This Weekend in San Diego: Compete on a Carousel, Walk on the Wild Side, Marvel at Model Ts and more!

It is another exciting weekend here in San Diego County, only the second out of FIVE full weekends in October, but that doesn’t make this weekend any less special. It’s only more reason to celebrate especially with the beautiful Southern California weather returning to brighten our days.

Multi-Day Events

Yesterday was the start of the four-day 3^rd Annual California Surf Festival in Oceanside! From October 6^th-10^th bask in a mix of music, movies, and surf culture with events including a concert by Donavon Frankenreiter and Big Wave Night.

Come celebrate Seaport Village’s 30^th Anniversary starting at 10am Friday, October 8^th, until 5pm Saturday, October 9^th. Be sure to check out the 30 for 30 challenge and witness thirty individuals compete by riding the carousel for thirty hours.

On both Saturday and Sunday, enjoy two fine culinary events in San Diego. The La Jolla Art & Wine Festival runs from 11am until 6pm featuring the Surfside Wine & Beer Garden, a Family Arts Center, local eats and farmers’ market vendors. Proceeds from the event will go to support underfunded public school programs in La Jolla, Torrey Pines, and Bird Rock Elementary. Then head to North County to get The Gourmet Experience in Del Mar, become a culinary connoisseur with the latest foods, lessons, and tools in fine dining. You can enter to win FREE tickets from the Entertainer here.

Thursday, October 7^th

San Diego nightlife explodes with activity tonight! Southern California native Matt Costa will rock the Casbah stage or head down to the Gaslamp Quarter for Into the AM at On Broadway and dance the night away with beats provided by award-winning DJ Steve Aoki. Tonight also boasts The Most Interesting Show in the World, a variety entertainment event presented by Dos Equis hosted by musician and entertainer Andrew WK at The House of Blues.

Friday, October 8^th

Check out MiraCosta College’s free screening of director Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s Tokyo Sonata (2008), a film about the collapse of an average Japanese family after the father loses his job, as part of their International Film Series.  There are three showings throughout the day at three of the campuses. Be sure to take a look at their future screenings of other films from around the world, happening every Friday through December.

Saturday, October 9^th

Release the inner beast at the 5^th Annual Walk on the Wild Side! Stroll around the world-famous San Diego Zoo before it opens to the general public, and catch a rare glance into the morning routines of its inhabitants. Funds from the event go to elephant conservation projects and help fund the herds housed at the San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park. Participants receive a free t-shirt, good bag, and refreshments after the event as well as free admission to the zoo that day. So grab a friend and do your part to help our elephant friends.

After a stroll around the zoo, head over to Encinitas for the San Diego County Library Book Festival. From 10am-4pm drop by to hear a slew of writers and artists share their stories and experiences including Golden Globe-nominated actor Richard Dreyfuss (Mr. Holland’s Opus). There’s fun for the whole family such as “Deck Out Your Deck,” a skateboard design workshop for teens, and puppet storytelling with Shelley Moore Thomas for the little ones.

At night, enjoy an awesome show at one of San Diego’s famed venues. Comedian Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers bust out their banjos to bring Bluegrass to the Balboa Theatre. The House of Blues welcomes rapper Tech N9ne along with E-40, Kutt Calhoun and more, while mellow man Jack Johnson heads to the Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre on his To The Sea Tour 2010.

Sunday, October 10^th

Get a taste of Italy at the Little Italy Festa! Throughout the day, events celebrating Italian cuisine and culture are happening around the neighborhood including a connoli eating contest, raffle, and beer & wine garden.

Then, head over to the Gaslamp Quarter for the Second Annual Fifth Avenue Auto Showcase to marvel at a wide collection of luxury imports and American legends from 11am to 4pm.

After getting your fill of culture and cars, support local musicians at The Acoustic Alliance, a collection of twelve artists sharing the stage to perform three of their songs, over at The Brick by Brick at 6pm.

Take a Peek into Next Week:

– Mon, Oct 11 – The Script with Hugo at The House of Blues
– Tues, Oct 12 – Burn the Floor at the Civic Theatre
– Wed, Oct 13 – Drumline Live at the Balboa Theatre
– Thurs, Oct 14 – The Casbah Presents Frightened Rabbit at The House of Blues
– Fri, Oct 15 –  Alice in Chains at the Viejas Arena in Aztec Bowl
– Sat, Oct 16 – SDSU Aztecs vs. Air Force Homecoming Game at Qualcomm Stadium
– Sun, Oct17 – Jake Shimabukuro at the Balboa Theatre

Photos courtesy of garryknight, bine_bardi, superfem, armadilo60,  and dok1 via Flickr.