The 11 best things to do in San Diego County this weekend

October 9–11, 2026 · handpicked from everything on across San Diego County.

This weekend pulses with comedy headliners, live music across venues, and Halloween festivities—plus the return of the La Jolla Art & Wine Festival and several one-off cultural celebrations.

Bassem Youssef: The Belly of the Beast TourFriday · 7:30 PM · Balboa Theatre · San DiegoBassem Youssef, host of the groundbreaking Middle Eastern political satire show Al Bernameg, brings his "Belly of the Beast Tour" to the Balboa Theatre. Sharp, fearless comedy from someone who shaped late-night television in an entirely different part of the world.WILLIE BARCENAFriday · 7:00 PM · Mic Drop Comedy · San DiegoWillie Barcena—twelve Tonight Show appearances and one of the sharpest minds in comedy—tackles the subjects you're not supposed to talk about. Mic Drop Comedy on Friday night.Funny Bitches! | All-Female Stand-Up Comedy in San DiegoFriday · 7:00 PM · Pure Pawsh · San DiegoAll-female stand-up comedy with local comics, audience participation, prizes, and very good dogs at Pure Pawsh Dog Bar. A Friday night that's equal parts funny and furry.La Jolla Art & Wine FestivalSaturday · 10:00 AM · Girard Avenue · La JollaThe La Jolla Art & Wine Festival returns for its 18th year this weekend, offering free admission to world-class art, curated wines, and live entertainment across Girard Avenue from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days.53rd Annual San Diego Serbian Festival 2026Saturday · 12:00 PM · St. George Serbian Orthodox Church · San DiegoThe 53rd Annual San Diego Serbian Festival brings authentic cuisine, incredible music and dancing, and the unmissable spirit of Serbia to St. George Serbian Orthodox Church on Saturday.San Diego Jazz & Blues FestivalSaturday · 1:00 PM · Waterfront Park · San DiegoThe San Diego Jazz & Blues Festival takes place Saturday evening at Waterfront Park, featuring contemporary jazz talent drawing comparisons to legends like Stanley Clarke and Marcus Miller.San Diego Oktoberfest Party CruiseFriday · 8:00 PM · Bahia Belle Cruises · San DiegoBoard the William D. Evans sternwheeler for an Oktoberfest bash on Mission Bay, complete with Bavarian beer, bratwurst, and the full lederhosen experience on Friday night.HalGLOWeenFriday · 5:00 PM · San Diego Zoo · San DiegoHalGLOWeen at the San Diego Zoo runs weekend evenings in October starting at 5 p.m., offering a family-friendly light-up-the-night spectacle with new activities this year.Improv VS StandupSaturday · 8:30 PM · Mockingbird Improv · San DiegoA one-hour Docent Ambassador-led tour of the Mingei International Museum's treasures and current exhibitions, including the new "Visiones Nocturnas: Queer Nightlife in Contemporary Art."SmackDown SundaySunday · 8:30 PM · Mockingbird Improv · San DiegoImprov VS Standup at Mockingbird Improv on Saturday—standup comedians perform, then the improv team creates scenes based on their material for laughs layered on laughs.Your Disposable Friends Do StandupFriday · 7:00 PM · National Lampoon The Yellow Door · San DiegoYour Disposable Friends Do Standup brings the LA-based sketch group to San Diego for a one-night-only show packed with the same chaos that made them known in their home city.

Looking for the current weekend? See what’s on in San Diego County this weekend →