Here are some of the best things to do this weekend in San Diego from Friday, March 6 to Sunday, March 8.
Friday
San Diego Symphony Brahms Festival: The orchestra, with violinist Leonidas Kavakos, concludes the festival this weekend. Brahms’ violin concerto and Symphony No. 4 will be performed at 7:30 p.m. tonight, and Brahms’ violin concerto and Symphony No. 3 and Violin Concerto be performed at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Jacobs Music Center, 750 B. Street, downtown. $30-$108. 619-235-0804, sandiegosymphony.org
“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. Five actors will play all of the roles in a fast-paced, quick-change high-wire act. Preview, 8 p.m. Friday. Opens Saturday and runs through March 29. 7 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; 8 p.m. Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays .987 Lomas Santa Fe Drive, Solana Beach. $73.50-$80.50. 858-481-1055, northcoastrep.org
First Friday at Arts District Liberty Station: The First Friday event at Arts District Liberty Station features open artist studios, galleries, outdoor public art and live performances. Highlights include dance class, exhibits, live music and improv performances. 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday. 2820 Roosevelt Road, San Diego. libertystation.com/directory/arts-district.
“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. Opens today and runs through March 29. 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 5 p.m. Sundays. 291 Third Ave, Chula Vista. $25 and up. 619-422-7787, onstageplayhouse.org
“The Book of Will”: Lamplighters Community Theatre presents Lauren Gunderson’s historical fiction comedy about William Shakespeare’s friends and fellow actors John Heminges nad Henry Condell who collected and published his plays in the First Folio after the Bard’s death. 7:30 p.m. Fridays; 2 p.m. Sundays; select performances on Saturdays. 5915 Severin Drive, La Mesa. $28-$30. 619-303-5092, lamplighterslamesa.com
“Straddle”: Diversionary Theatre presents the world premiere of Harrison David Rivers’ play about a long-married lesbian couple who are struggling to get their romantic spark back. 7 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. Through March 15. Diversionary Theatre, 4545 Park Blvd., University Heights. $11.50-$61.50. 619-220-0097, diversionary.org
“Somewhere Over the Border”: Cygnet Theatre presents the San Diego premiere of Brian Quijada’s musical about a young Salvadoran woman’s journey to America, with characters and situations inspired by “The Wizard of Oz.” 7 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays; 2 and 7 p.m. Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. Through March 15. The Joan, 2880 Roosevelt Road, Arts District Liberty Station, San Diego. $44 and up. 619-337-1525, cygnettheatre.org
Fiasco Theater’s “Bartleby”: The Old Globe presents this world premiere stage adaptation of an 1853 Herman Melville story about a law clerk who decides on day that he’d prefer not to do his job. 7 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays.Through March 22. Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, 1363 Old Globe Way, Balboa Park. $44 and up. 619-234-5623, theoldglobe.org
“Hedda Gabler”: The Old Globe presents Katie Holmes in Henrik Ibsen’s classic drama, in a new version by playwright Erin Cressida Wilson. 7 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays. Through March 22. The Old Globe, 1363 Old Globe Way, Balboa Park, San Diego. $61 and up. 619-234-5623, theoldglobe.org
“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
“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
Saturday
Glow in the Dark Pickleball: Players levels 2.5 to 3.5 are invited to play a round robin pickle ball tournament in the dark. Participants dressed and playing in glowing gear will be up for a grand prize. There will also be music, raffles and beverages. 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday. San Diego Mission Bay Resort, 1775 East Mission Bay Drive, San Diego. $35 per player. eventbrite.com/e/glow-in-the-dark-pickleball-round-robin-tickets-1982539584265
Science and engineering festival: There will be over 100 activities and performances for the public at the San Diego Festival of Science & Engineering. This free event centers around learning science, technology, engineering, arts and math via activities involving DNA, genomics, virtual reality, rockets, robots, drones and slime. There will also be teacher workshops, an arts pavilion, a college and career fair and two stages of live demonstrations from groups such as General Atomics and Fleet Science Center. Visitors can also expect math raps by The Music Notes. The festival is open to all ages. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. 100 Park Blvd., San Diego. Free. lovestemsd.org
Fortune Feimster arrives at the 36th annual Producers Guild Awards on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. Feimster will perform in San Diego on Saturday. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
Fortune Feimster: The stand-up comedian will bring the “Takin’ Care of Biscuits Comedy Tour” to San Diego. 7 p.m. Saturday. San Diego Civic Theatre, 3rd and B St., San Diego. $45.10. sandiegotheatres.org/events/detail/fortune-feimster-2026
Hawaii Night with the Gulls: The Gulls hockey team will host a Hawaii shirt giveaway as well as a pre-game tailgate for the team’s game against the Rockford Icehogs. 6 p.m. Saturday. Pechanga Arena San Diego, 3500 Sports Arena Blvd., San Diego. Tickets start at $19. sandiegogulls.com/games
Shave-a-Thon fundraiser: Nason’s Beer Hall is hosting the 17th Annual St. Baldrick’s Shave-a-Thon. This fundraising event brings awareness and helps raise money for childhood cancer research, while participating guests will shave their heads. There will also be $15 raffles tickets, prizes and deals on food and drinks. Some of the specials from Nason’s include $10 draft beers, $10 cheeseburgers, $9 buffalo chicken fries and $6 glasses of wine. Radio personality Frankie V from Channel 93.3 will be the event emcee. Noon to 3 p.m. Saturday. 570 J St., San Diego. 619-738-7060, stbaldricks.org
A Tribute To Billy Joel: Billy Nation will perform some of the greatest hits from Billy Joel. 7 p.m. The Magnolia, 210 E Main St., El Cajon. $13. magnoliasandiego.com/
Free fitness classes: Nine businesses are offering free fitness classes and discounted memberships as part of the Otay Ranch Town Center’s Spring Intro Fitness week. The promotion includes gyms, dance studios and activity centers. Some of the deals are eight days of free pilates classes at Club Pilates, one free week of play at ESL Padel, free day passes at Planet Fitness and 50% off one-month membership at Title Boxing. Saturday through March 14. 2015 Birch Road, Chula Vista. otayranchtowncenter.com
“Head Spins,” an interactive piece of kinetic art featured in the exhibition “Aaron Kramer: Sense of Wonder,” which opens Saturday at Oceanside Museum of Art. (Aaron Kramer)
Oceanside Museum of Art opens kinetic art show: On Saturday, OMA will open “Aaron Kramer: Sense of Wonder,” an exhibition of whimsical interactive sculptures created from salvaged materials. Kramer has been a lifelong “maker,” transforming discarded items into playful hands-on, interactive art. Opens Saturday and runs through Aug. 23. A reception will be held for this and other OMA shows from 5-7 p.m. May 2. 704 Pier View Way, Oceanside. 760-435-3720, oma-online.org
Stone International Women’s Day Brunch & Makers Market: Stone Brewing will host a Women’s Day event with self-serve brunch stations and women-owned vendors. There will also be guided beverage pairings. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens, Liberty Station. 2816 Historic Decatur Road, San Diego. $55. eventbrite.com/e/stones-international-womens-day-brunch-market-tickets-1980494642790
City Ballet of San Diego’s “Rhapsody in Blue”: The company’s spring concert will feature the debut of Christopher Wheeldon’s “The American,” along with the return of Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s eye-popping “Ecliptic” and a reimagined version of Geoff Gonzalez’s “Rhapsody in Blue.” 8 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday t the Balboa Theatre, 868 Fourth Ave., downtown. Also at 8 p.m. Wednesday at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido, 340 N. Escondido Blvd, Escondido. $42-$188.80. cityballet.org/performances/rhapsody-in-blue/
Jessica John, left, Drew Bradford, Megan Carmitchel and Francis Gercke in Backyard Renaissance Theatre’s “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” (Tom Zohar)
“Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”: Backyard Renaissance Theatre presents Edward Albee’s 1962 drama about a New England college professor and his wife who invite a young faculty member and his wife over for a night of drinking, dancing and debauchery. Opens Saturday and runs through March 21. 7:30 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays; 3 p.m. Sundays. Tenth Avenue Arts Center. 930 Tenth Avenue, San Diego. $50. backyardrenaissance.com
Sunday
Free Second Sunday: The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego is open for free on the second Sunday of every month. This Sunday, there will be a community photo walk at 1 p.m., a Soul Sunday band and a guided tour at at 2 p.m. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. MCASD, 700 Prospect St., La Jolla. Free. mcasd.org/events/fss-3-8
Growing Together: The La Jolla Historical Society is joining with other local organizations to host a free family events called Growing Together. This Sunday, MCASD will host a play day with artists workshops, a taco truck, lawn games, community booths and a performance by Fern Street Circus. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. MCASD, 700 Prospect St., La Jolla.
The Sky Tonight: Guests can see new space discoveries at the Fleet Science Center’s The Sky Tonight special weekend astronomy presentation. The event is led by astronomer Lisa Will, and the discussion revolves around the celestial occurrences happening around our universe right now. Topics include seasonal constellations, planetary movements and the newest space discoveries. The live show will be held inside the Heikoff Giant Dome Theater. 11:00 a.m. to noon. Sunday. 1875 El Prado, San Diego. $19.95-$24.95. 619-238-1233, fleetscience.org
Military Night: The San Diego Sockers will celebrate military veterans at the team’s game against Baltimore Blast on Sunday. The first 1,000 fans will get a car flag. 3 p.m. Sunday. Frontwave Arena, 3475 Hero Drive, Oceanside. $25. frontwavearena.com/events/detail/san-diego-sockers-vs-baltimore-blast
Le Salon de Musiques’ “Molto Romantico”: This program for tenor, piano and strings will feature works by Schumann and Noskowski and vocal soloist Jon Lee Keenan. Event includes a post-show champagne reception and buffet. 4 p.m. Sunday. La Jolla Woman’s Club, 7791 Draper Ave., La Jolla. $69-$120. lesalondemusiques.com
Lincoln Trio: The Grammy-nominated trio will perform works by Beethoven and Schoenfield. 3 p.m. Sunday. California Center for the Arts, Escondido, 340 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido. $30-$66. artcenter.org
“Vignettes – Stories from a Latina Perspective”: A.L.M.A. (Art-Leadership-Mujeres-Activism) will present an evening of short plays with original music focused on the voices of Latina women navigating life, identity and belonging in the United States. 3 p.m. Sunday and March 15. New Village Arts, State St., Carlsbad. $20-$25. newvillagearts.org/events/month/2026-03/