San Diego Weekend Guide: Sept. 23-25 – Fall Fun edition

You may not be spotting leaves turning red and orange, but it is officially, truly fall as of Thursday. Yet we’re partying like it’s still summer this San Diego weekend and if you’re interested in the military, your weekend will be just packed.

The military options involve visits to two bases or an event that merges art with armed forces action:

• The three-day 2022 MCAS Miramar Air Show returns Friday with the theme, “Marines: Fight, Evolve, Win.” Head to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar for a demonstration of the Marine Corps’ F-35B, and appearances by the Marine Air-Ground Task Force, the Air Force’s F-22 Raptor team and the U.S. Navy Blue Angels. Gates open daily at 8 a.m. with aerial derring-do continuing through about 4:15 p.m.
• Force-Con 2022, a three-day convention and art festival with animation, film, comics and more opens at the San Diego Air & Space Museum in Balboa Park at 6 p.m. Friday with a screening of “Into Flight Once More.” The event also marks the centennial of carrier aviation with the appearance of several aviators, including 101-year-old Army Paratrooper Tom Rice. Some events are free – at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Hotel del Coronado and at noon Sunday at Liberty Station.
• Naval Base San Diego celebrates “100 Years of Excellence” at 10 a.m. Saturday with an open house featuring ship tours, a car show, live music, rides and food trucks. Go to the south end of the base in National City and enter at Gate 9. Five different ships will be available for the tours, including destroyers and an amphibious assault ship. See the FAQ for dos and don’ts for the base and ship tours.

If music is more your vibe, how about:

• The 40th annual Adams Avenue Street Fair features 65 acts on six stages. And the free event isn’t about bands alone. Stroll Adams from 32d to 35th streets from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday to enjoy carnival rides, beer tastings, a variety of foods and 300 arts and crafts booths too. Headliners include Starcrawler, the Delta Bombers, Mrs Henry and Sure Fire Soul Ensemble.
• The CRSSD Fest, meanwhile, serves up house, techno and eclectic live acts at Waterfront Park at noon Saturday and Sunday. The slate includes Duck Sauce, Jamie xx, Artbat, Dom Dolla, Joseph Capriati, Fatboy Slim and more. Sunday and weekend passes remain, but Saturday-only tickets are sold out. Admission starts at $205.

Gearheads young and old, alert! Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live makes a tour stop at Pechanga Arena in the Midway for 12:30 p.m. Saturday and 1:30 p.m. Sunday shows. Extras? A dance party, laser lights, toy giveaways, plus a special appearance from the car-eating, fire-breathing robot called Megasaurus. Tickets start at $10.

The San Diego Spirits Festival moves to the newly renovated Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego in La Jolla as it opens at 3 p.m. Saturday. Enjoy spirits, craft cocktails and art. The event continues Sunday, with tickets at $75.

And when it’s all over with Sunday, you’ll be hungry, of course. So how about San Diego Restaurant Week? With over 100 eateries and even more special menus to choose from, there’s something for everyone. And you can try new places all week – SDRW continues through Oct. 2.