San Diego Botanic Garden is celebrating fall and you’re invited! Enjoy the venue’s seasonal display of pumpkins in Hamilton Children’s Garden from Oct. 12-Nov. 6. Make time for the special Fall Festival Family Day from 10 a.m.-3 pm. Saturday, Oct. 21, featuring fall crafts, the music of Billy Lee and the Swamp Critters, and get ready for Halloween with the Garden’s spooky boo-tanical costume parade. You’ll also have the chance to plant your own ghost succulent, learn about and dissect pumpkins, and hold a slimy worm, if you dare! All participants will receive a mini pumpkin to decorate. Also don’t miss the continuing “killer” exhibition, “Savage Gardens,” featuring hundreds of real carnivorous plants on display in the Conservatory, along with three photo-worthy installations. “Savage Gardens” ends Oct. 29. Looking ahead, another dazzling year of Lightscape is just around the corner at the Garden. Featuring exciting new installations along with returning fan favorites, this one-mile loop has been reimagined for the 2023 season. Merging nature and art, the Garden will come to life at night with festive sights and sounds for all to enjoy. Purchase Lightscape tickets here. San Diego Botanic Garden
family-friendly events
Fiesta de Reyes in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park is planning a Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, celebration like no other in San Diego – a free, family-friendly immersive experience designed to bring the spirit of this traditional annual Mexican and South American celebration to life for San Diegans of all ages. The experience runs Oct. 1-Nov. 2. A long-standing Mexican tradition, Dia de los Muertos is celebrated Nov. 1-2 and is an opportunity to remember loved ones with honor in a lively, vibrant way. View more than 50 unique displays. Thousands of marigolds – a traditional flower associated with Día de los Muertos – will garner the courtyard, and live entertainment on the Fiesta de Reyes stage. Staff will dress in festive attire associated with Day of the Dead and merchants will host both traditional and more contemporary altars throughout the plaza. Fiesta de Reyes is open from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. daily, Free parking is available throughout Old Town. Fiesta de Reyes
Immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of San Diego’s vibrant arts scene as we shine a spotlight on musical organizations that make our city a culturally rich community. The free California Festival Family & Community Day will showcase performances by the San Diego Youth Symphony, San Diego Master Chorale and Art of Elan. Don’t miss out – RSVP now and create cherished memories at the California Festival Family & Community Day. See you there!
This event begins at 12noon and lasts until 6pm. This is a FREE event for the whole family. Food, beverages (no alcohol), chairs and blankets may be brought in. Food and drink will also be available for purchase onsite.
This concert is part of The California Festival, a new, statewide music initiative showcasing the most compelling and forward-looking voices
in performances of works written in the past five years.
12pm: San Diego Symphony
1:30pm: San Diego Youth Symphony
3pm: San Diego Master Chorale
4:30pm: Art of Elan
Salk Institute Professor Greg Lemke, California Festival Family and Community Day MC
Rafael Payare, conductor
David Castillo, narrator
Members of the San Diego Symphony
San Diego Suzuki School of Music
William STARR: “Twinkle” from Variations on Suzuki Melodies
San Diego Suzuki School of Music
Carlos SIMON: Journey
Leopold MOZART: Kindersymphonie (“Toy Symphony”)
Jessie MONTGOMERY: Strum
Sergei PROKOFIEV: Peter and the Wolf
Sameer Patel, conductor
San Diego Youth Symphony
Johannes BRAHMS: Hungarian Dances No. 1 in G minor
Anna CLYNE: Restless Oceans
Andrea CASARRUBIOS: Anthem for Strings
Michael-Thomas FOUMAI: “The Happiest Color” from The Telling Rooms
Johannes BRAHMS: Hungarian Dances Nos. 5 & 6 (Arr. A. Parlow)
San Diego Master Chorale
Dr. John K. Russell, music director
Jean BERGER: Movement 4 from Vision of Peace
Jennifer Lucy COOK: “They are Mother”
Saunder CHOI: “The New Colossus”
Jocelyn HAGEN: “Where All Are Welcome” and “Sanctus” from amass
arr. Matthew BROWN: “True Colors”
arr. Zanaida ROBLES: “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing”
Michael OESTERLE: Selections from Parlour Games
double
father
whilst
spade
run
Juhi BANSAL: Trail of Stars
Paul WIANCKO: Cities of Air
Carlos SIMON: Between Worlds
Nahre SOL: Crossroads (World Premiere)
Erberk ERYILMAZ: Raki Havasi
At this family friendly event at The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, Little Amal steps into a world of mesmerizing wonder when she is treated to a very special performance by the puppetry troupe Animal Cracker Conspiracy.
Amal Walks Across America is produced by The Walk Productions in association with Handspring Puppet Company.
San Diego Symphony along with the Blindspot Collective, Casa Familiar, Estudio Teddy Cruz + Fonna Forman, Fundación Regalando Amor, Imagine: Brave Spaces, La Jolla Playhouse, Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve, University of California San Diego, UCSD-CASA Community Station, UCSD-Alacran Community Station, the University of California San Diego Center on Global Justice, the City of San Diego and the Jewish Family Service of San Diego will welcome Little Amal to the city of San Diego on November 3-5, 2023.
Please note: the San Diego Symphony Orchestra will not appear on this program.
This concert is part of The California Festival, a new, statewide music initiative showcasing the most compelling and forward-looking voices
in performances of works written in the past five years.
This event is free and open to the public; bring a picnic or enjoy offerings from The Rady Shell’s food and beverage vendors. Outside alcohol is not permitted in Jacobs Park; however alcoholic beverages can be purchased from Shell Provisions vendors onsite.