Feeding San Diego volunteers helping at a distribution site. | Photo via Feeding San Diego
Maybe you have some extra time on your hands, or maybe you’re just in the giving spirit. All we know is there are more than enough great causes in San Diego to donate your time to. Whether you’re an animal lover, an artsy type, a natural mentor, or an outdoor enthusiast — there’s a nearby volunteer opportunity for you.
Here are 40 ways to get involved in America’s Finest City. 🤝
🥗 If you have a passion for community members in need
Feeding San Diego | Help relieve hunger by sorting + packing produce for families in need, support a local distribution site, call donors, and more.
San Diego Food Bank | Clean + pack fresh produce for distribution, inspect and label donations, and assemble packages for San Diegans facing food insecurity.
Meals on Wheels | Deliver meals — and smiles — to seniors across the county, many of whom are isolated or homebound.
🐾 If you’re an animal lover
San Diego Humane Society | Support the daily care of shelter animals, foster a pet, or help with community engagement.
Rancho Coastal Humane Society | Work with dogs, cats + rabbits to keep them mentally and physically healthy as they wait for forever homes.
Ronald McDonald House Charities of San Diego | Step up to care for families whose children are hospitalized by providing the comforts of home — meals, activities, hospitality — to make an overwhelming situation more manageable.
Comic-Con Museum | Provide support for unforgettable guest experiences and bring your expertise, passion + personality to the one-of-a-kind museum in Balboa Park.
Oktoberfest on the Harbor | Fri., Sept. 23-Sun., Sept. 25 | 12 p.m. | Eppig Brewing Waterfront Biergarten, Point Loma | Free | German-inspired craft brews, a pretzel-eating contest + steins. 🍻
Dan Mintz | Fri., Sept. 23- Sun., Sept. 25 | 7 + 9:30 p.m. | The Comedy Store La Jolla | $25 | A live show from the comedian known as the voice of Tina Belcher on “Bob’s Burgers.” 🎤
Saturday
Adams Avenue Street Fair | Sat., Sept. 24 + Sun., Sept. 25 | 10 a.m. | Adams Avenue | Free | The beloved local festival takes over Normal Heights with 65 musical acts across six stages, beer gardens, carnival rides, food, and 300 arts + crafts booths. 🎸
Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live: Glow Party | Sat., Sept. 24 + Sun., Sept. 25 | Times vary | Pechanga Arena San Diego | $10+ | You have three chances to see real-life versions of Hot Wheels monster trucks in the dark. 🛻
East Village Oktoberfest | Sat., Sept. 24 | 2-8 p.m. | Quartyard | $25 | 20 beers on tap, German music + Munich-style foods. 🇩🇪
San Diego Spirits Festival | Sat., Sept. 24 +Sun., Sept. 25 | 3-7 p.m. + 1-5 p.m. | Museum of Contemporary Art | $75+ | Activate all your senses during these one of a kind tastings. 🥃
Sunday
Encinitas Oktoberfest | Sun., Sept. 25 | 10 a.m.-6 p.m. | Mountain Vista Drive, between Wandering + Rambling roads | Free | The 26th annual fest features local artisans, a biergarten, music, dancing, carnival rides + international food. 🍻
“Weird Al” Yankovic | Sun., Sept. 25 + Mon., Sept. 26 | 7:30 p.m. | Balboa Theatre | $88+ | The iconic parody singer says no two of his shows are ever the same, so we’re curious about the San Diego setlists. 🎶
We have amonthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.
For tickets to local and regional events, check out our 6AM Tickets resale marketplace.*
Most robotic automation is complex and expensive, but Ally Robotic’s programming-free robots represent a step forward for affordable automation. | Photo provided by Ally Robotics
The year is 2022. Robotics company CEO Mitch Tolson is tasked with automating production in a popular fast food chain— and he invents a new type of robot to do it.
It’s not science fiction — Ally Robotics has created a first-of-its-kind scalable robot that bypasses the need for programming and learns by watching humans work.
San Diegans are invited to invest in robotic technology (a $114 billion market)beforeit rolls out across agriculture, construction, and manufacturing industries — the investment deadline is Thurs., Sept. 29.*
Another heatwave? The National Weather Service says temperatures will start risingtoday, building through the weekend. The hottest days are expected Mon., Sept. 26 + Tues., Sept. 27, with temps in the mid to upper-90s inland — but it won’t be as hot as that stretch earlier this month. ☀️ (National Weather Service)
Sunrise + Sunset
Rise: 6:37 a.m.
Set: 6:44 p.m.
Tide
Low: 2:53 a.m. + 2:44 p.m.
High: 9:13 a.m. + 8:43 p.m.
Water Temperature: 69º
Civic
San Diego County’s new Office of Labor Standards and Enforcement has rolled out a website where local employees + employers can learn about workers’ rights and labor laws. The site includes resources regarding minimum wage, meal breaks, sick leave, overtime, COVID-19 vaccination requirements, workers’ compensation, and more. 💻
Traffic
Curious about new, local bicycling infrastructure? The San Diego County Bike Coalition will host a walkingfield trip on Tues., Sept. 27, along Meade Avenuein North Park to talk about recent improvements to the roundabouts — and how to use them for biking. Register + meet the group at 6 p.m. 🚲
Outdoors
New bilingual signage will be installed this season at the Kate O. Sessions Cactus Garden + the California Building at Balboa Park — part of an ongoing wayfinding project to make the landmark accessible to all. Forever Balboa Park and the city have been working to replace existing signs, little by little. 📍
Theater
It’s time for the Jellicle Ball. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s iconic musical, “CATS,” will pounce into the San Diego Civic Theatre from Tues., Sept. 27-Sun., Oct. 2. Tickets to the Tony Award-winning show are now available. 🐈⬛
Family
First Responders Month is chugging along at the San Diego Model Railroad Museum, where local emergency workers can get free admission — with up to three guests — through Fri., Sept. 30. The museum at Balboa Park is open Tuesday-Sunday, from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. 🚂
Announced
The City of San Marcos announced its annual Tree Lighting festival will take place on Sat., Dec. 3 — and organizers are currently accepting vendor applications. The community event runs from 1-7 p.m. at San Marcos Civic Center, with the lighting of the tree at 5:35 p.m. sharp. 🌟
Pets
A “pup-up” event at La Mirada Elementary School in San Ysidro on Sat., Oct. 1, from 10 a.m-1 p.m., will offer free pet supplies + microchipping. Up to 50 dogs and cats will also be able to take advantage of low-cost vaccines. 🐶
Watch
“Making Good” — a BYUtv series highlighting nonprofits across the US — brought its production crew to La Jolla Shores earlier this month to document Life Rolls On, a Los Angeles-based adaptive surfing organization. The episode is slated to air via the BYUtv app in January 2023. 🎥 (La Jolla Light)
Community
Show your support for local journalism by joining the SDtoday membership program. Membership has some awesome perks like exclusive birthday deals, discounts from our online shop, Six & Main + more. Plus, 100% of membership funds help support our local editors — that’s us, Michael + Monica.Learn more + sign up. 💻
Shop
Time to feel the fall breeze + enjoy the autumn leaves with the Fall For Your City Sale happening now on Six & Main, SDtoday’s online shop. Take 20% off the entire Fall For Your City Collection now through Sun., Sept. 25.
Real Estate
Cleaning and staging and strangers, oh my. Did you know you can get an offer on your house without a single in-person showing? Learn how.*
Wellness
We’ve all been there — trouble falling and staying asleep is infuriating. Your mind races, you toss and turn, and the harder you try, the harder it is to drift off.Healthycell is a new, drug-free, pill-free sleep supplement to help you fall asleep faster, sleep deeply + wake up refreshed.Use code 6AM for 20% off.*
Travel
Our jaws dropped when we saw the views from this cabin in Crook County, OR(~4 hours southeast of Portland). Listed for an average price of $249/night, we don’t know if we’re headed for the hot tub, porch hammock, or outdoor fire pit first.*
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As always, tickets are not needed for the event — just pick a restaurant from the lineup and, when you get there, let your server know you’d like to order from the SDRW menu. Easy as pie.
Pro tip: Some restaurants accept reservations; just look for the little clock “reservations” icon on the SDRW website. 🕐
THE WRAP
Today’s issue was written by Monica.
Editor’s pick:Happy Friday, friends. As we head into the first weekend of fall in San Diego, there are so many fun, local ways to enjoy the season. 🍂
My little ones are already plotting their annual trip to Bates Nut Farm, and at home, the pumpkin everything decorating will commence this weekend — hot weather and all. 🎃
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