FIESTA DEL SOL TURNS 42
This free music festival, presented by the Solana Beach Chamber of Commerce and the Belly Up Tavern, includes a battle of the bands, food, drink and merchandise vendors, a kids zone and a pancake breakfast (7:30 a.m. Sunday). Free parking and shuttle service at Border and Sierra streets. This year’s headliners are The English Beat on Saturday and Iya Terra on Sunday. 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday; 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday. Fletcher Cove, 111 S. Sierra Ave., Solana Beach. Free. fiestadelsol.net
GI Film Festival San Diego:
The 2023 GI Film Festival San Diego finishes up its run today and Saturday. Some films were made by veterans, others by filmmakers who aimed to capture their stories. Tonight’s films are shorts: documentaries, narratives and late-night (mature subjects) narratives. Saturday’s event, the awards celebration, is already sold out. 5 to 11:30 p.m. today. Museum of Photographic Arts, 1649 El Prado, Balboa Park. $10 general admission; $8 military/veterans/students/KPBS supporters. GIFilmFestivalSD.org
Kiwanis Ocean Beach Kite Festival: Make, decorate and fly your own kite at this colorful annual festival. Get free materials and instructions and help with kite making. Or bring a kite from home and show it off. Prizes awarded for best-decorated kites. The event includes a carnival, artisans, community booths and food trucks. Sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Ocean Beach.
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Robb Field, 2525 Bacon St., San Diego. Free. oceanbeachsandiego.com/attractions/ annual-events/kiwanis-kite-festival
Pupapalooza Dog Festival: This festival from Second Chance Beer Co., the awardwinning “Seize a Pint, Save a Pup” brewery, will have more than 20 locally owned dogthemed vendors on hand, plus food trucks, live music and adoptable pups from local dog rescue The Animal Pad. Second Chance will release a special beer: Guava Wheat Ale (4.5 percent ABV) on draft and in 16-ounce cans, with proceeds being donated to The Animal Pad. As always, 1 percent of Saturday’s sales of Second Chance’s core beers Buddy Lager and New Day West Coast IPA will also be donated to dog rescue organizations. 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday. 15378 Avenue of Science, Carmel Mountain. Free; Silver and Gold VIP packages $125 and $150. secondchancebeer.com/pupapalooza
America on Main Street: El Cajon celebrates the city’s diverse residents with this free, family-friendly event. Enjoy games, rides, crafts, food and drink vendors, live entertainment, a petting zoo and more. New this year is a tasting event, El Cajon’s Foodie Fest, which includes all-you-can-eat tastings from 10 to 15 of El Cajon’s favorite restaurants. Tickets sold separately.
3 to 8 p.m. Saturday. Downtown El Cajon, East Main Street and Rea Avenue, between Magnolia and Claydelle avenues. Free; Foodie Fest tickets are $15 for ages 7 and older, available at tinyurl.com/ECFoodieFest