The best things to do this week in San Diego: April 20-24
Here are some of the best things to do this week in San Diego, from Monday, April 20 to April 24.
Check back Wednesday for our guide to things to do this weekend.
Monday
National Library Week: The San Diego Public Library is celebrating National Library week a collaboration with San Diego Wave FC. Fans can meet players, listen to a themed story time and get a new Wave-themed library card. All ages are invited. 4 to 5 p.m. Monday. Community Room, Mira Mesa Library, 8405 New Salem St., San Diego. Free. sandiego.events.mylibrary.digital/event?id=330021
Silent Movie Mondays: The Balboa Theatre will show the 1927 film “Metropolis,” with accompaniment by organist Brett Miller. 7 p.m. Monday. Balboa Theatre, 868 Fourth Ave., San Diego. $28. sandiegotheatres.org/events/detail/metropolis-1927
Tuesday
Resident Free Tuesdays: Each week on Tuesdays, Balboa Park museums open their doors for free to local residents on a rotating basis. This week's museums are San Diego Museum of Art, Japanese Friendship Garden and Museum and Mingei International Museum. Valid ID required. balboapark.org/resident-free-days
Wednesday
Sips & Science: The San Diego Botanic Garden will host an event celebrating plan science. Todd Michael, chief science officer at the botanic garden and research professor at the Salk Institute, will give a talk about botanical research. 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. 300 Quail Gardens Drive, Encinitas. $25. sdbg.org/sips-and-science
Dancing With The Stars: Live! See live performances from some of the “Dancing with the Stars” greats. The show is slated to included appearances by Jordan Chiles and Robert Irwin and it’s hosted by Andy Richter. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Civic Theatre, 1100 Third Ave., San Diego. Verified resale tickets available starting at $228. sandiegotheatres.org/events/detail/dancing-with-the-stars-live-2026
Charlie Puth: The “Whatever’s Clever!” World Tour comes to San Diego. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Viejas Arena, 5500 Canyon Crest Drive, San Diego. Tickets starts at $42.50. ticketmaster.com/charlie-puth-whatevers-clever-world-tour-san-diego-california-04-22-2026/event/0A00642693872DAC
Thursday
Carlsbad Reads Together 2026: Carlsbad City Library will host a night of crafting and an author visit. From 5 to 7 p.m., guests can craft cassette tapes. At 6 p.m., there will be a book discussion and signing with New Yorker staff writer and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Hua Hsu. Thursday. Carlsbad City Library, 1775 Dove Lane, Carlsbad. Free. carlsbadca.gov/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/18785/6795
Friday
WOW Festival: La Jolla Playhouse’s immersive arts festival continues today through Sunday on the campus of of UCSD with more than two dozen, mostly free experiences of theater, dance, music, puppetry, and spectacles from around the world. Events run from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday through Sunday. UCSD, La Jolla. For full schedule, visit wowfestival.org.
Climate Dance Party: The Birch Aquarium will host an event celebrating climate and ocean science with after-hours access to the aquarium. Local climate experts and vendors will be on hand to share their expertise and there will be a dance party with music from DJs for Climate Action. There will also be a book launch for UCSD alumna Ayana Elizabeth Johnson for “What If We Get It Right?: Visions of Climate Futures.” The first 300 guests will get a free copy. 6 to 9 p.m. Friday. 2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla. $39.95. aquarium.ucsd.edu/events/climate-dance-party
La Jolla Concours d’Elegance: Classic, luxury and historic cars are on exhibition at the 20th annual La Jolla Concours d’Elegance. Vehicles from 1925 through 1996 will be showcased across three days with events, including live music, food tastings, a live auction, car tours, art displays and a car show and awards gala. The event highlights 16 car categories such as supercars, American muscle, pre-World War I, Volkswagen buses and Formula 1 racers. The public is invited to see the cars on display at La Jolla Cove, with certain events requiring a ticket to enter. Friday through Sunday. Various venues. lajollaconcours.com
‘Art Alive’ celebration this weekend: The 100-year-old San Diego Museum of Art hosts its biggest annual fundraiser, an exhibition the pairs the creations of local floral designers with artworks from the museum’s permanent collection. This year’s theme is “A Centennial Soirée in Full Bloom.” There will also be large-scale floral and art installation and from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday there will be outdoor family activities. Art Alive hours: Noon to 4 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. 1450 El Prado, Balboa Park, San Diego. $45, adults; $10, youth ages 7-17; Free, children 6 and under. sdmart.org/art-alive-tickets
Whales and AI topic of talks: LIFE, MiraCosta College's lifelong learning group, hosts two free lectures starting April 24 at MiraCosta's Oceanside Campus in the Board Room of the Administration Building, Bldg. 1000, or online via Zoom. At 1 p.m., Elizabeth Rohwer, a speech technology adviser, will give a presentation on "AI, Philosophy and Language." At 2:30 p.m., Cory Hom-Weaver of Ocean Science Analytics will discuss "Whales and Porpoises." Visit miracosta.edu/life.
San Diego Symphony presents “A Feast of Beethoven”: Conductor Trevor Pinnock and pianist Alexandra Dovgan join the orchestra for a program that includes Beethoven's Coriolan Overture, Piano Concerto No. 5, "Emperor" and Symphony No. 7 in F major. 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Jacobs Music Center, 750 B St., downtown. $30-$108. 619-235-0804, sandiegosymphony.org
“Beau Jest”: North Coast Repertory Theatre presents James Sherman’s 1989 comedy about an unmarried Jewish woman trying to please her pushy parents by hiring an actor to pose as her fiance. Preview, 8 p.m. Friday. Opens Saturday and runs through May 12. 7 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; 8 p.m. Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 2 and 7 p.m. and Sundays. 987 Lomas Santa Fe Drive, Solana Beach. $53.50-$68.50. 858-481-1055, northcoastrep.org
Last Laugh Friday performance: Last Laugh Friday is a night of comedy hosted by Emmy-winning actor and comedian Mark Christopher Lawrence and featuring headliner Noah Copfer. On-site fast-casual dining with live music before the show is at TERI Common Grounds Cafe, starting at 4 p.m. Concessions will be sold. 7 p.m. Friday. The Bornemann Theatre at TERI Campus of Life, 555 Deer Springs Road, San Marcos. Tickets are $25; parking is free. Proceeds support TERI's programs for community members with autism and other developmental challenges. Visit thebornemann.com.
“Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress”: Mosaic Theatricals presents this theater for young audiences production Juliany Taveras’ stage adaptation of the 2014 children’s picture book about an adventurous boy who goes on a magical journey of self expression. Opens Friday and runs through May 2. 7 p.m. Fridays; 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Saturdays; 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. this Sunday. Patio Playhouse's Black Box Theater, 201 E. Grand Ave., Suite 1D, Escondido. $26-$36. 442-304-0505, theatricals.org
“Into the Woods”: San Diego City College will present Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Old Globe-born musical about what happens when fairy tales don’t have happy endings. Opens Friday and runs through May 2. 7:30 p.m. Fridays; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays; 10:30 a.m. Thursday, April 30. Seville Theatre, 14th and C St., San Diego. $8-$20. citycollegetheatre.com
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This story was originally published April 20, 2026 at 11:59 AM.