While I do love the beach as much as the next surf dog, I know that the over-crowded Fourth of July weekend is a less-than-ideal time to go, especially when Balboa Park offers at least 25 other Fun and Affordable Things to Do. Since I’m sure everyone has browsed that impressive list by now, I wanted to highlight five tail-wagging things you must do this weekend:

Stay-for-the-Day Pass—Although I never like being told to “Stay!” I wouldn’t mind staying a whole day in the Park to visit four world-class museums—including two great photography exhibitions of Ansel Adams and Richard Avedon—for the low price of $29.

Gardens in Full Bloom—Spring is gone, but not without leaving many gorgeous gifts to see and sniff in the Alcazar Garden, Inez Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden, Botanical Building, and elsewhere throughout the Park.

Walking Audio Tour—Don’t want to leave your best (canine) friend at home? Then bring him or her on a leisurely self-paced walking audio tour. I’ve used one myself! (Check out the coupon pages for a special discount.)

Picnic in Style—You don’t need crunchy sand in your food to enjoy a great Fourth of July picnic. Balboa Park has a number of grassy picnic spots, including Redwood Circle, Pepper Grove, Bird Park, and Pine Grove, to name a few.

House of USA Lawn Program—But for a good old-fashioned Fourth of July picnic, complete with hot dogs, potato salad, apple pie, and patriotic tunes, be sure to check out the Sunday, July 5, lawn program at the International Cottages. And Dog Bless America!

As if the Twilight in the Park concert series I wrote about last week doesn’t give you enough reason to join this hot dog for a cool, relaxing evening in Spreckels Organ Pavilion, then perhaps the International Summer Organ Festival will! Much sought-after professional organists from three different continents hit the pipes each Monday night at 7:30 p.m. until August 31.

Delightful, enchanting, and free! only begin to describe this canine-friendly annual event that brings first-rate performers to the world’s largest outdoor organ—decoratively lit for the occasion—under a starlit San Diego sky. Whether you come to hear Hector Olivera from Argentina play Saint-Saens’ Benediction Nuptiale (June 29), German phenom, Jacob Hell, perform pieces by Max Reger and Samuel Barber (July 13), or Portland, Maine’s municipal organist, Ray Cornils, interpret Handel’s suite from Water Music (Aug. 11), you are in for a special treat (albeit non-edible).

But wait there’s more! (Isn’t there always?) Wrapping up this season, Dennis James returns with another Movie Night, playing accompaniment to Buster Keaton’s silent film classic, The Cameraman, on August 24, and on closing night (Aug. 31) our own Carol Williams will present “Medieval Night” with the help of The House of Scotland Pipe Band and the Cathedral Choristers of San Diego’s St. Paul’s Cathedral. Now that’s what I call bringing it home!

The “under the stars” season in Balboa Park officially kicked off with last night’s rousing performance by Breez’n at the Twilight in the Park concert series. A lively crowd was on hand in the historic Spreckels Organ Pavilion to hear the versatile band perform from their vast repertoire of rockin’ music styles.

Speaking of music styles, there will be no shortage of those all summer long as Twilight in the Park rolls out something different each night, from Dixieland jazz and big band to world music from Africa, Latin America, and beyond. And since every show is free, there’s no excuse for staying home and not experiencing something new—or old, as in oldies but goodies.

Just looking at the next month, I’ve already marked my calendar for the cool Cajun stylings of the Bayou Brothers on June 24, the Steel Monarchs steel drum band on July 9, Diamond is Forever (as in Neil Diamond) on July 16, and of course, the Cat-illacs, who perform some of my favorite rock ‘n’ roll classics on July 21. (Fortunately, they agreed to drop the restraining order if I promised not to chase them on stage again this year.)

Concerts run every Tuesday through Thursday night until August 27 and start at 6:15, giving you ample time to change, pet your pooch, and grab a picnic or take out. Oh, and don’t forget to bring your pooch to this very dog-friendly event.

Grace writes: Dear Cosmos, My family is making no bones about the fact that they don’t have enough money to go on a big trip this summer. What can I suggest they do here in San Diego that won’t break the bank?

Cosmos: You’ve definitely come to the right place. Here at Balboa Park Central, we’ve just posted our list of 25 Fun and Affordable Things to Do This Summer. Many of these inexpensive and free activities will get more extensive coverage in future blogs, but for now I’ll hit the highlights.

Since summertime is “entertainment under the stars” time in Balboa Park, there are a number of free outdoor activities that are very dog, and people, friendly, including the Twilight in the Park Concert Series, which presents howling-good music acts three nights per week; Screen on the Green, a great community movie-going experience; and the weekly International Summer Organ Festival. Your human companions might also find this summer an ideal opportunity to take you on one of the various park tours or to explore the new marked trail system.

For activities that cost a little dough, there are great discounts available, such as the Balboa Park Passport, that gives two-leggers entry to 13 different museums for one low price. And don’t forget the money-saving offers on the Balboa Park coupon page, which will free up even more coin for ice cream and other canine treats.

With Balboa Park such a hotbed of cultural activities this summer, it should come as no surprise that a renowned 30-man military choir, Il Coro degli Alpini, is being flown in from Italy to celebrate that country’s la Festa della Repubblica, or Republic Day. The free concert will be held in the Spreckels Organ Pavilion this Saturday, June 6, at 2:30 p.m.

La Festa della Repubblica commemorates the day that the citizens of Italy peacefully chose a republican form of government over a monarchy following World War II. Saturday’s Festa celebrations, hosted the House of Italy, will kick off at 11:30 a.m. with a pre-concert reception at the House of Pacific Relations hall where you can meet the chorus.

Il Coro degli Alpini is made up of members of the Italian troops based in the Alps who achieved fame fighting the wars of liberation in the 19^th-century. During that time, these rugged men maintained a tradition of mountain music that was passed down to all the new recruits. (For a sample, check out the YouTube video below.) Now if I could only find 29 other vocally talented dogs to start my own Il Coro degli Cani, I’d be in business!