March Calendar of Events
3/2: Ocean Beach Kite Festival
Location: Dusty Rhodes Park, Ocean Beach
Admission: Free
Info: oceanbeachkiwanis.org
Go fly a kite! Or learn to make one during the festival’s 65th anniversary celebration in O.B.
3/2: Urban Warrior Dash
Location: Petco Park, Downtown
Admission: $70-$85
Info: urbanwarriordash.com
Complete five miles of ridiculous obstacle courses throughout downtown, and then drink beer (or the other way around).
3/2-5/12: The Flower Fields
Location: Paseo Del Norte, Carlsbad
Admission: $11
Info: theflowerfields.com
See millions of Giant Tecolote Ranunculus flowers bloom across a 50-acre Carlsbad hillside, now redesigned for the first time in 15 years.
3/10: Kiwanis Ugly Dog Contest
Location: Bates Nut Farm, Valley Center
Admission: $12
Info: uglydogcontest.com
Calling your pooch ugly is kinda ruff. To see some real dogs, check out the ones holding the leashes in the “Dog That Looks Like Its Owner” contest.
3/10: San Diego Half Marathon
Location: Petco Park, Downtown
Admission: $49-$109
Info: sdhalfmarathon.com
Run a scenic 13.1-mile run loop through Harbor Island, Liberty Station, Hillcrest and Balboa Park.
3/15-16: Epic Beer Festival
Location: San Diego Convention Center, Downtown
Admission: $40
Info: epicbeerfestival.com
Taste two-ounce beer samples from more than 80 craft breweries from San Diego and across the country.
3/16: Cruzar la Cara de Luna (To Cross the Face of the Moon)
Location: San Diego Civic Theatre, Downtown
Admission: $35-$125
Info: sdopera.com/Operas/Cruzar
The first opera with a mariachi orchestra makes its West Coast debut in downtown San Diego.
3/16: St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Irish Festival
Location: Balboa Park
Admission: Free
Info: stpatsparade.org
Kilt fans, don’t forget to wear mirrors on the tops of your shoes as the marching bands and floats pass through Balboa Park and the surrounding streets.
3/17: ShamROCK Festival
Location: Sixth Ave. & F St., Gaslamp
Admission: $35-$45 for G.A., $55-$65 for VIP
Info: sandiegoshamrock.com
Celtic rockers Young Dubliners headline this annual St. Patty’s day celebration that draws 20,000 green- beer-drinking revelers to the streets of the Gaslamp with a three-stage line-up of live acts and DJs.
3/18-24: The Kia Classic
Location: Aviara Golf Club, Carlsbad
Admission: $10-$80
Info: lpga.com
The world’s top female golfers compete for a $1.7 million purse.
3/23: Fight For Air Climb
Location: One America Plaza, Downtown
Admission: $25
Info: lung.org
Support the American Lung Association by climbing 657 stairs in this vertical race to the top of San Diego’s tallest building.
3/23: South Park Spring Walkabout
Location: Kalmia St. to Beech St., South Park
Admission: Free
Info: southparkscene.com
See what’s new in South Park as the neighborhood’s restaurants and retail merchants stay open late.
3/23-24: Spring Busker Festival
Location: Seaport Village, Downtown
Admission: Free
Info: seaportvillage.com
If you have coulrophobia (fear of clowns), stay away from these sword-swallowing, unicycle-juggling street performers, lest one gives you nightmares for life by honking its nose while making you a balloon animal.
3/24: San Diego Hot Chocolate 15/5K
Location: Petco Park, Downtown
Admission: $48-$68
Info: hotchocolate15k.com/sandiego
Don’t run for your health, do it for the Ghiradelli chocolates and hot cocoa afterwards.
3/30: Ironman 70.3
Location: Camp Pendleton, Oceanside
Admission: $325
Info: ironman.com
The only time it’s permitted to swim in Oceanside Harbor is during this triathlon consisting of a 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike course and 13.1-mile run.