The best things to do this weekend in San Diego: May 1-3

Here are some of the best things to do this weekend in San Diego from Friday, May 1 to Sunday, May 3.

Friday

Atsuko Okatsuka: One of the most creative and fashionable stars of stand-up will bring "The Big Bowl Tour" to San Diego. Atsuko Okatsuka has multiple comedy specials streaming, including 2025's "Father." Okatsuka finished her first world tour last year and has recently served as a judge on Season 18 of "RuPaul's Drag Race." 8 p.m. Friday; 7 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday. Balboa Theatre, 868 Fourth Ave., San Diego. $52. sandiegotheatres.org/events/detail/atsuko-okatsuka-2026

Out at the Park: San Diego Pride and the Padres will team up for a night celebrating the LGBTQ+ community. Tickets come with a commemorative hat and some proceeds will be donated to San Diego Pride and various sports leagues. Friday games also include pregame happy hour in Gallagher Square starting at 4 p.m. 6:40 p.m. Friday. Petco Park, 100 Park Blvd., San Diego. Tickets start a $56.85. mlb.com/padres/tickets/specials/out-at-the-park

Leslie Jones: Stand-up comedian Leslie Jones is a voice actor behind popular animated movies "A Sloth Story," "The Angry Birds Movie 2" and "Sing." She's also been an Emmy-nominated TV star as a cast member on "Saturday Night Live." Her current comedy tour is titled, "Did You Forget? She's Leslie F-ing Jones!" 7 and 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Mic Drop Comedy, 8878 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., San Diego. $49. micdropcomedysandiego.com

Star Wars concert: Days before Star Wars Day, May the Fourth Be With You, The Rady Shell is hosting a special concert of "Star Wars: A New Hope." The San Diego Symphony Orchestra will perform John Williams' Oscar-winning score as the film is shown. The public will have two opportunities to watch this galactic show. 7:30 p.m. Friday. 6:30 p.m. Sunday. 222 Marina Park Way, San Diego. $68-$173. theshell.org

Riverdance: This 30th anniversary tour revives the show's famed original choreography, with new dance numbers, new costumes and performers including four-time World Champion Irish dancer Keeva Corry and Australia's competitive Irish dancers and brothers Will and Kieran Bryant. 7:30 Friday; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday; 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sunday. San Diego Civic Theatre, 1110 Third Ave., downtown. $56-$147. broadwaysd.com

Wildflower Show: The Julian Woman's Club will put on its annual Wildflower Show. The show features wildflowers from seven regions in and around Julian. The clubhouse will be adorned with artwork by local students, and there will be hand-crafted items for sale, including a quilt to be raffled off. Proceeds go to the club's scholarship fund and community projects. 1 to 4 p.m. Friday to Sunday. Town Hall, 2129 Main St. Admission is free. Visit julianwomansclub.org.

Taco Fest and music: SoCal Taco Fest is back in Mission Bay teaming up with SeaWorld San Diego's Viva La Música. Viva La Música runs Fridays through Saturdays, May 1 through May 17, with live performances from top Latin artists. May 2-3. seaworld.com/san-diego/events/viva-la-musica/viva-la-musica-concerts.

"Within the Context of Time: May-ling Martinez and Coralys Carter": Athenaeum Music & Arts Library presnts this two-person exhibit exploring memory, time and family history. Artists' reception, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Friday. Opens Saturday and runs through July 25. 1008 Wall St., La Jolla. ljathenaeum.org/upcoming-exhibitions

"Blue Marigold": TuYo Theatre presents Mabelle Reynoso's magical realism-inspired play about a teenager who travels to the Mexican Land of the Dead to find answers about her late father. 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday; Bayfront Charter High School, 830 Bay Blvd., Chula Vista. $10-$15. tuyotheatre.org/blue-marygold

Saturday

Orchids in the Wild: The annual display of Orchids in the Wild returns to San Diego Botanic Garden for a month-long flower showcase. The exhibit takes place in the Botanic Garden's 8,000 square-foot Dickinson Family Education Conservatory. Guests will learn about the different types of orchids and their history. The orchid exhibition also contains plants on loan from San Diego County Orchid Society and Palomar Orchid Society members. Plus, there will be workshops and an orchid marketplace on weekends. Saturday through June 1. 300 Quail Gardens Drive, Encinitas. $7-$20.760-436-3036, sdbg.org

Escondido Renaissance Faire: Olde Tyme Production presents its annual two-weekend event featuring archery and jousting tournaments, battle re-enactments, live entertainment, a pirate village and clothing, weapon and trinket sales. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Felicita County Park, 742 Clarence Lane, Escondido. Free shuttle service for overflow parking from the JC Penny parking lot at Mershops North County mall, 290 E. Via Rancho Parkway. $14-$32. Children under 5 are free. Multi-day discounts available. oldetymeproductions.com

North Park Salsa Fest:Seventeen competitors will be battling for the best salsa at the North Park Salsa Fest at the North Park Mini Park. The fifth annual event will include the reigning champion, Tribute Pizza and 16 other local restaurants like Thai Time and Fairplay. Attendees will vote for the people’s choice award and the best salsa at the festival. The event will also have children's activities, community art murals on display, food trucks, craft beer for sale and live mariachi bands. Salsa Fest is free to attend and salsa sampler tickets range from $22 to $45. 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. 3812 29th St., San Diego. Free admission. northparksalsafest.com

Santee Lakes spring market: The inaugural Santee Lakes spring market is taking place this weekend. The event brings together more than 100 vendors to sell handmade goods and products. Some of the types of vendors that are scheduled to be in attendance include makers of art pieces, clothing, handbags, home decor items, jewelry, skin care products and woodwork. The market will also present food vendors and a beverage lounge with coffee shops. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. 9310 Fanita Parkway, Santee. Free to attend. santeechamber.com

City Ballet of San Diego presents ‘The Firebird': The company will present choreographer Elizabeth Wistrich's retelling of the Russian fairy tale, danced to Igor Stravinsky's famous score. Also on the program will be George Balanchine's "Who Cares?" performed to a collage of 16 songs by George Gershwin composed, including "The Man I Love," "Embraceable You," and "Who Cares?" 8 p.m. Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. California Center for the Arts, Escondido, 340 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido. $39-$119. cityballet.org

Bach Collegium San Diego’s “Far Beyond the Skies”: The professional baroque orchestra and chorus will perform works by Telemann and Bach, with four vocal soloists an the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Choir. 7 p.m. Saturday. Baker-Baum Concert Hall, 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla. $15.53-$72.45. theconrad.org/events/far-beyond-the-skies/

Cinco de Mayo Fiesta: A Cinco de Mayo Fiesta in the Gaslamp Quarter in downtown San Diego. The celebration kicks off at American Junkie, 628 Fifth Ave., featuring music, art and Mexican food from tacos and salsa to tequila. 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday, 3 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday and 6 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Sunday. gaslampevent.com/amo-team/2023-san-diego-cinco-de-mayo.

DinoLand at museum: The family-friendly event offers hands-on activities with dinosaur eggs, bones and fossilized dinosaur evidence along with face painting and gem panning. There will be snacks on the Jurassic patio. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Heritage of the Americas Museum, 12110 Cuyamaca College Drive W. Free. heritageoftheamericasmuseum.com

OMA Exhibition Celebration: Oceanside Museum of Art will host a reception to celebrate its five new exhibitions, including “Kate Tova: A Place to Rest (My Tired Mind),” which opens Saturday. Guests can tour the exhibits and enjoy drinks and networking. 5-7 p.m. Saturday. 704 Pier View Way, Oceanside. oma-online.org

“To Catch a Fish”: Mingei International Museum presents an an exhibition curated by Emily Hanna that brings together the crafted objects and tools used around the world by fishermen, including handmade baskets, traps and nets, along with fishing-themed installations by contemporary artists Robert Lang, Marianne Nicolson and Aidelen Montoya. Opens Saturday and runs through Nov. 1. 1439 El Prado, Balboa Park, San Diego. mingei.org/exhibitions/to-catch-a-fish

Rummage sale: Lemon Grove Historical Society is having a rummage sale with proceeds going to Lee House Cultural Center and the Parsonage Museum. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Treganza Heritage Park, 3200 Main St., Lemon Grove. Free. lghistorical.org/2026/03/29/lghs-is-holding-a-rummage-sale-sat-may-2-2026-10am-2pm-treganza-heritage-park/

Good Vibes & Tan Lines: Locals who want a bit of wild west spirit can visit a rooftop party on Saturday, featuring live music, yard games and a chance to buy a customized cowboy hat. There will also be line dancing, including an instructional hour at 5 p.m. Tickets come with a seltzer or beer. 3 to 8 p.m. Saturday. Andaz San Diego, 600 F St., San Diego. $10. exploretock.com/andaz-san-diego—experiences-san-diego/event/603955/good-vibes-tan-lines

“Who Do You Think You Are?”: San Diego’s WhatNext? Collective will present a staged reading of eight 10-minute plays by seven San Diego playwrights. 5 p.m. Saturday. Old Town Theatre, 4040 Twiggs St., San Diego. $25-$50. thewhatnextcollective.com

Fiesta Old Town: The free, family-friendly celebration of San Diego's historic vaquero culture includes lucha libre matches, live music and folklorico dancing, hands-on pioneer games and activities for kids, along with an artisan mercado featuring handcrafted goods from local makers. 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Old Town.

‘Garden Magic' Flower Show: The Vista Garden Club will put on its 90th Flower Show themed "Garden Magic" with a plant sale and a garden art boutique from May 2-3 at the Jim Porter Recreation Center in Brengle Terrace Park, 1200 Vale Terrace Drive. The plant and garden art sale is from noon to 5 p.m. May 2, with the flower show open from 2 to 5 p.m. The sale and show will both be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 3. Highlights include plant exhibits, floral designs, botanical arts, educational exhibits and miniature fairy gardens. Admission is free. For information on submitting a flower show entry, email vistagardenclub@gmail.com. Visit californiagardenclubs.com/vistagardenclub.

Sunday

San Diego French Film Festival: The sixth edition of the San Diego French Film Festival will be showcasing movies for five days in La Jolla and Carlsbad. This year's theme celebrates women's voices and stories in French cinema. There will also be films from Canada, Cameroon, Tunisia and the U.S. Festival event highlights include an opening night gala, a conversation with actress Julie Delpy, an animated films workshop and a closing night party. The festival will take place at THE LOT La Jolla and the Carlsbad City Library. Sunday through Thursday. Multiple venues. afsandiego.org/sd-french-film-festival-2026

Urban Trails Hiking Event: The Book Catapult will host a walk through Juniper Canyon in South Park to celebrate the release of “Urban Trails: San Diego,” written by Susie Kara Slater and Chris Griffith. After the hike, there will be a discussion, Q&A and book signing at the shop. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday. The Book Catapult, 3010-B Juniper St., San Diego. $18.95. thebookcatapult.com/event/2026-05-03/urban-trails-hiking-event

Harpsichordist Takae Ohnishi: The Japanese musician will perform a solo concert. 3 p.m. Sunday. Conrad Prebys Concert Hall, 9410 Russell Lane, UCSD, La Jolla. Free.calendar.ucsd.edu/event/takae-ohnishi-harpsichord

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This story was originally published April 29, 2026 at 1:46 PM.