Events in San Diego This Week, 12/29 - 1/4
Courtesy of Franco Dupuy
This week invites us to close one chapter and step into the next with intention. From alcohol-free celebrations to late-night jazz, literary rituals, and a quietly anticipated film premiere, the days ahead offer thoughtful ways to mark the turn of the year.
Mocktails Before Midnight
Dec. 31 @ Walter Redondo Fine Art Collection
Ring in the New Year without the haze. Mocktails Before Midnight offers an elevated, alcohol-free gathering inside the Walter Redondo Gallery at Seaport Village. Expect an open bar of non-alcoholic cocktails, curated music, and live painting by Walter Redondo himself. The night ends before midnight, leaving you clear-headed and fully present as the year turns.
Studio Sessions, New Year’s Eve
Dec. 31 – Jan. 1 @ The Soap Factory
For those who prefer to welcome the New Year with sound, Studio Sessions brings live jazz by Future is Color to The Soap Factory. The evening unfolds slowly, carrying guests from the last hours of December into the first moments of January. Come for the music, stay for the atmosphere, and let the night stretch just long enough.
Writers, Ink New Year’s Eve Celebration
Dec. 31 – Jan. 1 @ Inspirations Gallery, Liberty Station
A New Year’s Eve built around words, reflection, and shared ritual. Writers, Ink hosts an evening of literary games, writing prompts, and collective storytelling led by Judy Reeves and Robb Donaldson. Together, participants will write their way into 2026, counting down the final minutes with intention, creativity, and community.
Bugonia Film Opening Night
Jan. 2 @ Digital Gym Cinema
The first Friday of the year opens with film. Bugonia arrives at Digital Gym Cinema for its opening night, starring Jesse Plemons and Emma Stone. The story follows two conspiracy-minded young men who kidnap a powerful CEO, convinced she’s an alien threat to Earth. Expect a tense, strange, and conversation-worthy evening.
One Year of Good Fridays
Jan. 2 – Jan. 3 @ Bluefoot Bar
Courtesy of A Magical Cirque gallery
Good Fridays celebrates its one-year anniversary with a late-night dance floor and DJ Dopemo behind the decks. The energy is loose, celebratory, and unpretentious. Arrive early or drop in late, but come ready to move. It’s a reminder that the year doesn’t have to start quietly.
However you choose to mark the moment, this week offers space to reflect, celebrate, and begin again.