San Diego Weekend Guide: Aug. 14-16 — Chula Vista gets Lemony fresh, North Park Film Fest continues to expand

This weekend is a tale of three festivals, and a lot more.

While Chula Vista holds one of its signature events, all about citrus, a burgeoning showcase for film buffs keeps expanding around North Park. Meanwhile, in Vista, a brand-new fest brings will bring indigenous creators into the spotlight.

Friday, Aug. 14

“Be The Light” Gala: The Oceanside non-profit group Shelter to Soldier, which adopts and prepares dogs from animal shelters to be service animals for veterans, will hold its biggest fundraising event of the year from 6-10 p.m. on the flight deck of the USS Midway Museum (910 North Harbor Drive).

Entering its 14th year, the event raises money to pay for the dogs to be able to not just find a home, but be a source of comfort for veterans living with post-traumatic stress disorder and other conditions. Ticket prices start at $500.

North Park Film Fest: Filmmakers and co-founders RC Krueger and Jerry Scott Lopez said on the event’s website that the festival is an outgrowth of informal screenings featuring not only their work, but that of like-minded creators.

This year, they’ll be presenting a series of screenings that kicks off on Friday with “The Golden Ghost Shorts,” a free event at Red Brontosaurus Records (3044 North Park Way) named after Kruger’s studio, with showtime at 7:30 p.m.

“I think the spirt of the festival is my particular narrative filmmaking style and taste, mixed with Jerry’s animation style and avant-garde taste,” Kruger told us via email. “So having a straightforward narrative block and a weird one kind of feels like what the festival is.”

On Sunday, the fest moves to Verbatim Books (3793 30th St.) for “Abstract Truths and Weird Wonders,” another free event with doors opening at 7 p.m. According to the store, this session will have “everything from sci-fi and fun animations to moody, real-world non-fiction stories, from both San Diego locals and creators worldwide.”

The festival will hold separate screenings the next couple of weeks. Watch out for more in subsequent Weekend Guides.

Saturday, Aug. 15

Chula Vista Lemon Festival: Downtown Chula Vista’s biggest event of the year is back from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. along Third Avenue, as the city honors its roots as the former “Lemon Capital of the World.” There will be two stages for live entertainment, food and arts vendors, photo opportunities and a kids zone.

CommUnity Mural Kick-Off: The Logan Heights CDC is inviting people to take part in this effort to “transform the I-5 corridor into a vibrant work of public art” from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 2121 Imperial Ave. There’s no cost to take part, and no arts experience required, as 12 local artists will be on hand to provide instruction. The event will include activities for the family, and free lunch for anybody helping out.

Cultura Fest SD: This is a new event organizers say will honor Vista’s indigenous heritage, with live music, local artists, and community groups congregating at The Commons (802 S. Santa Fe Ave.) from 2-8 p.m.

Daybreaker’s “Let’s Be Friends”: Finally, a rave for those of us whose bodies would prefer raging before sundown, thank you very much. Daybreaker, a “global sober dance movement” which promotes events around the country, will host this party at the Quartyard downtown (1301 Market St.) from 9 a.m. to noon. A $29 ticket will get you into the two-hour dance party starting at noon, while $39 allows you to take part in the yoga class beforehand.

Pacific Beach Retro Fun Fair & Car Show: This free event returns to Garnet Avenue from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., with more than 200 classic cars on display on the main drag between Mission Boulevard and Dawes Street.

Pop Culture Remix: This exhibition at the Sparks Gallery in the Gaslamp Quarter (530 6th Ave.) actually opened on Aug. 9. But Saturday will be both its opening reception and the gallery’s Sparks Art Party from 4:30-8 p.m. The dress code for this one, according to organizers, is “San Diego dressy” – they encourage colorful ensembles and “bold patterns, graphic lines and statement accessories.” Tickets start at $54.

San Diego Monster Mall: The clothing company Strange Cvlt presents this one-stop shop for your gothy and alt-clothing needs at the Handlery Hotel in Mission Valley (950 Hotel Circle No.), with more than 70 vendors on hand from noon-6 p.m. Admission is free.

San Diego Summer Made Market: This two-day event at Ingram Plaza at Liberty Station (2751 Dewey Road) will feature more than 100 local vendors from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Sunday. The marketplace will have food vendors available, as well as live music and photo opportunities around the park. General admission costs $5, and for $10 you get a reusable shopping bag with your ticket.

Of note, attendees will get a free voucher at the door that they can redeem at the Jackalope Indie Artisan Fair, which is also set to be held at Liberty Station at the end of the month.

Sunday, Aug. 16

NWA Mini Con: Short for Nerds Welcome Anything, the group is holding an afternooon of pop culture fun at California Wild Ales Brewery in Ocean Beach (3826 Sherman St.) from 1 p.m. until “sunset.” Already announced are rounds of Mario Kart gaming, plus a “T-shirt bar” and a round of bar trivia covering the anime and manga staple “Naruto.” Attendees will also be able to win tickets to next month’s Anime San Diego convention downtown. There’s no cost to attend, but you need to RSVP online.

The Market Turns One: San Diego non-profit Kitchens For Good will host this first anniversary celebration for The Market At The Shop, which sells kitchenware items to raise funds for its efforts to provide culinary and microenterprise apprenticeships for people who want to go into the food service industry.

Entry is free for the event, from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Shop in Pacific Beach (980 Hornblend St.), with food vendors on hand as well as live music and free succulent planting.