Top weekend events in San Diego for March 30 to April 2: Restaurant Week, Belmont in Bloom and more
Here are some of the best things to do in San Diego County this weekend, including classical music, Aztecs basketball, food events, concerts and more.
As we reach the final weekend in March, spring activities are in bloom all over San Diego County.
Baseball is back with Padres opening day on Thursday. “March Madness” continues with the San Diego State men’s basketball team playing in the Final Four of the NCAA tournament on Saturday, and watch parties are taking place for fans to gather together.
Here are some of the best things to do this weekend.
Thursday
San Diego Restaurant Week final weekend: San Diego Restaurant Week continues through Sunday with more than 80 San Diego County restaurants offering prix fixe two- or three-course lunch or dinner menus. Lunch menus start at $20. Dinner menus start at $30. Participating restaurants have posted their Restaurant Week menus and prices along with reservation links on the website, where diners can search by neighborhood, style of cuisine, lunch or dinner option, and price point. sandiegorestaurantweek.com
Padres opening day: The Padres will begin the 2023 regular season on Thursday at 1:10 p.m. at Petco Park. Check out all our latest coverage here.
How to have the best Padres opening day experience, from best parking options and public transit choices, whether you can get last-minute Padres tickets.
National Walking Day at Lake Jennings: Lake Jennings will be open Thursday, National Walking Day, for walking and hiking only. Stroll the circumference of the lake (5.5 miles), just do part of the loop, or walk it twice; the walk’s the thing. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday. 9535 Harritt Road, Lakeside. Day use fees start at $4; also, annual walking passes will be $10 off. lakejennings.org/event/national-walking-day
Friday
‘Tosca’ concludes its run Sunday: San Diego Opera presents the final performances of Giacomo Puccini’s “Tosca,” featuring soprano Michelle Bradley as the fiery Roman opera singer Floria Tosca, tenor Marcelo Puente as her lover, Cavaradossi, and bass-baritone Greer Grimsley as the villain Scarpia. 7:30 p.m. Friday; 2 p.m. Sunday. San Diego Civic Theatre, 1100 Third Ave., San Diego. $25 and up. (619) 533-7000, sdopera.org
Padres beerfest: The first edition of Party in the Park — which takes place on Fridays in Gallagher Square throughout the season — will take place this Friday at Petco Park with live music and $5 beer specials. A Padres game ticket is required for entry. For the full Party in the Park schedule for this season, go here. Gates open about two hours before the first pitch. Petco Park, 100 Park Blvd., San Diego. Free entry with ticket purchase. mlb.com/padres/tickets/specials/party-in-the-park
Saturday
Belmont in Bloom: The festival opens its second year at Belmont Park starting Saturday. The amusement park turns itself into a field of whimsy with towering flowers, colorful murals and Instagrammable floral photo ops until May 31. Also: live art performances by local artists, live music from 2 to 5 p.m. weekends, face painter, balloon twister and caricature artist, and various community “give back” events. Stroll around and meet characters including a flower princess, stilt walkers and bubble girl. Spring-inspired food and beverages will be available. Open daily at 11 a.m.; closing hours vary. West end of Mission Bay Drive. Free to enter and free parking; pay as you play. Day park passes from $55 to $60. belmontpark.com/belmontinbloom
‘Hoops Madness’ in the Gaslamp: This watch party will be open for both Final Four games on Saturday. There will be a beverage garden, vendors selling merchandise for fans, basketball hoop shooting games and more. Open to all ages. RSVP online. Corner of 5th Avenue and Island Avenue. Free. gaslamp.org/news/gaslamp-quarter-hoops
SDSU basketball watch party at Quartyard: Watch the game on an LED wall with food and drink specials and a DJ. Attendees must be 21 or older. 1 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Quartyard. 1301 Market Street, San Diego. Free. quartyardsd.com/event/final-four-viewing-party
Opening Weekend Block Party: To celebrate the opening weekend of the San Diego Padres’ 2023 baseball season, the East Village Association hosts the 11th annual Opening Weekend Block Party with a focus on all things East Village. Check out local small businesses, live music and entertainment, tasty bites, beer and cocktails, local vendors, photo opportunities and more. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. J Street, from Seventh to Tenth avenues outside Petco Park. Free. eastvillagesandiego.com/block-party
North Park Festival of Beers: The 14th annual festival of Beers returns with samples of more than 50 beers. Plus live music, specialty food vendors and more! Must be 21 to attend. Presented by 91X; proceeds are donated to the San Diego Music Foundation to fund the Taylor Guitars in Schools program. 2 p.m. Saturday. The Lafayette Hotel, Swim Club & Bungalows, 2223 El Cajon Blvd, San Diego. $40 general, $25 designated driver. northparkbeerfest.com
West Point Glee Club: This 100-year-old Army cadet choir from the U.S. Military Academy West Point performs in concert. 4 p.m. Saturday. La Jolla United Methodist Church, 6063 La Jolla Blvd., La Jolla. Donations accepted. Arrive early for best seating. lajollaunitedmethodist.org
Race for Autism: Kick off Autism Acceptance Month with Saturday’s Race for Autism SUPERHERO 5K Run and 1 Mile Family Walk in Balboa Park. This family-friendly event promotes awareness of neurodiversity and inclusion efforts, and raises funds to support local autism programs. Enjoy music, refreshments, children’s activities and a Resource Fair with 50-plus autism vendors. Registration at 6:30 a.m. Saturday at south side of El Prado between Sixth and Balboa Drive (west entrance to Balboa Park). Prices start at $40 today , $45 on race day Saturday. raceforautism.org
Native Garden Tour: The California Native Plant Society annual Native Garden Tour showcases a native-landscaped HOA park and a habitat trail created by an elementary school. Also featured is a Mediterranean-style garden designed by Nan Sterman, host of “A Growing Passion” on KPBS-TV. Garden designers range from DIY homeowners to landscape professionals. Tickets give access on both days to separate garden groups: Saturday, gardens in San Marcos and Escondido; Sunday, gardens in Encinitas. Special tour events at each site are free and open to the public. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Sikes Adobe Farmstead, Escondido. Tickets are $30-$35, available at cnpssd.org/native-garden-tour-2023. Bring ticket confirmation to Will Call locations to pick up tour booklets: Saturday, Sikes Adobe Farmstead, 12655 Sunset Drive, Escondido, or Sunday, Cottonwood Creek Park, 95 N. Vulcan Ave., Encinitas.
“Magic of Pastels”: Students of Rochelle Bradford’s Older Adult Program pastel classes through the San Diego College of Continuing Education Older Adult Program present a group show. Opens with a free reception at 2 p.m. Saturday and continues through June. University City public library, 4155 Governor Drive, San Diego.
Sunday
San Marcos Spring Fling and Street Festival: Hosted by the San Marcos Chamber of Commerce, the Spring Fling is a chance to celebrate the season with a street festival of 200-plus local crafters, retailers and nationwide vendors. Enjoy children’s attractions/carnival rides, entertainment on the San Marcos Community Stage, food options in the central food court, and local craft beers and wine. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. All along Via Vera Cruz, San Marcos. Free. bit.ly/3TOupSF or sanmarcoschamber.com
Bivouac hosts succulents & spritzes: Bivouac Ciderworks North Park will host a hands-on workshop in which participants can built their own potted succulent arrangement while sipping Bivouac’s new limited-time Peach Spritz Cider. Noon to 2 p.m. Sunday. 3986 30th St., San Diego. $30. eventbrite.com (search for “Bivouac Ciderworks”)
“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” preview and organ concert: San Diego Civic Youth Ballet will present a sneak peek of its upcoming family-friendly ballet production April 6-8 at the Casa del Prado Theatre in Balboa Park. Also, San Diego Civic Organist Raúl Prieto Ramírez will perform selections by Felix Mendelssohn. 2 p.m. Sunday. Spreckels Organ Pavilion, 2125 Pan American Road E., Balboa Park. Free. spreckelsorgan.org
Ongoing events
Daffodil Days: Pick your own daffodils and participate in activities like farm yard games, a petting zoo, axe throwing, rock climbing and more at a farm just outside Julian. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Julian Farm and Orchard, 4381 Julian Highway. $5 for general admission, $25 for an unlimited activity armband. julianfarmandorchard.com
‘Robert Xavier Burden: Relics’ The Oceanside Museum of Art presents an exhibit of 30 large-scale oil paintings based upon both action figures and zoo animals that the artist loved during his childhood. The paintings mix regal images of animals with mass-market cheap superhero figurines. Each of the intricately detailed paintings took from 1,300 to 2,100 hours to paint. Runs through June 4. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fridays. 704 Pier View Way, Oceanside. Free to $10. (760) 435-3721, oma-online.org
“Mark Siprut: Photographic Portraits of Bonita”: This Bonita resident and SDSU professor presents contemporary photographs documenting Bonita and Sweetwater Valley landmarks. Opens Saturday and runs through April 22. Bonita Museum and Cultural Center, 4355 Bonita Road, Bonita. bonitahistoricalsociety.org
Seven Seas Food Festival: SeaWorld San Diego is expanding its regular menus throughout the park to include more than 30 new dishes from around the world along with a host of craft beer, cocktails and wine. There will also be live performances each night. Visitors can purchase samplers at various price points and sizes. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through April 30. Included with park admission. SeaWorldSanDiego.com/7Seas
‘Melissa Meier: Becoming Nature’: The Oceanside Museum of Art presents a three-dimensional exhibition of wearable art by Los Angeles-based Brazilian artist Melissa Meier featuring hats, neck pieces and clothing items made from natural materials, including eggshells, sticks, seed pods, porcupine quills, moss and shells. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fridays. Through June 25. 704 Pier View Way, Oceanside. Free to $10. oma-online.org
“Company”: Coronado Playhouse presents Stephen Sondheim and George Furth’s musical about a bachelor in his mid-30s overwhelmed by unsolicited advice from friends about whether he should settle down and get married. 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays; 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Through April 2. 1835 Strand Way, Coronado. (619) 435-4856, coronadoplayhouse.com
“R-E-S-P-E-C-T”: Lamb’s Players Theatre presents Kerry Meads and Vanda Eggington’s revue of music by American women singers and songwriters of the 1960s. 7 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; 2 and 7 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. Extended through May 7. 1142 Orange Ave., Coronado. $67-$72. (619) 437-6000, lambsplayers.org
“Slowgirl”: OnStage Playhouse presents Greg Pierce’s mysterious drama about a teenage girl who flees her reclusive uncle’s home in the Costa Rican jungle to escape the aftermath of a horrific accident. 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. Through April 2. 291 Third Ave., Chula Vista. $15-$25. onstageplayhouse.org
“The Outsiders”: La Jolla Playhouse has extended its world premiere musical adaptation of the classic 1967 novel, and later film, about two teen gangs battling for turf and hope in Tulsa, Okla. 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays; 8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays. Through April 9. La Jolla Playhouse, 2910 La Jolla Village Drive, La Jolla. $25 and up. (858) 550-1010, lajollaplayhouse.org
World of Orchids: The San Diego Botanic Garden hosts its third annual spring orchid showcase. Artist in Residence René van Rems, AIFD, will change the assortment of flowers each week so visitors can experience different blooms and displays. The show features vendors on select weekends selling plants, potting materials, and other merchandise. Timed admissions starting at 9 a.m. Saturday through April 9. Closed Tuesdays. 300 Quail Gardens Drive (at Ecke Ranch Road), Encinitas. Tickets are $18 adults, $12 military/student/seniors (60-plus), $10 ages 3-17. sdbg.org
‘Beyond King Tut’ extends run: “Beyond King Tut: The Immersive Experience,” an exhibition in partnership with the National Geographic Society, has extended its run at the Del Mar Fairgrounds through May 7. For the rest of the run, the exhibit is welcoming sixth-grade students free when visiting with an adult with a paid admission. The show takes guests on a multi-sensory journey through nine galleries that tell the story of the boy king and his world. Timed entry tickets: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays (last entry at 7 p.m.); 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays (last entry 8 p.m.). Wyland Center at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar. Tickets start at $38; discounts for seniors, children. beyondkingtut.com/city/san-diego/tickets#
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