This weekend’s events list offers many simple pleasures: an evening at the theater to see something Cinderella; a nostalgic concert by Philly R&B crooners The Stylistics; and a death-defying monster truck marathon at Snapdragon Stadium. For those looking to make their mark in 2025, the San Diego Resolution Run offers a New Year’s challenge, while a San Diego-themed trivia night will test locals’ pride. It’s also worth exploring the rhythms of the soundON Festival, the wrestling and roping of the San Diego Rodeo, and the glittering jewels of the Del Mar Gem Faire, among many more things to do this weekend.

Food & Drink | Concerts & Festivals | Theater and art exhibitions | More fun activities

Food and drink events in San Diego this weekend

San Diego Brew Fest

January 11th

Sample a plethora of San Diego’s best beers from more than 70 local breweries at NTC Park at Liberty Station this Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. In addition to beer tastings, the 14th annual San Diego Brew Festival will include lawn games, cover band performances and 10 local food trucks. General admission tickets are $62, while early entry tickets (which allow entry at noon and an hour of specialty pours) are $79.

2455 Cushing Road, Point Loma

Grand opening of Tajima Ramen

January 12th

Over the years, Tajima and his fiery red emblem have appeared throughout the border region, from Convoy to Tijuana. This Sunday, the local ramen chain is celebrating its newest location in Crown Point with a festive grand opening event from 4 to 10 p.m. This party is open to the public and includes a live DJ, ticket giveaways, Tajima merchandise, and large bowls of steaming hot ramen.

3782 Ingraham Street, Crown Point

San Diego Food Insecurity Fundraiser Trivia Night

January 12th

How well do you know America’s Finest City? Test your San Diego knowledge at the Mission Valley Evening Rotary’s trivia fundraiser at Novo Brazil Brewing, aiming to fund 10,000 high-protein meals for the San Diego Food Bank. Participants can play as an individual or with a team of up to four as they are tested on general trivia and San Diego-related questions. Food and drinks are available for purchase. Participants should arrive at 3:30 p.m. Registration is $35 per person or $120 for team registration.

1640 Camino Del Rio, Mission Valley

Concerts and festivals in San Diego this weekend

The stylistics at the Balboa Theater

January 9th

The Stylistics will perform at the Balboa Theater for one night only ahead of the release of the band’s new album in February. I’m falling in love with my girl. The Stylistics are R&B royalty thanks to songs like “You Are Everything.” Tickets for Thursday’s concert start at $46.

868 Fourth Avenue, Gaslamp

soundON Festival at the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library

9th–11th January

This year’s soundON Festival collaboration between San Diego New Music (SDNM) and the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library comes just in time for SDNM’s 30th anniversary. Compositions for the festival include a premiere work by Sidney Marquez Boquiren, and SDNM’s NOISE ensemble will repeat its first concert from 25 years ago. Individual concerts are $30 for non-members and $25 for members, while the festival pass (for all three shows) is $85 for non-members and $70 for members.

1008 Wall Street, La Jolla

Poway Winter Festival

10-11 January

Poway Community Park will transform into a snowy utopia this Friday (5 p.m. to 9 p.m.) and Saturday (3:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.) during the free Poway Winter Festival. Attendees can enjoy activities such as ice skating, snow sledding and snowman building, as well as features such as a photo booth, on-site food vendors and pony rides. New features at this annual event include a magical light walk and a life-size winter wonderland board game.

13094 Civic Center Drive, Poway

Del Mar Gem Faire

10th-12th January

The annual Del Mar Gem Faire will be held at the Del Mar Fairgrounds on Friday from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Importers and wholesalers have a wide selection of gemstones, minerals and jewelry for purchase. Weekend tickets to the Gem Faire are $7 and can only be purchased for cash at the door. Children up to 11 years receive free entry.

2260 Jimmy Durante Boulevard, Del Mar

Theater and art exhibitions in San Diego this weekend

The Heart Sellers at the North Coast Repertory Theater

January 8th – February 2nd

In this play, a friendship develops between two women as they adjust to life in a new country in the early 1970s. The Heart Sellerswritten by Lloyd Suh and directed by Kat Yen, will have its San Diego premiere at the North Coast Repertory Theater. Tickets for this production start at $54.

987 Lomas Santa Fe Drive, Solana Beach

Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella at the Palomar Theater

11th-19th January

The Ovation Theater is bringing a classic fairy tale to the stage with a new production of Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella. In this more modern adaptation, Ella not only charms Prince Topher and leaves her glass slipper behind at the ball, but also helps the king prepare to lead his kingdom. There will be six performances Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella in the Howard Brubeck Theater at Palomar College, with performances this Saturday (7 p.m.) and Sunday (2 p.m.). Tickets are $38 plus fees and can be purchased here.

1140 West Mission Road, San Marcos

Wood: A Furniture Fair at the Escondido Arts Partnership Municipal Gallery

January 1st – February 21st

Admire finely crafted wooden artwork, furniture and sculptures at the 15th Annual Meeting Wood: A Furniture Fair at the Escondido Arts Partnership Municipal Gallery. There will be an opening reception Wood: A Furniture Fair this Saturday with the featured artists from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The free exhibition can be viewed until February 21st on Tuesdays and Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

262 East Grand Avenue, Escondido

More fun things to do in San Diego this weekend

Soundtrack to a coup at Digital Gym Cinema

January 10th, 12th and 15th

One of the most fascinating documentary releases of the year, Soundtrack to a coupcomes to the Digital Gym Cinema for three screenings, the first this Friday at 3:45 p.m. Director Johan Grimonprez’s film is set at the height of the Cold War and focuses on the unintended alliance between jazz and espionage, focusing on the CIA’s involvement in the assassination of Patrice Lumumba, the first prime minister of the Republic of Congo, in 1960. Performances will take place on Sunday at 5:30 p.m. and next Wednesday (January 15) at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $13.

1100 Market Street, East Village

San Diego Rodeo

10th-12th January

Prepare for a great time at Petco Park as brave rodeo athletes compete for over $800,000 in prize money at the San Diego Rodeo. But the fun doesn’t end in the ring – there’s a pre-rodeo beer festival in Gallagher Square on Friday and Saturday, plus there are rodeo afterparties each night with performances from Elle King, Ryan Bingham and Colter Wall. One-day rodeo tickets start at $35 (Saturday and three-day tickets are sold out), while after-party tickets range from $56 to $8.

100 Park Boulevard, downtown

San Diego Resolution Run 5K, 10K and half marathon

January 11th

If you’ve already set your fitness goals for the new year, you can check off some of them by taking part in the San Diego Resolution Run with 5K, 10K and half marathon options. The Resolution Run begins at Tecolote Shores South Park and takes racers through Mission Bay. After crossing the finish line, participants can visit a wellness village with health-friendly foods and products. Registration for the 5K ($59), 10K ($69) and half marathon ($115) can be completed here.

1292 East Mission Bay Drive, Mission Bay

Jimmy O. Yang at the Civic Theater

January 11th

The small but mighty Jimmy O. Yang embarks on his third stand-up comedy tour, the Big & Tall Tour, with a Saturday night show at the Civic Theater. As an actor, Yang had outstanding leading roles in the romantic comedy Love hard and the action comedy series Inner Chinatown. Tickets start at $70 and can be purchased here.

1100 Third Avenue, Downtown

Monster Jam at Snapdragon Stadium

January 11th and 12th

This Saturday and Sunday, riders will go all out in races, skills competitions and freestyle competitions to find out who the bravest riders are in Monster Jam. While the stunts are always the star of the show, a dozen contestants also compete for a spot in the Monster Jam World Finals, making for a must-see showdown. The event begins on Saturday at 5:00 p.m. and Sunday at 3:00 p.m. with a pre-race pit party and Trackside Experience activities for hardcore fans. Tickets start at $49 for single-day tickets to Monster Jam.

2101 Stadium Way, Mission Valley