nonprofit, founded in 1972, served more than 22,000 San Diegans in need of services last year. Visit home-start.
org . The Pacific Beach Town Council’s free Concerts on the Green series continues with The Monsteras playing pop music Aug. 11 and The Platinum Beat performing multi-genre dance music Aug.
18 at Kate Sessions Park, 5115 Soledad Road, in Pacific Beach. The concerts are from 4 to 7 p.m.
Bring lawn chairs or blankets for grass seating. Visit pbtowncouncil.org .
A documentary will be screened about Robert F. Kennedy Jr., “Who is Bobby Kennedy?” and his plan to lead America out of drug addiction from noon to 1:30 p.
m. Aug. 17 at Mira Mesa Library, 8405 New Salem Stand, and 6 to 7:30 p.
m. Aug. 19 at Scripps Miramar Ranch Library, 10301 Scripps Lake Drive.
Admission is free. Visit sandiego.gov/public-library/locations .
SeaWorld San Diego’s Summer Spectacular Concert Series continues at 6 p.m. Aug.
17 at 500 SeaWorld Drive. The concert lineup includes Grammy-nominated and chart-topping performers. The concerts are held Saturdays through Aug.
24 featuring R&B, pop and other music. Concerts are included with park admission. Visit seaworld.
com/san-diego/events/summer-spectacular/concerts . The SoCal Taco Fest will be held from noon to 10 p.m.
Aug. 17 at Waterfront Park, 1600 Pacific Highway. The festival will feature a lineup headed by Vanilla Ice, Smash Mouth and Los Amigos Invisibles.
Highlights include a “Guac Off” homemade guacamole contest, Chihuahua races and a beauty pageant along with karaoke, cooking demonstrations and food tastings. General admission is $49. Visit socaltacofest.
com . A free organ concert is from 2 to 3 p.m.
Aug. 18 at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion, 2125 Pan American E. Road, in Balboa Park.
The concerts are held weekly. Visit spreckelsorgan.org .
America’s Finest City Half Marathon and 5K is from 6 to 11 a.m. Aug.
18. The run is from the Cabrillo National Monument at the tip of Point Loma, along San Diego Bay, Harbor Island, Embarcadero, past the Star of India, through downtown San Diego to Balboa Park. Cost is $55-$140.
Visit inmotionevents.com/event/afc-half . Bay to Park Paseo provides a free guided tour from 10:30 a.
m. to noon Aug. 17 along Park Boulevard from San Diego Bay to Balboa Park to see installations designed by leading San Diego artists.
The 1.7-mile paseo, endorsed as an Impact Project of World Design Capital San Diego Tijuana 2024, was created to encourage walking and to highlight the connection between San Diego Bay and Balboa Park. The paseo includes up to 13 installations outside iconic locations along Park Boulevard.
The tours start at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront and run the first and third Saturdays of each month through Sept. 21. Visit baytoparkpaseo.
org . The free Twilight in the Park Concert Series continues from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 13-15 at Balboa Park Spreckels Organ Pavilion, 2125 Pan American E. Road.
The event is held Tuesdays to Thursdays through Aug. 29. For the schedule, visit balboapark.
org/twilight-concerts . St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center, a local nonprofit that serves people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, will put on its 46th Haute With Heart Fashion Show from 10 a.
m. to 4 p.m.
Aug. 17 at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront, 1 Park Blvd. The theme “Couture” pays tribute to Paris, one of the fashion capitals of the world, with Parisian-inspired music, boutique shopping, a silent auction, Champagne and a luncheon.
Highlights include performances by the center’s students, a live auction, and the fashion show produced by Kristi Brooks. Tickets are $200-$300 at stmsc.org/event/haute-with-heart-fashion-show .
Thomas Family Day will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.
m. Aug. 17 at the San Diego Model Railroad Museum in Balboa Park.
The kid-friendly event features a “Thomas & Friends” scavenger hunt around the museum, Thomas trains running on the museum’s layouts, arts and crafts inspired by Thomas, an Isle of Sodor display and a sing and dance along from 11 a.m. to 1 p.
m. The event is included with museum admission; free for kids 12 and younger with a paid adult. Visit sdmrm.
org . The Valley Vibes Summer Concert Series continues through Sept. 2 at Mission Valley mall in the AMC Theatres Court, 1640 Camino del Rio.
The free concerts are from 5 to 8 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays and 3 to 6 p.
m. Saturdays. No tickets are needed.
Visit bit.ly/3WhkmZc . Along with free general admission to the exhibits at the San Diego Museum of Art in Balboa Park on the third Tuesday of each month for San Diego County residents, the museum offers another free day on the second Thursday of each month for all visitors, regardless where they live.
The next free day is Aug. 20. Also, students, veterans and active-duty military can get in the museum free any day with valid identification.
Service members can bring one guest for free. Visit sdmart.org .
The San Diego Blood Bank will hold blood drives in the following parking lots (unless otherwise noted): Donors must be 17 and older, weigh at least 114 pounds, and be in good health. Photo identification is required. To make an appointment or find more drives, call (800) 469-7322 or visit sandiegobloodbank.
org . Walk-ins are also welcome. San Diego Humane Society’s 32nd annual photo fundraiser runs through Aug.
31. Folks can submit photos and vote for their favorite pet photo. Winning pet photos will be featured in the San Diego Humane Society’s 2025 calendar and there are prizes.
The fundraiser supports the nonprofit’s services, including sheltering animals, adoptions, investigations of animal cruelty and neglect, veterinary care and rescue and rehabilitation of wildlife through its Project Wildlife program. The shelter has about 1,950 animals in its care. To submit a photo and vote, visit gogophotocontest.
com/sdhumane2025 . Trivia Nights will be held Aug. 15 and 22 at Terra Nova Plaza, 394 E.
H St., in Chula Vista, and Aug. 16 and 23 at Mission Marketplace, 471 College Blvd.
, in Oceanside. Participants can compete to win prizes. At the Oceanside Trivia Nights, the Golden Corral restaurant at Mission Marketplace will serve free ice cream and cotton candy and give Trivia Night attendees “kids eat free with paying adult” certificates.
Visit terranovaplaza.com and missionmarketplaceoceanside.com .
Local residents can submit their surfing videos through Aug. 15 to raise money for Outdoor Outreach, a local nonprofit that helps San Diego-area youths connect with the outdoors, as part of a partnership with Oral Surgery & Dental Implant Specialists of San Diego. After the submission period closes Aug.
15, videos can be viewed during the voting period, which runs through Aug. 22. The oral surgery practice will donate $1 per video view, up to $2,500, to Outdoor Outreach.
The person who submits the video with the most views will receive a custom surfboard. Visit sandiegooralsurgery.com/surfing .
The city of Santee offers free swim days for Santee residents on Aug. 17, 24 and 31 at the Santee Aquatic Center at the Cameron YMCA Activity Pool, 10123 Riverwalk Drive. Free admission is offered during the session times of 10 a.
m. to noon, 1 to 3 p.m.
, and 4 to 6 p.m. Limited lap swimming will also be available.
Visit cityofsanteeca.gov/our-community/parks-recreation/santee-swim-days . The 40th annual Summer Concert Series continues from 6:30 to 8 p.
m. Aug. 15 featuring Jimmy’s Buffet, a tribute band, at Town Center Community Park East, 550 Park Center Drive.
Visit santeespecialevents.com . The Summergrass bluegrass festival will be held from Aug.
16-18 at the Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum, 2040 N. Santa Fe Ave. The 21st annual event features three days of entertainment by bluegrass musicians from across the country.
Highlights include music workshops, jamming, food, music and craft vendors, and an easy jam for beginners along with a children’s camp and dry camping. Hours are from 3 to 10 p.m.
Aug. 16, 10 a.m.
to 10 p.m. Aug.
17 and 9 a.m. to 6 p.
m. Aug. 18.
Visit summergrass.net . Alta Vista Botanical Gardens will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony from 10:30 to 11 a.
m. Aug. 15 to unveil the new Stacked Stone Zen Garden The garden will feature stones of various sizes, giving an opportunity for children and adults to create their own stacked stone formations.
The activity symbolizes balance, tranquility, wellness and peace. The gardens’ leadership team will offer remarks and there will be refreshments. Entry to the gardens is $5; $3 for kids and free for AVBG members.
Visit avbg.org . The Kiwanis Club of Sunrise Vista and the Vista Education Foundation will put on their 30th annual Charity Golf Tournament on Aug.
19 at Shadowridge Golf Club, 1980 Gateway Drive. Proceeds will fund scholarships for graduating seniors from Vista Unified School District. Check-in is at 11.
45 a.m. with shotgun start at 1 p.
m. There will be silent and live auctions and an awards ceremony. Cost is $225, including box lunch and dinner buffet, putting contest, mulligans and raffle tickets.
Community members can sponsor a service member or first responder. For questions, email [email protected] or vhinosa@mosaicwealth.
com. Vista Teen Outreach hosts a fundraiser pickleball tournament, “Pickle for the Pantry,” from 8 a.m.
to 6 p.m. Aug.
24 at the Vista Pickleball Club, 685 Taylor St. Businesses or individuals interested in sponsoring the tournament can email [email protected].
Players interested in competing in the tournament are asked to email [email protected] with the names, divisions (men’s, women’s, mixed) and bracket(s) (3.
0. 3.5.
4.0, and 4.5+) along with date and location of tournament.
The cost is $50 for playing men’s, women’s or mixed doubles, and an additional $25 to play in a second bracket. The city of Vista continues its e-bike training and rebate program to provide safety information for riders while making e-bike ownership more affordable through rebates. Safety training sessions will be held from 9 to 10 a.
m. Aug. 24 virtually and from 9 a.
m. to noon Aug. 24 in person at the Vista Civic Center, 200 Civic Center Drive, in partnership with the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition for ages 10 or older; children younger than 12 must be accompanied by a guardian.
Sessions might be rescheduled if not enough people are signed up. Participants may be eligible for rebates on e-bike purchases. Free helmets will be distributed, while supplies last.
Sign up at cityofvista.com/ebikes . If your nonprofit would like to submit an event listing or photos of events that have happened recently, please email linda.
[email protected]. Include the name of the group, date and time of event, address, cost and contact information for readers within the email text.
Event listings should be submitted about two weeks in advance. Photos should be sent as JPEGs. Include the names of those in the photos from left to right along with the photo credit and permission from the photographer to use the photo in The San Diego Union-Tribune.
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