Memorial Day Weekend Guide

Three-day weekend! Woo-hoo!

Of course, that's not all it is, as numerous ceremonies throughout San Diego demonstrate. The long weekend isn't just for beach trips and picnics, but to honor and remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifices for their country.

We can guide you to opportunities to salute the fallen in Poway and beyond on Memorial Day. What else is happening? Art and theater openings and a bevy of high-school playoffs on Saturday.

MEMORIAL DAY

• Where/when: Midway Museum, 910 N. Harbor Dr., San Diego, 9 a.m. Saturday.

• Why go: The museum hosts several events in conjunction with Memorial Day, including the laying of a remembrance wreath Saturday, followed by an evening concert with '80s pop star Kenny Loggins, whose hit “Danger Zone” was featured in Top Gun. Activities continue through Wednesday.

• Price: Mostly free, but concert tickets start at $69.

• Where/when: , 16826 Bernardo Center Dr, San Diego, 10:15 a.m. Monday.

• Why go: The community honors the nation's war dead in a ceremony featuring Ramona's Town Hall Brass Band and the Rancho Bernardo High Madrigals. The featured speaker will be Marine Brigadier General Joseph L. Osterman.

• Price: Free.

• Where/when: Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, Cabrillo Memorial Dr & McClelland Rd, San Diego, 10 a.m. Monday.

• Why go: Rear Admiral William Douglas French, Navy Region Southwest Commander, will offer the keynote address and the ceremony will include prayers, historical readings and music by the Navy Band Southwest.

• Price: Free.

CLOSE TO HOME

• Where/when: Belmont Village 13075 Evening Creek Dr S, San Diego, 5:30 p.m. Thursday.

• Why go: Kick off your holiday weekend with a bit of business mixed with pleasure as the Poway Chamber of Commerce hosts its monthly mixer. 

• Price: $5-$15.

• Where/when: Poway Center for the Performing Arts, 15498 Espola Rd., Poway, Saturday and Sunday.

• Why go: The Metropolitan Educational Theatre's production of Oliver!, the musical adaptation of the Dickens classic, features more than 180 actors, mostly youngsters and college students.

• Price: $16-$28.

• Where/when: Poway High School, 15500 Espola Rd, Poway, Thursday.

• Why go: Local high schools battle it out for bragging rights in softball, while other baseball, softball and track and field squads compete in Carlsbad, La Jolla and San Diego.

• Price: Free.

BEST BETS, A LITTLE FARTHER OUT

QUOTABLE LINES OR A CHORUS LINE

• Where/when: Lyceum Theatre, 79 Horton Plz, San Diego, Friday, and , 1363 Old Globe Way, San Diego, Sunday.

• Why go: Enjoy one modern and three throwback classics. , which follows a group of Broadway hopefuls as they audition, begins at the Lyceum. Take in Will al fresco as the Old Globe opens its new season of the  with a rotating schedule of three productions. Through Sept. 25. 

• Price: $30-$60 for A Chorus Line; $29-$85 for Shakespeare.

• Where/when: Maritime Museum, 1492 N Harbor Dr, San Diego, 9 a.m. Saturday.

• Why go: See the work of famous impressionist Paul Gauguin, whose art was inspired by the time he spent in the South Pacific. The museum opens the exhibit “Cook, Melville and Gauguin: Three Voyages to Paradise,” which also features collections from Captain James Cook and writer Herman Melville. Continues through Jan. 1.

• Price: $10, plus regular museum admission of $7-$12.

• Where/when: Stone Brewing Co., 1999 Citracado Pkwy, Escondido, 8:30 p.m. Wednesday.

• Why go: The brewery opens its weekly summer movie series with The Big Lebowski, a nice laid-back way to begin the season, which continues through Aug. 31.

• Price: Free.