Things to do in March

Events to look out for this month around San Diego include the San Diego Yoga Festival, St. Patrick’s Day Parade, San Diego Block Party and Sunburn Opening Day.

3.1-2, 5: Gaslamp Mardi Gras

This Mardi Gras celebration takes place the weekend before Mardi Gras, plus Fat Tuesday, with revelers on this self-guided tour getting perks like welcome shots and free cover at many top Gaslamp spots.

Various Gaslamp locations, gaslampmardigras.com

3.1-4: San Diego Yoga Festival

Hit the reset button during four days of nonstop oceanfront yoga, including classes that incorporate hikes, live music, energy healing and even skateboards.

Evergreen Avenue, Imperial Beach, sandiegoyogafestival.com

3.2-10: San Diego Festival of Science & Engineering

More than 130 local businesses and organizations host interactive, hands-on STEM exhibits — including several activities exclusively for adults — during this 10-day educational experience that proves science exploration isn’t strictly for students.

Petco Park, East Village, lovestemsd.org

3.2-3: 13th Annual Busker Festival

A swarm of street performers from far and wide descend upon Seaport Village for SoCal’s signature two-day busker festival, featuring an untamed 18+ party Saturday after sunset.

Seaport Village, downtown, seaportvillage.com

3.3: Mardi Gras 10 and 5K

Don a mask, bust out your beads and strut your stuff during Rancho Bernardo’s inaugural Mardi Gras Run that concludes with a party in the community park.

Rancho Bernardo Community Park, Rancho Bernardo, active.com

3.3: St. Patrick’s Day Half

This fast, costume-friendly 5K invites finishers to compete in a Crossfit-inspired obstacle course before enjoying food trucks and live music in the event’s exclusive beer garden.

Main Street at Magnolia Street, El Cajon, stpatricksdayhalf.com

3.3: Doggie Gras 5K & Parade

Four-legged friends are front and center on this quick course around the Embarcadero that’s followed by a puppy parade, a sprawling barketplace and an assortment of other Mardi Gras-themed activities.

Embarcadero Marina Park North, downtown, animalcenter.org

3.3: The Boulevard Mardi Gras Crawl

Beginning at the Brewery Igniter facility and culminating in a final party at the LaFayette Hotel, this Mardi Gras crawl takes partiers down El Cajon Blvd. for specials at spots like Lips, Barn Brewery, Café Madeleine and Tacos Mezcla.

Various North Park locations, theboulevard.org

3.5: 17th Annual Hillcrest Mardi Gras

The spirit of the French Quarter consumes Hillcrest for those aboard this bus-based bar crawl that includes five themed party stops and visits to several of the neighborhood’s hottest venues.

Throughout Hillcrest, fabuloushillcrest.com

3.7: Torrey Holistics 3-year anniversary

One of the city’s leading cannabis companies commemorates three thriving years in business with a party headlined by Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds.

Belly Up Tavern, Solana Beach, torreyholistics.com

3.9: 11th annual St. Baldrick’s Shave-a-Thon

Help give hope to kids with cancer by shaving your head — or raising funds — for this heroic, life-saving cause.

Nason’s Beer Hall, downtown, stbaldricks.org

3.9: Oddities & Curiosities Expo

Lovers of the strange and unusual unite at this traveling oddities event showcasing vendors with a broad selection of weird wares.

Del Mar Fairgrounds, Del Mar, odditiesandcuriositiesexpo.com

3.9-10: Balboa Park 92nd annual Rummage Sale

San Diego’s largest rummage sale returns with new and gently used merchandise, including jewelry, antiques, collectibles and more, all sold to raise funds for Balboa Park and nearby nonprofits.

Balboa Park Activity Center, Balboa Park, thethursdayclub.org

3.9-10: IMAX Film Festival

The Fleet Center is celebrating its 46th anniversary film festival by showing 16 films on the museum’s IMAX Dome Theater.

1875 El Prado, Balboa Park, rhfleet.org/events/fleets-46th-anniversary-film-festival

3.10: International Mariachi Festival

It’s about more than just mariachi music at this eclectic event that also includes bungee jumping, extreme water sports, a wrestling exhibition and interactive virtual reality games.

Bayside Park, Chula Vista, mariachifest.com

3.10: San Diego Half Marathon

Beginning and ending near Petco Park, the route for this 13.1-miler heads up the coast toward Liberty Station then ventures east into Mission Hills and Hillcrest before passing Balboa Park on the way back to East Village.

Throughout uptown and downtown, sdhalfmarathon.com

3.15: Little Black Dress Initiative clothing drive

Join the Junior League of San Diego as the organization hosts its third annual Little Black Dress Initiative clothing drive where attendees are requested to bring new or gently used professional clothing that will be donated to community partners supporting homeless youth. — Leslie Hackett

Loading Dock, 2400 Kettner Blvd., Little Italy, jlsd.org/lbdi

3.16: St. Pat’s Parade

Feast your eyes on more than 120 floats, bands and dance groups at the largest St. Paddy’s Day parade west of the Mississippi, then soak up even more Celtic culture at the Irish Festival brimming with craft booths, live entertainment and oodles of food and brews.

Fifth Avenue at Laurel Street, Mission Hills, stpatsparade.org

3.14-24: 26th San Diego Latino Film Festival

Taking a stand against the cinema’s status quo and challenging common stereotypes about the Latino experience, this film festival gives Latino moviemakers the power to share their stories first-hand.

AMC Fashion Valley Mall, Mission Valley and Digital Gym Cinema, North Park, sdlatinofilm.com

To enter for a chance to win a pair of festival passes, click here.

3.16: Super Run

Don your cape, cowl and other crime-fighting attire for this superhero-themed 5K raising funds for a variety of outstanding orgs.

Embarcadero Marina Park North, downtown, thesuperrun.com

3.16: San Diego Shamrock

San Diego’s largest St. Patrick’s Day block party returns to the Gaslamp Quarter with three stages of live music, dozens of participating bars and an endless amount of green beer.

Throughout the Gaslamp Quarter, sandiegoshamrock.com

3.16: St. Patrick’s Day 10K

With any luck (of the Irish), you’ll cross the finish line then celebrate the accomplishment with a cold one at the beer garden on Mission Bay.

Mission Bay Park, Mission Bay, kathyloperevents.com

3.16: Leprechaun Run

Score a pair of green socks, sunglasses and either a tutu or headband at this Irish-inspired 5K followed by a post-run party at Mavericks Beach Club.

Garnet Avenue, Pacific Beach, sandiegorunningco.com

3.16-17: 36th annual San Diego Cake Show

Also known as Confections for a Cause, this incredible cake competition features fascinating classes, a variety of vendors and eye-opening demos all benefiting the Ronald McDonald House Charities of San Diego.

Del Mar Fairgrounds, Del Mar, sandiegocakeshow.com

3.18-21: 14th annual Cherry Blossom Festival

Learn the fine art of appreciating cherry blossom flowers during this yearly festival featuring mouthwatering street food, exotic demonstrations and a beer-and-sake garden.

Japanese Friendship Garden, Balboa Park, niwa.org

3.21: Sip & Savasana

Editor’s note: This event was rained out and moved to April 4.

Head to the rooftop of the Solamar Hotel to celebrate the coming of the spring equinox while enjoying light cocktails and a new brew from 32 North Brewing Company before and after a light vinyasa flow yoga class. BYOM (bring your own mat). — Leslie Hackett

Kimpton Hotel Solomar’s Upper East Bar rooftop, 435 Sixth Ave., downtown, facebook.com/events/371731283657251

3.22-24: Ladies Rock San Diego

Local women take part in an intensive weekend-long program where they form a band, learn an instrument, write an original song, and perform it live at the House of Blues — all in just three days.

A Reason to Survive (A.R.T.S.), National City, rockcampforgirlssd.org

3.23: March for Meals Charity 5K Walk

Help end senior hunger and isolation at this charity walk raising awareness of the struggles confronted by the elderly.

Liberty Station, Point Loma , classy.org

3.23-24: OH! San Diego

The San Diego Architectural Foundation’s Open House (OH!) celebrates our city’s iconic buildings by offering free access to hidden gems and structural treasures in numerous nearby neighborhoods.

Throughout San Diego, sdarchitecture.org

3.24: Hot Chocolate 15K

Satisfy your sweet tooth between strides on this indulgent urban run that’s drizzled with Sweet Stations offering choice treats chocoholics won’t be able to turn down.

Petco Park, East Village, hotchocolate15k.com

3.24: TEDxSDSU: (Moment)um

Reflecting on the notion “that it only takes one push to substantially move things forward,” this series of talks showcases an array of speakers and covers topics ranging from optimizing stubbornness to promoting inclusivity with magic.

Montezuma Hall, San Diego State University, ted.com

3.25-31: 10th annual Kia Classic

Nearly 150 of the world’s best women golfers — including Eun-Hee Ji, Lydia Ko, Paula Creamer, Michelle Wie and Lexi Thompson — compete for a whopping $1.8 million purse.

Hyatt Aviara, Carlsbad, kiaclassic.com

3.28, 29: East Village Opening Weekend Block Party

Head out to this ninth annual event before watching the first pitch to welcome the Padres 2019 (and the team’s 50th anniversary) season. The free festival will have live bands, DJ entertainment and an interactive game zone, plus a 21+ beer garden area to wet your whistle.

J Street between Sixth and 10th avenues, East Village, eastvillagesandiego.com

3.30: Fifth annual Bunny Ball

Bring a new stuffed bunny (or just donate an Andrew Jackson) at this black-tie ball that aims to deliver wascally wabbits to 1,500 sick and needy children.

Parq, downtown, thebunnyball.com

3.30: 12th annual Mustache Bash

Pay respect to that which separates the men from the boys at this funky facial-hair affair followed by an after-party aboard a private boat departing directly from the pier.

Port Pavilion, downtown, mustachebash.com

3.30: Made In San Diego Block Party

One of the world’s biggest craft brewers celebrates its San Diego roots at this bash promoting art, music, food and other creations made in America’s Finest City.

Ballast Point Brewing, Little Italy, madeinsd.eventbrite.com

3.30: Sunburn Pool Lounge Opening Day

Party like a pop star as the Hard Rock opens its rooftop, poolside paradise replete with tricked out cabanas and cushy daybeds that provide the perfect setting for wet-and-wild activities.

Hard Rock Hotel, Gaslamp Quarter, sunburnpool.com

To enter for the chance to win a pair of tickets to Sunburn Pool Lounge’s opening day, click here.

3.30: Clever Talks “HERstory: Women Warriors”

Calling all women warriors (and supporters of). This inaugural event aims to inspire and empower active duty military members, veterans and entrepreneurs with a host of keynote speakers and panelists. —Leslie Hackett

IDEA1 District, 985 Park Blvd., East Village, eventbrite.com

3.31: Encinitas Half

Featuring live music, local vendors and a 7-mile stretch along the oceanfront, this 13.1-mile trek awards runners with a free breakfast at the finish line.

Moonlight Beach, Encinitas, encinitashalfmarathon.com

SPORTS HOME GAMES

San Diego Padres

Opening Weekend: 3.28-31 vs. San Francisco Giants

San Diego Gulls

(at Pechanga Arena)

3.6 vs. Stockton Heat

3.8-9 vs. Colorado Eagles

3.23 vs. Ontario Reign

3.27 vs. San Jose Barracuda

3.29 vs. Bakersfield Condors

3.30 vs. Stockton Heat

San Diego Sockers

(at Pechanga Arena)

3.1 vs. Turlock Express

3.10 vs. Ontario Fury

3.15 vs. Dallas Sidekicks

San Diego Legion

(at USD’s Torero Stadium)

3.10 vs. Toronto Arrows

San Diego Seals

(at Pechanga Arena)

3.2 vs. Vancouver Warriors

3.16 vs. Philadelphia Wings

3.22 vs. Saskatchewan Rush

San Diego Fleet

(at SDCCU Stadium)

3.9 vs. Salt Lake Stallions

3.17 vs. Birmingham Iron