From Fourth of July festivities to summer parties and world-famous plays, check out the best things to do in San Diego this month.
Edited by Madelyn Harris
Guys and Dolls
July 2-Aug. 13. Based on Damon Runyon’s famous tales of small-time hoods and showgirls, Guys and Dolls is filled with some of the most loved showtunes, including “Luck Be a Lady,” “I’ve Never Been in Love Before” and “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat.” Shiley Stage at The Old Globe, 1363 Old Globe Way, Balboa Park, 619.234.5623. theoldglobe.org
San Diego County Fair
Through July 4. San Diego’s largest annual event is “Where the West Is Fun”—celebrating all things Wild, Wild West—and features car shows, animals, games, exhibits, carnival rides, arts and crafts, food vendors, concerts and more. Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar, 858.755.1161. sdfair.com
Big Bay Boom
July 4. The Port of San Diego presents this annual festive display of fireworks from barges in the bay. Best viewing sites include downtown, Coronado, Harbor and Shelter Islands and Imperial Beach. bigbayboom.com
Coronado Independence Day Celebration
July 4. Parade starts at 10 a.m. along Orange Avenue, followed by a concert at 4 p.m. in Spreckels Park and fireworks over Glorietta Bay at 9 p.m. Coronado, 619.437.8788. coronadotimes.com
Historic Old Town Fourth of July
July 4. This 19th-century-inspired celebration features a parade, crafts, wagon rides, period games, music, a pie-eating contest and more. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Old Town State Historic Park, Old Town, 619.220.5422. oldtownsandiegoguide.com
Flower Fairy Camp
July 3-7. Bring your kids to the Botanic Gardens for a flower fairy camp, in which kids will make flower fairy crowns, read fairy poems and build furniture for fairy homes from natural materials. 9 a.m.-12 p.m. $120/4 days. San Diego Botanic Garden, 760.436.3036. sdbgarden.org
At the Old Place
July 5-30. In her mid-40s and facing a breaking point, a literature professor returns to her childhood home in Virginia only to discover two young people camped out on her lawn in this intimate new play about the search for the roads not taken. Mandell Weiss Forum at the La Jolla Playhouse, 2910 La Jolla Village Drive, La Jolla, 858.550.1010. lajollaplayhouse.org
Animal Crackers
July 5-Aug. 13. Based on the original Marx Brothers’ Broadway hit and classic film, this stage adaptation is an outrageous, rollicking, laugh-out-loud musical comedy, complete with audience participation. Cygnet Theatre in Old Town, 4040 Twiggs St., Old Town, 619.337.1525. cygnettheatre.com
AVENUE Q
July 7–Oct. 9. Humans and puppets interact in this hilarious musical about twenty-somethings learning how to live and love in New York. OB Playhouse & Theatre Co. 4944 Newport Ave., Ocean Beach, 619.795.9305. obtheatrecompany.com
64th Annual World Championship Over-the-Line Tournament
July 8-9 and 15-16. Three-member teams compete in SD’s original beach softball tournament, a colorful event for mature audiences. Fiesta Island, Mission Bay. ombac.org
The Westwind Brass: Summer Brass Workshop
July 10-14. San Diego’s premier professional brass ensemble presents their interactive summer brass workshop, followed by a free afternoon concert with participant ensembles. 1-4 p.m. SDSU. westwindbrass.org
San Diego Pride Festival & Parade
July 15-16. The 43rd annual celebration is one of the largest in the nation. Join more than 300,000 members and supporters of the LGBT community from all over the country as they flock to the Hillcrest neighborhood for a festive weekend. Highlights include a peaceful rally, a parade, a 5K race and a music festival. Parade: Sa 11 a.m. at University Avenue and Normal Street, Hillcrest. Festival: Sa 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Su 11 a.m.-8 p.m. at Balboa Park. sdpride.org
At This Evening’s Performance
July 12-Aug. 6. A bohemian theater troupe performing in an Eastern European police state finds more drama backstage than onstage in this uproarious comedy. North Coast Repertory Theatre, 987-D Lomas Santa Fe Drive, Solana Beach, 858.481.1055. northcoastrep.org
Vigilucci’s Beach Bocce World Championship
July 15. Come together for one of the largest bocce ball tournaments on the west coast. Last year, 411 teams played 999 games, and this year will be even bigger. All proceeds will be raised for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Carlsabd. Dog Beach Del Mar. beachbocce.com
Celebrate National Ice Cream Day
July 16. To celebrate National Ice Cream Day, head to Pappalecco Café for some homemade Tuscan gelato. Try their gelato croissant—two scoops of gelato stuffed between a homemade croissant. Various locations. pappalecco.com
#LIT Pool Party
July 15. Get in the summer groove with a hip hop pool party, featuring DJ Myxzlplix. Drinks and other surprises are in store for guests. 1-7 p.m. $16 general admission. The Lafayette Hotel, 2223 El Cajon Blvd., 619.296.2101. lafayettehotelsd.com
Del Mar Racing
July 19-Sept. 4. Catch thoroughbred racing five days a week (dark M and Tu, except Labor Day). Post time most days is 2 p.m. Special events include Four O’Clock Fridays concert series, a Beer Festival, family weekends and the $1 million Pacific Classic (Aug. 19). Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar. dmtc.com
Comic-Con International
July 20-23. The nation’s largest convention celebrating comics and the popular arts features comic-book publishers, game companies, film studios and toy makers. Sold out. San Diego Convention Center, 111 W. Harbor Drive, Embarcadero. comic-con.org
Pirate Con
July 21. Get ready for all things pirate with an event that includes costume contests, prizes, games, live music, photo booth pictures, dancing and general piratical behavior. Guests are encouraged to wear their finest pirate attire. $40. Maritime Museum of San Diego, 619.234.9153. sdmaritime.org
Ken Ludwig’s Robin Hood!
July 22-Aug. 27. Comic genius Ken Ludwig is back with a brand-new Globe-commissioned world-premiere comedy that tells the timeless story of a hero of the people who takes on the powers that be in hilarious fashion. White Theatre at The Old Globe, 1363 Old Globe Way, Balboa Park, 619.234.5623. theoldglobe.org
Two Farmtables and a Microphone: Travel More. Buy Less.
July 23. Take part in a freshly-harvested organic meal accompanied by guest speaker Luis Vargas (EVP of The Clymb) as he speaks about entertainment, technology and culture Cyclops Farm, 1448 Avocado Rd, Oceanside. 2ftam.com
The Book of Mormon
July 25-30. From the creators of South Park, experience Broadway’s religious satire musical that everyone’s raving about, and is also the winner of nine Tony Awards including Best Musical. Contains explicit language. Broadway/San Diego, Civic Theatre, 1100 Third Ave., downtown, 619.570.1100. broadwaysd.com
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Big Fish
Through July 30. The Broadway hit based on the celebrated novel by Daniel Wallace and the acclaimed film directed by Tim Burton is a delightful, adventurous musical journey about the importance of imagination and storytelling in our lives. Lamb’s Players Theatre, 1142 Orange Ave., Coronado, 619.437.6000. lambsplayers.org
King Richard II
Through July 15. Convinced of his divine right to rule, King Richard II acts recklessly and provides the canny Henry Bolingbroke an opening to seize the crown in this insightful portrait of how the forces of history collide and combust to shape a nation’s political landscape. The Old Globe, 1363 Old Globe Way, Balboa Park, 619.234.5623. theoldglobe.org
San Diego Padres Games
Ongoing. Catch a San Diego Padres home game at Petco Park, with rivals including the Los Angeles Dodgers (June 30-July 2), San Francisco Giants (July 14-16) and Philadelphia Phillies (Aug. 14-16). 100 Park Blvd., East Village, 619.795.5000. mlb.com
International Summer Organ Festival
Through Aug. 28. On Mondays, enjoy free concerts by internationally renowned organists performing on the world’s largest outdoor pipe organ. 7:30 p.m. Spreckels Organ Pavilion, Balboa Park. spreckelsorgan.org
