Top San Diego Weekend Events: May 12-15: ‘In the Heights’, San Diego Opera, SoCal Taco Fest and More

Here are the main events taking place in San Diego from Thursday, May 12 through Sunday, May 15.

Thursday May 12

flower fields

Good news: The Flower Fields in Carlsbad, which originally closed last Sunday, has extended its season for one more weekend. Don’t miss your second-to-last chance to explore the remaining 14 acres of colorful flowers still in bloom. For its final days, all tickets will be half price. from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. until Sunday. (Note: closes at 4 p.m. on Saturdays) The Flower Fields, 5704 Paseo Del Norte, Carlsbad. Admission is $11 (adults), $10 (seniors and military) and $5 (children 3-10). Tickets must be purchased online in advance; theflowerfields.com

READ MORE: Carlsbad Flower Fields extends visitor season by a week

Dennis Quaid and the Sharks

Did you know that actor Dennis Quaid, known for his roles in films like “The Parent Trap” and “The Day After Tomorrow”, is also a musician? He’ll bring his band, vocals and rhythm guitar skills to San Diego for a 21+ sit-down show. 8 p.m. Thursday. Belly Up, 143 South Cedros Ave, Solana Beach. Tickets are $35; www.bellyup.com

The girls from the hair salon, led by Arianna Vila, left in “In the Heights” from the San Diego Musical Theater.

(San Diego Musical Theater)

“In the Heights”

The San Diego Musical Theater presents Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Tony Award-winning musical about a community of friends and family in New York’s heavily Latino neighborhood of Washington Heights. 7 p.m. Thursday. 8 p.m. Friday. 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Saturday. 2 p.m. Sunday. Until June 5. SDMT Stage, 4650 Mercury St., San Diego. $40 to $75. (858) 560-5740. sdmt.org

READ MORE: Veteran ‘In the Heights’ cast members ready to put a new spin on Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical

Friday May 13

“A movie night in honor of Victor Laruccia”

In honor of the late Victor Laruccia – the former executive director of the San Diego Italian Film Festival, who passed away in March – SDIFF and MOPA will host a special screening of one of his favorite films, “Mine vaganti (Loose Cannons) “. The event also serves as a fundraiser for the film festival; two of Laruccia’s friends promised a dollar-for-dollar match in his memory (up to $10,000). 6 p.m. Friday. Museum of Photographic Arts, 1649 El Prado, Balboa Park. Free; donations strongly encouraged. sandiegoitalianfilmfestival.com

FoodieLand Night Market

The three-day FoodieLand Night Market offers a wide range of multicultural food, activities and entertainment. The all-ages event highlights more than 150 vendors. 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. today; 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar. Tickets are $5 (excluding fees) and must be purchased online before arriving; delmarfairgrounds.com

A scene from San Diego Junior Theater’s “The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical,” which runs through Sunday in Balboa Park

(Ken Jacques)

“The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical”

The San Diego Junior Theater presents the final weekend of this family-friendly musical based on Rick Riordan’s novel about Poseidon’s son on an epic quest. The musical was directed by Jason Blitman, who was an original member of Broadway’s “Lightning Thief” production team. 7 p.m. Friday. 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Casa del Prado Theater, 1600 Village Square, Balboa Park. $16 to $18. (619) 239-8355. juniortheatre.com

The San Diego Opera presents “Aging Magician” May 13-14, 2022 at the Balboa Theater.

(Jill Steinberg)

“Aging Magician”

San Diego Opera presents the West Coast premiere of the 2016 chamber opera by Paola Prestini and Rinde Eckert with the Brooklyn Youth Chorus and the Attacca Quartet about an aging clock repairman who begins his journey to the au beyond, with songs, choral and sung music, spoken text, puppetry and performance art. 7:30 p.m. Friday. 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Balboa Theatre, 868 Fourth Ave., Gaslamp Quarter. $35 and up. (619) 533-7000. sdopera.org

READ MORE: San Diego Opera gears up, yet again, for pandemic-delayed West Coast premiere of ‘Aging Magician’

“A story of two cultures”

The Kruglak Gallery at MiraCosta College features works from the Miller Collection that show the similarities and stories behind similar handicrafts created by African artists nearly 100 years ago and Pennsylvania Dutch artisans over the past 50 years. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday. (Also 2:30-7:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday. Closing reception, 2-3:30 p.m. Tuesday.) Building 3400, MiraCosta College, 1 Barnard Drive, Oceanside. Free. kruglakgallery.weebly.com

Chris Spencer

Comedian and actor Chris Spencer is bringing his stand-up to San Diego for a run of five shows. Spencer is known for his roles in movies like “Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood” and “Postal,” as well as writing credits on various BET awards shows, “Wild ‘N Out” and “Jamie Foxx: Maybe I Need Security.” 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 7 p.m. Sunday. Comedy Store La Jolla, 916 Pearl St., La Jolla. Tickets are $25; thecomedystore.com/la-jolla

“Apotheosis of Dance”

Bach Collegium San Diego presents Mozart’s Symphony in A minor “Odense” and Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor, as well as Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 in A major in two locations. 7 p.m. Friday. All Souls Episcopal Church, 1475 Catalina Blvd., San Diego. 7 p.m. Saturday at Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church, 3459 Manchester Ave., Cardiff. $15 to $55. (619) 341-1726. bachcollegiumsd.org

Saturday May 14

SoCal Taco Party

Nearly 30 local restaurants will serve up delicious tacos at this 21+ event, which also features plenty of live music, spread across three stages. The lineup includes the likes of Sir Mix-A-Lot, Young MC, Los Sleepwalkers and more. There will also be Lucha Libre wrestling matches, as well as Chihuahua races and a beauty pageant. Noon to 10 p.m. Saturday. Waterfront Park, 1600 Pacific Highway, Embarcadero. Tickets are $60; www.altacofest.com

D6 Neighborhood fair

For its in-person return in 2022, the D6 Night Market is changing its name to a daytime event. The family-friendly D6 Neighborhood Fair features performances by local artists, as well as food vendors, arts and crafts, games, pet adoption and more. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Mira Mesa Community Park, 8575 New Salem Street, Mira Mesa. Free; d6nightmarket.com

Bob Marley Memorial Celebration

Honor music legend Bob Marley with this community event, featuring roots reggae performances from Johnny Osbourne and Rob Symeonn. In addition to the concert, indulge in the vegan soul food of the Caribbean served by the WorldBeat Cafe. 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday. WorldBeat Cultural Center, 2100 Park Blvd., Balboa Park. Tickets are $20, 619-230-1190; worldbeatcenter.org

Camarada: David Buckley, Dana Barnett, Andres Martin, Beth Ross Buckley

(Photo by Monique Feil Photography)

Camarada: “Hope”

In the second installment of its “Music of the Americas” series, the versatile chamber music ensemble Camarada honors the music of our region of the world. Organized by Andrés Martin, the program will include works of tango, contemporary classical music and jazz by Martin, Raúl Jaurena, David Baker, Aaron Copland, Keith Jarrett, Ignacio Cervantes and Scott Joplin. 7:30 p.m. Saturday. UC San Diego @ Park & ​​Market, 1100 Park Blvd., East Village. $40 to $70. (619) 231-3702. camarada.org

New World Chamber Set: “Final Fantasy”

La Jolla Music Society presents this chamber ensemble led by conductor Eric Roth who performs classic pieces, battle shuffles, character themes and works by composer Nobuo Uematsu from the “Final Fantasy” video game series . 5 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Saturday. Baker-Baum Concert Hall, Conrad Prebys Center for Fine Arts, 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla. $55. ljms.org/events/a-new-world.

Sunday May 15

Navy Bridge Race

Want the chance to run on the Coronado Bridge? The Navy’s Bay Bridge Run offers a scenic four-mile course that begins in downtown San Diego and ends at Tidelands Park in Coronado. All participants will receive a medal and t-shirt at the finish line, where there will be a post-race/walk party with refreshments, live music and an awards ceremony. 8 a.m. Sunday. The start line is located at One Park Blvd. at Harbor Drive, Embarcadero. Registration is $53, with discounts available for active duty military, seniors, and children. marinebaybridgerun.com

MOUNT CLEMENS, MI – 1969: Rock band MC5 (LR Dennis “Machine Gun” Thompson, Wayne Kramer, Fred “Sonic” Smith and Rob Tyner) perform live in 1969 in Mount Clemens, Michigan. (Photo by Leni Sinclair/Michael Ochs Archive/Getty Images)

(Leni Sinclair/Getty Images)

MC5: The Heavy Lifting Tour

Hard rock band MC5, which formed in 1963, brings “The Heavy Lifting Tour” to town. The 21+ show will be opened by The Zeros. 7:30 p.m. Sunday. Soda Bar, 3615 El Cajon Blvd., Normal Heights. sodabarmusic.com

READ MORE: Six-time Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominee MC5 gears up for first album in 51 years and new tour

“Romantic Works by Three German Composers”

The Salon de Musiques presents a concert devoted to Ukraine with the String Quartet No. 3 in A major by Robert Schumann, the Piano Quintet in G minor by Max Brunch and the United States. creation of the Sonata for cello and piano n° 1 in G minor by Camillo Schumann. 4 p.m. Sunday. La Jolla Women’s Club, 7791 Draper Ave., La Jolla. $45 to $90. (310) 498-0257. lessalondemusiques.com

Pam Kragen contributed to this report.