A quick guide to La Jolla entertainment and experiences – San Diego Union-Tribune

The La Jolla Light presents this continuing listing of local in-person events and online activities.

Halloween and fall events

• Halloween Aglow: 6-8:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 24-25, at Birch Aquarium, 2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla. The event will include games, trick-or-treating, special lighting and decorations, live music by Billy Lee and the Swamp Critters, divers doing underwater pumpkin carving, and pop-up science stations. $20-$45. Reservations are required. aquarium.ucsd.edu/events/halloween-aglow

• Dogoween: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, The Kitchen at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, 700 Prospect St., La Jolla. The event will feature a costume contest, pop-up tents and music to raise funds for local pet adoption organizations. $30-$100. lajollalovespets.org.

• Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead): Día de los Muertos concert, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 27, in the La Jolla/Riford Library’s Community Room, 7555 Draper Ave. Children are encouraged to wear traditional Día de los Muertos makeup.

• Movie Night: “Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein”: 4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 29, La Jolla Community Center, 6811 La Jolla Blvd. Refreshments will be provided. Free for Community Center members, $10 for non-members. ljcommunitycenter.org/specialevents

• Trunk or Treat: 5:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 29, on Draper Avenue between La Jolla Presbyterian Church and the La Jolla Recreation Center. Pre-approved cars will offer trick-or-treating, non-alcoholic apple cider, chili with toppings and pie in a cup. Pumpkin carving also will be available.

• “Beyond the Rainbow”: 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30, Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa, 9700 N. Torrey Pines Road. The “Wizard of Oz”- and Halloween-themed event for ages 21 and up will feature cocktails, bites, characters, entertainment and more. $115. bit.ly/4q9qMX0

• Halloween Lunch & Costume Contest: Noon to 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31, La Jolla Community Center, 6811 La Jolla Blvd. Free for Community Center members, $25 for non-members. Registration is required. ljcommunitycenter.org/specialevents

• Creepy Candy Crawl: 3-6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31, at participating shops in La Jolla’s Village. Children of all ages can go trick-or-treating with goodie bags available at the Real Estate Brokers Association, 908 Kline St. The event also will include a costume contest featuring prizes donated by Geppetto’s toy store. bit.ly/42x0aoQ

Lectures & learning

• The Peer Learning Collaborative at the La Jolla Community Center concludes “Oceanography and How We Get Fish on the Plate” with oceanographer John Ugoretz at 3 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23, at 6811 La Jolla Blvd. The topic will be “What We Need to Understand About Marine Protected Areas, Especially in La Jolla.” ljcommunitycenter.org/plc

• The Korea-Pacific Program at the UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy presents “Economic Statecraft in a Divided Peninsula,” a roundtable discussion of how the United States and South Korea are tasked with aligning their economic policies and finding strategies to deter North Korea, at 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30, in UCSD’s Great Hall, 9810 International Lane, La Jolla. Free, though registration is required. bit.ly/4n8plWb

• “Judeo-Sephardic (Ladino) for Beginners” is presented at 10 a.m. Mondays through Nov. 24 online. The six-class course is taught by Agnieszka August-Zarebska, an assistant professor in the Taube Department of Jewish Studies at the University of Wroclaw, Poland. Registration is $250 until Thursday, Oct. 16, and $300 afterward. yiddishlandcalifornia.org/ladino-judeo-spanish-for-beginners

Health & fitness

• The relaxation class “Fit & Flexible” is presented at 9:30 a.m. Tuesdays through Oct. 28 at the La Jolla Cove Bridge Club, 1160 Coast Blvd. Free for newcomers, $25 for others. Register via email at [email protected].

• “Restorative Bliss Yoga with Ocean Savasana” is offered at 4:30 p.m. Wednesdays through Oct. 29 at the La Jolla Cove Bridge Club, 1160 Coast Blvd. Free for newcomers, $25 for others. Register via email at [email protected].

Art & film

• The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library hosts an opening reception for “Nolan Oswald Dennis: Demonstrations (i)” at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, at 1008 Wall St., La Jolla. The art exhibition will run through Saturday, Jan. 17. ljathenaeum.org/events/exhibition-2025-insite

• Artwork by Katherine Keeling is on display through October at Bird Rock Coffee Roasters, 5627 La Jolla Blvd., La Jolla. birdrockcoffee.com/cafes/la-jolla

• Joseph Bellows Gallery presents the art exhibition “Kate Breakey: In Pursuit of Light” through Friday, Oct. 31, at 7661 Girard Ave., La Jolla. josephbellows.com/exhibitions/kate-breakey2

• “Prospect 2025,” this year’s renewal of an annual exhibition highlighting artworks being considered for acquisition, runs through Sunday, Nov. 2, at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, 700 Prospect St., La Jolla. The show features five sculptural artworks by Hugh Hayden, Daniela Gomez Paz, Ryan Preciado, Sarah Rosalena and Barbara Sanchez-Kane. mcasd.org/exhibitions/prospect-2025

• R.B. Stevenson Gallery hosts the exhibition “Here and There” with new paintings and ceramics by artist Geoffroy Tobé through Saturday, Nov. 8, at 7661 Girard Ave., La Jolla. Free. rbstevensongallery.com

• The Salon of Art Gallery presents artist Concetta Antico’s exhibition “Ethereal Beauty” through Friday, Nov. 14, at 7655 Fay Ave., La Jolla. Free. bit.ly/4fRGK3h

• La Jolla artist Peggy Hinaekian is exhibiting her paintings, lithographs, etchings and photographs through Friday, Nov. 21, at Alliance Francaise, 6390 Greenwich Drive, San Diego. Free. 619-806-6719

• UC San Diego’s Mandeville Art Gallery hosts “Omni Intelligent,” an exhibition by nine artists and collectives in a range of media from scent and holography to ceramics and film, exploring artificial intelligence and the intersections of humans and machines. The exhibit continues through Saturday, Dec. 6, at 9390 Mandeville Lane, La Jolla. mandevilleartgallery.ucsd.edu/exhibitions/omni-intelligent.html

• “Land and Sea: Selections from the Collection,” an exhibit featuring land and seascapes by more than 20 artists with connections to the region, runs through Wednesday, Dec. 31, at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, 700 Prospect St., La Jolla. It includes pieces in the museum’s current collection, as well as new acquisitions. mcasd.org/exhibitions/new-on-view

• The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego presents “A Burial in Shanghai,” an exhibit of large paintings by Chinese-born artist Yan Pei-Ming, through Sunday, Jan. 4, at 700 Prospect St., La Jolla. mcasd.org/exhibitions/yan-pei-ming

Music & dance

• ArtPower at UC San Diego presents the dance and music ensemble La Mezcla in “Ghostly Labor,” a rhythmic performance, at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, at UCSD’s Epstein Family Amphitheater, 9480 Innovation Lane, La Jolla. $30-$50. amphitheater.ucsd.edu/event/la-mezcla

• The La Jolla Community Center concludes its 2025 Fourth Friday Jazz Series with Holly Hofmann presenting “Some of My Best Friends are Guitar Players” at 8 p.m. Oct. 24 at 6811 La Jolla Blvd. $25 for Community Center members and $30 for non-members in advance; $35 at the door. ljcommunitycenter.org/ffjs

• Bach Collegium San Diego presents “When in Rome: A. Scarlatti, Corelli and Handel” at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at the Baker-Baum Concert Hall, 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla. $38-$73. theconrad.org/events/when-in-rome

• Pianist Dmitry Shishkin performs at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26, at the Baker-Baum Concert Hall, 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla. $48-$75. theconrad.org/events/dmitry-shiskin

• The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library presents its four-concert Jazz Fall Series from Oct. 29 to Dec. 5 at two venues in La Jolla. Performances are: Kris Davis Trio, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 29, Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, 1008 Wall St.; Anthony Wilson Nonet: 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 9, Scripps Research Auditorium, 10620 John Jay Hopkins Drive; Django Festival Allstars with Veronica Swift, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 19, Scripps Research Auditorium; and Matt Wilson’s Christmas Tree-O, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5, Athenaeum Music & Arts Library. $188 for the series for Athenaeum members, $208 for non-members. Individual concerts are $50-$55. ljathenaeum.org/jazz

• The La Jolla Symphony & Chorus opens its 2025-26 season with “The French Connection” at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 2, at the Mandeville Auditorium at UC San Diego, 9390 Mandeville Lane, La Jolla. The performances will feature French and French-inspired works by Kevin Puts, Igor Stravinsky, Jean-Philippe Rameau, Betsy Jolas, Claude Debussy and Erik Satie. $20-$45. ljsc.org

• San Diego Baroque presents its 2025-26 Bach’s Lunch Concert Series at 12:30 p.m. the first Wednesday of each month, except January, through May 6 at St. James by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, 743 Prospect St., La Jolla. Upcoming performances are: Nov. 5, Mozart string quintet; Dec. 3, Vivaldi Gloria; Feb. 4, Handel and Scarlatti vocal works; March 4, French baroque; April 1, Vivaldi Stabat Mater; May 6, works based on Shakespeare and Cervantes. Free. sdbaroque.com

• Le Salon de Musiques presents a concert of music by Brahms, Dvorak and Reber featuring performers Ambroise Aubrun on violin, Ben Solomonow on cello and Xiao Chen on piano at 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 9, at the La Jolla Woman’s Club, 7791 Draper Ave. The event will include a discussion by musicologist Ross Mitchell, a Q&A with the musicians and a high tea buffet with French champagne. $69-$120. lesalondemusiques.com/concerts-schedule-2025-2026

• “Alex Katz: Theater and Dance” continues at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego through Sunday, Jan. 4, at 700 Prospect St., La Jolla. The exhibit is the first comprehensive exploration of Katz’s collaborations with choreographers, dancers and members of avant-garde theater ensembles over six decades, showcasing rare archival materials, major sets and paintings and previously unexhibited sketches. mcasd.org/exhibitions/alex-katz-theater-and-dance

Books

• Friends of the La Jolla Library presents a sidewalk book sale from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, in front of the La Jolla/Riford Library, 7555 Draper Ave. All used books will cost $1, and all proceeds will benefit the library.

• Warwick’s bookstore presents author Thomas Schlesser discussing his book “Mona’s Eyes” at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 28, at 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. Free, or $30 for a reserved seat and book copy. warwicks.com/event/schlesser-2025

• Author Susan Orlean discusses her book “Joyride” at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 29, at Warwick’s bookstore, 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. Free, or $32 for a reserved seat and book copy. warwicks.com/event/orlean-2025

• La Jollan Neva Sullaway, representing the cookbook “San Diego Seafood: Then & Now: Recipes and Stories from a History of Fishing,” appears from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 2, at Warwick’s bookstore, 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. Free. warwicks.com/event/sullaway-2025

• The Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center concludes a series of talks by Jewish authors with Pamela Nadell at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 17, at 4126 Executive Drive, La Jolla. my.lfjcc.org/15540/15541

Theater

• La Jolla Playhouse presents the world-premiere musical “Working Girl” from Tuesday, Oct. 28, through Sunday, Dec 7, at the Mandell Weiss Theatre, 2910 La Jolla Village Drive. The production, based on the 1988 movie, features music and lyrics by Cyndi Lauper, a book by Theresa Rebeck and choreography by Sarah O’Gleby and is directed by Christopher Ashley. lajollaplayhouse.org/show/working-girl

Galas & events

• The Corazon de Vida Foundation presents its annual fundraiser Noche de Gala beginning at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, at the Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa, 9700 N. Torrey Pines Road. The gala benefits orphaned and abandoned children in Baja, Mexico, and will include champagne, cocktails, silent and live auctions, entertainment, dinner and dancing. $250. ndg.givesmart.com

• The La Jolla/Riford Library hosts “Remember Us the Holocaust,” or “RUTH,” an exhibit that features stories of Holocaust survivors living in San Diego County and artifacts from the Holocaust and World War II, through June 28 at 7555 Draper Ave. Free. bit.ly/49TLiDr. sandiego.librarymarket.com/event/ruth-exhibit-program-418127.

Do you have an event — online or in person — that you’d like to see here? Email your leads to Rob Vardon at [email protected] by noon Friday for publication in the following week’s edition. ♦