Here are some of the best things to do this weekend in San Diego from Friday, March 27 to Sunday, March 29.
Friday
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
Garden tours and shows are in full bloom this spring across San Diego County
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
Golden State Ballet will present three dance works, including George Balanchine’s “Allegro Brillante,” in its “The Four Seasons” dance concerts March 28 and 29 in San Diego. (Sam Zauscher)
Golden State Ballet: ‘The Four Seasons’: Three distinct choreographic works by modern and traditional dancemakers keep dancers on their toes. The show includes “The Four Seasons” by Princess Grace Award-winning choreographer Houston Thomas, Balanchine’s joyful “Allegro Brillante” and “Thoughtscape” by Natasha Rader, who also works with Ballet Collective San Diego. 7:30 p.m. Friday; 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday; 1 p.m. Sunday. Balboa Theatre, 868 Fourth Ave., downtown. goldenstateballet.org
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
“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
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
Norbert Leo Butz as Paul Child and Christina Kirk as Julia Child star in La Jolla Playhouse’s world-premiere production of Claudia Shear’s “The Recipe.” (Rich Soublet II)
‘The Recipe’ concludes run this weekend: La Jolla Playhouse presents the final weekend of performances of Claudia Shear’s world premiere play about the life of chef and author Julia Child before she rose to TV fame. 7:30 p.m. Friday; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday; 1 and 7 p.m. Sunday. La Jolla Playhouse, 2910 La Jolla Village Drive, UCSD campus. $61 and up. 858-550-1010, lajollaplayhouse.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 ’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
“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
Saturday
2026 San Diego Writers Festival: This free one-day festival return to Coronado later this month. It’s a festival for both book-lovers and for aspiring authors, with hourly author-hosted talks and workshops on topics ranging from playwriting to the advent of AI, memoir-writing, horror-writing, poetry, publishing and more. This year’s keynote speaker is New Hampshire author Jodi Picoult, the bestselling author of more than 30 novels, including “By Any Other Name” and “Mad Honey.” 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. Coronado High School, 650 D Ave., Coronado. Free. sandiegowritersfestival.com
2026 Spring Arts Preview: The top books and book events we’re excited about this season
East Village block party: The East Village Association is hosting its annual block party to commemorate the start of the new San Diego Padres season. The 14th edition of the block park is a family-friendly event with live music, merchant vendors, food and entertainment. This year, there will also be a classic car show, fitness and sports demonstrations and interactive family activities. 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday. J Street from Sixth Avenue to Tenth Avenue. Free to attend. eastvillagesandiego.com
Pet and reptile expo: The Central Valley Pet & Reptile Expo is heading to the Del Mar Fairgrounds. The two-day event allows the public to adopt dogs, cats and small pets and see various reptiles up close. There will also be a live animal show, a reptile habitat workshop, a charity auction, door prizes and photo opportunities. Plus, there will be vendors selling reptile tanks, food, collars, leashes and beds. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar. $16-$20. cvrexpo.com
Family Art Adventures: On the second and fourth Saturdays of each month, the San Diego Museum of Art hosts free guided tours designed especially for families. The tours are followed by art-making activities with materials provided. RSVP required. 10:30 a.m. Saturday. San Diego Museum of Art, 1450 El Prado, San Diego. Free. sdmart.org/event/family-art-adventures-march-2026/2026-03-28/
Belmont in Bloom: Belmont Park invites the public to its Belmont in Bloom event series. Guests see a special butterfly exhibit on select Saturdays this spring from noon to 2 p.m. Also, there will be live music in the food court from 2 to 5 p.m. Face painters, bubble performers and balloon artists will also be part of the weekly event, which is designed to showcase floral installations, various colors and spring-inspired décor. Noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays. April 3 through May 31. 3146 Mission Blvd., San Diego. 858-488-1549, belmontpark.com
“Meet the Strings: Ferdinand the Bull”: San Diego Symphony’s Symphony Kids series continue with two 30-minute concerts designed for children up to 5 years of age. The concert will feature a string quartet of musicians playing music from Bizet’s “Carmen,” as well works by Henry Mancini, Stephanie Leavell and Reena Esmail. There will also be sing-alongs and a reading of the 1935 children’s book “The Story of Ferdinand.” 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Saturday. Jacobs Music Center, 750 B St., downtown. $15. sandiegosymphony.org
San Diego Sings! Festival:The Choral Consoritum of San Diego will present this all-day celebration of choral music with 15 separate San Diego County choirs performing in groups of five in three separate concerts. 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday. The Baker-Baum Concert Hall, Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla. $23 per concert. 858-459-3728, theconrad.org
“The Lehman Trilogy”: Winner of the 2022 Tony Award for Best Play, this three-act play by Stefano Massini stars three actors playing more than 70 characters who trace the 150-year history of the birth, rise and fall of the notorious Lehman Brothers investment firm, whose collapse in 2008 was one of America’s greatest financial catastrophes. Opens Saturday and runs through April 26. 7 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays, 1 and 7 p.m. Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays. Dottie Studio Theater, Cygnet Theatre, The Joan, 2880 Roosevelt Road, San Diego. $68 and up. 619-337-1525, cygnettheatre.org
Kintsugi workshop: Locals can learn the traditional Japanese art of kintsugi, which is made with broken plates. Participants are asked to bring their own plates, broken into no more than five pieces. 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday. Japanese Friendship Garden and Museum, 2215 Pan American Road. E., San Diego. $100 for nonmembers, $80 for members. niwa.org/kintsugi-byop
Sunday
Easter egg hunt: Easter activities are hatching early at the Mission Valley Mall, as the shopping center is hosting its first Easter egg hunt party. Family-friendly activities involve storytime with volunteers from the Trinity Theatre Company, photo opportunities with the Easter Bunny, face painters, a crafting station, a bubble fair, a photobooth and a slime activity. Plus, the egg hunt will feature eggs filled with candy, toys and gift cards from a variety of mall shops. Noon to 2 p.m. Sunday. 1640 Camino Del Rio North, San Diego. Free. 619-296-6375, mission-valley.com
Spring Garden Tour: “A Diverse Tableau” is the theme of this year’s Spring Garden Tour presented by the San Diego Horticultural Society and the Association of Professional Landscape Designers-San Diego District. The self-guided tour, with gardens in Point Loma and Coronado, features resilient and sustainable gardens shaped by the mild and often damp coastal climate. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. $45; $40 for SDHS and APLD members. Tickets must be purchased online in advance. apldca.org/apld-events
Piedmont East Bay Children’s Choir: First Lutheran Church San Diego presents this Bay area choir which will perform six works including Z. Randolph Stroop’s “Lux Aeterna” and Bach’s Domine Deus at the church’s Palm Sunday Service. 10 a.m. Sunday.. 1420 Third Ave., San Diego. freewill offerings. 619-234-6149.
“Corazon Flamenca”: Yaelisa Caminos Flamencos presents a concert of flamenco music and dancing. Spanish singer Juan Marube will accompany flamenco dance soloists and student dancers, along with guitarist Juan Moro. 5 p.m. Sunday. Historic Point Loma Assembly Hall, 3035 Talbot St., San Diego. $15-$45. 619-786-5595. ticketleap.com/tickets/caminosflamencoscom/corazon-flamenca
Sacred Offering, a Spring Choral Concert: The 80-voice Village Community Chorale will present a free concert of traditional sacred music, including Schubert’s Latin Mass in G and Ramirez’s Misa Criolla, accompanied by San Diego Symphony and other musicians on various indigenous instruments. 7 p.m. Sunday. Village Church, 6225 Paseo Delicias, Rancho Santa Fe. Freewill offering. villagechurch.org
Lamoise New Works Festival: Moxie Theatre presents its second edition of this series dedicated to developing new full-length works by women playwrights. A one-week workshop will culminate in a weekend of staged readings . Noon and 2 p.m. Saturday; 1 and 3 p.m. Sunday. 6663 El Cajon Blvd., Suite N, San Diego. Free, but reservations required. moxietheatre.com