11 Events You Won't Want to Miss This Winter in San Diego

Fill your agenda with the best of San Diego's art, culture and philanthropy scenes.

1/9-12 soundON Festival of Modern Music

Curated by composer-guitarist-researcher-professor Colin McAllister for the 13th year, this series is set to transcend listeners by exploring the threshold of memory, attention and expectation through an abundance of internationally acclaimed musicians. 7:30pm Friday and Saturday, 2pm Sunday, tickets $15-$70, Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, La Jolla, ljanthenaeum.org

1/23-26 Farmers Insurance Open

Don’t miss your opportunity to watch golf legends and rising stars tee up at the beautiful Torrey Pines Golf Course during this three-day PGA tournament. Opt for one of the luxe shared hospitality packages—our pick is the Trophy Club on 18 for prime winner’s-circle views—for free cocktails and fare during the tournament, or, if you’re a top golf fanatic, splurge on the private hospitality suites for drinks, food and guaranteed prime seating on holes 15 through 18. Tickets from $50 per day, hospitality packages from $325 per week, Torrey Pines Golf Course, La Jolla, farmersinsuranceopen.com

1/24-26 Shen Yun

Travel back in time to ancient China for a fully immersive cultural performance showcasing the art of classical Chinese dance. Shen, meaning “divine” or “divinity,” and Yun, meaning “feeling” or “rhythm,” is portrayed through the 15 short dances reenacting stories from both ancient and contemporary Chinese history and mythology, among other dynasties. Accompanying the performance, a live orchestra plays original works alongside each new dance, creating a stunning must-see production. Times vary, tickets from $77, San Diego Civic Theatre, shenyunperformingarts.org

“Pink Stone” by Lee Krasner (1969, lithograph) can be seen in SDMA’s Abstract Revolution exhibit.

1/24 Art After Hours

Two arts powerhouses, SDMA and San Diego Ballet, have teamed up for another Art After Hours event featuring brilliant 15-minute pop-up performances, including duets and ensemble pieces. Each dance is inspired by the pastoral romance and mythological legends showcased in Bouguereau and America, one of SDMA’s current exhibitions. 5:30pm, 6:30pm and 7:30pm, free after museum admission ($5 after 5pm on Friday) and for members, the San Diego Art Museum’s Museum Rotunda, sdmart.org

1/26 Close to You: The Music of the Carpenters

In this moving tribute performance, singer and playwright Lisa Rock and her six-piece backing band re-create the sound of legendary pop-music vocalist Karen Carpenter. Expect some of the Carpenters’ deepest and most memorable songs of the ’70s, including “Rainy Days and Mondays,” “We’ve Only Just Begun” and top hit “Close to You,” during this unique, moving performance. 2pm, tickets from $40, Balboa Theatre, sandiegotheatres.org

2/8-16 Hansel and Gretel

Based on the fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm, San Diego Opera’s surreal rendition of the classic Christmas tale follows two children into the dark forest, which leads them to a mysterious gingerbread house. Follow the drama-filled tale and become immersed in the wonder-filled holiday production—which features life-size puppets designed by Calgary’s Old Trout Puppet Workshop—as the San Diego Opera plays Engelbert Humperdinck’s striking score, conducted by Ari Pelto and directed by Brenna Corner. Times vary, adult orchestra tickets from $111, San Diego Civic Theatre, sdopera.org

2/18 An Evening With Sarah McLachlan

Fall in the arms of an angel all over again as the Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter croons out your favorite soul-warming hits from a career spanning more than 20 years. Best of all, a portion of ticket sales will be donated to the Sarah McLachlan School of Music, the singer’s nonprofit that provides free music instruction to at-risk youth. 8pm, tickets $47-$191, San Diego Civic Theater, sandiegotheaters.org

2/22 Women’s Auxiliary Gala

Join San Diegans at the 42nd annual Legacy of Light and Love-themed gala for an evening of cocktails, a savory three-course dinner, coveted auction items, live entertainment and dancing. You won’t want to miss this charitable fete honoring the legacy of the San Diego Jewish community and benefiting the residents of Seacrest Village. 6pm, tickets from $300, Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine, seacrestfoundation.ejoinme.org

2/27 25th Annual Writer’s Symposium by the Sea

The three-day event invites readers and writers to indulge in thought-provoking interviews and stories with creators, listen to excerpts of top-notch writing and engage in conversation with industry leaders. On the final day, attend an evening interview with acclaimed award-winning American novelist, short-story writer, poet and activist Alice Walker, who dives deep into her incredible successes. 7pm, tickets from $35, Point Loma Nazarene University, pointloma.edu

2/28 San Diego Go Red for Women Luncheon

This annual luncheon encourages local women to band together and raise awareness for life-threatening heart disease. Serving as the cornerstone event of the Go Red For Women movement, this luncheon promotes healthy lifestyles, raises funds to support research and education, and grows awareness of a disease that claims a woman’s life nearly every 80 seconds. Tickets $500, tables $5,000, The US Grant, ahasandiego.org

2/29 Rady Children’s Hospital Charity Ball

Don your most fabulous black-tie finery and head to the historic 111th Leap Into the Future-themed Charity Ball for an evening of dinner, dancing and raising funds for Rady Children’s Institute for Genomic Medicine. Opt for VIP Charity Ball Box seating—a riff on the European tradition—and spend the evening at a luxe, secluded table near the dance floor with a group of eight. 6:30pm, tickets from $200, tables from $3,850, Hotel del Coronado, radyfoundation.org/charityball