San Diegans can take advantage of this weekend’s mid-70s forecast by spending time outdoors, attending new plays and exploring cultural events. Admire the beauty of mother nature during the five-day San Diego Bird Festival and the seasonal opening of The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch. Watch new productions of contemporary and classic theatrical stories, including Beetlejuice at Civic Theatre and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? at Scripps Ranch Theatre. Plus, celebrate international food, cinema, and culture with Artifact at Mingei’s United by Grains dinner, the Oceanside International Film Festival and San Diego Chinese New Year Fair.
Food & Drink | Concerts & Festivals | Theater & Art Exhibits | More Fun Things to Do
Food & Drink Events in San Diego This Weekend
Artifact at Night: United by Grains
February 27
Why settle for one cuisine when you can dine on a world of earthly treasures? For its next themed dinner, Artifact at Mingei has drawn inspiration from the museum’s new Farm to Craft exhibition to cultivate a menu with vast international influence. Artifact at Night: United by Grains will consist of a five-course dinner, with optional beverage pairings, featuring global essentials like North African freekeh, Eastern European oat kvass and Mexican red corn tamales. Reservations are $80 for Mingei members and $89 for non-members; seatings can be reserved online for this Friday between 5-8:30 p.m., with seven dining slots still available.
1439 El Prado, Balboa Park
Calienté Latin Music and Spirits Fest
February 28
Spend your afternoon dancing to salsa tunes and trying top-shelf spirits during the biannual Calienté Latin Music and Spirits Fest, returning to The Sinclair on G Street this Saturday from 2-5:30 p.m. Hear banda, bachata, merengue and more, with performances by local Latin artists, while sampling a lineup of bites, mixed beverages and premium brands of tequila, mezcal, vodka and beer during this 21+ event. General admission is $39 and includes spirits sampling.
643 G Street, Gaslamp
Concerts & Festivals in San Diego This Weekend
Oceanside International Film Festival at Star Theatre
February 25–February 28
Watch dozens of short films and a handful of independent features at the Star Theatre during the 15th annual Oceanside International Film Festival. The festivities begin Wednesday with a red carpet reception and screening of the documentary Desert Angel and conclude Saturday with an interview and Q&A featuring director Catherine Hardwicke, followed by the award show finale. Ticket options include single-day film screenings passes for Thursday-Saturday ($18 each), opening night ($25) and closing night ($30) admission, and the all-festival block pass ($86).
402 North Coast Highway, Oceanside
San Diego Bird Festival
February 25–March 1
It’s a bird … it’s a plane … oh wait, it is a bird! This Wednesday-Sunday, spread your wings and soar during the San Diego Bird Festival. Taking place primarily at Marina Village Conference Center, attendees can join field trips, take expert-led workshops, shop the Red Bird Bookstore, and bid on silent auction items to support the San Diego Bird Alliance. Register online to build your festival schedule, with 145+ activities—many of which are free or low-priced—to choose from. Plus, Saturday (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and Sunday (10 a.m. to 3 p.m.) will be free community days, with a host of family-friendly programs and activities open to the public.
1936 Quivira Way, Mission Valley
Brahms Festival at Jacobs Music Center
February 27–March 7
Conductor Rafael Payare and the San Diego Symphony Orchestra will dissect the brilliance of German composer Johannes Brahms through its Brahms Festival, beginning Friday at Jacobs Music Center. Over five concerts, audiences will hear several spellbinding pieces from this Romantic Era innovator, including A German Requiem (Friday at 7:30 p.m. & Sunday at 2 p.m.), plus Symphonies No. 1 & 2 (Saturday at 7:30 p.m.), No. 3 (March 7) and No. 4 (March 6). Each performance will be introduced through pre-concert talks led by the Symphony’s Creative Consultant Gerard McBurney. Tickets range from $42 to $125 for each concert.
1245 Seventh Avenue, Downtown
Fido Fest
February 28
Dog parents, enthusiasts and prospective owners can spend their Saturday afternoon roaming Santee’s free annual Fido Fest at Town Center Community Park East. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., there will be dog agility courses, pet costume contests, a wellness zone, a donation drive and a vendor village with an array of pet-friendly items, services, and most importantly, treats. Attendees can also observe demonstrations, enjoy arts and crafts, snap a photo with the Oscar Mayer Weinermobile and peruse an adoption alley with over 20 local shelters.
550 Park Center Drive, Santee
Jordan Ward at House of Blues San Diego
February 28
The progressive R&B of Jordan Ward is both pleasing on the ears and good for the soul. Ward’s specialty is grooves, songs teeming with woozy introspection and falsetto flourishes that have made him one of the genre’s emerging stars. His newest project Backward, released Jan. 30, extends the successful path laid by Forward, his 2023 debut album. When Ward’s The Apartment Tour heads to House of Blues San Diego this Saturday at 7 p.m., he’ll be joined by Asha Imuno, an exciting SoCal-based alternative R&B artist. Tickets start at $33 for this concert.
1055 Fifth Avenue, Downtown
San Diego Chinese New Year Fair
February 28–March 1
Already ditched your New Year’s resolutions? Start fresh during the Year of the Horse, and welcome its arrival at the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association’s free 43rd annual San Diego Chinese New Year Fair. This Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., eat Chinese culinary specialties, open lucky red envelopes and see a plethora of live entertainment from local cultural organizations, including lion and dragon dancers and martial arts demonstrations.
428 Third Avenue, Downtown
Theater & Art Exhibits in San Diego This Weekend
Beetlejuice at Civic Theatre
February 24–March 1
Summoning the macabre mania of Tim Burton’s immortal 1988 film, the musical adaptation of Beetlejuice carries on the playful spirit of everyone’s favorite bio-exorcist. As in the movie, Beetlejuice follows a ghostly couple as they team up with teenager Lydia Deetz and a pin-striped demon (whose name I will not utter a third time) to rid their old house of its insufferable new occupants. This resurrected story is paired with a fan-favorite soundtrack boasting original songs and plenty of Harry Belafonte. Tickets start at $35, with eight performances at the Civic Theatre.
1100 Third Avenue, Gaslamp
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? at Tenth Avenue Arts Center
February 26–March 21
Backyard Renaissance Theatre Company is adapting Edward Albee’s iconic dramedy Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? for a new stage production at Tenth Avenue Arts Center. In this Broadway essential, a casual cocktail gathering between two university faculty members and their significant others quickly descends into an explosive late night showdown. As the drinks continue to flow, secrets, tension and the blurring of fantasy and reality only add further kindling to the fire. Preview tickets are $20 for Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, with performances this Thursday-Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m., and opening night set for March 7.
930 Tenth Avenue, East Village
Cirque Flip Fabrique: Blizzard at Poway Center for the Performing Arts
February 27
Québec City-based circus troupe Cirque Flip Fabrique brings their transcendent Blizzard production to Poway Center for the Performing Arts this Friday at 7:30 p.m. The story of Blizzard embraces the enchanting feeling of snowfall, accentuated through live music and a story about a friend group’s transcendent journey. Additionally, the production uses its wintery setting as a backdrop for daring acrobatics, with the performers juggling, conquering trampolines and traversing aerial danger throughout the show. Tickets range from $32 to $74 for Blizzard.
15498 Espola Road, Poway
Birthday Fest at San Diego Museum of Art
February 28
Everyone is invited to the San Diego Museum of Art’s 100th birthday party this Saturday, with themed activities, photo ops, gallery activations and more. Throughout the day, the public can enjoy free admission to SDMA and the adjacent Museum of Photographic Arts; SDMA will also have extended hours from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Though no spots are left at The Cake Party, all are welcome to enjoy a centennial edition of On the Steps at SDMA, featuring artistic activities, interactive booths and a range of music and dance performances from 4:30-7:30 p.m.
1450 El Prado, Balboa Park
Keepers of the Culture: Honoring Our Cultural Icons at San Diego History Center
February 28
The San Diego African American Museum of Fine Art will spotlight local trailblazers through its free annual Keepers of the Culture event this Saturday from 5-7:30 p.m. at San Diego History Center. This year’s honorees are jazz singer Jeannie Cheatham, longtime dance educators Sandra Foster King and Donald Robinson and the Stance family, owners of Mount Hope’s Bowlegged BBQ. The event will kick off at 5 p.m. with a reception featuring jazz harpist Mariea Antoinette before the program begins at 6 p.m. Due to limited space, attendees are encouraged to RSVP.
1649 El Prado, Balboa Park
White Privilege Staged Reading at Scripps Ranch Theatre
February 28
Malaina Moore’s thought-provoking play White Privilege outlines the continuing existence and multi-generational impact of system racism in America. Told through a collection of stories, including conversations, therapy sessions and direct addresses to the audience, White Privilege examines the unnerving ways privilege manifests in daily life. Local theater audiences can see a hybrid staged reading of the production via a one-night-only adaption by OnWord Theatre and Scripps Ranch Theatre this Saturday from 7-9 p.m. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online.
9783 Avenue of Nations, Scripps Ranch
More Fun Things to Do in San Diego This Weekend
SDSU Men’s and Women’s Basketball at Viejas Arena
February 25 & 28
Ahead of their respective Mountain West tournaments, San Diego State’s men’s and women’s basketball squads are well-positioned for a run at the conference crown. This Wednesday at 8 p.m., the SDSU men’s team will take on the Utah State Aggies, who the Aztecs trail by only one game with three total remaining; tickets start at $31. On the women’s side, SDSU has all but wrapped up the #1 seed with a dominant 16-1 conference record (as of Feb. 24), and will celebrate Senior Day against the Wyoming Cowgirls this Saturday at 1 p.m.; tickets start at $7.
5500 Canyon Crest Drive, Rolando
FIBA World Cup Qualifiers at Frontwave Arena
February 26 & March 1
With the 2026 Winter Olympics in the books, Team USA turns its attention to an array of international tournaments, including the 2027 FIBA World Cup. Basketball’s quadrennial global prize was last won by USA in 2014, giving the squad of NBA and G League vets, such as former second overall pick James Wiseman, extra motivation to secure a spot in the next tournament. Local basketball fans can catch two days of international hoops at Frontwave Arena as the Americans play World Cup qualifiers against the Dominican Republic (Thursday at 7 p.m.) and Mexico (Sunday at 4 p.m.). Tickets start at $30 for Thursday and Sunday’s matchups.
3475 Hero Drive, Oceanside
PARTNER CONTENT
The Flower Fields
March 1–May 10
Acres upon acres of kaleidoscopic flowers await in The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch, San Diego’s seasonal floral getaway. Explore gardens full of flora, sculptures and illusions, and check out butterfly encounters, tractor rides, gemstone mining and a range of workshops, concerts and wellness activities. Beginning in late April, visitors can also see a 5-acre field of blossoming sunflowers to go along with the 1,500 square foot poinsettia display and the rows of picturesque ranunculus flowers, which are just weeks away from blooming. General admission is $27 for adults and $17 for children (ages 3-10) and season passes are $65 for adults and $40 for children.
5704 Paseo del Norte, Carlsbad
