Hello Dear Readers!

Special Announcement: The San Diego Participant Observer Newsletter is taking its summer holiday next week (July 5). Cultural Tidings and the Films Section will be updated as usual. The following week we will publish the July edition with notable changes in the format and function in the newsletter and the calendar listings on the Participant Observer website. Stay tuned!

On to the events . . .

The San Diego County Fair continues at the Racetrack in Del Mar – Americana at its most exuberant (but lots of international events will be happening too!).

This weekend, the 32nd Annual Kuumba Fest takes place at the Educational Culture Complex.

Yesterday (Thursday), The Beauty Queen of Leenane opened at the Tenth Avenue Arts Center. Performances will continue until July 13.

Friday (today), Sabrosas Latin Orchestra will perform at the California Center for the Arts in Escondido. Eclectic band Chicano Batman will perform at Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre.

Saturday, the San Diego Short Film Festival will take place at the Digital Gym. At Everde Growers, there will be a workshop on the Principles of Japanese Garden Design and Composition. San Diego Music Award-winning singer-songwriter Carlos Olmeda will give a house concert in Clairemont Mesa. The 37th Annual Junior PASACAT Concert will take place at Mater Dei Catholic High School. The San Diego Black Arts + Culture District Music Festival will happen at the Mater Dei Catholic High School.

Sunday, the House of Mexico will celebrate the 20th anniversary of their house. Flamenco Tablao Series: “Cádiz” featuring artists Vanessa Albalos, Tiana Álvarez, Kambiz Pakan, and Pepele Méndez will happen at the Turquoise. Mario Adrion & Clay Horwitz will perform at Mic Drop Comedy. The pop-rock, samba, reggae, and Bahiano band Gilsons will perform at Break Point. A National Theatre Live production of King Lear will be presented by the Digital Gym. Encanto will screen at the Manchester Grand Hyatt (on their car park roof).

Tuesday, the DGC Video at the Digital Gym will be The Human Surge 3. Slack Key Ohana and Tavana will perform at the Belly Up.

Wednesday, at the Coronado Public Library, you can watch the award-winning film, Driveways.

All next weekend, at the Joan B Kroc Center, there will be performances of Flamenco from the Royal Opera of Madrid. Haitian Canadian comedian Che Durena will perform at the Comedy Store on Pearl Street.

Next Friday and Saturday, Opera Neo will present an evening of opera, musical theater scenes, and cabaret songs at the Spanish Village Cabaret event.

Next Friday, the multi-cultural fusion band SambaDá will perform at the California Center for the Arts. Ziggy Marley & The San Diego Symphony will perform at the Rady Shell.

Next Saturday, there will be a Summer Culture Fest at Waterfront Park. The Italian documentary Ennio will be screened at the Little Italy Firehouse Museum. SM Familia will perform at the California Center for the Arts in Escondido. Eslabon Armado will perform at the San Diego Civic Theatre.

Next Sunday, the Japanese Friendship Garden will hold their annual Tanabata Festival. The House of Denmark will present their annual Lawn Program at the International Cottages. And rounding out next weekend, La Jolla Theatre Ensemble will present a Staged Reading of Halpern & Johnson at the La Jolla Library. There will be a repeat performance the following day (Monday 7/8)

Local theatrical productions include Pásale Pásale at Bayfront Charter School (ends Sunday), The Beauty Queen of Leenane at the Tenth Avenue Arts Center, The Color Purple at the New Village Arts Theatre, and Nine: The Musical at the Coronado Playhouse.

Please note that after two weeks in the main calendar section, ongoing events (such as exhibitions and plays) can be found in Ongoing and Extended Events.