San Diego Weekend Guide: Aug. 16-18 – Zest & the Zoo

You may have heard about a couple of newcomers – cuties, and cuddly too – who’ve settled in town. This San Diego weekend, why not spent a moment or two with Xin Bao and Yun Chuan?

Who, you ask? Why, a couple of giant pandas from China, guests of the San Diego Zoo, which has been welcoming visitors to their new home, Panda Ridge, since the habitat’s grand opening a week ago. General admission is $74, but use QR codes throughout the zoo to secure a special timed ticket to see Xin Bao and Yun Chuan make themselves at home. Summer zoo hours are daily, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Try out two signature festivals in the South Bay:

• Get an early start on Saturday’s Sun & Sea Festival in Imperial Beach by heading out Friday to watch the all-day “mega-castle” construction, or going to the opening Back to the Beach Bash at Mike Hess Brewing at 6 p.m. But the main event, at Portwood Pier Plaza starting at 8 a.m. Saturday, includes a sandcastle competition for kids, street fest, live music and more.
• Chula Vista hosts the 27th annual Lemon Festival at 11 a.m. Saturday. Why you ask? Well, because Chula Vista was once known as the “Lemon Capital of the World.” Honor the past by sampling the goods at the lemon cook-off, listening to live music and sending the young’uns to the kids zone. There will be food, arts and crafts and a wine and beer garden at the free fest too. Stroll Third Avenue from Memorial Park to E Street.

World Design Capital San Diego Tijuana has been a year-long celebration of all things arts in our cross-border region. The latest event under the WDC umbrella, the Exchange Pavilion Open House Celebration, starts at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Plaza del Panama in Balboa Park. View the pavilion and enjoy a performance from Jehlad Akin. RSVP online. The pavilion, once open, will play host to exhibits and pop-ups through November.

Balboa Park also has “Fairy Tales in the Park,” an interactive dance experience for families. The Casa del Prado Theater plays host to the San Diego Civic Youth Ballet which performs parts of famous children’s tales, from Beauty and the Beast to Puss in Boots. Tickets for the four shows, at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, cost $15.

SoCal Taco Fest, at noon Saturday at Waterfront Park, gives you the big draw – tacos, of course. Plenty of ’em. But if you like them with a side of kitsch, there’s headliners Vanilla Ice and Smash Mouth, Chihuahua races and live Lucha Libre too. Wash it all down with cocktails in special areas, including Margarita Cantina and Michelada Plaza. General admission, with fees, is $57.

San Diego’s own Gilbert Castellanos takes the stage at the Rady Shell at Jacobs Park Saturday and he’s being entrusted with a classic – Miles Davis’ album Kind of Blue, released 65 years ago. Castellanos will be joined by a five-piece band, with guests from the Young Lions Jazz Conservatory playing a pre-show set. Tickets for the show, at 7:30 p.m., start at $35.