Things to do include dance classes, historical road race and more

Sandpipers Square Dance Club to hold square dance classes

Start the new year dancing. On Thursday, Jan. 15 from 6:30 p.m.-9 p.m., at La Colonia Community Center, 715 Valley Avenue, Solana Beach, the Sandpipers Square Dance Club’s square dance classes begin. These weekly Thursday classes teach basic square dancing. No experience is needed and a partner not required. Both singles and couples are welcome. The first class is free, then $10 per session. Dress casually for fun exercise and meet new, friendly people. Enjoy both modern and traditional music. Refreshments are provided. For more information call/text Debbie at 858-349-5131, also visit SandpipersSquareDanceClub.org.

Event celebrates historical road race

The 2nd Annual San Diego Excursion, a celebration of the 1915 Exposition Road Race, starts at 7 a.m. Jan. 11 at the San Diego Automotive Museum, 2080 Pan American Plaza in Balboa Park. The event, hosted by the La Jolla Horseless Carriage Club, brings together vintage automobile enthusiasts and the broader community for a tribute to one of San Diego’s significant early motorsport events, featuring unmodified pre-1942 vehicles, including vintage speedsters, driving the original race route through Point Loma. Public viewing of vehicles and a chance to meet drivers is from 7 to 9 p.m. when they depart to Point Loma. Participants will complete two laps of the historic 1915 race route beginning at 10:15 a.m., followed by a car show at Liberty Station from noon to 2 p.m. More than 130 unmodified vehicles from 1942 or earlier are expected to participate, with drivers dressed in period attire. Visit www.hcfi.org/sdexcursion/

“Adorno” group show opening Jan. 10 at Oolong Gallery

Oolong Gallery’s first show of the new year. “Adorno” will open on Saturday, Jan. 10. The group show will feature artists Amy Adler, Josh Callaghan, Victoria Fu, Ricardo Galvan, Adam Braly Janes and Christian Olid-Ramirez, on display through Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14.

Oolong Gallery is located at 6030 La Flecha in the Rancho Santa Fe village. For more information, visit https://oolongallery.com/

Farmers Insurance Open

The annual Farmers Insurance Open returns to Torrey Pines Golf Course. The four-day event brings professional golfers from around the world to compete for a chance to win over $1 million in prize money. Harris English won the 2025 Farmers Insurance Open and $1.674 million. Jan. 29 to Feb. 1. Torrey Pines Golf Course, 11480 N. Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla. farmersinsuranceopen.com

North County Republican Women breakfast meeting features guest speakers

The North County Republican Women (NCRW) will meet for a breakfast meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 21, at La Valle Coastal Club, 5690 Cancha de Golf, Rancho Santa Fe. Doors open at 9:15 a.m. for a 10 a.m. meeting. The cost for the breakfast is $20/members and $25/non-members.

The featured speakers will be Randy Economy and Elaine Culotti.

Economy is a conservative talk show host, former head of Save California, and a candidate for California State Board of Equalization. Economy will present an inspiring morning of truth, strategy, and solutions as attendees hear how he plans to restore accountability to Sacramento, according to a news release.

Culotti is a designer, developer, entrepreneur, sustainable farmer, and the star of “Undercover Billionaire” on Discovery. Through her platform, Lipstick Farmer, Culotti continues to champion sustainable practices and community empowerment in the face of environmental challenges, the news release states.RSVP at www.ncrwsd.org by Monday, Jan. 19 if you plan to attend.

Cross-partisan discussion group meets

Braver Angels San Diego holds a 2026 kickoff meeting and monthly civic discussion from 10 a.m. to noon Jan. 10 at the Serra Mesa–Kearny Mesa Library, 9005 Aero Drive. The topic of discussion will be “America: Our People, Our Founding, and Our Future,” with a look at What does America stand for? What does being American mean to you? Do political labels and stereotypes obscure shared hopes for our country’s future? The community is welcome to join a thoughtful, respectful discussion across differences. RSVP or get more information at San-Diego@braverangels.org.

36th annual Carlsbad Marathon

The 36th annual Carlsbad Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K  include the full marathon (26.2 miles), half marathon (13.1 miles) and 5K (3.1 miles) Jan. 18. All race distances will start at The Shoppes at Carlsbad. The marathon distance features an 18-mile stretch along the ocean, the half marathon will showcase the beachfront for 8 miles, while the 5K runners will journey along a scenic out-and-back route passing the Buena Vista Lagoon.  The weekend of events also featured the Kids Marathon Mile at LEGOLAND California Resort on the Saturday before the Carlsbad Marathon. https://raceroster.com/events/2026/101187/2026-carlsbad-marathon-half-marathon-and-5k

Lagoon talk focuses on preserving ecosystem

Batiquitos Lagoon hosts a presentation on “Preserving Ecosystems” at 10 a.m. Jan. 10 led by Tito Marchant, director of Conservation and Rewilding at WildCoast.  Marchant will discuss the organization’s efforts to protect mangrove forests, gray whale lagoons, pristine islands, coral reefs, coastal wetlands, and open ocean ecosystems in Mexico and the U.S. This free, family event is aimed at adults and kids age 15 and older. Come early to get a seat. Meet at the Nature Center, 7380 Gabbiano Lane. Visit Batiquitoslagoon.org. Events may take place outside, so please dress accordingly. In case of rain, events will be cancelled.

School holds innovation expo

The San Diego Jewish Academy in Carmel Valley will host a Middle & High School Expo on Jan. 11, which will spotlight new learning opportunities in innovation, entrepreneurship and technology. Courses include “Ideas to Products,” an introduction to business and entrepreneurship. One example of student innovation is a “Sip Smart” wearable device to help young people protect themselves in social settings against drugging and sexual assault. Competition opportunities include First Tech Challenge SDJA Robotics Team and Cadena Humanitarian Challenge. The festival-style event will showcase innovation, creativity, and the San Diego Jewish Academy experience. Registration and details are at sdja.com/admissions/schedule-a-tour.

Two-day Coin Show at Liberty Station

A two-day Coin Show sponsored by the San Diego County Inter-Club Numismatic Council, which is made up of all the various coin clubs in the San Diego area, is from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Jan. 24 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 25 at Liberty Station Conference Center, 2600 Laning Road. The event is expected to be one of the largest coin shows on the West Coast. Highlights include a “Coins for Kids” program to get young numismatist started coin collecting. There will be free coin appraisels. Dealers will be there to buy and sell coins. Admission is $5; free for kids 15 and younger (cash only); free for active duty military with ID. Free parking. Visit https://www.coinarama.org/

13th annual Tea by the Sea event

St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center (SMSC), a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating and empowering individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, will host its 13th annual Tea by the Sea event on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the elegant Marine Room in La Jolla (2000 Spindrift Drive). Set against the Marine Room’s oceanfront backdrop, the event will feature a traditional tea service complemented by signature cocktails, assorted bites and hors d’oeuvres, live music, opportunity drawings, and shopping from Sophie’s Gallery. Guests are encouraged to attend in their favorite tea-time attire. Gentlemen are welcome. Proceeds benefit the Sophie’s Gallery and Art Program in downtown El Cajon, a space where adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities can explore their creativity Tickets are available now starting at $170 per guest. Visit teabythesea.org.

La Jolla events

Lectures and learning• Wildlife biologist Doug Smith speaks on the “Wild Wolves of Yellowstone” at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 15, at the Baker-Baum Concert Hall, 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla. $36-$56. theconrad.org/events/doug-smith-wild-wolves

Art & film

• The Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center will host a San Diego International Jewish Film Festival Sneak Peek Day from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 11, in the Garfield Theatre, 4126 Executive Drive, La Jolla. Trailers of films selected for the festival will be shown. Free. my.lfjcc.org/15701/15702

• The art exhibit “Color It Contemporary” runs through Saturday, Jan. 17, at the La Jolla/Riford Library, 7555 Draper Ave. The show features the work of Grant Pecoff, Mona Ray, Sally Samins and Kelly Villasenor. Free. 858-552-1657

• The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library hosts the art exhibition “Nolan Oswald Dennis: Demonstrations (i)” through Saturday, Jan. 17, at 1008 Wall St., La Jolla. ljathenaeum.org/events/exhibition-2025-insite

• “A Decade of Pop Prints and Multiples, 1962 to 1972: The Frank Mitzel Collection” runs through Sunday, March 15, at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, 700 Prospect St., La Jolla. The exhibit marks the public debut of Mitzel’s gift to the museum of more than 60 pop art prints he collected over three decades. It includes works by Peter Blake, Richard Hamilton, Gerald Laing, Joe Tilson and more. mcasd.org

Music & dance

• The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library and San Diego New Music present “Mythography,” the 18th annual SoundOn Festival, at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, Jan. 8-10, at 1008 Wall St., La Jolla. $32-$89 for the series, $12-$32 per concert. ljathenaeum.org/events/soundon-2026-series

• Musician Dean Ratzman performs jazz, ’60s, ’70s, rock and soul hits by American artists at 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10, in the Community Room of the La Jolla/Riford Library, 7555 Draper Ave. Free. sandiego.librarymarket.com/event/swingin-dean-concert-488157

• Le Salon de Musiques presents a classical concert featuring violinist Martin Chalifour, soprano Anna Schubert and others performing music by Liszt, Hiller and Fanny Mendelssohn beginning at 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 11, at the La Jolla Woman’s Club, 7791 Draper Ave. The show will be introduced by musicologist Adam Gilbert and followed by a Q&A with the artists and a high tea buffet with French champagne. $69-$120. lesalondemusiques.com

• Art of Elan presents “Sounds & Swells” at 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 11, at The JAI at the Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla. The show will feature surfing footage with live classical music played by the Hausmann Quartet. An artist talk will be held at 6:15 p.m. $38. theconrad.org/events/sounds-swells

• The La Jolla Music Society presents a slate of activities surrounding the presentation of “Cotton,” in partnership with the San Diego Opera. “Cotton” is a multimedia song cycle of poems by prominent American poets set to music by Damian Geter, featuring the photography of John Dowell and performed by opera singers J’Nai Bridges and Justin Austin. A free panel discussion on the show’s creation will be held from 2 to 3 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 15, at The JAI at the Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla. “Cotton” will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 16, at The Conrad’s Baker-Baum Concert Hall ($78-$118). Austin will present a free vocal master class from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17, at The JAI. theconrad.org/events/cotton

Public lecture: ‘Exam Empire: How Exams Have Shaped Chinese Society and Politics’

A public lecture titled “Exam Empire: How Exams Have Shaped Chinese Society and Politics” will be held on Thursday, Jan. 15, from 4 p.m.-5 p.m. at UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy, Robinson Building 3, room 3106. (Nearest parking: Pangea parking structure)This public lecture series is organized by the 21st Century China Center at the UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy (GPS).Event summary: Tracing China’s exam system from imperial roots to today, Ruixue Jia reveals how it shapes opportunity, values and U.S.-China dynamics, according to a news release.Speaker: Jia is a professor of economics, UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy; Co-director, China Data Lab, 21st Century China Center.Moderator: Margaret Roberts, professor of political science, UC San Diego; Co-director, China Data Lab, 21st Century China CenterFor any questions, contact GPS Events Coordinator Susan Zau (jszau@ucsd.edu).Registration is required but the lecture is free to all: Registration link: shorturl.at/ChMpb

Next Death Cafe event to be held Jan. 24

Talking about death doesn’t have to be scary, morbid or sad. Talking about death can be educational, empowering and inspiring. Come gather in community at the Death Cafe event as participants share snacks and tea and break the stigma that death is a taboo topic.Free admission.The Death Cafe event will be held on Saturday, Jan. 24, from 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m., reoccurring every fourth Saturday of the month, at the Seaside Center for Spiritual Living, located at 1613 Lake Drive, Encinitas. www.deathcafe.comPlease RSVP at Meetup: The Death Network or email selenajong@gmail.com

El Camino Quilters Guild meeting and workshop

El Camino Quilters Guild meets at 10 a.m. on Tuesday Jan. 13, at Carlsbad Dove Library, 1775 Dove Lane, Carlsbad. Guest fee $10.January agenda: They will welcome their new board and review their upcoming 2026 programs and workshops.Workshop by Jim McKim, “It’s Bound to be Perfect”: Finishing off your quilts with a perfectly applied binding will be held Jan. 14, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Quilt in a Day quilt shop in San Marcos. Workshop fee: $35 cash or check, $37 credit card.For more information visit elcaminoquilters.com or email info@elcaminoquilters.com.El Camino Quilters is a nonprofit group that donates hundreds of quilts and other handmade items to a variety of groups including Rady Children’s Hospital, senior centers, hospitals, police and military groups.