July 2019: Senior-Friendly Activities in San Diego

July in San Diego is loaded with fun, engaging events. We’ve got the best list of affordable and enjoyable activities for older adults all month long! 

18th Annual Paper Theatre Festival

When: July 13-15
Where: UCSD Geisel Library, Seuss Room
Cost: Free
Drop in to see this year’s Paper Theatre Festival, which celebrates a fascinating art form dating back to Victorian Era Europe. Although these toy theaters gradually declined in popularity during the early 20th century, interest has been rekindled among puppeteers, hobbyists and theatre historians. 

San Diego Civil War Round Table

When: July 17 at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Palisades Presbyterian Church, 6301 Birchwood St, San Diego, CA 92120
Cost: Free
Civil War history buffs, mark your calendars! Dr. Frank Varney, Civil War historian and scholar at Dickinson State University, will discuss his new book, “General Grant and the Rewriting of History.” In it, he sheds new light on what really happened in some of the most important Civil War battles. 

DC Thursdays at The Del Mar Racetrack  

When: Thursdays beginning July 18
Where: Del Mar Racetrack, Del Mar
Cost: Free
In San Diego, summer is synonymous with the Del Mar Racetrack. Del Mar’s Diamond Club seniors age 62 and up receive free Stretch Run admission every Thursday. What’s more, the Diamond Club is free to join!

Downtown at Sundown 

When: July 18 at 5 p.m.
Where: Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego
Cost: Free
On the third Thursday of every month, MCASD downtown hosts Downtown at Sundown – a chance to experience the best contemporary art after hours, for free! Exhibits are constantly changing, so be sure to check out this free event every month to see what’s new. 

17th Annual Taste Of The Pacific Islands

When: July 18 at 5:30 p.m.
Where: Bali Hai Restaurant, Shelter Island
Cost: $25 and up
Do you love Island cuisine? The head over to the beautiful Bali Hai where local restaurants and catering businesses will be sharing their delectable flavors of the islands in this year’s annual event. Proceeds benefit the PIFA scholarship program. 

SDMA + The San Diego Opera: The Golden Age Of Spain

When: July 19 at 5:30 p.m.
Where: San Diego Museum of Art, Balboa Park
Cost: Free for members, $5 non-members + museum admission
At this month’s Art After Hours, come watch singers from the San Diego Opera perform captivating selections from Spanish operas to celebrate the opening of SDMA’s new exhibition, “Art and Empire: The Golden Age of Spain.” 

2019 San Diego International Organ Festival 

When: Mondays at 7:30 p.m. through August 26
Where: Spreckels Organ Pavilion, Balboa Park
Cost: Free
Experience world-class music and international talent in Balboa Park’s lovely open-air setting, Spreckels Organ Pavilion. These majestic, free concerts feature a wide variety of music genres and adept performers from all over the world. 

William Shakespeare’s “As You Like It” 

When: Through July 21
Where: The Old Globe Theatre, Balboa Park
Cost: $30 and up
The Old Globe kicks off its 2019 Shakespeare Festival with this timeless romantic comedy. Bring your blanket and cozy up under the stars for this fabulous open-air performance about the fumbles and foibles of love. 

Nuestra Frontera: Our South Bay Families At The Border

When: Through August 24
Where: Bonita Museum & Cultural Center, Bonita
Cost: Free
This fascinating exhibit chronicles 250 years of the multi-ethnic people and families who have lived in the San Diego-Tijuana region, based on oral interviews, thousands of archival photographs and census and genealogy records. 

Accordionist Michael Bridge

When: July 28 at 4 p.m.
Where: Museum of Making Music, Carlsbad
Cost: $20-$25
Michael Bridge, the internationally renowned “wizard of the accordion,” will perform a spirited repertoire of concert music including baroque, classical and contemporary works. This event is presented in conjunction with the “Accordions: Expanding Voices in the USA” special exhibition at the museum, which only costs $7 for seniors! 

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