Food and Drink | Concerts and Theater | Festivals and Art | More Things to Do
Food & Drink Events in San Diego
Taste of Third
March 21
Named after Chula Vista’s legendary Third Avenue and showcasing the best eats and drinks in the city, the 28th annual Taste of Third occurs this Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. Attendees will pick up their Taste of Third passport to sample drinks and bites from more than 25 neighborhood businesses, including Don Pedro Taco Shop, Lime in the Coconut, and Mmm…Cakes, soundtracked by live music from local artists. Tickets are $45.
353 Park Way, Chula Vista
Barks & Brews Dog Festival
March 23
This Saturday from 12:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., Waterfront Park hosts Barks & Brews Dog Festival 2024, offering plenty of food, craft beer, seltzer, and fun for four-legged friends. Activities include over 25 beer and seltzer tastings, pet-friendly contests, live music from local artists, and a variety of pet, retail, and boutique vendors. Proceeds from the festival will go towards local nonprofit The Barking Lot, a dog rescue organization that helps dogs in San Diego and Tijuana find foster and forever homes. Ticket options include general admission ($26) and two- ($26) and three-hour ($46) beer and seltzer tasting passes.
1600 Pacific Highway, Embarcadero
Pechanga’s 14th Annual Wine Festival and Chocolate Decadence
March 23
Pechanga’s annual chocolate and wine festival will fundraise for Habitat for Humanity Inland Valley from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m this Saturday with a decadent spread. The festival will include live music, a silent auction, hundreds of unique wine selections, and food from award-winning chefs, including chocolate bites from Pechanga’s executive pastry chef Deden Putra. General admission ($125) includes entry from 1 to 5 p.m., a souvenir wine glass, unlimited two-ounce wine and spirit tastings, and gourmet dessert and cuisine samples. A $100 designated driver pass gets you all that minus the booze. VIP ($175) and VIP designated driver ($150) tickets come with early entry at 11 a.m., an upgraded souvenir wine glass, fruit and cheese, and hors d’oeuvres.
45000 Pechanga Parkway, Temecula
Concerts & Theater in San Diego
All Things Equal: The Life and Trials of Ruth Bader Ginsburg
March 23 & 24
All Things Equal: The Life and Trials of Ruth Bader Ginsburg arrives at the Balboa Theatre this weekend. Written by Rupert Holmes, directed by Laley Lippard, and starring Michelle Azar as RBG, the one-woman play traces Ginsburg’s trailblazing career and all her tribulations inside and out of the courtroom, while prominently covering her fight for women’s rights. Tickets for start at $52.
868 4th Avenue, Gaslamp
Festivals & Art Exhibits in San Diego
Robert Irwin Day
March 21
This Thursday, the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego will celebrate iconic local artist Robert Irwin, who passed away in October 2023 at the age of 95. Irwin was a long-time San Diego resident and a major collaborator with MCASD dating back to the 1960s; he also played a major part in the development of the museum’s downtown location. From 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., visitors will receive free admission to the museum. Attendees can catch a screening of Irwin’s MCASD retrospective film Robert Irwin: Primaries and Secondaries and join tours that center around Irwin’s contributions to the Light and Space movement. RSVP here.
700 Prospect Street, La Jolla
WNDR After Dark: Women’s History Month
March 21
The WNDR Museum is celebrating Women’s History Month with a special edition of its monthly WNDR After Dark series, welcoming a diverse lineup of women-led brands, artists, and vendors. From 6 to 10 p.m., attendees can peruse the museum’s immersive exhibits and shop vintage items, artwork, textiles, food, drinks, and more and enjoy music from local DJ Malcom Brown. Tickets for WNDR After Dark are $38 for adults and $32 for children ages 3 to 12. VIP tickets, which come with expedited entry, discounts, and more, are $50.
422 Market Street, Gaslamp
Blue Water Film Festival
March 21–24
Taking place at venues throughout San Diego, the 5th annual Blue Water Film Festival will include in-person events Thursday through Sunday, plus several films available to watch on demand. The fest gets people talking about climate change and potential solutions while showcasing international environmental cinema. It will feature a book talk, opening and closing night events, and tons of film screenings, with single tickets available for special events. Several types of screening passes are also available, ranging from $300 to $1,200. The $650 Blue Water All Access Pass comes with access to all films and events and the closing awards show.
Citywide
Monty Montgomery: Intersection Opening Reception
March 23
Artist Monty Montgomery’s new solo exhibition Intersection will launch at Sparks Gallery with a free opening reception this Saturday from 5 to 8 p.m. Montgomery’s angular, geometric works inspired by the urban and natural landscapes of the US (especially San Diego and his childhood home of rural Virginia) are on view through April 28.
530 Sixth Avenue, Gaslamp
Candlewood Arts Festival
March 23
The 4th annual Candlewood Arts Festival will bring a day full of free community art to Borrego Springs with painting workshops, artist talks, an opening party, and more. From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., attendees can enjoy community stories from Karla Diaz, a newly commissioned sculpture inspired by the surrounding landscape, and an exhibition highlighting work from Borrego Springs students and past Candlewood artists.
Big Horn Road and Di Giorgio Road, Borrego Springs
More Fun Things to Do in San Diego
Robert Frost Sesquicentennial
March 20–24
The Robert Frost Society and Library Foundation San Diego are teaming up to celebrate Robert Frost’s 150th birthday with five days of events at the San Diego Central Library, including panels with Pulitzer Prize winners, poetry workshops, and deep dives into Frost’s literary legacy. Ten of the country’s most acclaimed poets will discuss their work and Frost classics like “The Road Not Taken” and “Mending Wall” in lectures and roundtables.
330 Park Boulevard, Downtown
San Diego Wave vs. Kansas City Current
March 23
With a 1-0 victory over Gotham FC in the NWSL Challenge Cup last Friday, the San Diego Wave—in less than three years of existence—has already secured more silverware than the Padres (sorry Pads fans). Now that the year is off to a hot start, the Wave will look to begin the 2024 regular season on a high note in their home opener against the Kansas City Current this Saturday at 7 p.m. at Snapdragon Stadium. Most tickets for Saturday’s match range from $10 to $50.
2101 Stadium Way, Mission Valley
Julian Daffodil Show
March 23 & 24
Local children and adults submitted more than 1,000 daffodils to admire at this annual flora extravaganza at Julian Town Hall. The two-day event will also include children’s art depicting watercolors of daffodils and lectures from American Daffodil Society experts.
2129 Main Street, Julian
GOVX San Diego Half Marathon & 5K
March 24
Half-marathon runners chasing the SoCal Triple Crown will start their race as the sun rises over the GOVX San Diego Half Marathon & 5K. After jogging through downtown and finishing in the Gaslamp, participants will receive a shirt, a finisher’s medal, a souvenir bag with post-race food and chocolate milk, and a one-day pass to the invite-only Columbia Employee Store for their efforts. Runners are also invited to a pre-race expo at the Hilton San Diego Gaslamp Quarter, as well as finish line festivities that include a DJ, vendors, and photo backdrops.
100 Park Boulevard, Downtown
