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Join us for a powerful morning of remembrance, nature, and cultural history as WorldBeat Cultural Center hosts the 4th Annual Harriet Tubman Freedom Birdwatch in honor of Juneteenth and the legacy of Black resistance and liberation. This year’s experience will take place in and around WorldBeat Center’s gardens, where participants will engage in guided birdwatching, cultural storytelling, and hands-on learning. In partnership with Celebrate Urban Birds and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, we’ll be using the Merlin Bird ID app to identify local birds by sight and sound. We’ll also reflect on the important role of birds in history—especially how Harriet Tubman used the call of the barred owl as a secret signal during Underground Railroad missions. Event Highlights: - Guided birdwatching using the Merlin Bird ID app and led by the SoCal Bird Nerds and San Diego Bird Alliance - Stories of how the barred owl and other birds were used as coded signals - Native habitat restoration with native planting African Peace Drum Circle - Juneteenth Freedom Soul Food Plate This is more than a birdwatch—it’s a celebration of heritage, resilience, and the deep connection between nature and liberation. Free and open to the public. All ages welcome. Let’s learn, honor, and walk in the path of freedom—together. Visit: 4th Annual Juneteenth Harriet Tubman Bird Walk WorldBeat Cultural Center on Instagram and Facebook

Join WorldBeat Cultural Center, the SoCal Bird Nerds, and San Diego Bird Alliance for a free guided community bird walk at Chollas Lake Park as part of Black Birders Week. Founded in 2020, Black Birders Week celebrates Black birders, naturalists, scientists, and outdoor enthusiasts while advocating for inclusion, safety, visibility, and environmental justice in outdoor spaces. This year’s theme, "Flyways & Freedom: Advocacy, Action, and the Future," explores the freedom of movement represented by migratory birds and asks us to imagine a world without barriers. Together, we’ll explore the birds, native habitat, and natural beauty of one of San Diego’s important neighborhood outdoor spaces while building connection, community, and belonging in the outdoors. This walk is an opportunity for local residents, families, youth, and nature lovers of all experience levels to connect with nature close to home and celebrate the importance of caring for shared community spaces. Saturday, May 30, 2026 • 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. Free community event — everyone is welcome. No birding experience needed.

WorldBeat's 34th Annual Global Earth Day Festival When: Sunday, April 19, 2026 from 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Where: WorldBeat Cultural Center: 2100 Park Blvd. Balboa Park, San Diego CA 92101 www.worldbeatcenter.org Cost: FREE WorldBeat Cultural Center brings music, culture, and sustainability together for a free, all-ages festival The 34th Annual Global Earth Day Festival returns to Balboa Park this spring, transforming the WorldBeat Cultural Center into a vibrant hub of music, culture, and environmental awareness. This free, family-friendly event draws thousands each year for a full day of live performances, cultural experiences, and eco-conscious programming. This year’s festival features a dynamic lineup of live music, including Grammy Award-winning artist Kabaka Pyramid, The Stinkfoot Orchestra (a 14-piece tribute to Frank Zappa), Mariea Antoinette, and more. Cultural performances from around the world—including Taiko drumming, West African dance, Brazilian samba, and Native American drumming—highlight the event’s global spirit. Attendees can explore the Ethnobotany Sanctuary Garden, offering hands-on experiences such as a seed swap, morning bird walk, plant sale, wellness workshops, and presentations from local environmental organizations. The celebration also includes a curated marketplace of eco-conscious vendors, a vegetarian and vegan food court, and interactive earth-art activities for children—creating an engaging, all-ages experience rooted in sustainability and community. WorldBeat Cultural Center on Facebook / Instagram

2026 MLK Celebration: January 19, 2026 | 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. MLK Community Market: January 19, 2026 | 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. More information: www.worldbeatcenter.org Cost: Free Audience: Family event WorldBeat Cultural Center invites the community to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during its 37th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration. This year’s theme, “Peace in Every Step,” extends beyond the main celebration into a two-day Peace Weekend, offering opportunities for reflection, mindfulness, and community connection inspired by Dr. King’s enduring message of nonviolence, justice, and collective responsibility. ● Monday, January 19, 2026 | 10 a.m. Walking Meditation A mindful walking meditation through Balboa Park, inviting participants to begin Martin Luther King Jr. Day grounded in awareness, unity, and peaceful action. Takes place prior to the MLK Day Celebration ● Community Market – Martin Luther King Day Monday, January 19, 2026 | 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. WorldBeat Cultural Center In addition to the celebration, WorldBeat Cultural Center will host a Community Market highlighting local artisans and wellness practitioners. Attendees are encouraged to come support small businesses and community creatives while exploring: ● Handmade works of art, jewelry & candles ● Organic produce ● Food vendors ● Massage and bodywork ● Tarot and wellness offerings ● The MLK Day Celebration begins at noon with live music, guest speakers, cultural performances, and community vendors, creating a vibrant, family-friendly atmosphere rooted in unity and cultural exchange. Featured performers include: ● Native American Drum & Dance ● Aztec Drum & Dance ● African Drum & Dance ● Sankoh and the Rockaway Kings ● Sol Remedy ● Fre3sty13 Located in the heart of Balboa Park, WorldBeat Cultural Center has long served as a gathering place for cultural exchange, education, and social transformation. Through Peace Weekend, the Community Market, and the annual MLK Day celebration, the Center invites people of all backgrounds to honor Dr. King’s legacy by practicing peace—not just in words, but in action. WorldBeat Cultural Center on Facebook / Instagram

The annual holiday of Juneteenth marks the historic date of June 19, 1865, when the last of the enslaved Black people in the United States finally learned of their freedom—a full two and a half years after the official signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. The activities planned for the Del Mar Fair serve a dual purpose. They honor this significant anniversary, marking the true abolition of slavery, and celebrate the achievements and contributions of Black Americans since emancipation. Festivities include performances by Blues man Lenny Fuzzy Rankin and solo jazz guitarist and singer Elliot Lawrence. Guests can enjoy line dancing with San Diego’s own ERRRVERYBODi Line Dancers, as well as drumming and dancing by the Worldbeat Center African Drummers & Dancers. There will also be music from DJ Kool T and spoken word performances by host Kendrick Dial. In the spirit of the holiday, visitors will have the opportunity to support small businesses with an exciting variety of vendors. Visit: https://www.sdfair.com/events/2026/juneteenth-festival San Diego County Fair on Instagram and Facebook

California lawmakers are looking to end a tax break for the owners of an immigration detention center in the Imperial Valley. Plus, why San Diego's commercial fishing industry is declining. And, San Diego's binational soccer culture shines during the World Cup.

Celebrate Black History Month in Balboa Park with a free comics convention spotlighting Black creators and artists.

Create your own pine needle and juncus reed medallion. Participants will be taught how to identify and prepare the crafting material as well as how to bring those items together using the coil weaving method, a traditional Kumeyaay basketry technique. This method is one of the cornerstones of Kumeyaay culture and craftsmanship, serving as the foundation for storage baskets, food-processing trays, baby cradles, and many other woven items used in daily traditional life. All supplies and light refreshments are included. Ages 13+. About the Instructor: Haawka! Neve Luna is a Kumeyaay descendant and San Diego native who grew up on the San Pasqual Reservation in Valley Center, California. She received her B.S. in Environmental Science from the University of Oregon and now works at the San Diego Archaeological Center as the Tribal Outreach Coordinator. Neve develops Indigenous-based educational programs to strengthen the Center’s engagement amongst Tribal youth and other diverse communities. With every project, lecture, or community partnership, Neve is dedicated to preserving the culture of the Kumeyaay People while inspiring local residents to appreciate San Diego’s rich history. San Diego Archaeological Center on Facebook / Instagram

The downtown comic shop has spent the year preparing for thousands of Comic-Con attendees seeking comics, collectibles, exclusives and events.

The colorful Encinitas Arts Alive banners displayed along Coast Highway this summer will be auctioned to the public at the Encinitas Community Center. Enjoy a reception at 1:30 p.m., followed by a live auction at 2 p.m. featuring all 85 original banner paintings. From surf culture and local landmarks to wildlife and abstracts, there’s something for every art lover. Bid on a one-of-a-kind original artwork to add color and character to your home, garden, patio, office, or other favorite space. Auctioneer Jacob Aere of KPBS Radio will lead the bidding. Proceeds support local artists and youth arts education. Art Can't Hurt You on Instagram