San Diego Weekend Guide: July 18-20 – Beats & Books

From Opening Day at Del Mar and San Diego Pride, to mariachi magic, a nostalgic art exhibition and family-friendly book swap, there’s something for every vibe and every age this San Diego weekend.

The 2025 racing season at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club kicks off Friday at the Del Mar Fairgrounds and it’s off to the races in style. The popular Opening Day hat contest begins at 11:30 a.m., with prizes for most glamorous, best fascinator, best flowers and best racing theme. On the track, racegoers can catch the $100,000 Oceanside Stakes Friday and the $200,000 San Clemente Handicap Saturday. Activities also include a beer festival and a Brandt Beef pop-up. Opening Day tickets start at $73, while general admission is typically around $10 – with free entry for children and military members.

The California State Games, the largest amateur sports festival in the state, begin Friday at 6:30 p.m. at Pechanga Arena with Olympic-style Opening Ceremonies. The ticketed event features an athlete parade, lighting of the cauldron and a fireworks show. Nineteen sports, including basketball, artistic swimming, field hockey, pickleball and judo, will be played at venues across San Diego County through Sunday. Most events are free and open to the public. 

The San Diego International Mariachi Summit Gala Concert returns to the Balboa Theatre with a powerhouse lineup and a rare San Diego appearance by the world-renowned Mariachi de América de Jesús Rodriguez de Híjar. They’ll share the stage at 7:30 p.m. Friday with Symphonic Mariachi Champaña Nevin, the San Diego Binational Symphony Orchestra and more. Proceeds benefit the Mariachi Scholarship Foundation, which has supported mariachi education and awarded college scholarships since 1996. Tickets start around $30.

The San Diego Pride Parade gets underway at 10 a.m. Saturday, marching through Hillcrest to Balboa Park with this year’s theme: “Unbreakable Pride, Unshakeable Power.” From there, parade-goers can head straight into the two-day festival and keep the celebration going through Sunday. The music lineup features dozens of artists, including headliners Kehlani and Kim Petras. For all festival happenings and beyond, explore our complete Pride Event Guide. 

If literacy is the vibe – there is a free family book swap at Pacific Highlands Ranch Library in Carmel Valley from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. You can bring up to 10 gently used books per family member and discover new reads to take home. There will be author-led storytime at noon, library scavenger hunt and creative kids activities galore. Organizers say no books are required to participate.

Were you a mall rat? Art Through the Glass collective brings life to vacant storefronts at the Chula Vista Center Mall with “Rewind: You Had to Be There…And Now You Are.” The nostalgic group exhibition honors the joyful moments that shaped us from childhood games to family gatherings. Featuring work from 20 local artists, the pop-up also includes zines, crafts, art vendors and Baja Soul Coffee at Saturday’s opening from 4-7 p.m. Oh and it’s free!

The Summer Spectacular Concert Series continues Saturday at SeaWorld with a performance by hip-hop legend Fat Joe. Get ready to throw it back to the ‘90s and early 2000s when the Puerto Rican rapper hits the stage at 6 p.m. at the Bayside Amphitheater. The concert is included with park admission and reserved seating upgrades are available for the best views. 

Snapdragon Stadium hosts a top-of-the-table clash as San Diego FC takes on the Vancouver Whitecaps at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. It’s Community Night, and the first 24,000 fans will receive free rally towels. Tickets start at $30. San Diego FC leads the Western Conference – but just barely, at one point ahead of Vancouver.