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11 Things To Do in San Diego This Weekend: March 28–31

Party with the Padres in East Village, admire new local art exhibitions, and enjoy discounted shows for Balboa Theatre’s 100th birthday
San Diego Padres opening day at Petco Park 2024 featuring Yu Darvish pitching at the mound
Courtesy of FriarWire

Concerts and Theater | Festivals and Art | More Things to Do

As March draws to a close, San Diego comes alive with a host of vibrant activities. From festive egg hunts to the the San Diego Padres home opener at Petco Park, there’s no shortage of things to do in San Diego this weekend. Check out our full list of the best events, festivals, and activities to enjoy below:

Courtesy of Besos Jazz Trio

Concerts & Theater Events in San Diego

Beauty and the Beast

March 28–30

The San Diego Civic Youth Ballet has a weekend full of shows in store at Casa Del Prado Theater, with four performances of Beauty and the Beast beginning this Thursday night. Directed by Danika Pramik-Holdaway, this enchanting ballet follows the classic tale of a love that breaks an evil spell. Tickets are $25.

1600 Village Place, Balboa Park

Balboa Theatre’s 100th Anniversary

March 28–30

Fête a century of the Balboa Theatre with a weekend full of family-friendly events in the Gaslamp. The festivities begin Thursday night with the 100th Anniversary Gala, where pianist Hershey Felder will explore 100 years of popular American music. Friday night brings a silent film screening, while Saturday morning’s kid-centric event features classic cartoons. The celebration closes on Saturday night with San Diego Spotlight, a stacked showcase of community performing arts troupes. Tickets for the gala start at $50. All other events will set you back a mere $3.50.

868 Fourth Avenue, Gaslamp

Besos Jazz Trio

March 29

The Besos Jazz Trio will play a free, hour-long concert from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. this Friday at the Wu Tsai QRT.yrd at The Conrad as part of La Jolla Music Society’s Outdoor Concert Series. Each member of the trio brings unique experience in a variety of world genres to the stage, from ballet folklorico to the Selmer-style manouche guitar. A 4-to-5-p.m. swing dancing class led by local instructors Maria Caligagan and Michael Saltus will precede the concert. The event is first-come, first-served. RSVP to attend. 

7600 Fay Avenue, La Jolla

Sonia De Los Santos

March 29

Drawing upon son jarocho, cumbia, salsa, and folk traditions, Sonia De Los Santos stages interactive shows, playing children’s music in English and Spanish. This Friday night at 6:30 p.m., she will perform at The New Children’s Museum at 6:30 p.m. Kids and parents can dance and sing along to tunes about friendship, animals, and childhood dreams whilst learning about Latin American musical history. Tickets for Friday’s show are $22 for adults, $12 for kids ages 3 to 12, and free for children under 2 years old. | 200 West Island Avenue, Downtown

Spring Harp Fest

March 30

San Diego’s grassroots celebration of blues harmonica returns to Harry Griffen Regional Park this Saturday with musical performances beginning at 11 a.m. This free, volunteer-led annual event—always taking place on the cusp of Easter—invites families to bring a picnic and spend an afternoon at the park supporting local harmonica players. There will be a suggested $20 donation upon entry, with additional opportunities to donate at the festival raffle and online.

9550 Milden Street, La Mesa

Courtesy of the Mingei International Museum

Festivals & Art Exhibits in San Diego

Shirin Towfiq: Threaded Journeys

Opens March 30

Opening this Saturday at the Mingei International Museum, Shirin Towfiq’s new exhibition Threaded Journeys depicts Persian folk traditions of storytelling through art and craft while also bringing to life her experience as a second-generation Iranian refugee through embroidery, patchwork, and digital prints. See the show through August 11.

1439 El Prado, Balboa Park

Allied Craftsmen of San Diego: Hands On Design

Opens March 30

The Oceanside Museum of Art’s new exhibition Hands on Design, a showcase from Allied Craftsmen of San Diego, opens this Saturday and runs through August 18. Guusje Sanders, curator of the Mingei International Museum, juried the show, which highlights local handcrafted artwork in a variety of mediums, including wood and metalworking, pottery, and fiber arts.

704 Pier View Way, Oceanside

Courtesy of Quartyard

More Things to Do in San Diego

San Diego Padres Home Opener

March 28 

The Padres split their first series of the year against the Dodgers in Seoul, Korea: While they suffered a 5-2 loss in the first Major League Baseball game of 2024, they went on to bash LA in a 15-11 victory. Now back in the States, the Padres will kick off their first homestand of the season with a four-game set against the San Francisco Giants, beginning with their home opener this Thursday at 1:10 p.m. Tickets start at $70. | 100 Park Boulevard, Downtown

East Village Block Party

March 30

From 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. this Saturday, the 12th annual East Village Block Party will celebrate the start of the San Diego Padres season with several local food vendors, live music, and a walk-through car show. Attendees can expect appearances from the San Diego Wave and SD Legion, and the block party will also include beer and cocktails, fitness activations, photo ops, and more as East Village parties for the Pads.

J Street from 7th Avenue to 10th Avenue, East Village

Weekend Activities at The Flower Fields 

March 29–31

San Diegans can bid winter goodbye and “Spring into Color” at the Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch, where fields of colorful ranunculus are at their brightest. This weekend’s lineup of events includes Friday night’s sunset wine tasting ($115), accompanied by live music, and Saturday morning’s one-hour yoga flow overlooking the blooms ($45 and includes admission to The Flower Fields).

5704 Paseo Del Norte, Carlsbad

A Day at the Park: Pepper Park

March 30

This free event includes SD artists, musicians, food vendors, and a kids’ zone from 12 to 5 p.m. at Pepper Park. Little ones can explore mini golf, face painting, games, crafts, and more, and attendees will also catch performances from local school bands and cultural music groups, including Grupo Folklorico Herencia Mexicana and the UCSD Chinese Dance Association.

3299 Tidelands Avenue, National City

By Ryan Hardison

Ryan Hardison is a freelance arts and entertainment writer and recent graduate of San Diego State. When he's not staring at his laptop, he's likely eating an adobada burrito or getting sunburnt at the beach.

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