As the weather cools down, the cultural scene in San Diego is heating up! This week, we've added over 60 events to the calendar! Oktoberfest celebrations, Lawn Programs, and other exciting celebrations are happening now and in the weeks ahead. No matter your musical tastes (or how you'd like to expand your musical palate), a rich abundance of artists and bands beckon, ready to sonically transport you to other places. Film enthusiasts can enjoy several festivals and special individual screenings, including the SD Shorts Film Festival, SD International Film Festival, a Filipino Film Festival, screenings for the Italian Film Festival (listed individually), classic videos at the Digital Gym, and, in a couple of weeks, the "Chew the Scene" SD Asian Film Festival launch party. There are at least 10 theatrical productions to experience now and in the coming weeks, plus fascinating talks, exhibition openings, and comedy shows. Whatever your pleasure or interests, you can deeply engage in the rich cultural life that graces San Diego!

San Diego Events:

Festivals, celebrations, and community events include: El Cajon Oktoberfest • Bollywood Festival • Nigerian Independence Party • Encinitas Oktoberfest & Artisan Faire • House of Lebanon Lawn Program • Dia De Los Muertos Celebration • Filipino American History Month Celebration • La Mesa Oktoberfest • Carlsbad Oktoberfest • East Village Oktoberfest • 15th Annual EdUCate! Oktoberfest • San Diego Sake Festival • House of Norway Lawn Program.

Music and/or dance performances include: Vania Pimentel • California Native American Day Performance • Nazarana • Kittel & Co. • Música en la Plaza: La Familia • Afrobeats to the World • Exploring Mexico's Contemporary Classical Flute & Piano Music • Grupo Firme • Carnatic Amritham • El As De La Sierra • Los Angeles Azules • Mon Rovia • Kalapana • Aldo Trujillo & Luis Coronel • That Mexican OT • Grupo Frontera • Ceu • Nicki Nicole • The Manny Cepeda Quartet • San Diego Tijuana International Jazz Festival • Luis Ángel and Luis Antonio López • Rajasthani Caravan • El Flaco & El Mimoso • Island Mist • Juan Carlos Blanco • Taiko Beats 2024 • Mehregan Fall Fête with Siriya Ensemble • Beatles vs Stones • Music/Dance: Eternamenete/Dia De Los Muertos • Resurrection • JACA • Anat Cohen Quartetinho • Banda Clave Nueva • Henry Kapono • Alisa Amador.

Interesting talks around town include: The Peranakan Chinese • Holocaust Living History Workshop: The Voices of Babyn Yar ft. Marianna Kiyanoyska.

Film festivals and special movie screenings include: Jila - ژیلا • San Diego Short Film Festival • San Diego International Film Festival • The Teacher • San Diego Filipino Film Festival • Ristretto Shorts Night 1 • Borderland - The Line Within • SDIFF: Rapido (Kidnapped) • Les Algues Vertes • Dieci Minuti (Ten Minutes) • SDIFF: Io Capitano • Chew the Scene: SDAFF Launch Party • DGC Video: Wired Nightmares – Cure.

Books and literature lovers are sure to enjoy: Keith Camacho • Madeline Martin • Ligaya Malones & Deanna Sandoval • Book: The Ballerina of Auschwitz • Filipino American History Month Storytime.

Food and Drink events include: Mexico in a Bottle.

Local theatrical productions include: Shakespeare in the Park: The Tempest • Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street • Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express • A View from the Bridge • Dracula, A Comedy of Terrors • NTL: Prima Facie • The Mousetrap • Latinx New Play Festival • Masa • Denmark V. Hamlet: Shakespeare Mock Trial & Talkback.

Visual Arts events include: Dutch Art History Lecture Series • Art: Kensuke Takahashi Exhibition.

Comedy performances include: Ismo Leikola • Tamil Comedy Bonanza • Muy Funny • Franco Escamilla • Omid Djalili • Bassem Youssef.

And the Empowering Immigrant Professionals networking event rounds out our list for this week.

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!

Peruvian Tallarín Saltado Chifa