The Flower Fields
March 1 – May 14
Location: Carlsbad, 5704 Paseo del Norte
For over sixty years, Mother Nature has transformed the rolling hills of North San Diego County into one of the most spectacular and coordinated displays of natural color and beauty anywhere in the world. The nearly fifty acres of Giant Tecolote Ranunculus flowers that make up The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch® in Carlsbad, California, are in bloom for approximately six to eight weeks each year – from early March through early May – literally bringing the famous fields back to life. This annual burst of color, which has become part of the area’s local heritage, also is one of nature’s official ways of announcing the arrival of spring here in southern California.
- Hours: Open to the public seven days a week from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- Prices: Adults: $14.00 Seniors 60+: $13.00 Children 3-10 yrs.: $7.00 Children 2 yrs. & under: Free
- Season Passes: Adults: $30.00 Seniors 60+: $25.00 Children 3-10 yrs.: $16.00
The Flower Fields are an alcohol and tobacco free environment. Smoking and alcoholic beverages are not permitted onsite. No Bicycles, hoverboards or drones are permitted.
Mickey Cafagna Memorial Golf Tournament
March 3
Location: Poway, Maderas Golf Club, 17750 Old Coach Rd
The Mickey Cafagna Memorial Golf Classic was established to honor Mickey Cafagna, former Mayor of Poway. He was one of the most loved and respected elected officials in the city’s history, and distinguished himself by his thoughtful leadership and enthusiastic support of numerous nonprofit organizations.
In keeping with Mickey’s charitable spirit, a portion of this year’s profits will be donated to the Poway Firefighters Association, which maintains a relief fund that benefits those affected by fire, as well as other area charities.
Annual Spring Home/Garden Show
March 3 – 5
Location: Del Mar, Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd
Now in its 32nd year, the Spring Home/Garden Show returns to Del Mar Fairgrounds for a three-day extravaganza. Don’t miss inspiring real "Garden Masters" landscapes (created exclusively for the show), hands-on demonstrations, hundreds of home-improvement products and services exhibitors, educational seminars, plant sales, and face-to-face consultations with top experts—all with the convenience of one-stop shopping for everything pertaining to home and garden, inside and outside.
The show focuses on San Diego-area experts, services, products, and businesses. Visitors find everything they need to save time and money improving, refreshing, or remodeling their home and outdoor surroundings—from the latest in appliances to garden lighting, from fencing to security systems, from baths to sunrooms.
Finish Chelsea’s Run 5K
March 4
Location: San Diego, Balboa Park – West side near 6th and Olive
Please join us for the 7th Annual Finish Chelsea’s Run in honor of Chelsea King. The event will take place in Balboa Park where Chelsea loved to visit and where she practiced with the San Diego Youth Symphony. The event will feature a competitive 5K race and fun run/walk, family festival, children’s activities, team competition, entertainment and refreshments.
This annual run/walk is now the primary fundraiser for the Chelsea’s Light Foundation Sunflower Scholarship Fund, providing scholarships for San Diego County college-bound teens who have embraced characteristics that embodied Chelsea’s academic prowess and service-over-self ethic.
We have joined forces with Girl Scouts San Diego, an organization that shares our values and has a long history of creating youth leaders. This partnership strengthens our common vision of recognizing and supporting young people who will make the world a better place. By combining forces, we anticipate growing the run/walk, leading to an even greater ability to protect children and provide scholarships for youth.
Annual Trails Day
March 4
8:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Location: San Marcos, 650 Foxhall Dr
Enjoy this FREE event and meet up for a guided ranger hike and bike ride or a guided horse ride led by TOVEA.
After you take in the beauty of Discovery Lake Trail or conquer Double Peak Trail, stay for live music, food and free giveaways. They will be available to enjoy all morning.
Hike Options: An easy, three-mile hike will visit the Discovery Lake, and Discovery Creek trails. A more challenging, 7-mile hike with more than 1,000 feet of elevation gain will be offered to Double Peak Park.
Hike & Bike Meeting Location: Lakeview Park at 650 Foxhall Drive
Equestrian Meeting Location: Ridgeline Trail at 102 San Elijo Road
2017 Busker Festival
March 4
12:00 – 6:00 PM
Location: San Diego, Seaport Village
A Busker is a street performer. Known for their unusual and comedic acts in Boston’s Faneuil Hall or standing statue-like, painted in gold on San Francisco’s Pier 39, these artists perform for tips in public venues across the globe.
San Diego’s Seaport Village hosts the only Busker Festival in Southern California. We bring professionals from across the country to perform their bizarre talents from sword swallowing to knife throwing to pogo stick tricks and juggling on unicycles. Throughout the two-day festival, some of the nation’s top performers fill the bay front village drawing visitors to shop, dine and enjoy an entire day of one-of-a-kind entertainment.
Entry is free. Tips will be accepted by performers.
Annual Koi Show
March 4 – 5
Location: Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd
Over 300 Koi will be on display in competitions, ranging in size from 6 inches to 3 feet long.
The show will feature vendors selling Koi art, Koi T-Shirts, Koi fish of all sizes, ponds and equipment, including solar power for Koi ponds.
Admission to the 30th Annual Koi Show is free. Hours: 9am to 4pm on Saturday March 4th; 9am to 3pm on Sunday March 5th. Parking at the Del Mar Fairgrounds is $13.00.
CRSSD Festival
March 4 – 5
Location: San Diego, Waterfront Park, 1600 Pacific Highway
The fifth two-day, outdoor CRSSD music fest will be held at Waterfront Park in San Diego on March 4 and 5. This 21+ event features over 40 artists on three stages, full craft beer, a mixology program, as well as assorted dining options from San Diego’s finest local restaurants.
San Marcos ALIVE
March 5
10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Location: San Marcos Civic Center, 3 Civic Center Dr
Come join San Marcos’ largest celebration of the arts. Enjoy arts and crafts, fine art shows, live performances, hands-on art projects, and much more!
This annual celebration will feature musical entertainment, a juried art and photography show and an interactive children’s area. Admission is free!
Arts Alive Encinitas
March 5 & 21
12:00 – 3:00 PM
Location: Encinitas and Cardiff
Each year, the signature activity and sole fundraising event of the 101 Artists’ Colony is to put on the Arts Alive Encinitas exhibit. Here dozens of local artists help to create a fantastic display of color on the lamp posts along a six mile stretch of historic Coast Highway 101 in Leucadia, Encinitas and Cardiff-by-the-Sea.
The Unveiling Reception is at The Leichtag Commons, 411 Saxony Road, Barn #2, Encinitas, CA 92024. The Unveiling Reception is the reveal that premiers the exhibit. It occurs shortly after 12 pm after a group countdown. Seeing this many paintings unveiled and on display for the first time is a spectacular event not to be missed. This event is free, but you will need to register to attend.
On Sunday, May 21st, there is a reception at 1:30 pm and an auction that begins at 2 pm. This is at Cardiff Town Center, 2033 San Elijo Ave. Professional auctioneer, Rich Houk, volunteers his services each year for the live auction. This is a free event open to the public. It is so much fun! Come to the auction to meet our artists, as well as to have the opportunity to purchase fine art at a fraction of its true value.
Tip Top Run
March 11
8:30 AM
Location: Carlsbad, 1580 Cannon Rd
Join us to celebrate the Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation’s 7th Annual Fun Run from one of two starting points around our lagoon. Enjoy a Tip Top Meats lunch at the Discovery Center with shuttle transportation back to your starting point. Also featuring our World Water Day Festival, where our visitors learn about sustainable water practices.
The 5K/10K fun run and walk includes lunch from Tip Top Meats, a t-shirt, swab bag, bib, live music, beer garden and carnival games.
St. Paddy’s Palomar Punishment
March 11
7:00 AM
Location: Escondido, Terra Madre Gardens, 9928 Protea Gardens Dr
Come and join CCSD on St Patrick’s day. Conquer Mount Palomar then join our Finish Line Irish Party with delicious food, live music, massage tent and a relaxing setting. There are four route options from 37 miles to 97 miles.
Event Features:
- Legendary SAG stations – Delicious baked cakes, cookies and Irish soda bread are a hit every year!
- Palomar KOM and QOM challenges – Test your climbing legs on the mighty Mount Palomar with our hill climb contest. Trophies for fastest male and female.
- Palomar Observatory – Worth the extra climbing to visit the real summit of Palomar. An extra 9 miles of beautiful road.
- Cole Grade Road – Save some energy for this. Cole Grade Road is a real test of stamina after Mount Palomar.
- Woods Valley Road – A lightly traveled and beautiful road past farms and nut orchards.
- Unique Finisher Gifts – All riders get one of our unique awards.
- Finish Line Party – Stone beers, live Irish band, and food at the finish.
- Wood Fired Pizza – Wood fired pizza at the finish.
St. Patrick’s Day Festival
March 12
12:00 – 6:00 PM
Location: Vista, Downtown and Vista Village
This North County Irish traditions features live music, Irish dancers, Lucky the Leprechaun, an Irish Pooch Crawl, bagpipes, a people’s parade, taste of Ireland food crawl, and much, much more! There is something for everyone from archery tag and Lil Putters Golf for the kids to a Paddy Pull Arm Wresting Challenge and Whiskey Patch lounge for the adults.
San Diego Latino Film Festival
March 16 – 26
Location:San Diego, AMC Fashion Valley 18 & Digital Gym CINEMA North Park
The San Diego Latino Film Festival will take place March 16-26, 2017 at the AMC 18 Fashion Valley theaters in Mission Valley. The festival will occupy five screens for eleven days and will present over 160 films from Latin America, the United States, and Spain.
In addition, the festival will feature Opening Night and Closing Night Parties, the 2nd Annual Sonido Latino Beer & Wine Festival, Q&A sessions with visiting filmmakers, and free student outreach screenings. Local audiences will have the rare opportunity to meet filmmakers and actors from all over the world.
Hellfire Fat Tire
March 18
Location: Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton
Don’t miss a challenging mountain bike race featuring varied terrain, elevation and panoramic views aboard our Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton open to Marines and civilians ages 6 and Up. There are 15 or 25 mile options, 600 feet of elevation and varied terrain, as well as a one mile kids’ ride.
T-shirt and bib pickup opens at 7:00 AM. First race begins at 8:05 AM.
South Oceanside Hot Rod, Rat Rod, Custom Car, Bike and Boat Show
March 18
Location: Oceanside, 1806 S Horne St
This is a neighborhood event with awesome vehicles, entertainment, food and fun for everyone!
Funds raised from this event go to support South Oceanside Elementary School.
Spring Planting Jubilee & Tomato Sale
March 18 – 19
Location: Encinitas, San Diego Botanic Garden, 230 Quail Gardens Dr
It’s March planting madness at our Spring Planting Jubilee & Tomato Sale! This event is a plant lover’s dream with a wide variety of herbs, spring plants, bromeliads, garden art and implements available.
Coastal Roots Farm will be offering an extravaganza with all new locally–sourced and grown summer garden vegetables. The sale will feature a wide variety of tomatoes, vegetables, seeds, cut flowers and annuals. Garden experts will be on hand to answer questions and provide helpful advice on spring plantings and caring for your entire garden.
Yummy food will be available from the Red Oven Artisanal Pizza and the Feel Good Coffee Cart. Whenever possible, vegetables sourced for the Red Oven will be from our neighbors, the Coastal Roots Farm). Musical entertainment will be provided by Bob Ballentine and friends. Educational workshops will be offered throughout both days. Cost is free with paid admission or membership.
Adobe Home Tour
March 19
11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Location: Escondido, Escondido History Center, 321 N Broadway
On Sunday, March 19, 2017 from 11 am to 4 pm you will be able to visit six stunning homes built between the 1930s and 1970s. They feature some of the most interesting and innovative adobe architecture of the time.
The 2017 Adobe Home Tour includes four adobe homes in Escondido and two in Poway. Visitors will not only see excellent examples of mid-century adobe construction as well as outdoor design idea areas, including courtyards, succulent landscapes and edible gardens.
The self-guided home tour runs from 11 to 4.
The Adobe Home Tour benefits the Escondido History Center. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online. Please wear comfortable shoes. These properties have uneven walkways and steps. They are not wheelchair accessible.
Kia Classic
March 20 – 26
Location: Carlsbad, 7447 Batiquitos Dr
The eighth annual Kia Classic LPGA tournament returns to its home at the Park Hyatt Aviara Resort, Golf Club & Spa in Carlsbad, California from March 20-26, 2016.
The Kia Classic features a 144-player field competing for a purse of $1.8 million. The field features 2016 Kia Classic Champion Lydia Ko and crowd favorites Paula Creamer, Stacy Lewis, Michelle Wie and Lexi Thompson.
Tournament week will feature a qualifier, practice rounds on Monday and Tuesday, a Wednesday Pro-Am, and four competitive rounds of play from Thursday through Sunday.
Race for Autism
March 25
Location: San Diego, 6th Ave & Laurel St
The Race for Autism is our region’s largest annual race that directly supports children with autism and their families in San Diego. To date it has funded more than 550 community program and classrooms.
The race features a 5K run or walk and a one mile SUPERHERO Family Fun Walk. There are also children’s activities, music, prizes, refreshments and an education resource fair.
Encinitas Half Marathon
March 26
7:30 AM
Location: Encinitas, Moonlight Beach,
With a fast OCEANFRONT course perfect for both first-timers and elite athletes, the Encinitas Half Marathon is 13.1 miles of unforgettable fun through America’s most quintessential surf town! 100 percent of the net proceeds are donated to ocean, beach, and park related projects.
Racers get an inaugural one of a kind high quality TECH TEE and FINISHER’S MEDAL, breakfast featuring organic oatmeal bowl with agave, granola and banana, hot chocolate in a souvenir Encinitas Half Marathon mug, professional chip timing with $9,600 in prize money, course support and funky entertainment, and post-race drink specials in Downtown Encinitas. They also get seven miles of breathtaking oceanviews from Highway 101!