Summer Fun Guide 2016

This summer, outdoor movie screenings, waterfront activities, concerts galore, health and fitness opportunities, and the ever-popular San Diego County Fair and Del Mar Races provide things to do from sunrise to sunset with friends and family. But if staying inside is your preference, museum exhibits (including late-night hours), reading challenges, lectures, workshops and theater revelations are abundant as well. Check it all out below:

Athenaeum Music & Arts Library

1008 Wall St. (858) 454-5872. ljathenaeum.org

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The 90-minute Murals of La Jolla Walking Tour explores the works created specifically for the public art program as well as the artists behind them. Sixteen murals are on view, and each tour features more than half of these. It is a gentle walk around the Village, but participants should wear comfortable shoes. Tours start at 5:30 p.m. June 29, July 27 and Aug. 31. Free, reservations suggested.

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Flicks on the Bricks outdoor film series starts at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays in August. In honor of its 10th anniversary, wine expert Barbara Baxter will pair wines inspired by each movie, and each will also feature a “celebrity wine cocktail.” 2016 films include: “The Prince and the Showgirl” Aug. 4, “To Have and Have Not” Aug. 11, “Our Man in Havana” Aug. 18, and “To Catch a Thief” Aug. 25. $60-80 series, $17-22 individual.

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The Jazz at the Athenaeum concerts offer an international program by Fred Hersch/Anat Cohen Duo, June 9; John Hollenbeck Claudia Quintet, June 25; Dayna Stephens Quintet, July 21; Curtis Taylor Quartet, July 28. Series $76-$96. Single tickets $21-$26.

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Summer Festival: Pianist Gustavo Romero celebrates the work of Schumann in a four-part series, 4 p.m. Sundays July 10, 17, 24 and 31 at The Auditorium at Scripps Research Institute, 10620 John J. Hopkins Drive. Dinners post-concert in private homes or the Athenaeum. Ticket packages $35-$620.

Balboa Park

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Balboa Park comes alive after 5 p.m. Fridays with two new programs. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, 10 park museums will stay open until 8 p.m. (or later) as part of the new Balboa Park After Dark program. In addition, hungry museum-goers can enjoy live music and gourmet fare from a rotating selection of 8-10 food trucks parked on the Plaza de Panama and Prado walkway 4:30-8:30 p.m. Fridays, June 3 and 17, and from July 1 to Sept. 2. balboapark.org/foodtruckfridayMuseums open until 8 p.m. Fridays include: Japanese Friendship Garden, Mingei International Museum, Reuben H. Fleet Science Center (extended hours will begin July), San Diego Art Institute, San Diego Automotive Museum, San Diego History Center, San Diego Museum of Man, San Diego Natural History Museum (theNAT) and The San Diego Museum of Art. Hours are subject to change, depending on private event commitments. Check balboapark.org/afterdark and each museum’s website. Balboa Park Explorers receive free admission. Passes may be purchased at balboapark.org/explorer

Birch Aquarium

2300 Expedition Way. (858) 534-7336. aquarium.ucsd.edu

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Full-Moon Walk on Scripps Pier with aquarium naturalists has expanded to additional dates, 7-8:30 p.m. weekends in June, July and August. Reservations $30 per person (members $25), ages 9 and older only with adult. RSVP required.

Snorkel with the Sharks 8-10 a.m. July 9, 17, 30; Aug. 14, 27-28; Sept. 9, 11, 18. Participants will join aquarium naturalists to swim with schooling leopard sharks, smoothhound sharks and guitarfish, while enjoying the mild surf and gently sloping beach of La Jolla Shores. See rays, flatfish, sand dwelling invertebrates and coastal sea life. Intermediate swimming ability required and previous snorkeling experience recommended. Bring your own gear. $30 (members $25). For ages 10 and older (with adult), RSVP required.

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Perspectives on Ocean Science Lecture Series, 7-8 p.m. Mondays: June 13 “Net Loss: Vaquita Facing Imminent Extinction From Illegal Fishing” with Barbara Taylor, Southwest Fisheries Science Center; and July 11 “Small but Mighty: Evolution of the Mantis Shrimp Strike” with Maya deVries, Marine Biologist. Tickets $5-$8. RSVP requested.

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Green Flash Concerts, 6:30-9 p.m. Wednesdays for ages 21 and older, $34.95 in advance, $38.95 at the door. $125-$149.95 season pass. June 15: Atlas Genius with Grizzly Business; July 20: The Greeting Committee with Ray Goren; Aug. 17: Andrew McMahon In The Wilderness with Oh, Spirit; Sept. 21: Olivia Lane.

La Jolla Concerts by the Sea

(858) 454-1600. ljconcertsbythesea.org

This is the 32nd year for the free concerts 2-4 p.m. Sundays at Scripps Park at La Jolla Cove. The entertainment is funded by sponsors and proceeds from the concessions (hot dogs, sodas, chips, candy, popcorn, ice cream bars, fruit Popsicles) and raffle sales each week.

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July 17: Sue Palmer & Her Motel Swing Orchestra

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July 24: The Mighty Untouchables

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Aug. 7: The Kings of 88

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Aug. 14: Theo and The Zydeco Patrol

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Aug. 21: Hot Pursuit Band

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Aug. 28: Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash

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Sept. 4: The Heroes

La Jolla Historical Society

780 Prospect St. (858) 459-5335. lajollahistory.org

“From Jazz Age to Our Age: Landmark Homes in La Jolla” and “Cows on the Beach 1906-2016” will be on exhibit at Wisteria Cottage June 11-Sept. 4. Public hours are noon to 4 p.m. Thursday-Sunday. Admission is free. Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, beach cottages gave way to the work of architects who adapted historical styles to modern sensibilities, creating uniquely regional designs in Spanish Revival, Moorish, English Tudor, and early Rancho/Hacienda styles – today considered “landmarks” of design. This exhibition focuses on historically designated homes from the 1920s and 1930s. It will include “Cows on the Beach 2016,” by photographer Philipp Scholz Rittermann and “Cows on the Beach 1906” by Herbert R. Fitch. The 2016 photograph commemorates the 110th anniversary of the 1906 image, celebrating the early history of La Jolla Shores as a dairy farm.

La Jolla Music Society SummerFest

700 Prospect St. (858) 459-3728. ljms.org

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The SummerFest chamber music festival kicks off with its free “SummerFest Under the Stars,” concert, 7 p.m. Aug. 3 at Ellen Browning Scripps Park. Featured artists include San Diego Youth Symphony; and Time For Three, known for “mashing up” classical with contemporary, for example, Bach with Katy Perry. Concerts continue through Aug. 26 at Sherwood Auditorium inside the Museum of Contemporary Art (unless otherwise noted). Ticket information at ljms.org

La Jolla Open Aire Market

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Enjoy live music and other entertainments as you shop for Certified Farmers Market fruits, vegetables and flowers, sample goods from food vendors, and browse the booths for arts and crafts, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays, La Jolla Elementary School, 1111 Marine St. (858) 454-1699. lajollamarket.com

La Jolla Playhouse

2910 La Jolla Village Drive on the UC San Diego campus. (858) 550-1010. lajollaplayhouse.org

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The 2016 summer season includes “Hollywood,” a noir thriller set in the Golden Age of movies by Tony Award winner Joe DiPietro, now through June 12 at Mandell Weiss Theatre; “They Don’t Talk Back,” a troubled teen from a broken home receives the culture shock of a lifetime when he is sent to live and work in Alaska, May 26-June 5 at Shank Theatre; “The Last Tiger in Haiti,” set in a world that is utterly real and remarkably imaginative, this play weaves Haitian lore into a contemporary narrative of survival and betrayal, June 28-July 24 at Mandell Weiss Forum; “JUNK: The Golden Age of Debt,” it’s a world where finance runs the show and debt is an asset and assets are excuses for more debt, July 26-Aug. 21 at Mandell Weiss Theatre.

Native Voices at the Autry 18th Festival of New Plays presents “Fairly Traceable” by Mary Kathryn Nagle (Cherokee), June 7; “And So We Walked” by DeLanna Studi (Cherokee), June 8; “Bears and Black Sheep,” by Jason Grasl (Azteca), June 9. Readings begin at 7 p.m. Free, RSVP required: (858) 550-1010.

Fourth of July Fireworks

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9 p.m. Monday, July 4 at La Jolla Cove. lajollabythesea.com

La Jolla Recreation Center

615 Prospect St. (858) 552-1658. bit.ly/ljreccenter

Parks Fit San Diego 2016 challenge: walk, run, roll or swim 30 miles between June 13 and Aug. 13. Log miles and activities: sdrecconnect.com

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Kiwanis Club of La Jolla Pancake Breakfast, 7-11 a.m. Saturday, July 23. $10 per person, children under 10 free. Pony rides, arts and crafts, bounce house, and face painters.

Summer Camps June 20-Aug. 19, science, art, sports, languages, and more interests.

Summer Luau Senior Dance, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14. Dinner, punch, coffee and dessert, plus entertainment by The A-Team. Tickets $15.

Movie in the Park presents “The Peanuts Movie,” 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20. Attendees should bring their own chairs and blankets. Snacks for purchase. Free admission.

La Jolla Community Center

6811 La Jolla Blvd. (858) 459-0831. ljcommunitycenter.org

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Classes for adults in art, exercise, foreign languages, cooking, iPad and iPhone use, plus Bridge, Scrabble, opera and dramatic reading programs, movie clubs and day trips to various Southern California landmarks.

JCC Used Book Sale

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Stock up on summer reading at the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center sale, 9 a.m. to noon for Early Bird Shopping, Wednesday, June 15. $20 entrance fee for participation. Brown Bag Specials on Sunday, June 19: $10 everything you can fit into one brown grocery bag, $5 everything you can fit into one plastic grocery bag, 4126 Executive Drive. (858) 457-3030. sdcjc.org

Reuben H. Fleet Science Center

1875 El Prado, Balboa Park. (619) 238-1233. rhfleet.org

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You can see the future … today! The “Science Fiction, Science Future” exhibit is on view through Sept. 5. Could traveling through wormholes become fact … or remain fiction? Will we someday communicate through holograms, just like in Star Wars? Find out! $16.95-19.95 admission.

Riford Library

7555 Draper Ave. (858) 552-1657. lajollalibrary.org

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Summer children’s activities, 10 a.m. Friday mornings include: juggler Michael Rayner (June 11), Pacific Animal Productions (June 17), Hullabaloo (June 24), Craig Newton (July 8), Mad Science (July 15), Scott Land marionettes (July 29) and Clint Perry (Aug. 12).

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Gaming design workshops for ages 10-14, taught by TechKnowHow, 1 p.m. Saturday June 18

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Summer Reading program for toddlers to teens, with prizes for logged reading hours.

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Chamber Music Recital by the La Jolla Conservatory of Music students, 10 a.m., Saturday, June 4

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“Tea with the Bard” Shakespeare readings, 2 p.m. June 5 and July 3

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Ongoing: Movie screenings (with free popcorn!), book clubs for adults, workshops and classes.

San Diego Museum of Contemporary Art

700 Prospect St. (858) 454-3541. mcasd.org

Hours: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday-Tuesday (Closed Wednesdays) to 7 p.m. third Thursdays. Admission $5-$10, free to ages 25 and younger

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Opening Night for “Holdings: Selections from MCASD’s Collection” is 7 p.m. Friday, June 3. This summer exhibit of works will include Minimalist and Pop works of the 1960s and 1970s, as well as more recent acquisitions. Tours on the hour, music, cocktails, and great conversation, free for members and $10 for non-members.

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MCASD La Jolla will open its doors for the weekly Shore Thing, 5 p.m. Thursdays, June 16-Sept. 1. Free admission and music by DJs from the Roots Factory, cash bar and picnicking (bring your own picnic).

Family ArtLAB with a tour of “Selections from the Permanent Collection” and Robert Irwin’s “1°2°3°4°” followed by an art-making workshop inspired by what you learned, 4 p.m. Saturday, June 25.

San Diego County Fair

Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd. (858) 755-1161. sdfair.com

Gates open daily at 11 a.m. Tuesdays-Fridays; 10 a.m. Saturdays, Sundays and Friday, July 3. Admission is $16 adults, $9 ages 6-12 and 62 and older. Schedule of contests, stage shows and special events at sdfair.com/entertainment

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“Mad About The Fair” is the 2016 theme for 25 days of music, carnival games and midway rides, arts and crafts, agricultural events and food from more than 100 vendors, June 3-July 4 at the fairgrounds in Del Mar. The fair will be closed all Mondays (except July 4) and the first two Tuesdays — closed dates are June 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 and 27.

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Concert highlights include Switchfoot, Lady Antebellum, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, X Ambassadors, Hunter Hayes, Kenny Rogers, 12th annual Gospel Festival, Kool and the Gang, and more. Some concerts are included with admission, while other ticket prices depend on age, whether you already have fair admission, how close you sit to the stage, and whether you buy your ticket at the Fairgrounds or online through Ticketmaster.

Race Season at Del Mar

Racetrack is on the Del Mar Fairgrounds at 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd. Admission Stretch Run $6, opening day $10. Clubhouse $10, opening day $20. (858) 755-1141. dmtc.com

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The thoroughbred horses run July 15-Sept. 5 (dark Mondays, except Labor Day and Tuesdays). Season highlights include: Opening Day Hat Contest Thursday, July 15; Food Truck Festival and Craft Beer Fest, July 23; Family weekends; and more. A fall race season runs Friday, Nov. 11 through Sunday, Dec. 4. Dark Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays (15 days).

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Del Mar Summer Concerts are free with racetrack admission before the last race. Those who arrive after the last race, will be charged concert admission $20.

• July 22: Cold War Kids

• July 29: Fitz & the Tantrums

• July 30: Reggae Fest with Ziggy Marley

• Aug. 5: Girl Talk

• Aug. 6: Brian Setzer

• Aug. 12: Chris Young

• Aug. 13: 311 and Matisyahu

• Aug. 19: Thievery Corporation

• Aug. 26: Pepper

• Sept. 2: The Wailers

• Sept. 3: Chromeo