Too hot to be outside? Cool things to do around San Diego

San Diego doesn’t usually do 100 degrees in October, but this weekend it might. With an Extreme Heat Warning in effect, the smart move is to plan your fun around air conditioning, shade and something cold. Here are easy ways to stay cool around town, plus a few scoops worth the drive.

National Weather Service forecasts as of Friday afternoon, Oct. 2. Check weather.gov/sgx for the latest.

Free and cool

Your neighborhood library

All 34 San Diego Public Library branches double as cooling centers during regular hours. Because of the heat, the City says all locations stay open until 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 2 and 3. On Sunday, Oct. 4, select branches open from noon to 8 p.m., including Central Library downtown, Carmel Valley, Mira Mesa, Point Loma/Hervey and City Heights/Weingart. Grab a book, browse a magazine or let the kids pick out a movie.

Rec centers and Cool Zones

Ten City recreation centers, including Pacific Beach, San Carlos, Rancho Bernardo-Glassman and the Balboa Park Activity Center, are also open as cooling centers, with Sunday hours from noon to 8 p.m. Outside City limits, the County lists more than 30 Cool Zones at libraries and community centers.

Museums and movies

Kids Free San Diego

All October, the San Diego Tourism Authority’s Kids Free San Diego program offers more than 80 deals on attractions, museums and meals. Terms vary by venue, so check the deal before you go.

Balboa Park resident free days

San Diego City and County residents, plus active military and their dependents, get into participating Balboa Park museums free on rotating Tuesdays. Bring a photo ID with your address. Coming up: the Fleet Science Center and the Natural History Museum on Oct. 6, the Air & Space Museum and Comic-Con Museum on Oct. 13, the San Diego Museum of Art and Mingei on Oct. 20, and the Automotive Museum and Museum of Us on Oct. 27. Free admission often covers permanent collections only.

An Italian film in the dark

The San Diego Italian Film Festival runs through Oct. 10, with weekend screenings at the Museum of Photographic Arts at the San Diego Museum of Art. Saturday at 7 p.m. it’s “La vita da grandi (Siblings),” and Sunday at 11:30 a.m. it’s “Gioia mia (Sweetheart).” Tickets are on the festival’s site.

If you’re headed to the beach

Pacific BeachFest returns Saturday, Oct. 3, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. along the boardwalk between Felspar and Thomas streets. It’s free, with three music stages, a fish taco contest, volleyball and a kids’ area. With temperatures this high, go early, bring water and take breaks in the shade.

Plan your outdoor time for the morning or evening, and spend the middle of the day somewhere with AC.

Three scoops worth the stop

• Mariposa Ice Cream, Normal Heights. Homemade ice cream, sorbet and vegan options at 3450 Adams Ave. Open noon to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday and Tuesday.
• Lighthouse Ice Cream, Ocean Beach. An OB favorite at 5059 Newport Ave., open daily from noon to 9 p.m.
• Salt & Straw, Little Italy. Creative flavors a few blocks from the waterfront at 1670 India St., open noon to 11 p.m. daily.

Hours can change, especially on hot weekends, so check before you go.

Staying home instead? Here’s how to keep your house cool during the heat wave, plus more heat-safe ideas around the county.

Quick answers

Where can I cool off for free in San Diego?

San Diego Public Library branches double as cooling centers during regular hours, and some City recreation centers open as cooling centers during heat warnings. Outside City limits, the County lists more than 30 Cool Zones at libraries and community centers.

Are Balboa Park museums free for San Diego residents?

San Diego City and County residents, plus active military and their dependents, get into participating Balboa Park museums free on rotating Tuesdays. Bring a photo ID with your address. Free admission often covers permanent collections only.

What is Kids Free San Diego?

It’s an October program from the San Diego Tourism Authority with more than 80 deals on attractions, museums and meals. Terms vary by venue.