San Diego Weekend Guide: Oct. 10-12 – Yacht Rock & Roasters

Ready to make the most of this weekend? From literary celebrations and yacht rock vibes to cheetah conservation galas, the county serves up unforgettable experiences, whether you’re craving culture, community or just a really good cup of coffee.

A new group exhibition opened this month at the Mandeville Art Gallery on UC San Diego’s campus. Explore the shifting boundaries between human and non-human intelligence in Omni Intelligent, a multisensory experience that reimagines existence, consciousness and self in the age of artificial intelligence. Featuring works across scent, painting, sculpture, film, holography, game design and ceramics, the show moves beyond anthropocentrism toward a more fluid understanding of intelligence. Free 30-minute guided tours are available by appointment. The show runs through Dec. 6. 

Ready for another excuse to wear lederhosen? Ocean Beach Oktoberfest is back, from 4-11:30 p.m. Friday and 12-11:30 p.m. Saturday at the foot of OB Pier. The 21+ event includes live music, a Mr. & Mrs. Oktoberfest contest, stein-holding competitions, a pretzel toss and Jäger limbo. Band of Gringos, Electric Waste Band, BETAMAXX and others will perform. Pre-sale VIP tickets are available online, while general admission tickets can be purchased at the gate. The event raises more than $50,000 annually to benefit community organizations, including the Ocean Beach Mainstreet Association and Warrior Foundation Freedom Station. Prost to good times and giving back! 

Hey lovers! Swifties can shake it off at The Taylor Party, a Taylor Swift-inspired dance party Friday at Music Box in Little Italy. Dance through all the iconic eras with your besties in your era-themed outfits starting at 9 p.m. (doors open at 8 p.m.). Tier 2 general admission tickets are still available for $27, while VIP tickets are priced at $140. 

The best part of waking up this Saturday and Sunday is the San Diego Coffee Festival, featuring specialty roasters, artisanal teas, good eats and live entertainment at Broadway Pier. Sip your way through offerings from Black & White Coffee Company, Cafe Moto, Dark Horse Coffee Roasters, Vigilante Coffee Company and more. Tickets start at $31 – grab yours and get ready for a caffeine-fueled celebration of coffee culture! 

The annual “Write On, Oceanside!” returns from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday at the Civic Center Library Plaza. The beloved literary festival highlights local writers with author readings, performances by high school students and Glassless Minds poets, as well as kids’ craft activities. Attendees also can take part in free workshops on publishing and zine-making, including a session by indie comic artist Vince Alvenida at 12:30 p.m. 

This is it – the inaugural San Diego Yacht Rock Festival sets sail Saturday at Liberty Station’s Ingram Plaza, where smooth grooves meet questionable fashion choices. From 4-10 p.m. let Monsters of Yacht, Harbor Party and Yachty By Nature transport you back to the era of silky harmonies featuring none other than Elliot Lurie, the voice behind “Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl)” – yes, that Brandy (and what a good wife she would be). General admission is $60 with VIP options available. 

Join Action for Cheetahs in Kenya for its 2nd annual Cheetah Soirée Gala from 5-8 p.m. Saturday at the Mangelsen – Images of Nature Gallery in La Jolla. Savor authentic Kenyan cuisine from Rafikiz Catering, sip fine wine and bid on auction items while supporting one of Africa’s most vulnerable big cats. ACK Director Mary Wykstra will present at 6 p.m., sharing updates on the organization’s National Cheetah Survey and conservation efforts that are giving these animals a fighting chance in the wild. Tickets are $40.

Paddle with a purpose at the Batiquitos Lagoon Foundation’s annual Kayak Fundraiser & Cleanup in Encinitas on Saturday and Sunday, where you can glide through pristine waters normally off-limits to boaters while picking up trash. For $160 per two-person kayak, you’ll get a two-hour experience including safety instructions and about 90 minutes of kayaking through the ecological reserve – and kids as young as six can join a parent or guardian for the adventure. Launch from the south shore via the I-5/La Costa Avenue park-and-ride lot, with four Saturday sessions starting at 7:30 a.m. Three Sunday sessions start at 8 a.m.

The Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation welcomes back Multicultural Festival Day from 1-6 p.m. Sunday at Market Creek Plaza Amphitheater – and after a five-year hiatus since 2020, this free celebration of culture, community and good food is ready to make up for lost time. Vendors such as Mahalang Grill & Craft are bringing the heat with authentic Chamorro cuisine and other cultural staples for a proper fiesta. Watch performances from groups like Danza Azteca Kuauhkoatl, scale the rock wall, get your face painted or challenge someone to jumbo lawn games. Head out for an afternoon of connection, discovery and the kind of cultural celebration that reminds us we are better together.