As a patriotic pooch, I find so much to be grateful for as America celebrates its 234th Independence Day. I’m also thankful that our nation’s birthday gives us all the freedom to enjoy a three-day holiday weekend in Balboa Park. Here are just a few places to catch the Park’s special brand of cultural fireworks:

Earth Exposed at the Reuben H. Fleet Space Center. Just opened last week, this interactive display of 25 hands-on exhibits explores nature’s powerful forces, like tornados, geysers, and volcanoes, that are continuously re-shaping the world we see around us.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the Museum of Photographic Arts. This screening of the classic family flick starring Dick van Dyke and Edison the Dog on July 3 at 1pm will be preceded by a most entertaining performance by Scott Paulson’s Teeny Tiny Pit Orchestra.

SUDS: The Rocking 60s Musical at the Starlight Bowl. This bubbly musical, featuring American 60s classics, ends its run with a bang on July 2–3 at 8pm. The uplifting story of a teenage girl who seeks true love with the help of two guardian angels promises good clean, laugh-out-loud fun.

House of U.S.A. Lawn Program. The annual Sunday celebration actually falls on July 4 this year. No need to fight fellow beach goers for a fire ring when you can enjoy a small town-style Fourth of July celebration, complete with live bands playing patriotic tunes, costumed Uncle Sams, and an all-American picnic menu of hot dogs, baked beans, potato salad, and apple pie. Dog Bless America!

While the word diverse may not always be associated with organ music, the International Summer Organ Festival’s program for 2010 certainly stretches the versatile instrument’s range into a wide variety of musical categories. And we’re not talking a dog’s breakfast of styles, but rather a carefully selected blend of genres from different eras. Enhancing the experience, each program is performed by an accomplished organist under the stars in the historic Spreckels Organ Pavilion on Monday nights at 7:30pm.

For example, next week the dynamic Julliard-trained Canadian, Isabelle Demers, will sample both classical and modern composers, including Bach, Prokofiev, and Rachel Laurin. The following week on July 5, Walter Strony, one of America’s premier concert organists, shifts gears with a lively selection of works by George Gershwin, Duke Ellington, Leonard Bernstein, and my favorite “piano man” Billy Joel.

Later next month, on July 26, the festival welcomes one of Finland’s most prolific recording artists, Kalevi Kiviniemi, who will present pieces dating from the 17th through 20th centuries, encompassing his own compositions. Then on August 23, the always popular Movie Night will treat audiences to a screening of the silent film The Yankee Clipper as Dennis James provides the musical accompaniment.

Last but not least, San Diego’s own Civic Organist Carol Williams closes the festival with a “Jazz Night,” featuring KUSI meteorologist and respected jazz trombonist and composer, Dave Scott, and friends. (I wonder if he’ll be wearing a bow tie.)

For a great preview, check out this news piece on Channel 8 News.

While you might not be able to teach an old dog new tricks, an old Balboa Park institution, namely the Old Globe, can certainly teach the public its rich and illustrious history. Marking 75 years as San Diego’s flagship theatrical venue, the Old Globe celebrates its roots during a free open house this Sunday, June 13, from 9:30am to 2pm.

Opening the year of the California Pacific International Exposition in 1935, the Old Globe quickly became one of the fair’s most popular attractions by presenting 50-minute versions of Shakespeare plays and “Dancing on the Green” events in which the Shakespeare troupe performed Elizabethan-era dances on the lawn in front of the theater.

Recalling its grand Shakespearean beginnings, this Sunday’s open house will commence with a Procession of Queen Elizabeth (played by everyone’s favorite TV mom, Marion Ross) and feature Elizabethan dancing and bagpipe performances on “on the green” in Copley Plaza. In addition, the Shakespeare Festival repertory troupe will perform scenes from this summer’s line up in the Lowell Davies Festival Theater.

Also on the program are sword fighting demonstrations, 20-minute backstage tours of the new (and old) facilities, circus performances, crafts and face painting for pups of all ages, giveaways, and free popcorn (so you know I’ll be there!).

As if there weren’t enough reasons to spend part of your Memorial Day weekend in Balboa Park, the good folks at the House of Pacific Relations International Cottages have graciously scheduled the Ethnic Food Fair for this Sunday, May 30.

One of my favorite annual events, for obvious reasons, the Ethnic Food Fair allows prolific eaters like me to sample the culinary treats of 32 different cultures. Where else can you gobble up French pastries, shepherd’s pie, tamales, egg rolls, bratwurst, falafels, pasta, Norwegian waffles, pierogis, paella, and more in one location?

No, the Horton Plaza food court doesn’t count! Especially since the Ethnic Food Fair accompanies these great eats with a smorgasbord of music and dance performances from various countries throughout the day, along with friendly folks wearing authentic costumes and displaying traditional arts and crafts.

Once you’ve had your fill, I suggest heading to the Casa de Balboa to catch two very different photography exhibitions that close June 6: Faces of the Frontier: Photographic Portraits from the American West, 1845–1924, organized by the Smithsonian Institution’s National Portrait Gallery, at the San Diego History Center; and State of Mind: A California Invitational, featuring contemporary work of the last decade, at the Museum of Photographic Arts.

Also ending a long run on June 6, Motion Mania: Move Your Mind at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center presents 30 fun activities that explore basic principles of the physics of motion some people take for granted, such as the optimal angle to throw a tennis ball for maximum distance.

As someone who really likes to get her paws dirty, I’m always happy to find family-friendly activities like this Saturday’s Mudfest at the Spanish Village Art Center willing to accommodate. The free day-long event (10am–4pm) on May 22 offers a wide variety of opportunities to learn the joys of playing with clay or to just sit back and watch the fun.

Sponsored by folks who really know their dirt from the Clay Artists of San Diego and the San Diego Potters Guild, Mudfest consists of clay games and activities for beginning, novice, and experienced potters alike. For example, the No-Hands Throw contest has participants throwing on a potter’s wheel using only their elbows, feet, or snout instead of their hands. In Siamese Tandem Throw each partner throws on the wheel using opposite hands. There will also be Blind-Folded Throw, Relay Team Throw, and Largest Thrown Vessel contests.

In the children’s area, youngsters can sculpt their own animals, paint decorative tiles, or add to a group project, like a large-scale clay dragon. There will also be short lessons on the wheel for adults and displays of finished ceramics to view and purchase.

Green Family Day at the Fleet

Once you are done playing in the clay, I recommend heading over to the big fountain in front of the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center to chase, er, watch miniature solar powered cars being test driven by their makers as part of that museum’s “Green” Family Day.