In America’s Finest City, there is always something fun to do for any occasion. Great springtime activities like park festivals and a movie under the stars are perfect for a romantic date. Also, the historic 100th anniversary of the Titanic will showcase many different celebratory events for the weekend. Have a fantastic Easter on Sunday with a gourmet brunch by the bay and swing by the San Diego Maritime Museum for your chocolate fix. All in a weekend’s worth of San Diego events!
Friday, April 6th Springtime Movie under the Stars and Titanic’s 100th Anniversary Dance
Enjoy the fun and unique experience of watching a film at Cinema under the Stars—San Diego’s romantic and original movie theatre with an outdoor patio setting and a great selection of movies. This Friday at 8 p.m., the true life story of a single father and his two children will warm your hearts as they become the new owners of a run-down menagerie. The 2011 film “We Bought A Zoo” will be available for your viewing pleasure for just $14-15.
This weekend marks the 100th anniversary of the Titanic sinking. To honor this historical anniversary, the San Diego Vintage Dance Society will coordinate a bunch of fun events. On Friday night, transport to 1912 at the Ragtime Music Hall dance party with live entertainment by Ian Whitcomb and band. Join in on the other events on Saturday such as a costumed lunch and many other great events. Friday’s dance party at the Pacific Beach Women’s Club begins at 8 p.m. but doors will be open to guests at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 7th Military Walk/Run and Festival and Balboa Park’s Tartan Day Festival
Stay healthy and help out a great cause this Saturday at the 2nd annual ACT Today! for Military Families walk/run and family festival. The entire event will benefit military children with autism and provide all guests with autism resources, concerts, celebrity appearances, and an Easter egg hunt. The 5K/10K walk and run starts with registration at 6:30 a.m. followed by the family festival from 7:30 to 11. Visit the gorgeous Mission Bay Park and help benefit the autistic children of military homes—admission is only $15-$30.
Come see how the Scottish like to party! At the 9th annual Tartan Day Festival, you’ll experience the Scottish culture appreciated through celebratory musical performances, homage to the Tartans, and tastes of Scottish cuisine. This free Scottish festival will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Balboa Park’s International Cottages in the House of Pacific Relations. Enjoy entertaining performances from House of Scotland Pipe Band, House of Scotland Ceilidh Band, The Lacemakers, The McBains, and The Westlin Weavers. Also see the demonstrations of the 42nd Black Watch Highland Society and the dancing talents of San Diego School of Highland Dancing at the traditional and fascinating cultural Tartan Festival. Scottish food and wares will be for sale as well if you wish to take a keepsake home with you. For more information about the Tartan Festival in Balboa Park, check out Reverbnation online!
Sunday, April 8th Easter Brunch by the Bay and “The Chocolate Affair”
Want to celebrate Easter in style? Bring the whole family down to the harbor side restaurant at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel and Marina for a traditional Easter brunch with all the good stuff from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. The brunch will feature live music by Ryan Hiller and kids will get the chance to meet the Easter Bunny at Harbor’s Edge Restaurant by the bay. For reservations, please contact Harbor’s Edge at 619-692-2255. Your personal Easter experience will be extra special with a brunch with the whole family at the Sheraton in San Diego!
Indulge in the chocolate fantasies at the San Diego Maritime Museum this Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. There’s a little morsel of fun for everyone at this ultimate chocolate experience! “The Chocolate Affair” hosts many different vendors offering chocolate goodies, wine and beer pairings with chocolate, and special chocolate pizza making and craft activities for the children. Watch culinary demonstrations of how to cook with chocolate along with fun games and scavenger hunt prizes throughout the day. Admission to this wonderful Chocolate Affair is included with the admission to the San Diego Maritime Museum on Harbor Drive. Satisfy that sweet tooth with all the sweetest delicacies of San Diego.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Help San Diego celebrate this famous holiday with fun events planned on Saturday. Also, get in touch with your artsy side at the bicycle-inspired art show or San Diego Indie music festival on Friday night. More interesting events are coming your way this weekend from March 16 to March 18—check ‘em out!
Friday, March 16 Bicycle Art Show and San Diego’s Indie Fest
Channel your inner artist for this special bicycle-inspired art show hosted by Brake Free Clothing. From 7 to 11 p.m. at the Park Gallery on Park Boulevard, feast your eyes on a free art show featuring many local and national artists including Kraftworks, Acamonchi, Invisible God, Puppet, Sykkel Spruce, and many others. The local talent Sleep Lady will blow you away with their musical performance at 9:30 p.m. Raffle drawings and refreshments will be provided. Check out Brake Free Clothing’s newest shirt designs and cool attire when you stop by the bicycle art extravaganza!
Experience San Diego’s first and only independent music festival at Anthology in Little Italy. San Diego IndieFest will host an event called “Indie by Design” which will showcase many talented musicians such as Danielle LoPresti and The Masses, the Summer Mencher Band, Black Party Politics, and special spoken word artist Gill Sotu. Get your tickets fast because you won’t wanna miss all this good indie music at Anthology’s 9:30 p.m. show. The founder and producer of IndieFest herself will belt out her powerful voice—it’s going to be a wonderful time!
Saturday, March 17 Cherry Blossom Festival, St. Patrick’s Day Irish Festival, and Gaslamp’s shamROCK
Balboa Park has another meaningful event planned for Saturday. The annual Cherry Blossom Festival at the park’s Japanese Friendship Garden will allow visitors to get a taste of the garden’s beautiful ambiance and largest cherry tree grove in San Diego! The festival starts at 10 a.m. and will entertain visitors with Japanese food, activities for the kids, crafts and gift items, and various exhibitions. The festival is free with paid garden admission: $4 for general admission, $3 for seniors and military members, and free for kids 12 and under. Watch these beautiful trees blossom into perfect pink budding flowers at the annual Cherry Blossom Festival!
Marching bands, bagpipes, and all things of Ireland! Balboa Park’s annual St. Patrick’s Day parade and Irish festival has been gearing up for this moment all year long! The Irish Congress of Southern California (ICSC) is pleased to present their heritage to the world at the Balboa Park parade starting at 10:30 a.m. This year’s theme, “Celebrating the Spirit of Ancient Ireland,” will flood the streets with over 120 different floats, bands, bag pipers, and roller skaters for a spirited display of Ireland pride for the 32nd consecutive San Diego Irish Festival! It will be a blast for any newcomers.
Get ready to rock at the 17th annual Miller Lite shamROCK festival hosted by Jameson Whiskey and The Field Irish Pub in the Gaslamp Quarter. Watch downtown San Diego transform into Dublin, Ireland for a night of beer drinking, whiskey shootin’ madness. Over 20,000 Irish hooligans will hit the streets of Gaslamp for the recreation of a 150-foot Irish Pub on the streets, 80,000 square feet of green AstroTurf, and three stages of entertainment.
The Field Irish Stage will showcase Irish classics and Irish style punk rock with the Young Dubliners and other Irish rock groups. The 5th Avenue and F Street stage is hosting a new electronica stage for shamROCK with house and trance music all night long. The final stage will be located next to the street-style Irish Pub and will showcase a slew of Irish River Dancers, San Diego DJs, and L.A. music talents. From 2 until midnight, you’ll be partying Ireland-style on 6th Avenue between E and G Streets. Don’t be foolish; get your tickets while you can for only $30-45! All proceeds benefit the Gaslamp Quarter Historical Foundation.
Sunday, March 18 A Blend of Soul, Downtempo, and House at Bar Dynamite
Are you still looking to party on Sunday night? If the Irish festivals weren’t too much to handle, check out Bar Dynamite this Sunday for an unusual blend of soul, downtempo/lounge tunes, and house classics. The artsy décor and fun ambiance of Bar Dynamite will ensure your night is nothing but the best. No cover, great drink specials, and unique music; it doesn’t get any better than that!
