Community Corner
Rare Whale Sightings + Battle Of The Burgers + Coachella Lineup + Fall Fun Guide: Saturday Smiles
New restaurant and stores opening; renovated Admiral Hornblower sets sail; TV star launches new bakery; and more nice SoCal news.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA — To keep your weekend light, Patch presents some positive Southern California stories from the past week — many that hopefully will brighten your day.
Animals
Nonprofit Receives $100K From Morongo Toward Pass Area, Coachella Valley Pet Spay And Neutering
The donation will help the Animal Action League reach more pet owners who otherwise lack access to vital spay and neutering services.
Find out what's happening in Santeefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Rare Sperm Whales Spotted Off Coast Of Oceanside
The sighting of sperm whales in this area is considered extremely rare.
Find out what's happening in Santeefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Arts and Entertainment
2025 SoCal Fall Fun Guide: Halloween Events, Haunted Houses, Fall Festivals And More
There's plenty of fun, festive and spooky things to do this fall across Southern California.
A New Play Premiering In Los Angeles Is A 'Tribute To Chicano Identity'
The play, described as a modern barrio fable, touches on themes of power, family, and community.
ArtWalk Carlsbad Returns This Weekend With Fine Art, Music And More
The event will feature artwork from over 150 artists. Patch talked with Vira Ustianska, an artist from Ukraine who now lives in San Diego.
ArtWalk Carlsbad To Bring Fine Art To North County This Weekend
The free event will feature artwork from more than 150 artists, plus an interactive KidsWalk, live music, food trucks and more.
Following a multi-million dollar renovation, City Cruises unveiled the boat's transformation during a special cruise on San Diego Bay.
Coachella Lineup Announced For 2026 Shows: Sabrina Carpenter, Justin Bieber, Karol G. And More
The 2026 artists include Kpop and Jpop acts as well as GenX favorites of Devo, Iggy Pop, and chart-topping favorite Teddy Swimms.
Ed Sheeran Bringing 'LOOP Tour' To San Diego
The global pop star will stop at San Diego's Petco Park as part of the newly announced North American leg of his LOOP Tour.
Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Rolling Into San Diego With New Glow-N-Fire Show
This year's tour is special because Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live is celebrating the 50th birthday of the iconic Bigfoot.
The South Bay Takes Center Stage At This New Art Exhibition
Take an inside look into life in the South Bay through the lens of multifaceted artists.
Business
Equinox plans to open a second high-end fitness club in Santa Monica.
Historic Elsinore Barber And Beauty Celebrates 5 Years With New Owners
Supervisor Karen Spiegel made an appearance last week at the barber shop's fifth anniversary ribbon-cutting ceremony.
New Specialty Grocery Store To Open Doors In Costa Mesa
An Orange County city is getting a brand-new Trader Joe's grocery store, according to reports.
Vons Sets Opening Date For New Santa Monica Supermarket
The supermarket will open in a new development that includes a Starbucks and Equinox gym.
Community
Free 'Morongo Thunder & Lightning Powwow' Planned In Cabazon: What To Know When You Go
Expect pageantry, excitement, Bird Singers and more at the event that draws upwards of 30,000 people to Morongo Resort Casino annually.
A new Farmers Market is launching in south Orange County. Here's what to know before you go.
Palm Springs Sandcliff Community Listed In National Register Of Historic Places
Sandcliff is a remarkably intact example of a 1960s Palm Springs modern-style garden apartment condominium.
Aquarium officials said the event is "the largest effort of its kind to engage volunteers of all ages to help conserve the environment.
Health
2025 Health & Preparedness Expo Coming To Old Town Temecula
In honor of National Preparedness Month, this free event combines health, wellness and emergency readiness resources into one place.
Restaurant
Battle Of The Burgers Returns To Pechanga Resort Casino
Share your taste buds & vote for the best burgers in Temecula Valley when restaurant chefs partner with area TVUSD culinary students.
Netflix, Food Network Star Opens New Patisserie In San Diego's North County
"Bringing Chef Christophe's patisserie to North City is a huge win not just for food lovers, but for our whole community."
New Yard House Coming To San Diego County
The popular restaurant chain is known for its diverse food menu and extensive beer selection.
Schools
17th Annual College & Vocational Fair Scheduled This Weekend In Temecula
Over 200 institutions are expected to participate in the fair, including colleges, universities, vocational schools, and military schools.
30 IE Seniors Named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists: Class Of 2026
The students, representing less than 1% of high school seniors nationwide, have stellar scores on their SAT preliminary exams.
San Diego Area Students Named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists
The students are among more than 16,000 semifinalists in the running to be named a National Merit Scholar.
Seasonal
Dark Harbor Returns To Long Beach's Queen Mary Starting Friday
Dark Harbor, "Southern California's most haunted Halloween event," according to Queen Mary officials, runs this year from Sept. 19 to Nov. 2.
Popular South Bay Halloween Event Returns In Early October. Here's What To Expect
From trunk or treat to mazes, there's something at this event for all Halloween fans to enjoy, according to organizers.
Sports
Mission Viejo City To Hold First-Ever Community Track Meet
Residents were encouraged to show up for the first Mission Viejo Track Meet on Sunday, Oct. 5.
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