Here are some of the best things to do this weekend in San Diego from Friday, April 5 to Sunday, April 7.
Friday
Guinean acrobat Idrissa Bangoura flies through the air at a Fern Street Circus performance.
(Courtesy of Gary Payne Photography)
Fern Street Circus: The annual San Diego communities tour by the Fern Street Circus is back starting this Saturday and visiting a different community park on Saturdays and Sundays through May 5. With a theme this year of “home,” the traveling show will start in City Heights and make its way to 10 different locations. It features professional artists and musicians, as well as students from Fern Street Circus’ after-school program. See performances in clowning, puppetry, tight wire, juggling, contortion and other circus arts. Each appearance by the circus comes with an opening act by Mariachi Victoria de San Diego and a health resource fair. See the circus at 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays at the following locations: Teralta Park on April 6, Golden Hill Recreation Center on April 7, Memorial Park on April 13, Azalea Park on April 14, Colina del Sol Park on April 20, Gompers Park on April 21, Officer Jeremy Henwood Memorial Park on April 27, North Park Recreation Center on April 28, Cesar Chavez Recreation Center on May 4 and Park de la Cruz on May 5. Health resource fair at 12:30 p.m., Mariachi Victoria de San Diego show at 1:15 p.m. 2 p.m. circus start time on Saturday.Teralta Park, over I-15 freeway, between Orange and Park Avenues. Free. fernstreetcircus.com
626 Night Market: 626 Night Market returns to San Diego this weekend starting today. This three-day event travels all around California and includes over 100 food and merchandise vendors, arts and crafts stations, games, music and live entertainment. The market takes place at the Mission Valley Mall parking lot next to the Broken Yolk Cafe. It costs $3 to get into the event or $6 for all three days, and is free for kids ages 3 years and under. The night market is influenced by the open-air bazaars found in numerous parts of Asia, where the community gathers for entertainment, to socialize and to taste various foods and beverages. 3 to 11 p.m. Friday; 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. 1640 Camino Del Rio North, San Diego. 626nightmarket.com
Taiwan’s 0471 Acro Physical Theatre presents “Duo” at La Jolla Playhouse’s 2024 Without Walls Festival April 4-7.
(Courtesy of Byeonggon Shin )
WOW Festival now underway: La Jolla Playhouse’s Without Walls Festival runs today through Sunday on the campus of UC San Diego. Twenty-five shows from the U.S. and abroad, ranging from immersive theater, to dance, acrobatics, music and puppetry, are being presented free of charge to the community. Some shows require reservations and have no slots left, but many are walk-up shows encounters. 4 to 10 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. UCSD, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla. Schedule and directions at wowfestival.org.
“Ride”: The Old Globe presents the U.S. premiere of this musical based on the true story of Annie Londonderry, the first woman to ride a bcycle around the world in the 1890s. Opens tonight and runs through April 28. 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays; 8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays. Old Globe Theatre, 1363 Old Globe Way, Balboa Park, San Diego. $29 and up. (619) 234-5623, theoldglobe.org
“The Harvest”: OnStage Playhouse opens its 40th season with Samuel D. Hunter’s drama about a group of evangelical missionaries facing questions of faith, family and the future on the eve of a missionary trip to the Middle East. 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays; 5 p.m. Sundays. Through April 14. 291 Third Ave., Chula Vista. $15-$25. (619) 422-7787, onstageplayhouse.org
Saturday
Will You Accept This Rose? Live!: Comedian Arden Myrin and celebrities will discuss the latest episodes of “The Bachelor” with special guests from the cast of previous “Bachelor Nation” shows: Aaron Clancy, Logan Seagull and Tyler Norris. 2 p.m. Saturday. Mic Drop Comedy, 8878 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., San Diego. $30. micdropcomedy.com/shows/253782
Jacqueline Johnson author event: Local veterinarian Jacqueline Johnson will do a reading from her book, “Elinor McGrath, Pet Doctor,” about the first female veterinarian. Children are invited to bring their stuffed animals to the event, because after the reading, she will be available to do veterinary check-ups on them. Johnson will also sign books and answer questions. 3 to 4 p.m. Saturday. La Jolla/Riford Library, 7555 Draper Ave., La Jolla. Free. sandiego.librarymarket.com/event/elinor-mcgrath-pet-doctor-story-americas-first-female-veterinarian-local-author-dr-jacqueline
Earth Month Celebration: The city of Carlsbad hosts this annual event to celebrate earth and educate the public on food waste. Attendees can bring used clothing to swap, join a kids’ bike rodeo, pick up free compost and mulch or make sustainable produce bags. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. Pine Avenue Community Center and Park, 3209 Harding St., Carlsbad. Free. carlsbadca.gov
Mexican brunch starts at Casa Gabriela The Cohn Restaurant Group and Chef Gabriela Lopez have launched a brunch program every weekend at Casa Gabriela in La Mesa. The Mexican-inspired brunch menu has 14 items to choose from, such as the sopes Benedictos, made with birria, refried black beans, poached eggs, rajas con papas, habanero white onions, queso fresco and guajillo hollandaise. The brunch menu also has six cocktails. 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. 8384 La Mesa Blvd., La Mesa. (619) 337-3445, casagabrielalamesa.com
Tomato growing class: Learn about growing tomatoes at a San Diego Seed Co. workshop on Saturday. Participants will learn from San Diego Seed team members about the entire process of cultivating tomatoes and each person gets a special tomato to take home. Some of the topics include tomato types, growing stages, myths and plant care. The class has a capacity of up to 15 people. 10:30 a.m. to noon. Saturday. 16827 California 67, Ramona. $50. sandiegoseedcompany.com
Golden State Ballet dancers Sona Jaeger, left, Jaxon Smith, Miranda Giles and Victoria Jenkins perform “Semblance,” one of the pieces in its upcoming production of “From New York, With Love.”
(Courtesy of Samantha Zauscher)
Golden State Ballet’s “From New York, with Love”: A trilogy of dance works by award-winning, New York-based choreographers Justin Peck, Gabrielle Lamb and Norbert De La Cruz III. 7:30 p.m. Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. Balboa Theatre, 868 Fourth Ave., downtown. $35-$75. goldenstateballet.org
Music, tacos and tequila: Snapdragon Stadium will host the Tequila & Taco Music Festival on Saturday and Sunday. Guests will get to sample six half-ounce shots of tequila, various street tacos and enjoy live performances from Warren G, Shaggy, Ozomatli, Vilma Diaz and more. There will also be vendors selling margaritas, craft beer and clothing. 1 to 9 p.m. Saturday; noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. 2101 Stadium Way, San Diego. $34.99-$80. tequilaandtacomusicfestival.com
Beer festival: The North Park Festival of Beers will be held in front of the Lafayette Hotel on Saturday. It will bring together 50 beer and spirit companies, five food vendors and three live musical performances by Ash Easton, Anthony Cullins and the band Half Hour Late. Money from the event goes toward the San Diego Music Foundation, which funds the program Taylor Guitars in Schools. Noon to 4 p.m. Saturday. 2223 El Cajon Blvd., San Diego. $25-$65. northparkbeerfest.com
San Diego Writers Festival: The San Diego Writers Festival will feature 90 speakers and a slew of author talks, workshops, food, live music and tent crawl prizes. Author discussions cover topics ranging from Writing About Place, Words Birthed From The Borders and Getting Published to The Art of Leaving Everything on the Page, Black Authors Speak Out and Writing From our Immigrant Hearts. There will be talks on creating comic books, mysteries, fantasies and thrillers along with a poetry reading and open mic. The event kicks off with Gill Sotu and the Naruwan Taiko Drummers and concludes with an interview with Patty Lin, author of “End Credits: How I Broke Up with Hollywood.” 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave., San Diego. Admission is free. Register and view the schedule at sandiegowritersfestival.com.
San Diego Native Garden Tours: The California Native Plant Society will give Native Garden Tours at various locations in San Diego County. This year’s theme is “Planting Animals,” highlighting the ties between native plants and the animals that depend on them. The event features the gardens of several “visionaries,” Dennis and Pamela Mudd in Poway and Jim Smith in Del Mar. Together they created Calscape, an online tool for the home gardener. The tour gardens are divided geographically. Your ticket gives you garden access on both days. April 6 features gardens in Rancho Bernardo, Poway, Miramar Ranch North and Scripps Ranch. April 7 features gardens in La Jolla, North Clairemont, University City, Del Mar and Solana Beach. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. General admission tickets are $40 through April 7. Admission is free for children 17 and younger. Visit bit.ly/43TCnip.
Microtonal bassoonist Jonny Reinhard: In his West Coast premiere, this composer-conductor will perform a solo recital. 2 p.m. Saturday. Bonita Museum, 4355 Bonita Road, Bonita. Free to $6. (619) 267-5141, bonitahistoricalsociety.org
“Magdalene: The Musical”: Genesis Opera Theatre presents this 1983 Sal Ponti musical about the Biblical character of Mary Magdalene. 7 p.m. Saturday; 3 p.m. Sunday. Star Repertory Theatre, 329 E. Valley Parkway, Escondido. $30-$45. genesisoperatheatre.com
Taylor Chapin solo show: Quint Gallery presents optical and pop-inspired artwork by this Oceanside painter. Opens Saturday and runs through May 11. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays. 7722 Girard Ave., La Jolla. Free. (858) 454-3409, quintgallery.com
National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day: The Armed Forces PB&J Classic will be held aboard the steam ferry Berkeley. The sandwich-eating contest features two-person teams representing six branches of the U.S. military. The event is open to the public with museum admission. A free, PB&J-inspired sampling bar opens at 11 a.m. on the Berkeley. Noon Saturday. Maritime Museum of San Diego, 1494 N. Harbor Drive. Tickets are $12-$24 at sdmaritime.org. Proceeds benefit Paralyzed Veterans of America, Cal-Diego Chapter. Visit armedforcespbjclassic.com.
Sunday
La Jolla Music Society presents Polish countertenor Jakub Józef Orlinski with Il Pomo d’Oro on April 7, 2024, at the Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center.
(Courtesy of Jiyang Chen)
Polish countertenor Jakub Józef Orlinski: La Jolla Music Society presents a vocal recital of early music by Monteverdi, Strozzi, Cavalli and more, with music by Il Pomo d’Oro chamber orchestra. 3 p.m. Sunday. Baker-Baum Concert Hall, Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla. $61-95. theconrad.org
National Beer Day special: Puesto is offering $5 beer flights all day at its three San Diego County locations on Sunday. Flights come in four, 5-ounce pours. At the Mission Valley location, Puesto brews six beers that are Mexican-inspired and range from lagers and ambers to an IPA. eatpuesto.com
Le Salon de Musiques: A six-piece chamber ensemble will perform works by Mozart, Beethoven and Lachner. 4 p.m. Sunday. La Jolla Women’s Club, 7791 Draper Ave., La Jolla $45-$95. lesalondemusiques.com
Two free lectures: MiraCosta College’s LIFE (Learning is for Everyone) group holds two free lectures April 5 at the Oceanside Campus, in the Board Room Trailer (T200) by the Police Station. At 1 p.m., author Mark Cannon will discuss “Lincoln’s Scout — The Diary of Horatio Cooke, Soldier, Spy, Escape Artist.” At 2:30 p.m., MiraCosta astronomy professor Rica French will present “The Next Eclipse.” French will discuss how to safely watch the total solar eclipse that is expected to transverse the continental U.S. on April 8. Visit miracosta.edu/life.
Myth-inspired poetry reading: As part of the National Endowment for the Arts’ annual Big Read program, Write Out Loud is hosting a series of events this month celebrating the books, “Circe” by Madeline Miller, and “Mythology” by Edith Hamilton. Friday, there will be a myth-inspired poetry reading. The first five guests will receive free books. 5:15 p.m. Friday. San Diego Writer’s INK, 730 Historic Decatur Road #204, San Diego. writeoutloudsd.com/nea-big-read-circe