It’s the final weekend of one very busy month in San Diego. After nonstop, major local events in July (MLB All-Star Week, OTL, Del Mar Opening Day, Comic-Con), it’s time to relax and enjoy these cool, laid-back gatherings that help make our city America’s Finest.
La Mesa Classic Car & Bike Show
5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Downtown La Mesa
Gearheads, this one’s for you. The La Mesa Classic Car & Bike Show returns to La Mesa’s downtown village Thursday evening with many pre-1974 cars, trucks and vans – plus vintage motorcycles – lining La Mesa Boulevard from Acacia Avenue to 4th Street. This event is free and includes awards for the coolest cars, plus live music.
Man, 27, Dies While Skinny-Dipping: Lifeguards
Rockin’ Date Night Auction
6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Tin Roof in downtown San Diego
The San Diego Young Professionals Committee will hold its 4th annual Rockin’ Date Night Auction Thursday, where dates with eligible bachelors and bachelorettes will be up for bidding. Proceeds from the auction benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego County. Happy Hour starts at 6:30 p.m.; bidding begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $30 at the door.
Aries Spears Performs Stand-Up
8 p.m., The American Comedy Co.
“Mad TV” alum Aries Spears drops into The American Comedy Co. in downtown San Diego to perform his stand-up comedy act. Tickets are $22 per person. Can’t make it Thursday night? Spears will perform here on Saturday and Sunday, too.
'I Didn’t Feel Safe': Muslim Students Face Bullying
2016 International RoboSub Competition
7 a.m. to 7 p.m., SSC Pacific TRANSDEC
Student-designed and build autonomous robotic submarines will compete in a series of visual and acoustic-based tasks in this cool, unique competition at the SSC Pacific TRANSDEC. The tasks simulate the work required of robotic subs in many facets of underwater activity. The competition runs through Sunday. Check out the full schedule here.
Friday, July 29
Sean & Kupu Na’Auao Hawaiian Concert and Hula Show
6 p.m., California Center for the Arts Escondido
Enjoy a night of Hawaiian entertainment, including the ancient Hula Kahiko dance, live music and dancing from Kuhai Halau San Diego hula dancers at the California Center for the Arts Escondido. Tickets are $45 per person.
Fitz and the Tantrums at Del Mar
4 p.m., Seaside Stage at Del Mar Racetrack
The Del Mar Racetrack will rock Friday when the SoCal indie band Fitz and the Tantrums hits the Seaside Stage as part of the track’s 4 O’Clock Friday Summer Concert Series. The show starts promptly after the last horse race.
Dancing at THE LOT
9:30 p.m. to 1 a.m., THE LOT at Liberty Station
Cut a rug Friday night at THE LOT, the newly-opened luxury movie theater at Liberty Station. A DJ will spin tunes from 9:30 p.m. to 1 a.m., and the in-house restaurant will offer food and drink specials including ceviche, draft beer and mimosa bottle service.
Saturday, July 30
San Diego Beer and Music Festival
7 p.m. to 10 p.m., Liberty Station NTC Park
The 94/9 San Diego Beer and Music Festival will celebrate craft beer and live music at Ingram Plaza at Liberty Station NTC Park (2751 Dewey Rd.) Saturday night. Patrons will enjoy unlimited samples of more than 100 craft beers from local and regional breweries. The main stage will feature a concert by headliners, Hawthorne Heights. Tickets start at $35 and proceeds will benefit the San Diego nonprofit, Chef Celebration Foundation.
Avenue Q: The Musical
8 p.m., Ocean Beach Playhouse
Come see this hilarious puppet-filled comedy for mature audiences at your local Ocean Beach playhouse. The musical follows a group of 20-somethings seeking their purpose in a city life. Tickets start at $25.
Sip and Spin: A Group Ride and Get-Together
5 p.m., San Diego Museum of Man
Combine biking with a little bit of after-party drinking at this group ride Saturday. Bring your bicycle and come decorate your wheels and take a ride through the park. Plus, help prepare bike-safety kits for homeless bike riders to benefit the San Diego Mission. Tickets start at $10 and include museum entrance, decorating materials, bike valet parking, after-party admission and one free drink tickets for guests of age.
Launch Day: Bottega Americano’s Saturday Supper Club
10 a.m., Bottega Americano on Island Avenue
Watch daylight turn to dusk at this new annual supper club. Sip bubbly, check out an afternoon happy hour, and enjoy the environment. Admission is free.
BAPAC 7th Annual Walkathon
7 a.m., Chollas Lake Park on College Grove Drive
Set your alarm clock and get up early this Saturday! This 7th annual walkathon sponsored by the Black American Political Association of California will help you start your day off right. A portion of the funds raise provide scholarships for youth to attend the BAPAC Youth Summit. Call (619) 665 – 3878 with any questions.
Sunday, July 31
Kombucha Workshop
6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., The Homebrewer
Learn to brew your own kombucha (a fermented tea beverage) with this workshop at The Homebrewer in North Park. The class will teach students how to safely make kombucha at home, and each student will make a bottle they can carbonate and drink within a few days. The $75 fee for the workshop includes a kit with everything needed to brew kombucha. You can also pay $30 just for the class, which does not include fermenter.
Summer Whale Watching Adventures
9 a.m., Flagship Cruises and Events
Whale watching is now a year-round activity in San Diego, and what better way to enjoy the wonders of the natural world than by getting on a whale-watching cruise? Every summer, thousands of endangered blue whales feed along the California coast. The cruise is guided by a Birch Aquarium tour guide. Tickets start at $32.50.
Urge Gastropub Rancho Bernardo’s 6th Anniversary Party Celebration
11:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., Friday to Sunday, Urge American Gastropub
Don’t miss the final day of this anniversary celebration Sunday! To celebrate their sixth anniversary, the gastropub will have live music, giveaways, food specials and, of course, special beers on tap. Special beer bottles will also be raffled off. An AleSmith/Mason Ale Works’ Velvet Speedway Stout Bottle No. 1 beer bottle will be raffled off -- one of the many special bottles that will hit the auction. Proceeds will benefit the Escondido Humane Society.
Photo Credit: AP