The best things to do this week in San Diego: June 8-12
Here are some of the best things to do this week in San Diego, from Monday, June 8 to Friday, June 12.
Check back Wednesday for our guide to things to do this weekend.
Monday
Alex Warren: Carlsbad-raised singer and songwriter Alex Warren is headlining his Finding Family on the Road tour and making a stop at Viejas Arena. The 25-year-old started the TikTok collective Hype House and in 2021, Warren started putting out his own music. By 2024, he released his debut EP and in 2025, he released the Billboard Top 100 song "Ordinary" and his debut studio album "You’ll Be Alright, Kid." Nat & Alex Wolff will open the show. Plus, Warren is contributing $1 from every ticket sold to Camp Kesem, which provides free programs for children with cancer parents, according to event organizers. 7:30 p.m. Monday. Viejas Arena, 5500 Canyon Crest Drive, San Diego. $90.75-$136. as.sdsu.edu/viejas_arena
Filipino Heritage Celebration: The Padres are celebrating the local Filipino community with a special theme night, featuring a limited-edition hat with ticket sales. The celebration will take place during a game against the Reds. 6:40 p.m. Monday. Petco Park, 100 Park Blvd., San Diego. Tickets start at $52.25. padres.com/tickets
Nighttime Zoo: The San Diego Zoo's Nighttime Zoo shows are back. The Zoo will offer special entertainment programming such as concerts, dance competitions, trampoline shows, parades featuring life-size animal puppets and acrobats and interactive presentations on animals from around the world. 3:30 to 8 p.m. Now through Aug. 9, except June 13 and July 9. 2920 Zoo Drive, San Diego. zoo.sandiegozoo.org/nighttimezoo
Tuesday
Paul Simon: American singer and songwriter Paul Simon is extending his "A Quiet Celebration Tour" and performing at The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park. The show is formatted in two parts. The beginning has Simon performing 33 minutes of continuous music from his 2023 album "Seven Psalms." The second half of the concert is scheduled to have Simon performing his greatest hit songs and favorite deep cuts. 7 p.m. Tuesday. The Rady Shell, 222 Marina Park Way, San Diego. $90.55-$664.65. theshell.org
Teen after-school art program:The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library and the La Jolla Historical Society are teaming up to offer free after-school art programs for teenagers, ages 13 to 19. The art classes involve digital drawing, creating book arts and photography using a smartphone. Jean Krumbein is the instructor and reservations can be made on the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library website. 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday and June 16. 1008 Wall St., La Jolla. 858-454-5872, ljathenaeum.org
“Kim’s Convenience”: The Old Globe presents the national touring production of Ins Choi’s award-winning comedy that inspired his hit Netflix TV series. Choi plays the Korean-born Mr. Kim who runs a convenience store in Toronto while raising his Canadian-born children with traditional values. But generational and cultural changes rock Kim to his roots. 7 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays. Through June 14. Old Globe Theatre, 1363 Old Globe Way, Balboa Park, San Diego. $44 and up. 619-234-5623, theoldglobe.org
T. Greenwood author event: T. Greenwood will discuss “Everything Has Happened” and Elan Les Vies will discuss “The Lemon Twist.” 6:30 p.m. Monday.Library Shop Mission Hills, 925 W. Washington St., San Diego. 619-236-5800, libraryfoundationsd.org/news-events
Katherine Center author event: Katherine Center will discuss “The Shippers.” 7 p.m. Thursday at the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace, 5555 Marian Way, San Diego. Tickets (includes book) start at $30. warwicks.com/event/center-2026
“The Hombres”: The Old Globe presents Tony Meneses’ comedy about the culture clash between a group of macho construction workers and a pair of gay yoga instructors. 7 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. Through June 21. Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, The Old Globe, 1363 Old Globe Way, Balboa Park, San Diego. $44 and up. 619-234-5623, theoldglobe.org
“The Monsters”:La Jolla Playhouse, in collaboration with Berkeley Repertory Theatre, presents Ngozi Anyanwu’s new play about estranged siblings who ultimately find strength in each other while competing in the sport of mixed martial arts. 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 1 and 7 p.m. Sundays. Through June 28. Mandell Weiss Forum, La Jolla Playhouse, 2910 La Jolla Village Drive, La Jolla. $30-$74. lajollaplayhouse.org
Wednesday
San Diego County Fair:This year's fair theme is "Once Upon A Fair," and attendees can expect the usual classic activities, such as carnival games, amusement park rides, livestock shows and various concerts. Some of the new food items include a Korean churro, a cinnamon crunch cheesecake rice crispy cone and a crispy chicken shawarma wrap. There will also be a variety of cultural events, like the fair's first Black and Brown Festival Showcase. Plus, Gabriel "Fluffy" Iglesias is scheduled to perform a special stand-up comedy show. June 10 through July 5. Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar. sdfair.com
Sips & Science: Locals can enjoy a glass of wine while they learn about the San Diego Botanic Garden’s work. The topic this week is "Preserving and Protecting Otay Mountain's Hidden Flora." 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. 300 Quail Gardens Drive,Encinitas. San Diego Botanic Garden. $25 for nonmembers, $18 for members in advance. sdbg.org/sips-and-science
“Mean Girls”: Moonlight Stage Productions presents the San Diego regional premiere of this musical comedy inspired by the Tina Fey film about a girl trying to be accepted by the cool, but mean, girls at her new high school. 8 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays. Through June 20. Moonlight Amphitheatre, Brengle Terrace Park, 1200 Vale Terrace Drive, Vista. $44-$66. 760-724-2110, moonlightstage.com
“The Most Happy Fella”: North Coast Repertory Theatre presents an intimate production of Frank Loesser’s 1956 musical about an aging vineyard farmer who falls for a much-younger woman and uses deception to win her heart. 7 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; 8 p.m. Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays. 987 Lomas Santa Fe Drive, Suite D, Solana Beach. $68.50-$90.50.northcoastrep.org
Thursday
Mexican consulate World Cup watch party:Soccer fans who want to watch the opening ceremony of the 2026 World Cup and the first game of the tournament can do so at a watch party at the Mexican Consulate's Plaza Mexico in Little Italy. The inaugural match is between Mexico and South Africa from Mexico City. 10:30 a.m. Thursday. 1549 India St., San Diego. 619-231-8414, facebook.com/Consulmexsd
Madhushree Ghosh author event: Madhushree Ghosh will discuss her new cookbook “Safar: Finding Home, History, and Culture Through Punjabi Food in the American West” in a book launch party. 6:30 p.m. Thursday. Warwick’s, 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. 858-454-0347, warwicks.com
“The Play That Goes Wrong”: Lamb’s Players Theatre presents the San Diego professional premiere of this London-born stage comedy about a troupe of theater actors struggling to get through a performance while the everything collapses around them. 7 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays; 2 and 7 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. Through June 14. 1142 Orange Ave., Coronado. $48-$98. 619-437-6000, lambsplayers.org
“Rent”: Diversionary Theatre presents Jonathan Larson’s musical about a group of bohemian artists struggling to survive and make their mark in 1990s AIDS-stricken New York City. 7 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. Through June 28. 4545 Park Blvd., San Diego. $41-$75.619-220-0097, diversionary.org
Friday
Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center World Cup watch party: San Diego FC is partnering with various groups for events throughout the tourney, including one at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center for the match between the USA and Paraguay on June 12 at 6 p.m. A second viewing party is on Third Avenue for the Mexico versus South Korea match on June 18 at 6 p.m. sandiegofc.com/club/fifa-world-cup
Piazza della Famiglia World Cup watch party: On day two of the World Cup, Little Italy's Piazza della Famiglia will be the home of a two-match watch party. Canada will face Bosnia and Herzegovina at noon, and the USA will compete against Paraguay at 6 p.m. There will also be live music and entertainment in between matches. Noon to 9 p.m. Friday. 523 West Date St., San Diego. Free to attend. littleitalysd.com
Frontwave Arena World Cup watch party: Watch World Cup matches indoors at the PALA Casino Starlight Lounge and Patio at Frontwave Arena. The Oceanside venue is scheduled to show all three Team USA group play matches. Also outside of the arena, there will be activities for families and children, such as mini soccer games, inflatables, raffles and giveaways. 6 p.m. Friday. Noon June 19 and 7 p.m. June 25. 3475 Hero Drive, Oceanside. 760-512-8000, frontwavearena.com
Rooftop Cinema Club World Cup watch party:For fans who want a higher-up experience, the Rooftop Cinema Club is holding screenings for Team USA’s first two group matches. The first game will be against Paraguay and the second is with Australia. The Rooftop Cinema Club is located on the fifth floor of the Porto Vista Hotel and will screen the matches on its 24-foot LED screen. 5:30 p.m. June Friday 11:30 a.m. June 19. 1835 Columbia St., San Diego. $17.25. rooftopcinemaclub.com
Mission Beach World Cup watch party:San Diego FC and Fit Social are teaming up to host watch parties during the first four days of the World Cup at Belmont Park. There will also be musical entertainment from artists such as If You See Me You See Me, Por La Mañana and DJ Dynamiq. Other group play matches are scheduled to be shown at Fit Social. Plus, San Diego FC players and coaches are expected to attend some of the watch parties, and there will be fan activations. Watch parties are free to attend, but attendees are asked to RSVP. 3125 Ocean Front Walk, San Diego. 858-228-9283, sandiegofc.com/club/fifa-world-cup
“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”: Oceanside Theatre Company presents this stage comedy about six eccentric adolescent children at a regional bee. 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. Through June 14. The Brooks Theater, 217 N. Coast Highway, Oceanside. $28-$45. Show is PG-13 rated. oceansidetheatre.org
“Uncontained”: Woodward Contemporary Art hosts a solo exhibition of large-scale paintings by artist Will Day, that will also include a four-day art workshop. Opens Friday and runs through July 11. Artist’s reception, 4-7 p.m. June 20. Workshop June 18-21. 3935 Harney St., Old Town San Diego. woodwardcontemporary.com
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This story was originally published June 8, 2026 at 12:09 PM.