MONSTER JAM BRINGS THE NOISE ON BACK-TO-BACK WEEKENDS
Expert athletes will bring their massive monster trucks to San Diego for two jampacked weekends in a row. The drivers will participate in stunts, show off unique driving skills and race in an event championship. Monster Jam kicks off this weekend and will return Jan. 27-28. A Pit Party will take place before the main event each day, giving fans a chance to see the trucks up close, take photos, meet drivers and crews, and get autographs. There will also be inflatables, a remote-control truck course and other family-friendly activities. The Pit Party will be open 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday and 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Sunday. Some of the featured trucks include Grave Digger, El Toro Loco and Megaladon. 7 p.m. Saturday; 3 p.m. Sunday. Snapdragon Stadium, 2101 Stadium Way, San Diego. Tickets start at $28. monsterjam.com
WSL World Junior Championships: This major competition brings together the best junior surfers in the world to compete for the title of World Surf League Junior Champion. Twenty-four surfers will participate in men’s and women’s contests. Today, Saturday and Sunday. Times TBD. Oceanside Pier. Free for spectators. worldsurfleague.com
San Diego Rodeo: For the first time, Petco Park will play host to a rodeo. The competition will take place over three days, and participants will compete for over $500,000 in prize money. Among the expected competitors are Stevi Hillman, Ky Hamilton and Zeke Thurston. 7 p.m. today and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. Petco Park, 100 Park Blvd., San Diego. Tickets start at $65. rodeosd.com Introduction to figure painting and drawing:
This new class will teach participates to paint and draw the human figure with clothed and nude live models, focusing on basic anatomy and proportions. Works by professionals in figure art will also be examined. This will be the first of six classes on Sundays. Participants must be 18 years or older and can participate with any level of skill. 6 p.m. Sunday. And Something Different Studio Gallery, 2690 Historic Decatur Road, San Diego. $275 plus an $85 model fee. libertystation.com “Midnight Ruin” Release Party: Meet Cute Romance Bookshop and The Library Shop SD are collaborating to present a Q&A and book signing with author Katee Robert for the release of “Midnight Ruin.” The book is the sixth in the Dark Olympus Series. Ticket holders will receive a copy of the book and can bring up to two additional copies to be signed. 7 p.m. Tuesday. Neil Morgan Auditorium, San Diego Central Library, 330 Park Blvd., San Diego. $16.99. libraryfoundationsd.org/events/robert
Peter Hillary on 70 Years of Everest: Peter Hillary has been on 50 mountaineering expeditions around the globe, including five on Mount Everest and other major peaks. His father, Sir Edmund Hillary, was the first recorded climber to ascended Everest in 1953, along with his climbing partner Tenzing Norgay. Peter Hillary also chairs the Himalayan Trust, a nonprofit organization that provides health, environment and education services for people in the Himalayas.
He will give a presentation as part of the Changemaker Speaker Series from the La Jolla Music Society. 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Baker-Baum Concert Hall, 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla. Tickets start at $23. theconrad.org/events/peter-hillary