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.
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.
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.
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.
