San Diego Weekend Guide: Sept. 26-28 – ‘Do-Re-Mi’ & Donuts

We’re in for the kind of weekend that reminds us why fall in San Diego feels so alive. From sky-high thrills to toe-tapping tunes, call it a choose-your-own-adventure. 

Scripps Ranch Theatre opens its 46th season Friday with Kimberly Akimbo, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright David Lindsay-Abaire’s dark comedy about 16-year-old Kimberly Levaco, a wise-cracking teen whose rare genetic disorder gives her the body of someone four times her age. The heartbreaking yet hilarious story of growing up while growing old inspired Broadway’s 2022 hit musical. Performances run through Oct. 19 at Alliant International University, with shows Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets start around $30. 

Eyes to the skies! The Miramar Air Show, billed as America’s Air Show, returns Friday through Sunday at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, with gates opening at 8 a.m. and daily shows starting at noon. The nation’s largest military air show will feature demonstration teams, civilian aerobatic performers, vintage aircraft and daytime displays to thrill aviation fans of all ages. The Air Show Expo also returns inside an active F-18 hangar, showcasing aerospace innovations, interactive exhibits and merch galore. General admission and parking are free, with preferred seating available for purchase. 

Grab your lederhosen and celebrate the Civic Theatre’s 60th anniversary Friday with a special sing-a-long screening of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music. The Oscar-winning 1965 classic, starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, will be shown in full-screen technicolor with onscreen lyrics, featuring beloved songs “Do-Re-Mi,” “Edelweiss” and “Climb Ev’ry Mountain.” Before the screening, the theater will host a free anniversary open house from 4:30-6:30 p.m., with tours, food, music and activities for all ages. Tickets start around $30 and costumes are highly encouraged.

Saddle up for the 52nd annual Poway Rodeo, where Western heritage comes alive with Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association events including bull riding, barrel racing, roping and the crowd favorite mutton busting, which is basically bull riding for kids … on sheep. Catch the action Friday at 7:30 p.m. or Saturday at 1 p.m. for Kids’ Buck Day – when nearly everything for kids costs $1, from general admission to rides and snacks – or at 7:30 p.m. Saturday night. After-parties follow both evening shows. Tickets range from $1.60-$58.90 and are selling out fast, so don’t dally – git along little dogies! 

The Padres have already clinched a playoff berth, but Hispanic Heritage Weekend keeps the final weekend of the regular season lively with a three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Petco Park. Friday’s 6:40 p.m. opener features Fiesta in the Park with $5 drink specials and Latin music in Gallagher Square. Saturday’s 5:40 p.m. game ends with fireworks set to hits by artists such as Bad Bunny and Jose Iglesias. On Sunday, KidsFest kicks off the 12:10 p.m. finale, followed by a postgame concert from Los Tucanes de Tijuana for fans with a theme game package, which also includes a limited-edition Padres hat. 

Travel the world without leaving Balboa Park at the San Diego Sustainable Food Festival Saturday from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. More than 70 vendors will serve everything from sushi to falafel to artisan donuts, with every bite highlighting sustainability, seasonal ingredients and eco-conscious cooking. The free, family- and dog-friendly event on the lawn at Park Boulevard and Presidents Way also features chef demos, live music and wellness classes from Move with Love Collective, with free parking available.

Get ready to paint the town at Chula Vista ArtFest, where the City Hall courtyard transforms into a vibrant canvas Saturday from 12-6 p.m. The free, family-friendly event includes more than 65 local artists, live painting demonstrations, interactive art activities, musical performances and food vendors. The City Hall lobby also hosts “SYMBIOTIC,” a new exhibit by artist Joelle Cook. Free parking is available at City Hall, the Civic Center Library on F Street and nearby streets. 

The 29th annual Encinitas Oktoberfest & Artisan Faire returns Sunday from 11 a.m.-7 p.m., bringing German food and beer, Bavarian music and more than 130 local artisans to Mountain Vista Drive. The free, pet-friendly celebration also features a local craft beer garden, carnival rides, kids’ crafts and face painting, plus the always-popular dog costume contest. With roots dating back to Encinitas’ Olivenhain colony founded by German farmers in 1884, the festival has grown into a countywide favorite, drawing families, shoppers and beer lovers alike. 

Also Sunday, WASTED: Save the Food Festival returns from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at The Soap Factory in Logan Heights. The event includes more than 20 chefs turning surplus ingredients into creative dishes, plus demos on pickling, fertilizing and sustainable design. Proceeds benefit Kitchens for Good programs that help individuals facing barriers to employment build careers in the culinary and hospitality industries. Tickets are $9.31-$29.