Here are some of the best things to do this week in San Diego, from Monday, March 23 to Friday, March 27.
Check back Wednesday for our guide to things to do this weekend.
Monday
Butterfly Jungle: The San Diego Zoo Safari Park’s seasonal butterfly exhibit is now open through April 12. Visitors can see hundreds of butterflies during a 20-minute experience. A separate Butterfly Jungle Safari ticket is required for admission. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. San Diego Zoo Safari Park, 15500 San Pasqual Valley Road, Escondido. $18 per person. sdzsafaripark.org/butterfly-jungle
Swing Dance Under the Dome: Learn to swing dance on the roof of the Central Library with Swing Dancing San Diego. 6 to 7:45 p.m. Monday. Central Library, 330 Park Blvd., San Diego. Free. sandiego.librarymarket.com/event/swing-dance-under-dome-481476
Tuesday
Meet Jake Cronenworth: Two days before the San Diego Padres’ 2026 season opener, Jake Cronenworth will be meeting fans at Harland Brewing Co. in Scripps Ranch. Guests can get a photo with Cronenworth on a first-come basis. There will also be Harland’s special collaboration beer with Cronenworth, a 4.5% American lager, and exclusive merchandise for sale. The public is encouraged to come early, as hundreds of people are expected. The event is an ongoing collaboration with Cronenworth and Harland. 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday. 10115 Carroll Canyon Road, San Diego. Free to attend. 858-800-4566, harlandbeer.com
Central Library’s Cinema + Sound Series presents the Hausmann Quartet: The Hausmann Quartet will be joined by double-bassist Tamara Paige for a free concert of contemporary works, follwoed by a screening of the Oscar-winning short film “The Only Girl in the Orchestra.” 6 p.m. Tuesday. Neil Morgan Auditorium, Central Library, 330 Park Blvd., downtown. Free. sandiego.gov/public-library/concertseries
Resident Free Tuesdays: Each week on Tuesdays, Balboa Park Museums open their doors for free to local residents on a rotating basis. This week’s museums are the San Diego Automotive Museum and the Museum of Us. Valid ID required. balboapark.org/resident-free-days
Growing from Seed with Master Gardener Shital Parikh: Learn about the step-by-step process of growing plans from a seed with San Diego Master Gardener Shital Parikh. 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. North University Community Library, 8820 Judicial Drive, San Diego. Free. sandiego.librarymarket.com/event/growing-seed-master-gardener-shital-parikh-521192
“The Recipe”: La Jolla Playhouse presents the world premiere of Claudia Shear’s play about the life of chef and author Julia Child before she rose to TV fame. 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 1 and 7 p.m. Sundays. Extended through March 29. La Jolla Playhouse, 2910 La Jolla Village Drive, UCSD campus. $61 and up. 858-550-1010, lajollaplayhouse.org
Wednesday
“The Maltese Falcon”: North Coast Repertory Theatre presents the world premiere of Matthew Salazar-Thompson’s comical stage adaptation of Dashiell Hammett’s 1930 noir detective thriller, best remembered for its 1941 film version starring Humphrey Bogart a hard-boiled detective Sam Spade. 7 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; 8 p.m. Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays. Through April 5. 987 Lomas Santa Fe Drive, Solana Beach. $73.50-$80.50. 858-481-1055, northcoastrep.org
“The ’70s! The Golden Age of the Album”: Lamb’s Players Theatre is bringing back its hit 2025 music revue of the greatest songs of the 1970s. 7 p.m. Wednesdays-Fridays; 2 Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Through April 12. Old Town Theatre, 4040 Twiggs St., San Diego. $49-$98. 619-437-6000, lambsplayers.org
Thursday
Candlelight concert: Bad Bunny fans can discover a new way to listen to the Super Bowl headlining musician and Puerto Rican’s songs at a candlelight concert at the San Diego Natural History Museum. A live string quartet will be playing Bad Bunny’s most popular songs such as “Callaita” and “Titi Me Pregunto” during a one-hour show. Also, the venue will be surrounded by lit candles. 8:30 p.m. March 26. 1788 El Prado, San Diego. feverup.com/en/san-diego/candlelight
Rooftop party: To commemorate the start of a new season, Margaritaville Hotel San Diego is throwing a post-game rooftop party for Padres fans. The event features baseball-themed food and drinks specials such as a Grand Slam Philly Fries, interactive activities and games and a live DJ at the hotel’s 5 o’Clock Somewhere Rooftop Bar. 3 to 7 p.m. Thursday. 435 Sixth Ave., San Diego. margaritavilleresorts.com/margaritaville-hotel-san-diego
“A Myth Made of Air”: San Diegio New Music and the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library present an evening of contemporary music inspired by the myth of Pan and Syrinx featuring San Diego Symphony’s principal flutist Rose Lombardo and five other musicians. 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, 1008 Wall Street La Jolla. $12-$27. 858- 454-5872, ljathenaeum.org
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Opening Day specials: Opening early at 10 a.m., The Smoking Gun is celebrating Opening Day. The restaurant is offering happy hour deals and $1 hot dogs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and kids can also eat free during that time. All-you-can-eat wings and nuggets will be served from 3 to 9:30 p.m. and there will also be drink specials, including beers for $3.94. The Smoking Gun, 555 Market St., San Diego. thesmokinggunsd.com
Friday
Party in the Park: Professional baseball is back at Petco Park, as the San Diego Padres are hosting the first Party in the Park theme night of the season on March 27. Fans attending the game can get $5 drink specials and see live entertainment at Gallagher Square before the game. Plus, the first 40,000 guests to enter Petco Park will receive a free Padres scarf. 4 p.m. gates open. 6:40 p.m. game starts. March 27. 100 Park Blvd., San Diego. $39-$305. 619-795-5555, mlb.com/padres/tickets/specials/party-in-the-park
Sesame Place San Diego reopening: Sesame Place San Diego is reopening its amusement park doors this week for spring break and to celebrate its fourth anniversary. Some of the special events and attractions planned with Sesame Street characters include dance parties, storytimes, photo meet and greets, and free birthday treats and giveaways. Rides opening back up are Elmo’s Rockin’ Rockets, Cookie Monster’s Cookie Climb and Super Grover’s Box Car Derby. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Thursday. 2052 Entertainment Circle, Chula Vista. 619-943-3566, sesameplace.com/san-diego
San Diego Crew Classic: Fans of rowing can get an up-close and personal view of teams and competitors at the San Diego Crew Classic at Crown Point Shores Park this weekend. For three days, there will be races and competition in several categories, including men, women and youth teams. There will also be events and activities surrounding the crew classic for spectators, such as a beer garden and a Sunday brunch. 2:30 to 6 p.m. Friday; 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday; 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. 3699 Crown Point Drive, San Diego. $26-$167. crewclassic.org
“The Mercy Seat”: OnStage Playhouse presents the San Diego premiere of Neil LaBute’s 2002 drama about a married New York man and his lover, who consider taking advantage of the 9/11 terrorist attacks to escape to a new life together. 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 5 p.m. Sundays. Through March 29. 291 Third Ave, Chula Vista. $25 and up. 619-422-7787, onstageplayhouse.org
“An Act of God”: The Roustabouts Theatre Co. presents David Javerbaum’s comedic play about God deciding to rewrite the Ten Commandments, because she’s unhappy with how poorly humans are behaving on Earth. 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. Through March 29. The Roustabouts at Scripps Ranch Theatre, 9783 Avenue of Nations, Alliant International University, San Diego. $10-$45. 619-568-5800, theroustabouts.org
Pianist Daniel Beliavsky concert-lecture: The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library presents this solo concert and educational event featuring works inspired by the vocal arts by Schubert, Chopin and Del Tredici. 1 p.m. today. 1008 Wall St., La Jolla. 413-$47. 858-454-5872, ljathenaeum.org/music-lectures
“Carmen”: San Diego Opera closes its 2025-26 season with Georges Bizet’s opera about a Spanish soldier who falls for the seductive Carmen, but she leaves him for a dashing bullfighter with tragic results. The roles of Carmen and Don Jose have been double-cast. Mezzo-soprano Melody Wilson and tenor Thomas Kinch will perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Mezzo Guadalupe Paz and tenor Jonny Kaufman will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. San Diego Civic Theatre, 1100 Third Ave., downtown. $55-$305. 619-533-7000, sdopera.org/shows/carmen
“Strange Snow”: PowayPAC presents San Diego playwright Stephen Metcalfe’s play about a two traumatized Vietnam War veterans struggling to move on with their lives. Opens Friday and runs through April 19. 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. 2 p.m. Sundays.13250 Poway Road, Poway. $25-$27. powpac.org
“The Play That Goes Wrong”: Lamb’s Players Theatre presents the San Diego professional premiere of this London-born stage comedy about a troupe of theater actors struggling to get through a performance while the everything collapses around them. Previews, Friday through April 7. Opens April 8 and runs through May 31. 7 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays; 2 and 7 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. 1142 Orange Ave., Coronado. $48-$98. 619-437-6000, lambsplayers.org