The best things to do this weekend in San Diego: Nov. 16-19

Here are some of the best things to do this weekend in San Diego from Thursday, Nov. 16 to Sunday, Nov. 19.

Thursday

Matthew Broderick, center, with the cast of La Jolla Playhouse's world premiere play "Babbitt."

“Babbitt”: Matthew Broderick stars in Joe DiPietro’s world premiere stage adaptation of Sinclair Lewis’ 1922 novel about a successful American businessman who decides to challenge the status quo. 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays; 8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays. Through Dec. 10. La Jolla Playhouse, Mandell Weiss Theatre, 2910 La Jolla Village Drive, La Jolla. $25-$109. (858) 550-1010, lajollaplayhouse.org

“Man and Moon”: Moxie Theatre presents Siena Marilyn Ledger’s play about two people who meet in an oncology waiting room: a transitioning man with breast cancer and a 12-year-old girl whose mom is in treatment. 7:30 p.m. Thursdays; 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. Through Dec. 3. Moxie Theatre, 6663 El Cajon Blvd., Ste. N, Rolando. $25-$50. (858) 598-7620, moxietheatre.com

Rady Children’s Ice Rink opens: With Halloween in the rear-view mirror, the holiday season is beginning with festivities taking place from here to the new year. In the Liberty Station ARTS DISTRICT, Rady Children’s Hospital Auxiliary and the NTC Foundation will open its ice skating rink on Thursday. Proceeds from ticket sales will go to program called Thriving After Cancer. Tickets include a helmet rental and skates and can be purchased at the rink or online. Opens at 4 p.m. on Thursday. Runs through Jan. 7. Open every day of the week from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Arts District Liberty Station, 2820 Roosevelt Road, San Diego. libertystation.com/directory/arts-district

Friday

Santee holiday lighting celebration: Join the Santee community for a tree lighting at 6:15 p.m. This event will also include sledding, face-painting, live music and photos with Santa. 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday. Santee Trolley Square, 9884 Mission Gorge Road, Santee. Free. cityofsanteeca.gov/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/4906/8

EPIC Entertainment Group's Christmas decorations and lights at the Hotel del Coronado during the 2022 holiday season.

‘A Twenties Holiday Affair’ opens at Hotel del Coronado: The Hotel del Coronado’s annual holiday activities return today. Skating by the Sea kicks off at 11 a.m. at the hotel’s beachfront ice rink. General admission is $40, with a portion of proceeds going to Make-A-Wish San Diego, and includes skate rental and 90 minutes of skating. Tonight brings the opening of the “All That Jazz” light show. The 11-minute show runs every 30 minutes from 5 to 9 p.m. on the Founders Lawn with a 1920s jazz soundtrack. Among other holiday fun, the hotel’s beach-side igloos are also returning. They can be rented out for up to eight people, and come with a dedicated server and unlimited supplies to make s’mores on the igloo’s fire pit. Holiday activities run through Jan. 7. Hotel del Coronado, 1500 Orange Ave. hoteldel.com/holidays

Botanic Garden Lightscape: San Diego Botanic Garden’s Lightscape display opens tonight. It will feature a more than one-mile trail decorated with holiday lights that winds through the garden with lantern trees, tunnels and light attractions, along with installations from international artists that come alive at night with color and sound. 5 to 10 p.m. select nights Nov. 17 through Jan. 1 (except Nov. 23 and Dec. 24-25). San Diego Botanic Garden, 300 Quail Gardens Drive, Encinitas. Advance tickets are $26-$32 for adults, $16-$20 for children ages 3-12, and free for ages 2 and younger. Discounted tickets for garden members and military with ID. Parking is $10 paid online in advance or $20 on day of visit. Tickets are at sdbgarden.org/lightscape

“Tuesdays With Morrie”: Trinity Theatre Company presents Jeffrey Hatcher’s stage adaptation of Mitch Albom’s autobiographical story of his life-changing friendship with his old professor who is battling Lou Gehrig’s disease. 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday. 2 p.m. Sunday. Trinity Theatre, Mission Valley Center shopping center, 1640 Camino Del Rio North, Suite 129, San Diego. $25. trinityttc.org

“The Little Fellow (or — The Queen of Tarts Tells All)”: Cygnet Theatre presents the world premiere of Kate Hamill’s play about the real-life Regency-era English courtesan and blackmailer whose memoir exposed her famous Regency-era lovers. 7 p.m. Friday. 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday. 2 p.m. Sunday.4040 Twiggs St., Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. $27 and up. (619) 337-1525. cygnettheatre.com

“Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde”: North Coast Repertory Theatre presents Jeffrey Hatcher’s stage adaptation of the Robert Louis Stevenson horror novel about the evil that lies within all men. 8 p.m. Friday; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday; 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday. $49-$74. 987 Lomas Santa Fe Drive, Solana Beach. (858) 481-1055, northcoastrep.org

Andrew Polec as the Grinch in The Old Globe's "Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas!" musical.

‘Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas!’: The Old Globe’s 26th annual production of this holiday classic will once again star Andrew Polec, who returns for his third year in the title role. Based on a 1957 children’s book by the late La Jolla author Theodor “Dr. Seuss” Geisel, the musical by Timothy Mason and Mel Marvin premiered in 1994 at a children’s theater in Minneapolis. In 1998, it moved to the Old Globe, where artistic director Jack O’Brien worked with Geisel’s widow, Audrey Geisel, to add music from the famous 1966 animated TV version and a storybook-come-to-life scenic and costume design. It’s been an annual tradition ever since. Now playing through Dec. 31. Showtimes vary, but mostly evenings Tuesdays-Fridays and multiple shows on weekend days. The Old Globe, 1363 Old Globe Way, Balboa Park, San Diego. $49 and up. (619) 234-5623, theoldglobe.org

“Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring”: San Diego Symphony presents this Stravinsky classic and works by Bartok, Villa-Lobos and Tarnopolski. 7:30 p.m. tonight and Saturday. The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, 222 Marina Park Way, San Diego. $25-$108. theshell.org

‘Ebenezer Scrooge’s BIG San Diego Christmas Show’: The Old Globe brings back its fast-paced comedic take on Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” which was first presented at the Globe in 2019. Playing Scrooge this year is two-time Tony nominee Christopher Sieber, who memorably starred as Miss Trunchbull in Broadway’s “Company,” “Shrek” and “Matilda.” Runs Nov. 17 through Dec. 24. 7 p.m. Tuesdays-Sundays; 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, Old Globe, 1363 Old Globe Way, Balboa Park, San Diego. $29 and up. (619) 234-5623, theoldglobe.org

Saturday

Holidays at Legoland: Live entertainment, twinkling lights, holiday treats and some snowfall can all be expected at Legoland’s holiday season starting Saturday. There will be nightly tree lightings at the park’s 30-foot Lego tree decked with lights and Lego ornaments. Photos can be taken with life-size Lego models of Santa and his reindeer in Fun Town or costumed characters such as Lego Santa, toy soldier and gingerbread man. Nov. 18 through Jan. 7. Legoland California, One Legoland Drive, Carlsbad. Activities inside the park are included with regular park admission. legoland.com

Bryan Banville plays Buddy the Elf in The Theatre at Welk's "Elf the Musical."

‘Elf, The Musical’ opens at the Welk
Theatre at the Welk presents this new musical comedy based on the children’s book and Will Ferrel movie about a human boy raised as a Christmas elf at the North Pole who returns to New York City to find his human family and restore the spirit of Christmas in the Big Apple. Award-winning San Diego actor Bryan Banville plays the lead role of Buddy the Elf. Opens Saturday and runs through Dec. 24. Showtimes, 1 and 7 p.m. Thursdays and Saturdays. 1 p.m. Sundays. 8860 Lawrence Welk Drive, Escondido. $67, adults; $32.50, children 14 and under. (760) 749-3448, tickets.thewelksandiego.com

“DanceLand”: Playwright/composer Tyler Tafolla presents his new sci-fi dance musical about a young hero taking on a tyrant who reigns the dream world with a robot army. Show features 20 dancers, the work of several choreographers and pre-recorded vocals by local singers. 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. City Heights Performance Annex, 3795 Fairmount Ave., San Diego. Tickets are free but must be reserved at tylertafolla.com

Young Artists in Harmony: This free California Festival concert will feature world premiere works by student composers performed by Art of Elan musicians. 11 a.m. Saturday. A Reason to Survive, 200 E. 12th St., National City. RSVP required at artofelan.org

Dan Peragine's "Horse in the 4th" oil painting at Oceanside Museum of Art.

OMA Artist Alliance Biennial exhibit debuts: Oceanside Museum of Art opens Saturday its 2023/24 Artist Alliance Biennial Exhibition. Juror Jonathan Glus selected 75 artworks from 62 Alliance members from siubmissions by 303 artists. The winner of the exhibition, which runs through March 31, wins a solo exhibit at OMA. Opening reception, 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday. 704 Pier View Way, Oceanside. oma-online.org/artist-alliance

“Anne Labovitz: Blue Hour”: Athenaeum Music & Arts Library features illuminated sculptural pieces and colorful, immersive works by this Minnesota-based artist. On view Saturday through Jan. 13. Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, 1008 Wall Street, La Jolla. (858) 454-5872, ljathenaeum.org

Laure Hiendl New Works: Project [BLANK] presents this California Festival concert of select new chamber works. 7:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Bread & Salt, 1905 Julian Avenue, Logan Heights. $15-$25. projectblanksd.org

“Tapestry, From the Mind of Clarise Assad”: Mainly Mozart Genius Week presents pianist Anne-Marie McDermott, violinists Ida Kavafian and Kerry McDermott, violist Clara Neubauer and cellist Ani Aznavoorian performing a world premiere commissioned piano quintet by Clarise Assad and works by Ellen Zwilich and Amy Beach. 6 p.m. Saturday. Baker-Baum Concert Hall, 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla. $65-$120. mainlymozart.org

Parkway Plaza holiday kickoff: Meet with Santa and elves starting at 11 a.m. A tree lighting will be held at the center court starting at 5 p.m. with holiday characters, crafts, and giveaways, including light-up wands for the first 200 children. There will be a silent disco at 6 p.m. next to JCPenny. Starting at 11 a.m. Saturday. 415 Fletcher Parkway, El Cajon. visitparkwayplaza.com/events

Sunday

Pacific Rim Park Friendship Walk: The “Pearl of the Pacific” area of Shoreline Park on Shelter Island is part of a larger group of connected friendship parks across the Pacific Rim. Known together as the Pacific Rim Park project, they were created through collaboration of students around the world with the project’s founder, the artist James Hubbell, to promote shared humanity and bridge cultures. On Sunday, a friendship walk will take place in the park with mariachi music, folklorico dancers, food trucks and prizes. Noon to 3 p.m. Sunday. Shoreline Park on Shelter Island, 2200 Shelter Island Drive, San Diego. Free, but donations will be accepted. Register online: eventbrite.com/e/pacific-rim-park-friendship-walk-ii-tickets-710687123317?aff=oddtdtcreator

Holiday Street Fair: The 39th Annual Encinitas Holiday Street Fair will include more than 450 vendors, plus a beer garden, three stages and kids’ rides. Coast Highway 101 will be closed from D Street to J Street, from 3 a.m. to 5 p.m. The beer garden will be open from noon to 5 p.m. Several bands will rock the Beer Garden Stage, The Lumberyard Courtyard Stage and The Hansen’s Community Stage. 9 a.m to 4 p.m. Sunday. Parking is at Moonlight Beach, City Hall and side streets. Electra Bike sponsors a free bike valet service at each end of the festival at D Street and J Street. encinitas101.com

James "Murr" Murray attends New York Comic Con on Friday, Oct. 4, 2019, in New York.

James “Murr” Murray: Fans of the hit comedy TV show “Impractical Jokers” can see one of its stars, James “Murr” Murray as his solo tour stops by San Diego. This is an interactive stand-up show with live audience activities, storytelling and footage from the show. 5 p.m. Sunday. Balboa Theatre, 868 Fourth Ave, San Diego. Ticket prices start at $39.75. jamesmurrayofficial.com/appearances

Friends-giving Brunch: Mic Drop Comedy will host a brunch variety show inspired by the TV show “Friends.” The event will feature a musical lip sync battle, trivia and prizes in addition to stand-up comedy. 11 a.m. opening, 1 p.m. show. $15 general admission. 8878 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., San Diego. micdropcomedy.com/shows/222323

LitvakDance Fall 2023 Concert: Five women choreographers will be showcased in this dance concerts. 4 and 7 p.m. Saturday; 2 and 5 p.m. Sunday. San Dieguito Academy Theater, 800 Santa Fe Drive, Encinitas. $20-$35. litvakdance.ticketleap.com

“Haydn Voyages: Patterns of Americana”: Hausmann Quartet presents works by Haydn, Lou Harrison, Charles Ives and inti figgis-vizueta. 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Maritime Museum of San Diego, 1492 N. Harbor Drive, San Diego. $10-$55. hausmannquartet.com