The best things to do this weekend in San Diego: April 26-28
Here are some of the best things to do this weekend in San Diego from Friday, April 26 to Sunday, April 28.
Friday
Wetzel’s Pretzels 30th anniversary: The pretzel brand is celebrating its anniversary with one free original pretzel per person from 3 p.m. to close on Friday. wetzels.com/home
‘Art Alive’: SDMA’s annual Art Alive is something like a must-see event of the season and features floral arrangement interpretations of the museum’s vast art collection. Besides the premiere dinner on April 25 and festive “Bloom Bash” party on April 26, the annual four-day showcase will include an art of India theme and a special installation from the Museum’s renowned Edwin Binney 3rd Collection of South Asian paintings. April 25 through April 28. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. San Diego Museum of Art, 1450 El Prado, Balboa Park, San Diego. Premiere dinner: $3,000; Bloom Bash: $250-$300; Art Alive exhibit: Free-$40. (619) 232-7931, sdmart.org
Lakeside Rodeo: The Lakeside Rodeo is celebrating its 60th anniversary. Watch competitions in events such as team roping, barrel racing and bull riding. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday, 1 p.m. Sunday. Tickets start at $15. Lakeside Rodeo Grounds and Arena, 12584 Mapleview St., Lakeside. lakesiderodeo.com/p/lakeside-rodeo-tickets
Songwriter Sanctuary: This is a monthly songwriter series hosted by Jeff Berkley. This Friday will feature Calman Hart, Bug Guts, and Missy Alcazar. Food and drinks will be available. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., show starts at 7 p.m. Friday. Normal Heights United Church, 4650 Mansfield St., San Diego. $10 suggested donation. lindsaywhitemusic.com/songwriter-sanctuary.html
San Diego Opera’s ‘Madama Butterfly’: Last produced by San Diego Opera in 2016, this 1904 opera is the tragic story of the young Japanese girl Cio-Cio San, who falls in love with and marries the callous U.S. Navy officer Pinkerton, who abandons her and returns to America. American soprano Corinne Winters and her husband, British tenor Adam Smith, play the lead roles. Korean baritone Kidon Choi plays the role of Sharpless, the kind-hearted American consul in Japan who recognizes Cio-Cio San’s shame and loss. Mezzo-soprano Stephanie Doche plays Cio-Cio San’s maid, Suzuki. Yves Abel will conduct. 7:30 p.m. Friday; 2 p.m. Sunday. San Diego Civic Theatre, 1100 Third Ave., downtown. $13-$340. sdopera.org
American soprano Corinne Winters last appeared with San Diego Opera as the doomed courtesan Violetta in the 2017 production of “La traviata”
“The Prom”: San Diego College’s Dramatic Arts Program presents the San Diego premiere of this 2019 Broadway musical comedy about group of washed-up Broadway stars who descend on a conservative Midwestern town to campaign for diversity at a high school prom. 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Saville Theatre, S.D. City College, 14th and C streets, San Diego. $8-$20. citycollegetheatre.com
“Brat”: Bocón theater company presents a new play by Wendy Maples inspired by the true stories of children who grow up in military families, who are known as “military brats.” 7 p.m. tonight at Trinity Theatre Co., Mission Valley mall, 1640 Camino Del Rio North, Suite 129, San Diego. Admission is free but reservations requested at tickettailor.com/events/bocon.
Belgian waffle ride and expo: San Marcos will host the third and last stop of the Belgian Waffle Ride on Saturday and Sunday. The 13th annual Belgian Waffle Ride is a European-style cycling race and expo where thousands of cyclists from around the world gather to compete and savor local Belgian waffles, beer and more. At the expo, over 50 vendors are slated to be in attendance. The event starts at North City with the expo on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. On Sunday , a Belgian waffle banquet for the riders starts at 5 a.m., and the cycling race starts at 7:00 a.m. Following the race, Belgian waffles and Belgian ales from the Lost Abbey and Draft Republic will be available. Saturday and Sunday. North City, 250 North City Drive, San Marcos. belgianwaffleride.bike/pages/belgian-waffle-ride-ca
“Lizzie: The Musical”: Wildsong Production presents the San Diego premiere of this musical about 1892 ax murderer Lizzie Borden. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 6 p.m. Sunday; OB Playhouse, 4944 Newport Ave., San Diego. $30-$40. wildsongproductions.showit.site/
Saturday
Mission Federal Credit Union ArtWalk: The annual two-day festival is celebrating its 40th year and will feature more than 250 local and regional artists selling their wares, as well as entertainment, food vendors and more. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 27; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 28. Between Juniper Street and A Street, Little Italy, San Diego. Free. (619) 615-1090, artwalksandiego.org
Linda Vista Multicultural Fair and Parade: This event celebrates the community and many cultures of Linda Vista with live music, a fair with crafts, a kids zone, carnival and historic and educational activities. A parade will feature marching bands, community groups and other performers. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. 6900 Linda Vista Road. Free. lindavistafair.org/home.html
Adams Avenue Unplugged: Enjoy more than 60 live music acts and food, drinks and shopping at local restaurants and shops as you walk along Adams Avenue. A food and drink deal is available for $24. Noon to midnight Saturday. Adams Avenue. Free. adamsavenuebusiness.com/event-info/adams-avenue-unplugged/
San Diego Book Crawl: A group of local shops have organized a book crawl that awards prizes to participants for the more bookstores they visit and the more shopping they do. This year’s participants are Bay Books Coronado, Bluestocking Books, The Book Catapult, Diesel, Joyride Bookshop, La Playa Books, Libélula Books & Co., Library Shop SD, Meet Cute Romance Bookshop, Mysterious Galaxy, UC San Diego Bookstore, Verbatim Books and Warwick’s. Saturday through Monday during store hours. bit.ly/sdbookcrawl
Twelfth Night Ensemble: San Diego Early Music Society welcomes seven young musicians from the flexibly sized Twelfth Night ensemble. The zestful group, founded by David Belkovski and Rachell Ellen Wong, will play works by Handel and Purcell. If Wong looks familiar, she performed at St. James in a March 2022 SDEMS concert with Ensemble Jupiter. 7:30 p.m. April 27. St James by-the-Sea, 743 Prospect St., La Jolla. $10-$50. (619) 291-8246, sdems.org
Encinitas Spring Street Fair: See live music on multiple stages, enjoy local brews, wine and kombucha in a beer garden and explore the offerings of hundreds of vendors at this annual event. There will also be rides and activities for kids. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Highway 101 between D Street to J Street. Free. encinitas101.com/events/2024-encinitas-spring-street-fair
Escondido Renaissance Faire: This weekend and next, go back in time to see jousting, live entertainment and food and drinks from the Renaissance era. Costumes are encouraged, and turkey legs will be served. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Felicita County Park, 742 Clarence Lane, Escondido. encinitas101.com/events/2024-encinitas-spring-street-fair
‘Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812’: Cygnet Theatre presents the West Coast premiere of this Tony-nominated electropop opera adapted from a portion of Leo Tolstoy’s epic novel “War and Peace.” 7 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; 2 and 7 p.m. Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. Through May 19. 4040 Twiggs St., Old Town San Diego. $58-$73 (619) 337-1525, cygnettheatre.com
‘Art Alive’ set to bloom at SDMA: San Diego Museum of Art hosts its annual exhibition where local floral designers create flower arrangements inspired by works in the museum’s permanent collection. This year’s event will focus on art from India and a special installation from the Museum’s Edwin Binney 3rd Collection of South Asian paintings. Noon to 5 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. 1450 El Prado, Balboa Park, San Diego. Free-$40. (619) 232-7931, sdmart.org
Duruflé Requiem: San Diego Master Chorale presents chorale works by Maurice Duruflé, Britten, Butler and Brahms. 4 p.m. Saturday at St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral, 27227 Sixth Ave., San Diego. $15-$30. sdmasterchorale.org. Also at 4 p.m. Sunday at St. James-by-the-Sea, 743 Prospect St., La Jolla. $10-$35. stjamesmusicseries.com
Sunday
Motorcars on Main Street: Coronado will be the place to find classic cars from 1975 and before, including restored antiques, custom cars and trucks. There will also be live music and drawings throughout the day. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Isabella and Orange Avenues. Free. coronadomainstreet.org/motorcars
Laura McNeal author event: Enjoy a coffee or tea, as well as light bites, while hearing this San Diego author discussing her latest historical novel, which is based on the real-life romantic letters between poets Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning. Some pricing includes a copy of the novel. 3 p.m. April 28. Meraki Cafe, 1735 Adams Ave., University Heights. $38 for event only, $58 includes signed book. (619) 300-2532, adventuresbythebook.com
Cheese Expo: For the fourth time, the event company Liquid City is hosting its Cheese Expo in San Diego. The event gathers cheesemakers from around the world so the public can sample their creations. Guests can also drink from the offerings of San Diego brewers, cider makers, coffee roasters and distillers paired with cheese tastings. In addition, find educational demonstrations and presentations from cheesemakers. 1 to 8 p.m. Sunday. 2863 Historic Decatur Road, San Diego. $45-$750. liquidcitysd.com/cheese-expo-2024
Inaugural San Diego Cocktail Championship: Twenty-one restaurants and bars from around the county will be part of the inaugural San Diego Cocktail Championship. The event is a block party and will take place in downtown San Diego. Ticketed guests will get tastings and vote for their favorite cocktail. Some of the participating bars and restaurants include Cococabana, Fernside, insideOUT, Ponce’s Mexican Restaurant and Vogue Tavern. Each of the 21 participating establishments will offer a signature cocktail. Plus, all voters will be automatically registered to win $2,100 worth in gift cards. The block party will take place on Fifth Avenue between Market Street and Island Avenue. 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday. $49-$79. cocktailchampionship.com
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