Hello San Diego!

Festivals abound (and more on the way)! On Saturday and Sunday, the Bella Vita Fest will grace Little Italy. Saturday’s festivals include a Native American Heritage Festival in Escondido, the 3rd Anniversary of the Filipinos of South Bay at the Chula Vista Library, a Diwali Celebration at the Rancho Bernardo Library, and a Día de Los Muertos Festival at Colony Park in Solana Beach.

Music and dance fans are sure to enjoy Irish group Celtic Thunder at Sycuan Casino (Saturday and Sunday shows), Native American flute playing and storytelling event in Oceanside, an improv concert duo with Jie Ma on Chinese Pipa and Christopher Adler on Piano (USD, Sunday), Hawaiian recording artist Keali'i Reichel at Humphrey's, the ballet performance Landscapes at the San Diego Museum of Art (next Friday through Sunday), Reggae star Luciano at the Worldbeat on Thursday, and next Friday, at the Epstein Family Amphitheater, the La Mezcla’s Ghostly Labor music and dance show will be performed.

Local film festivals include the ongoing SD International Film Festival, which wraps up on Sunday, and the Otherwise Film Festival, which begins on Tuesday of next week. Individual film screenings include the beyond charming Coco at Mount Hope Cemetery (Saturday), the Iranian film The Survivor at MOPA (Saturday), the German tragicomedy Peacock (Sunday and next Wednesday), and Sinner, next Monday at the Hyatt.

Talks and discussions around town include the Castañeda Sobremesa Sessions on Saturday and Sunday at the Mingei, the Suraj Israni Center Fellowship Forum at UCSD, and a talk by Professor Roy L. Brooks who will speak about his long career in interdisciplinary studies in law, philosophy, history, sociology, political science, and anthropology.

Literary events include a Nuestra Cultura Reading at the Oak Park Library (Saturday), Chinese Ghost Stories at the Chinese Historical Society (Saturday), an open reading of Twelfth Night (Part Two) at the Coronado Library (next Tuesday), and (also next Tuesday) a special in-person event with James McBride, author of our 2025 One Book, One San Diego adult selection, Deacon King Kong. The Worldview Project is a proud community partner with One Book, One San Diego.

Other notable events in and around San Diego include the production of Copenhagen (starting tonight) at Lamplighters Community Theatre, a Cultural Walk at Kumeyaay Lake Campground (Saturday), a Bakunawa Market at the Monarch School (Saturday and Sunday), a Diwali Cultural Crafting Night at SDSU (Monday), and next Friday, comedian Joe Wong will be at the National Lampoon The Yellow Door.

Lastly, the Worldview Project, which produces this newsletter every week (and does lots of other stuff too!), is a non-profit organization. Supporting cross-cultural awareness, understanding, and engagement has never been more critical than it is now. As you may have noticed, we don't annoy you with advertisements or constant fundraising appeals. But we need your support to continue to do what we do. In particular we are seeking our reader's help in funding the further development of our Cultures in the Classroom™ curriculum project to inspire children to connect with and appreaciate the wonder of cultures around the world. You can show your support by clicking on the "Donate to the WVP" button above and making a tax-deductible donation to the WVP. No donation is too small— even a dollar would be appreciated!

All the cross-cultural events for the next 2 weeks:

Festivals, celebrations, and community events: Native American Heritage Festival • Bella Vita Fest • 3rd Anniversary of the Filipinos of South Bay • Diwali Celebration • Día de Los Muertos Festival • City Heights El Día de los Muertos • House of Scotland Lawn Program • 12th Annual Día de los Muertos Festival • Encinitas Día de Los Muertos Celebration • House of Türkiye Lawn Program • Barrio Logan Día de los Muertos.

Music and/or dance performances: Celtic Thunder • Native American Flute Circle • Jie Ma and Christopher Adler • Keali'i Reichel • Ballet: Landscapes • Ghostly Labor • Shintaro Sakamoto • When in Rome • Giselle • Haneen Choir • One Love Festival • Mariachi Rodriguez.

Interesting talks around town: Castañeda Sobremesa Session • Suraj Israni Center Fellowship Forum • Roy L. Brooks Lecture • South Korea-U.S. Cooperation & North Korea Strategy Talk.

Film festivals and special movie screenings: SD International Film Festival • Coco • The Survivor • Peacock • Sinner • Otherwise Film Festival • Silent Film: The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (with the Hausmann Quartet).

Books and literature lovers are sure to enjoy: Nuestra Cultura Reading • Chinese Ghost Stories • Open Reading: Twelfth Night (Part Two) • James McBride Talk • Thomas Schlesser Talk

Fundraisers: Larry Itliong Community Breakfast.

Local theatrical productions: Copenhagen • Dracula.

Visual Arts events: The Universe of Alfredo Castañeda • Storytelling: Telling Stories in Stitch • Diwali Cultural Crafting Night • Dia De Los Muertos Sugar Skull Workshop • Shadowbox Shrine Workshop.

Comedy performances: Joe Wong • DEI Comedy: Asian Women Comedians.

Sports events: Capoeira Batizado.

Social Justice related events: Peace and Justice Concert.

Other notable events: Discovery Walk: Kumeyaay Kids • Bakunawa Market.    

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!