This annual event shines bright in Little Italy. | Photo via Candice Audick + Mission Fed ArtWalk
Spring has arrived and San Diego’s social calendar is filled with buzzy events. From music to art, don’t miss these major April gatherings in America’s Finest City.
Saturday, April 5 | Waterfront Park
The country music festival returns to the Embarcadero with headliners including Old Dominion, Chris Young + Tyler Hubbard. Get your tickets.
Saturday, April 26-Sunday, April 27 | Little Italy
Running four decades strong, this fine arts festival along India Street showcases 250+ visual artists, music stages, interactive art, and food. Pro tip: Don’t miss ArtWalk Liberty Station in August and ArtWalk Carlsbad in North County in September.
Saturday, April 26 | Two miles along Adams Avenue This rocks. The free musical walkabout will return to uptown from 12 p.m. to midnight. Expect 80 live performances across 24 venues — from coffee houses to restaurants — along a two-mile stretch of Adams Avenue from University Heights to Kensington. Peep the newly-released lineup.
Jerry Seinfeld and Jim Gaffigan | 7:30 p.m. | Pechanga Arena San Diego | $54+ | We love a collab — after a successful stand-up comedy tour together in 2023, the comics have once again joined forces for a 10-arena tour that includes this SD show.
Friday, March 28
“Ain’t Too Proud” | Friday, March 28-Sunday, March 30 | Times vary | Civic Theatre | $57+ | With hits like “My Girl” and “Papa Was a Rolling Stone,” this Tony Award-winning Broadway musical follows The Temptations’ journey to stardom.
Saturday, March 29
Ocean Beach Makers Market | 11 a.m.-4 p.m. | OB Surf Lodge | Free | Browse handmade goods from 18 local artists and markers at OB Surf Lodge, Wonderland Ocean Pub, and Blue Water Seafood OB.
Oddities Flea Market: San Diego 2025 | Saturday, March 29-Sunday, March 30 | 11 a.m.-6 p.m. | The Julep | $32+ | Shop a curated selection of spine-tingling treasures like medical history ephemera, taxidermy, art, and jewelry at this market making its San Diego debut.
2025 San Diego Crew Classic | Saturday, March 29-Sunday, March 30 | 12-6 p.m. | Crown Point Park | $25+ | Watch the premier spring rowing regatta from the shores of Mission Bay while enjoying local vendors, a beer garden, and food trucks.
Pucks & Pints | 12:30-9 p.m. | Pechanga Arena San Diego | $65 | Local craft brewers join forces for this 21+ event featuring beer and barbecue at Bay City Brewing Co., followed by a Gulls game at Pechanga Arena; proceeds benefit local charities.
Los Angeles Football Club vs. San Diego FC | 7:30 p.m. | Snapdragon Stadium | $90+ | Another day, another rivalry with LA — only this time, it’s on the pitch instead of the diamond.
Sunday, March 30
Pages in the Park | 1 p.m. | Waterfront Park | Free | Bring the family to read together at the park while enjoying ambient music and food truck vendors.
Tuesday, April 1
Line Dancing Lessons | 8:45-10 p.m. | Moonshine Beach | Free | Learn how to dance in unison, then stay for the late night DJ and practice your moves.
Let’s go, SD. The Friar Faithful are ready — Padres baseball returns to Petco Park today with the team’s home opener. Try these new concessions at the ballpark: Deckman’s on Draft in Section 105 (seafood, fish tacos, oysters), Mini Donut Company in Section 107, and Teaspoon (boba) at Gallagher Square.
State
Cal Fire updated its Fire Hazard Severity maps for local jurisdictions and its San Diego County maps were released this week. San Diego County now has 817,000+ acres designated as “very high hazard” fire zones including Poway, Santee, and Chula Vista — up from 646,000 acres in 2011.(CBS 8)
Civic
SD’s “Hotel Room Tax” approved by voters in 2020 will go into effect on Thursday, May 1. The new tax will range between 11.75% and 13.75%, depending on a hotel’s proximity to the Convention Center. The city expects the hike to generate $82 million in fiscal year 2026.
Coming Soon
Hotel del Coronado will debut its newest restaurant Veranda next month followed by Nobu Del Coronado in May. Veranda replaces the hotel’s Sheerwater restaurant and will feature a garden-inspired design and oceanfront outdoor dining. The dining additions are part of the landmark’s years-long, $550 million revitalization project.
Announced
What a build-up. Legoland will build two matching, $90 million indoor roller coasters at its Carlsbad and Florida theme parks next year. A rep said they’ll “spare no expense” on the “groundbreaking” rides, which will use the latest technology to bring the thrills. (City News Service via NBC 7)
Arts
Downtown San Diego Partnership and the city are looking for local artists, community organizations, and cultural institutions to display their works on downtown SD’s new digital kiosks for ~6 months. Up to four artists will be selected; applications are due by Sunday, April 20.
Shop
San Diego is the first US city to pass the Grocery Pricing Transparency Ordinance banning stores from only offering digital coupons. Proponents say the bill will help the 500,000 local households who don’t have internet access and need physical versions of coupons. A second reading before the city council is next. (CBS 8)
Traffic
The Port of San Diego says parking rates will increase at these waterfront locations by 75 cents to $1 starting Wednesday, April 2: Embarcadero Marina Parks North and South, Shelter Island, and Spanish Landing Park. Shelter Island and Spanish Landing will see an additional increase on Tuesday, July 1.
Zoo
Remember those adorable sloth bear cubs recently born at the San Diego Zoo? Well, they need names and public voting is open until 12 p.m. Tuesday, April 1. The choices are Nimala, Nimali, and Shehani for the female cub and Kavi, Rishi, and Kumar for her brother.
Sports
The Padres rotation is set and it includes Kyle Hart and Randy Vasquez. Also, it’s time for a deep dive on the legendary Michael King. Go beyond the scoreboard and behind the scenes of the San Diego Padreswith Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
Trending
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City Guide
City Guide
⛰️ Happy trails, to you
The view along Coast Walk Trail in La Jolla is absolutely epic. | Photo via Monica Garske + SDtoday
Lace up your hiking boots. We’ve compiled a curated hiking guide for the San Diego County areawith 30 trails and routes to help you plan your next adventure.
This gorgeous trail along the bluffs of La Jolla’s coastline can be accessed near the historic Cave Store and Sunny Jim’s Sea Cave. Though the trek is short, it’s breathtaking — and quite historic — offering views of the Pacific Ocean, kayakers, and local wildlife.
This 37-acre Marine Conservation Area is teeming with wetland life. Get into nature and help restore this fragile ecosystem at one of the Friends of Famosa Slough’s work parties, take a guided nature walk, or just stroll through and appreciate a one-of-a-kind biome in the heart of San Diego.
A purse organizer that’s 69% off thanks to Amazon’s Big Spring Sale. Say goodbye to a messy handbag with this organizer featuring 13 thoughtfully designed pockets to keep everything in its place. Read: You’ll never be endlessly digging around for your keys again.
I am so excited for spring hiking season — it’s the perfect time of year to get on our local trails. Some of my family’s go-to spring trails include Lake Murray (my daughters like to ride their bikes or scooters because that paved path is perfect for rolling) and the North Fortuna area at Mission Trails (so peaceful).
We also tried the new Oceanside Trail at Cabrillo recently and I can confirm, those ocean views were everything. Happy hiking, my friends.
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