Take a Breather and Get Out

Is everyone gearing up for back to school? There’s clothes-shopping, lunch-packing, uniform-buying and supply-stocking to be done before your child’s first day back. Patch encourages you to take a break from the errand-running and slow down this weekend with some art and entertainment.

This weekend, from Aug. 26-28, Poway’s best bets include music, epic battles and furry friends. If you’re ready to get out of town, Julian has cosmic event that’s offering a night star-viewing for free, Qualcomm Stadium is hosting a Soul Food Festival or Ramona has a classic car show with rare cars on display. And you can’t go wrong with a concert after the Del Mar races.

Whatever you do this weekend, take a breather. You deserve it.

Click the links for more details.

BEST BETS CLOSE TO HOME

• When/where: , 13375 Poway Rd., Poway, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday.
• Why go: View pets, all which are spayed, neutered, micro-chipped and up-to-date on their shots, that have been rescued from shelters and the streets.
• Price: Free to see all the friendly, furry friends; adoptions fees vary.

• When/where: , 13137 Poway Rd., Poway, 1 p.m. Saturday.
• Why go: It’s the teen battle of the bands finale, where winners from round one and two compete for the championship title.
• Price: Free.

• When/where: , 14134 Midland Rd. # A, Poway, 1-4 p.m. Sunday.
• Why go: Poway Folk Circle teaches new acoustic songs and then everyone performs them together.
• Price: Free.

BEST BETS, A LITTLE FARTHER OUT

• When/where: Menghini Winery, 1150 Julian Orchards Dr., Julian, 7-9 p.m. Saturday.
• Why go: Get in free to the Julian StarFest and view the celestial world through telescopes.
• Price: Free.

• When/where: , 2525 Main St., Ramona, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday.
• Why go: Classic cars are cool, no matter what age you are. This show will feature some rare cars, like the 1926 Ford Model T Town Car limousine and a 1917 Ford Model T Center Door Ford Sedan.
• Price: Free.

• When/where: Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar, after the race on Friday.
• Why go: See The Airborne Toxic Event in concert at the fairgrounds after the race.
• Price: The concert is free if you paid race admission; otherwise the cost is $20.

• When/where: , 8200 Camino Del Oro, La Jolla, 8-10 a.m., Saturday.
• Why go: Take your snorkeling gear down to the shore and swim with native sharks and learn about snorkeling and the underwater world.
• Price: $25-$30.

• When/where: Qualcomm Stadium, 9449 Friars Rd., San Diego, noon-6 p.m. Saturday.
• Why go: Enjoy authentic soul food, live entertainment, raffles, prizes, games and cool drinks.
• Price: $40 in advance, $60 (cash) the day of the event.