Here are some of the best things to do this weekend in San Diego from Friday, March 20 to Sunday, March 22.
Friday
San Diego Latino Film Festival: More than 140 films are being screened at this year’s 33rd annual San Diego Latino Film Festival, which opened Wednesday and continues through Sunday. This year’s event spotlights a documentary about Luis Valdez, one of the founders of Chicano theater and film. There will also be films celebrating diversity in the Latino community from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Peru, Spain and the U.S. Plus, there will be a showcase of student films, an awards show and Latin musicians performing each night of the festival. Films are screening at AMC Mission Valley, 1640 Camino Del Rio North, San Diego; and at Digital Gym Cinema, 100 Market St., San Diego. sdlatinofilm.com/2026
$14 deals: Lucky’s Lunch Counter in the East Village is turning 14 years old and offering five $14 deals to its customers. The birthday specials are the bases-loaded burrito, two-egg combo plate, turkey club sandwich, reuben sandwich and the barbecue chicken salad. Each dish comes with a coffee or a fountain drink. 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Today through Tuesday. 338 Seventh Ave., San Diego. 619-255-4782,luckyslunchcounter.com
Taste of Croatia: The Mediterranean restaurant Garibaldi is hosting its Taste of Croatia dinner series this weekend. Executive chef Franck Tasic is curating the five-course menu that encompasses a cocktail flight, salad, hot appetizer, main entree and dessert. Some of the food features include a braised short rib with applewood-smoked bacon, risotto with calamari and a vanilla gelato with brown butter pecans. The dinner is $65 per person, with a wine pairing option for an additional $35. 4:30 to 10 p.m. Friday. 4 to 10 p.m. Saturday. 4 to 9 p.m. Sunday. 901 Bayfront Court Suite 1, San Diego. 619-436-1081, garibaldisd.com
Performers at a Circus Vargas show, now playing at the Mershops mall in Escondido through April 6. (Wednesday Aja)
Circus Vargas: Circus Vargas continues its San Diego County residency this month in the Mershops North County mall parking lot in Escondido, following a three-week run in National City. This year’s circus theme is “Masquerade,” described by event organizers as a show that transports guests to an “alternate, other-worldly dimension.” Performances and stunts are delivered by international acrobats and clowns during music and light shows. The circus plays through April 6 in Escondido, then moves to Temecula from April 10 to 27, and San Clemente from May 1 to 18. Showtimes are 6:30 p.m. Mondays; 7 p.m. Wednesdays-Fridays; 1, 4 and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays; Noon, 3 and 6 p.m. Sundays; No shows on Tuesdays. Mershops North County, 272 E. Via Rancho Parkway, Escondido. $25-$90. circusvargas.com
FOREIGNER: The rock band Foreigner will be joined by the San Diego Symphony Orchestra as part of its celebrations of 50 years as a band. The orchestra will be conducted by conducted by Stuart Chafetz. 7:30 p.m. Friday. Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, 222 Marina Park Way, San Diego. $70.50. theshell.org/performances/foreigner-plus-sdso
Nat at Night: San Diegans can visit the Natural History Museum after hours during Nat at Night. Visitors can enjoy the rooftop with food and drink from Wolf in the Woods or Craft Taco in the Atrium. 5 to 11 p.m. Friday. San Diego Natural History Museum, 1788 El Prado, Balboa Park, San Diego. $7-12. sdnhm.org/calendar/nat-at-night/
Underwater egg hunt: Kids can hop into the pool and dive for Easter eggs. The underwater egg hunt will include floating and sunken eggs in the shallow end of the pool for participants in their age groups to collect and then turn in for prizes. Highlights include a giant floating obstacle course, underwater and dry-land Easter egg hunts, a Glow in the Dark egg hunt, bounce houses, the Easter Bunny and local vendors. 5:30 to 8 p.m. Friday. The Plunge San Diego in Belmont Park, 3115 Ocean Front Walk. $60. tickettailor.com/events/plungesandiego1/2069696
Pride Night: The San Diego Gulls hockey team will celebrate Pride during a game against the Bakersfield Condors. A $30 ticket comes with a seat at the game and a Pride t-shirt. It’s also $5 beer night. 7 p.m. Friday. Pechanga Arena3500 Sports Arena Blvd., San Diego. gofevo.com/event/SDGPride26
France’s Le Consort to perform program trio sonatas: Le Consort, a Paris-born early music ensemble of violins, cello and harpsichord, will perform trio sonatas by composers including Vivaldi, Telemann, Bach, Biber, Albinoni and many more. 7:30 p.m. Friday. The Baker-Baum Concert Hall, Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla. $63-$96. 858-459-3728, theconrad.org
“Ripple Effect: A Dance for Clean Water”: Negative Space Dance Collective presents an improvisational performance intended to raise awareness about water conservation, the sewage crisis and social responsibility. Two shows feature choreographic works by Ilyana Hughes, Mariana Lara, Ranier Martinez, Samara Rodriguez and Alexa Lopez Plush. 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday. El Salon Theatre, 114 W Hall Ave, San Ysidro. Free. Reserve seats at nsdanceco.wixsite.com/negativespace
“Empower: A Prism of New Work”: The Rosin Box Project premieres new dance works by Carly Topazio, Jeremy Zapanta, and guest choreographer Adriana Pierce. The trio of contemporary ballet works illuminate how “authorship, identity, and imagination transform what we see, and what we feel.” 7:30 p.m. Friday; 8 p.m. Saturday; 6 p.m. Sunday. Light Box Theater, Liberty Station, 2590 Truxtun Road, Suite 205, San Diego. $44.52. therosinboxproject.com
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. Friday; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday; 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday. 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. Friday; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday; 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday. The Old Globe, 1363 Old Globe Way, Balboa Park, San Diego. $61 and up. 619-234-5623, theoldglobe.org
Frog exhibit opens at Birch Aquarium: Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography Friday opens the exhibition “Imagine Wild: Mountain Yellow-legged Frog.” Designed for all ages, the exhibition takes visitors to a re-creation of a Southern California mountainside where they can learn about the science behind the decades-long process of restoring a habitat for one of nature’s most vulnerable creatures. Fewer than 200 Wild Mountain Yellow-legged Frogs are believed to remain in their natural habitat due to habitat fragmentation, disease and climate change-related events like drought and wildfires. 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. 2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla. $39.95, adults. $34.95, children ($5 ticket discount if purchased online). aquarium.ucsd.edu/
“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
“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. Through March 22. 5915 Severin Drive, La Mesa. $28-$30. 619-303-5092, lamplighterslamesa.com
Saturday
Imperial Avenue heritage celebration: “A Day in the Life of Imperial Avenue” is a week-long exhibition and series of workshops along with panel discussion, mural activities and music celebrating the cultural heritage of Imperial Avenue. The event is a collaboration between the San Diego Museum of Art Artists Guild and the Barrio Artists Partnership. A Jazz, Soul & R&B Legacy Night will honor the music heritage of Imperial Avenue and the legacy of composer George Semper. March 21-29. Imperial Avenue Cultural Corridor. imperialarte.org
“All Things Equal: The Life and Trials of Ruth Bader Ginsburg”: Michelle Azar stars in Rupert Holmes solo play about the surprising life, work and accomplishments of the late Supreme Court justice. 7:30 p.m. Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. Balboa Theatre, 868 Fourth Ave., downtown. $49.95-$92.45. sandiegotheatres.org/events/detail/all-things-equal-2026
Bach Collegium San Diego presents Bach Mass in B Minor: This period music ensemble presents the epic 1733 Mass, featuring vocalists Estelí Gomez, Jay Carter, Aaron Sheehan, Michael Jones and Enrico Lagasca. 7 p.m. Saturday. Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church, 3459 Manchester Ave, Cardiff. $15.53-$72.45. bachcollegiumsd.org
Nature Night: The annual Nature Night by the Children’s Museum of Discovery is happening this weekend. The museum partners with other nature and wildlife organizations to offer an interactive learning experience through science, technology, reading, engineering, art and math for children ages four to 10. Some of these activities include animal tracking with San Diego Parks and Recreation, the science of scent with California Wolf Center and pollination with the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. 5 to 7:30 p.m. Saturday. 320 North Broadway, Escondido. $12-$17. 760-233-7755, visitcmod.org
Carlsbad Pirate Plunge: The public can partake in pirate-themed pool activities and games at the Carlsbad Pirate Plunge event. Some of the activities include an obstacle course, a ship race and diving for treasure. Alga Norte Aquatic Center’s Splash Pad will also be open and food will be available for purchase. Tickets are $15 per person and kids ages 3 and under can attend for free. 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday. 6565 Alicante Road, Carlsbad. carlsbadca.gov/departments/parks-recreation
Sunday
Jazz piano concert at church: Internationally-known jazz pianists Stephanie Trick and Paolo Alderighi will perform a four hands, two pianos concert. 4 p.m. Sunday. St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, 3502 Clairemont Drive, San Diego. The concert is free; free-will offering appreciated.
Read Between the Lines: Commonplace San Diego and Ask Ashlyn are hosting a workshop on media literacy and social media manipulation at Mission Brewery in Kensington. Guests can expect to learn about AI misinformation, bias, how algorithms and engagement define your feed on social media platforms and best practices. 3 p.m. Sunday. 4067 Adams Ave., San Diego. commonplacegroup.com/event/media-literacy
Movement in Magnitude dance event: On Sunday at Liberty Station, Song in Motion will present its second annual Day of Dance event. The all-day education event for ages 13 and up will feature dance classes presented by 14 professional teaching artists in a variety of dance forms, including tinikling, jazz, tap, contemporary, breaking and more. There will also be a free Q&A session for students interested in learning more about different dance styles. Participants can register in advance or drop in to one, two or all the dance classes. 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. Dorothea Laub Dance Place, 2650 Truxtun Road, San Diego. $17 per class or $75 for an all-day pass. registration and schedule at: songinmotion.org/events
Hadelich and Piemontesi: La Jolla Music Society presents violin virtuoso Augustin Hadelich and Swiss-Italian pianist Francesco Piemontesi for works by Debussy, Rameau, Franck and more. 8 p.m. Sunday. The Baker-Baum Concert Hall, Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla. $80-$126. 858-459-3728, theconrad.org
Art of Elan presents “Boundless”: This concert at the Mingei International Museum will feature music by Kian Ravaei and Dirk Michael Kirsch, among others, that’s inspired by the museum’s current exhibit of Southern California landscapes. 1439 El Prado, Balboa Park, San Diego. 7 p.m. Sunday. $45. mingei.org/events/concert/art-of-elan-5