Calendar Mining

Here is an actual sample from our Calendar to Do.  This is intended to give examples of what are appropriate listings and what sorts of events we don’t list.  Some listings are borderline, post them to Calendar to Do, but they might not make the cut

YES – Because the poster indicates that this is about Italian culture

Find out what happens when you have Three mobsters a theatrical producer in need of money and a daughter looking for a husband all in business together. The theatrical world will never be the same..

YES, because many of the acts typically have cultural themes.

The San Diego International Fringe Festival returns for its 14th groundbreaking year—launching May 12 with Fringe Previews and continuing through May 24, 2026. This year marks an extraordinary moment for our region as we continue expanding our binational artistic footprint and prepare to welcome global leaders for the World Fringe Congress 2026. For 2026, we introduce the Baja California Pilot Program—not our first activity in Baja, but an intentional, modest first-phase return designed to grow sustainably in the years ahead. This long-term vision includes thoughtful expansion south toward Ensenada and east toward Mexicali, strengthening a vibrant cross-border creative corridor. As always, San Diego International Fringe Festival remains committed to open access: unjuried, uncensored, and artist-driven. This year, artist applications were launched quietly and without advance notifications to ensure new artists, emerging voices, and first-time applicants have an equal opportunity to participate alongside returning companies. Whether you’re a longtime Fringer or discovering us for the first time, we invite you to join us in 2026 as artists from around the world come together to create, experiment, challenge expectations, and celebrate the power of performance without limits.

YES - It’s subject is the Jewish Holocaust

 The Grossmont College Library will host "Americans and the Holocaust," a nationally recognized traveling exhibition from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and the American Library Association. Drawing on powerful primary sources, the exhibition explores how Americans responded to Nazism, war, and genocide during the 1930s and 1940s. It challenges common assumptions about public awareness and action during the Holocaust, inviting visitors to examine the social, political, and cultural forces that shaped those responses. A series of free public programs—including survivor testimony, lectures, films, and performances—will complement the exhibition and deepen engagement with its themes.

YES – Son Rompe Pera is a Latino Band

 Bad Vibes Good Friends and Quartyard present: Son Rompe Pera

YES – Lucha Libre is Mexican wrestling

Lucha Libre Wrestling at Mason Ale Works.

NO – Even though this film is showing in Little Italy, the film is not cross-cultural

The month of May at Rooftop Cinema Club atop the Porto Vista Hotel in Little Italy throws it back to the early 2000s and features a dynamic lineup featuring more than 80 films.

YES – It is a multicultural celebration.

The Port of San Diego is excited to present “A Day at the Park,” a FREE family-friendly multicultural celebration at our Port park in Barrio Logan located at 1449 Cesar E. Chavez Pkwy, San Diego on Saturday, May 16.  Come enjoy the celebration featuring local food vendors, entertainment, performances, and activities for kids of all ages.

YES – All about Spain

In Spain, there are yearly spring fairs that celebrate equestrian tradition, fine wine, and flamenco. Everyone wears fancy fair dresses and suits to enjoy traditional Spanish music and dance. This year we celebrate and honor the Feria de Caballo at Charade Speakeasy in Bankers Hill. We will feature 'Sol y Sombra,' a Flamenco Fusion group that plays everything from Latin Jazz Standards to Rock. Enjoy the Spanish/Flamenco inspired atmosphere and the exquisite drinks, specialized cocktails from Charade!

BORDERLINE – No specific reference to anything international

The Escondido Downtown Business Association (EDBA) is proud to host the 30th annual Escondido Street Festival, returning Sunday, May 17 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The community festival is held each spring and fills Grand Avenue with music, artisans and fun. This year's festival – between Escondido Blvd. and Ivy Street in beautiful Historic Downtown Escondido – includes free, live professional music on multiple stages, provided by Wildcat Guitars, as well as a Beer & Wine Garden. The ever-popular "Art in the Garden" also returns to the Grand Avenue Festival, a juried art show, bringing many talented Southern California artists to show and sell their work. "Art in the Garden" takes place at Heritage Garden on the northeast corner of Juniper Street and Grand Avenue in Downtown Escondido. Presented by MAGEC (Museums & Arts: Growing Escondido Culture) and the EDBA, guests can shop directly from the artists, hear about their inspiration and how their art was created. Festival goers can shop from hundreds of vendors, including unique hand-crafted gifts, imports, and delicious international cuisine. There are also many family friendly, interactive kids’ crafts, as well as a variety of free hands-on art activities and even stilt walkers from Cirque Quirk. The festival was made possible with support from Kingsbarn Realty Capital, Viasat Fiber and Icon Industries.

YES – It’s Shakespeare

This comedy is known for its blend of romance, magic, and humor, exploring themes of love’s irrationality, appearance versus reality, and order versus disorder. Charlie Riendeau is our director.

YES – Jewish traditional music

Come celebrate the San Diego Jewish Men's Choir's triumphant debut at Carnegie Hall with this JEWBILATION! concert. The concert will feature a program of uplifting Jewish music in a variety of styles and languages including English, Ladino, Hebrew, Yiddish and more! A reception will follow the concert.

Join us for the World Premiere of \"Celebrating 90 Years of Lawn Bowling in Coronado\" A Documentary About A Beloved Coronado Tradition May 21, 2026 6pm to 9pm at the John D. Spreckels Center & Bowling Green 1019 7th St. Coronado, CA A FREE and fun community event to showcase the 22-minute video created by the Coronado Lawn Bowling Club and One on One Productions.

The San Diego Ballet is in residence with the Museum this season offering a celebration of art, music, and dance as part of the Museum’s 100th anniversary. Inspired by the Museum’s special exhibition Cafes and Cabarets: The Spectacular Art of Toulouse-Lautrec, San Diego Ballet presents the stylish and effervescent I Love Paris, alongside the premiere of Debussy Dances, a tribute to French Impressionism and post-Impressionism art set to the music of Claude Debussy.

Yes, all cultural festivals related to a specific culture

Come and celebrate the rich flavors and traditions of Lebanon at the San Diego Lebanese Festival, hosted by St. Ephrem Maronite Catholic Church in El Cajon. Enjoy authentic Lebanese cuisine, delicious desserts, folkloric dancing, evening live music, a beer and wine garden, hookah, a kids’ fun zone, and a vibrant marketplace filled with unique vendors and cultural treasures. This family-friendly festival brings the spirit of Lebanon to San Diego with unforgettable food, entertainment, and community celebration. Whether you’re coming for the savory dishes, the sweet treats, the lively music, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. St. Ephrem Leba

NO – This one is problematic. It’s nice to celebrate Hawaiian Dance, but this is bound to be more on the order of cultural appropriation. This is true of almost any large hotel or resort offering a “cultural night”.

Join us at Hyatt Regency Mission Bay and immerse yourself in the tropical-like atmosphere filled with Polynesian traditions! With ticket packages beginning at $125, experience a traditional luau while enjoying a buffet of Hawaiian delights and a variety of tropical drinks. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the show begins at 7 p.m. Make sure to stay till the end to catch the spectacular fire dance finale.

YES – Reading the website, this has a Jewish theme

Created and directed by David Chait, a theatrical spectacle weaving music, dance and storytelling into a world of magic and suspense. In a long-ago shtetl, Sorela’s husband mysteriously disappears. The entire community comes to help but after searching unsuccessfully loses hope. But not Sorela. With love and faith she preserves the whisper of possibility. Recommended for audiences ages 10 and over.

Yes – Music from Peru

Los Mirlos is a group dedicated to promoting the music and culture of the Peruvian Amazon. Although it was formed in Lima in 1973, its true roots are in Moyobamba, the city where its members were born and began their musical careers. As pioneers of psychedelic Amazonian cumbia, Los Mirlos have spent 50 years performing worldwide, proudly showcasing the distinctive rhythms of the Peruvian jungle. Today, they are a prominent influence, known for a sound that has evolved and endured through changing musical trends. The group continues to engage a young audience eager to explore new textures and rediscover the origins of this unique genre.

Yes – An Italian Film

San Diego Italian Film Festival presents: "Vermiglio", Maura Delpero’s visionary film, which won the Silver Lion at the 2024 Venice Film Festival is a singular portrait of a sprawling family, set in the small, mountainous village of Vermiglio during the waning days of WWII. It follows a series of dramatic, consequential events after the arrival of a taciturn Sicilian soldier, who hides out in town after deserting the army. There, he meets Lucia. Delpero creates a deeply personal and human tale that recalls the great neorealist movement in Italian cinema, but through Lucia’s perspective Vermiglio feels distinct and novel. Italy’s Official Selection for the 2025 Academy Awards.

No – 2 reasons, 1, no mention of any ethnic, international, and or cross-cultural aspect. 2. Also,  abstract art as opposed to representational art is by definition not representative of cultural content (I’m sure there are exceptions, I am not an art expert!)

An exhibition of Abstract art in all mediums. Artists dig deep into the inner workings of the mind, expressing a visual language of shape, form, texture and color. Juried by Carlos Castrejon, Visual Artist and Art Director of Woodward Contemporary.

NO – Because it is already on the calendar

Purpose is a West Coast premiere of Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ Tony Award–winning, Pulitzer Prize–nominated play, directed by Delicia Turner Sonnenberg.

Yes, she is a Chicano or Mexican singer who, presumably, sings in Spanish.

Back by popular demand, LuMaya returns to San Marcos for an unforgettable evening of music and inspiration. At just 11 years old, this powerhouse bilingual alto vocalist and dancer has already captivated audiences of more than a thousand, performed alongside Latin Grammy winners, opened for the iconic Mexican artist Ely Guerra, and even shared a duet with Grammy-winning musician Jason Mraz. A performer since the age of four, LuMaya recently expanded her reach with an international debut in Oaxaca, bringing her passion and artistry to audiences abroad. Now she’s returning home to share her extraordinary talent with the community that has supported her from the start. Don’t miss your chance to witness this dynamic young artist as she lights up the stage—come celebrate creativity, culture, and the future of local talent right here in San Marcos.

BORDERLINE – Would have to be looked at more closely as no specific international or ethnic aspects are mentioned.

Don't miss the first annual Poway Spring Festival on Sunday, May 31st, 2026 from 9:00am-4:00pm. Enjoy hundreds of vendors, food trucks, kids' activities, live music, a classic car show, beer & wine garden, and much more. Always free to attend, The Poway Spring Festival will take place between 9am and 4pm on Midland Road, between Poway Rd & Hilleary Pl.

YES – A talk about a Russian Artist

Join art historian Jennifer Stern for an illuminating lecture on Yehuda Pen, the first Russian artist to combine classical technique with Jewish subject matter drawn from everyday life. Pen's Vitebsk art school became a cradle of Jewish modernism, nurturing talents such as Marc Chagall, El Lissitzky, and Solomon Yudovin.

NO – Nothing cross-cultural, ethnic or international aspects

Join us on the first Saturday of each month for a gentle and supportive gathering, guided by trained grief counselors from The Elizabeth Hospice. Together, we’ll explore grief and healing through expressive arts in a safe and welcoming space.

 

YES – Americana music is fine.

In honor of the late Sam Hinton, there will be storytellers and music jams with shaded seating. The Poway Farmers Market will be happening until 2 pm. Performers include Trails and Rails, Plow, Watson Beldock and Beach, Zzymzzy, Greg Gross and Friends. Presented by the nonprofit San Diego Folk Heritage. Admission/Cost: FREE

YES – Celebration of Chicano culture

"Sabor Del Barrio" is a one-day, self-guided celebration of Chicano food, culture, and community, right in the heart of Barrio Logan. Explore 35+ of Barrio Logan’s best restaurants, bakeries, coffee shops, breweries, and distilleries, all serving up bold flavors rooted in tradition, creativity, and culture throughout the historic Barrio Logan Cultural District. Stroll, bike, or hop on the free trolley shuttle as you taste your way through the barrio, surrounded by vibrant murals, outdoor public art, lowriders, street vendors, and the unmistakable energy that makes Barrio Logan unlike anywhere else. All funds are reinvested into the community! Support the Barrio and leave with a full happy belly.

YES – Traditional Jewish music.

Ohad is coming to San Diego! Renowned singer Ohad Moskowitz, raised in Belgium and now residing in Israel, has performed on the world’s most prestigious stages. A heartfelt and electrifying singer of original, Chassidic, and traditional Jewish music. Ohad has released seven albums and his performances have garnered millions of views. The program also features acclaimed vocalist, Colin Schachat, celebrated for his wide-ranging repertoire and performances with the most iconic orchestras and singers.

YES – Legendary Latino performers

Note: This event has been rescheduled from March 4-5 to June 9. For the first time in over 40 years, two living legends of Afro-Cuban jazz—Arturo Sandoval and Chucho Valdés—reunite on stage for an electrifying quintet performance. This once-in-a-lifetime concert brings together the masterful trumpet virtuosity of Sandoval with the groundbreaking piano genius of Valdés in an explosive celebration of rhythm, improvisation, and musical legacy. Don’t miss the rare opportunity to witness these icons create magic in an intimate, high-octane setting—an unforgettable night of history in the making

NO – event though Africa is mentioned, this is about girls in an American high school.

From book writer Tina Fey, the comedic genius behind the hit 2004 movie, comes the Broadway smash that redefines high school hierarchy with razor-sharp wit and infectious pop energy. When Cady Heron moves from the African savanna to suburban Illinois, she quickly learns that surviving high school is a jungle of its own—especially when facing off with The Plastics, led by the iconic Regina George. Packed with clever humor, show-stopping numbers, and a heartfelt message about staying true to yourself, MEAN GIRLS is a fiercely funny musical that proves popularity isn’t everything—it’s so fetch.

Yes – A talk about Punjabi Music.

Beloved community activist, food & culture writer Madhushree Ghosh poignantly explores the role of Punjabi food as a source of home and identity through history. In discussion with Huda Al-Marashi, don’t miss this exciting book launch for "Safar: Finding Home, History, and Culture Through Punjabi Food in the American West." This event is free and open to the public. Copies of "Safar" are available on a first-come, first-served basis until sold out, so we recommend pre-ordering a copy early to guarantee your signed book. Orders placed by May 15 receive a 10% discount. Proceeds from book purchases support the San Diego Public Library.

No – Some of these concerts are cross-cultural but many are not. This link is about a series, not a specific performance.

Midday Music is a free, lunchtime concert series held in collaboration with Art of Elan, taking place on select Fridays throughout the year.

In celebration of our designation as a California Cultural District, Arts District Liberty Station presents Summer Arts Fest on the North Promenade on June 13 from 2–8 PM for an unforgettable day celebrating art, creativity, and community.

BORDERLINE – Some of the acts play non-American music, most do not.

San Diego-based Slightly Stoopid just announced the Field of Dreamz Festival, set to take place at Petco Park on Saturday, June 13, 2026! This festival will span two stages and feature performances by Slightly Stoopid, Sublime, Stephen Marley, The Elovaters, Pepper, DENM, Z-Trip, Band of Gringos, and Boostive.

YES – This is ok because it is specifically about Asian and Pacific Island culture.

The rich cultures of our largest continent come to the Fair through dance, music, martial arts, and more. Take a trip to China, Japan, India, Vietnam, the South Seas, the Philippines and other Asian and Pacific nations with traditional and modern performances, integration of Asian and Pacific Islander resource groups and immersive educational exhibitions.

Fiddler Brittany Haas and her cellist sister Natalie Haas together join family forces to present a new acoustic, Celtic, chambergrass sound. The virtuoso sisters began their musical lives together, filling their childhood home with Bach suites and old-time tunes alike. It was on their own, however, following divergent paths through disparate musical traditions, countries, and cultures, that they both arrived as performers and composers at the highest levels of contemporary string music.