(View as a Webpage)Friday August 29, 2025
Participant Observer
What's Happening

Dear Readers,

As we roll into fall, our cross-cultural event calendar is filling fast with festivals, fundraisers, concerts, and plenty of ways to get together and experience the wonderful richness of the diversity we get to call home.

There are a number of festivals and big goings-on in San Diego in the coming days, including the Barona Powwow, the Jacumbia Festival, and the House of Ukraine Lawn Program. Next weekend, festivals include the two-day Cardiff Greek Festival, the HPR 90th Anniversary Celebration, the Afro Diaspora Festival in Waterfront Park, and Dandiya Under the Stars in Balboa Park.

Music and dance events include the three-day Indian Fine Arts Youth Festival at the JCC, CultureFest in Escondido, and the Holo Holo Music Festival at Petco Park. Next week and next weekend events include Fiesta Fin de Verano at SDSU, the Wapacheros "cumbia-boogie" band at the California Center for the Arts, and Argentine-born Mexican singer-songwriter Amanda Miquel at Balboa Theatre.

Local fundraisers include the Africa New Life event at the Granger Hotel, and, next Thursday, the Survivors of Torture Fundraiser.

Theatrical offering include Spring Awakening at the Brooks Theater in Oceanside (starting this Sunday), and next weekend, three operatic performances by Gianni Schicchi in San Marcos.

Other interesting events around town are a "plática" (chat or talk) about Chicana Art in Context at the California Center for the Arts on Saturday, and, next weekend, Ancestral Guidance Workshop also at the CCA.

All the events happening in the next 2 weeks:

Festivals, celebrations, and community events: Barona PowwowJacumbia FestivalHouse of Ukraine Lawn ProgramCardiff Greek FestivalHPR 90th Anniversary CelebrationAfroDiaspora FestivalDandiya Under the StarsDiwali FestaSycuan Pow WowMexican Independence CelebrationCelebracion Mexicana.

Music and/or dance performances: Indian Fine Arts Youth FestivalCultureFestHolo Holo Music FestivalFiesta Fin de VeranoWapacherosAmanda MiquelLos Guevara.

Fundraisers: Africa New Life.

Local theatrical productions: Spring AwakeningOpera: Gianni Schicchi.

Visual Arts events: Chicana Art in ContextExhibit: The Great White Buffalo.

Social Justice related events: Survivors Ice Cream Social.

Other notable events: Workshop: Ancestral Guidance.

On to the events!

Everyone here at the San Diego Participant Observer and the Worldview Project wish you fulfilling, illuminating, and culturally-rich experiences in the days ahead. See you next week!

Tom Signature
Upcoming Events:
Image Denotes multi-day (3+) event. Only first instance from today is displayed.

Friday, August 29

10:30 AMTalk: Alberto López Pulido
Mingei Museum
1:00 PMFrench Market
Intercontinental Hotel
5:00 PMExhibit Opening: Fragmentos Del Barrio
Chicano Park Museum
6:00 PMIndian Fine Arts Youth Festival Image
Lawrence Family JCC
"Fundraiser: Arte as Resistance
Mockingbird Improv
"Barona Powwow Image
Barona Sports Complex
7:00 PMMusic: B-Side Players
California Center for the Arts
9:30 PMComedy: Alfred Robles (SOLD OUT)
Mic Drop Comedy

Saturday, August 30

11:00 AMCultureFest
Grape Day Park
1:00 PMTalk: Chicana Art in Context
California Center for the Arts
2:00 PMHolo Holo Music Festival
Petco Park
5:00 PMJacumbia Festival
Jacumba Hot Springs Hotel

Sunday, August 31

11:00 AMHouse of Ukraine Lawn Program
International Cottages
2:00 PMHolo Holo Music Festival
Petco Park
3:00 PMStage: Spring Awakening Image
Brooks Theater

Monday, September 1

3:00 PMMusic: Fiesta Fin de Verano
SDSU

Thursday, September 4

5:00 PMSurvivors Ice Cream Social
Survivors' Healing Center Courtyard

Friday, September 5

7:00 PMMusic: Wapacheros
California Center for the Arts
"Opera: Gianni Schicchi Image
Bornemann Theatre, San Marcos
8:30 PMMusic: Amanda Miquel
Balboa Theatre

Saturday, September 6

10:00 AMCardiff Greek Festival
St. Constantine and Hello Greek Orthodox Church
11:00 AMHPR 90th Anniversary Celebration
Balboa Park
1:00 PMWorkshop: Ancestral Guidance
California Center for the Arts
2:00 PMAfroDiaspora Festival
Waterfront Park
6:00 PMDandiya Under the Stars
Balboa Park
9:00 PMFundraiser: Africa New Life
Granger Hotel

Sunday, September 7

11:00 AMDiwali Festa
Sapphire Restaurant & Banquet
"Cardiff Greek Festival
St Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church
"HPR 90th Anniversary Celebration
Balboa Park

Friday, September 12

10:00 AMExhibit: The Great White Buffalo
Exclusive Collections Gallery
5:00 PMSycuan Pow Wow Image
Sycuan Resort
7:00 PMMusic: Los Guevara
California Center for the Arts

Saturday, September 13

10:00 AMSycuan Pow Wow
Sycuan Resort
NOONMexican Independence Celebration
Las Americas Premium Outlets
5:00 PMCelebracion Mexicana
Shiley Theatre, USD

Sunday, September 14

10:00 AMSycuan Pow Wow
Sycuan Resort

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Recipe of the Month
Dezhou Braised Chicken

Dezhou Braised Chicken

This month's recipe is for Dezhou Braised Chicken (德州扒鸡), a beloved dish from China’s Shandong region. Though it requires some patience, the ingredients are few and familiar, and the result is a deeply flavorful and satisfying meal.

CD of the Month

Our International Music of the Month selection is for Songs of the Naxi of Southwest China by He Jinhua.

He Jinhua is a Chinese musician and a national first-level artist with the Yulong County Song and Dance Troupe of Lijiang. Born in 1971, she is a folk singer of the Naxi people, and her music focuses on preserving the traditional songs of her community.

Book of the Month

Our Book of the Month is The Daughters of Shandong by Eve. J. Chung.

The Daughters of Shandong is a powerful historical novel set during the Chinese Civil War, following a young mother and her three daughters as they flee across war-torn China in search of safety. Inspired by true events, the story explores themes of survival, loyalty, and female resilience. Rich in cultural detail, it offers a rare glimpse into mid-20th-century Shandong through the eyes of those history often overlooks.

International Films
Final Notes

Important Disclaimer: While as a public service we list political, religious, spiritual, consciousness-raising, and commercial events in our calendar, this does not mean that The Participant Observer necessarily endorses or otherwise supports any of the views, sentiments, beliefs or products presented or promoted in such events. We endeavor mightily to ensure that our calendar listings are accurate, but please confirm dates and times of events.


The San Diego Participant Observer is Published by:

The Worldview Project

www.worldviewproject.org
2445 Morena Blvd. Suite 210
San Diego, CA 92110

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