The Flower Fields
March 1 – May 13
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.
Easter Sunrise Service on Sunday, April 1 at 6:30 am.
- Hours: Open to the public seven days a week from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- Prices: Adults: $16.00 Seniors 60+: $14.00 Children 3-10 yrs.: $8.00 Children 2 yrs. & under: Free
- Season Passes: Adults: $35.00 Seniors 60+: $30.00 Children 3-10 yrs.: $18.00
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.
Lux Art Institute Spring Break Camp
April 2 – 13
9 AM – 2 PM, M – F
Location: Encinitas, 1550 S El Camino Real
Working with the education staff’s teaching artists and inspired by trends in modern and contemporary art, students will work on a variety of art projects both independently and collaboratively as part of the camp program. Each day students will be introduced to a different artist and will explore related themes and methods in both 2D and 3D. Projects will include drawing, sculpture, and painting. Space is limited to 20 students. Be sure to register early!
- Week 1:
- Monday-Friday, April 2nd – 6th
- 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM Daily
- Theme: Modern and Contemporary Artists
- Week 2:
- Monday-Friday, April 9th – 13th
- 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM Daily
- Theme: Modern and Contemporary Artists
This is for kids 4 and older. Cost is $275 per week for members and $350 per week for guests.
Goodguys Meguiar’s Del Mar Nationals
April 6 – 8
Location: Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd
Hot Rods, Customs, Classics, Muscle Cars and Trucks thru ’87, Goodguys AutoCross, Indoor Car Show, Vendors, Swap Meet, Cars 4 Sale Corral and All American Sunday. The show features:
- Over 2,500 Rods, Customs, Classics, Muscle Cars and Trucks thru ’87
- Spectre Performance All American Sunday welcoming American made or powered vehicles of all years
- Indoor Car Show – Including Street Rod d’Elegance Competition
- Burn Out Competition
- Goodguys AutoCross – Featuring 16 car “Duel in Del Mar” presented by Classic Performance Products
- Nitro Thunderfest Dragster Exhibition
- Vendor & Manufacturer Exhibits
- PPG Lowrider Palace – special indoor display
- Swap Meet
- Cars 4 Sale Corral
- Live music entertainment with Republic of Music
- Model & Pedal Car Show
- Kids Zone – Free Arts and crafts, games, prizes & more!
- Kids Free Revell Model Car Make-N-Take – Get your kids involved in model building.
- Complimentary Guest Shuttles provided from spectator parking
- 17 Hands Bar & Grill
- Featured Club: San Diego Roadsters
IRONMAN 70.3 Oceanside
April 7
Location: Oceanside, Pier Area
IRONMAN 70.3 California started out as an IRONMAN in 2000. Two years later it was turned into one of the first IRONMAN 70.3 events and helped launch the popularity of the distance.
Oceanside, California offers triathletes a chance to race in the region that birthed the sport in the early 1970s in Mission Bay. Oceanside is located at the northern end of San Diego’s North County, which includes the beach communities of Del Mar, Cardiff, Encinitas, and Carlsbad — home to surf, triathlon, and beach culture. Just half an hour south lies San Diego, with its world-famous zoo, parks, and other attractions to fill a spring break vacation. Just two hours away from the local mountains, skiing and snowboarding are other options.
This race offers the only chance athletes have to swim in the calm, protected Oceanside Harbor, where water temperatures in early spring are usually in the low to mid 60’s.
The bike course takes cyclists along the California coastline to San Clemente, before dropping down into the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. Here, challenging hills confront athletes before they swing back to the Oceanside Harbor.
The run portion takes athletes on a winding journey out to Oceanside’s flat beachfront path known as “The Strand,” where miles of sandy beaches provide a beautiful and distracting vista. Runners then turn into a residential area before looping back out for a grand finish at the ocean’s edge and a chute lined with energetic spectators.
More than half of the race volunteers come from units at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. The presence of so many men and women serving in the U.S. Marine Corps is always a source of pride for race participants.
Dancing With Our Stars Gala
April 7
7 PM
Location: Escondido, California Center for the Arts, 340 N Escondido Blvd
Our annual fund raising event follows the format of the popular reality show of similar name with an important distinction – “Our Stars” will be made up of local prominent community and business leaders! These stars were paired with local dance studio teachers practicing over several months and performing on stage in our 1,500 seat Concert Hall. The event also includes a post-show party with a DJ dancing under the stars!
Please join us for this exciting and fun-filled evening of entertainment and fund raising to support our mission! Every ticket purchased is an investment in the arts and a brighter future for our community! Includes after party where you can meet and mingle with our Stars and dance the night away! Tickets are $30 to $175.
San Diego Botanic Garden ArtFest
April 7 – 8
Location: Encinitas, 230 Quail Gardens Dr
Looking for unique, one-of-a-kind art pieces to adorn your home or garden? Then you’ll enjoy ArtFest, featuring more than 20 local and regional artists displaying and selling their work at amazing prices!
Fantastic sculptors, painters, glass artists, potters, gourd and fiber artists will also give demonstrations of their craft throughout the weekend.
Come celebrate the art of Asian horticulture at ArtFest with outstanding displays and demonstrations by the Keiri Study Group of Sogetsu School of Ikebana and Bonsai and Beyond.
Enjoy fresh salads, sandwiches, coffee and treats from The Feel Good Coffee Cart, located right next to the Garden’s Gift Shops, where you can find garden-related gifts (and plants!) for the plant lover in your life. Live music will be on tap all weekend featuring Bob Ballentine and friends.
How the Other Half Loves
April 11 – May 6
Location: Solana Beach, 987 Lomas Santa Fe Dr, Ste D
North Coast Repertory Theatre presents How the Other Half Loves.
Britain’s brilliant comic genius, Sir Alan Ayckbourn penned a fast-paced and hilariously funny theatrical meal. It stands as a classic modern comedy. A portrait of three very different marriages that turns into a spirited game of mixed doubles involving sex, jealousy and ingenious stagecraft that only Mr. Ayckbourn can design. Full of clever, razor-sharp dialog and impeccable split-second timing and twists, HOW THE OTHER HALF LOVES promises to leave you in stitches.
Heartbreak Ridge Run
April 14
Location: Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton
An off-road running race held in the northwestern foothills of your Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. It offers multiple distance choices with a challenging hill climb and scenic views of surrounding mountains and meadows. Runs include a half-marathon, 10K, 5K and a kids’ 1K. Open to military and civilians.
San Diego Tour de Cure
April 14
Location: Del Mar Fair Grounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd
When you register for the Tour de Cure, you become a part of the American Diabetes Association’s largest fundraising event. Joining you will be thousands of participants from around the country who come together to directly impact the lives of people facing the daily challenges of diabetes and their loved ones.
Participating in the Tour de Cure is an experience you will never forget. The event is very well organized and has routes available for all skill levels, ranging from a 5K to 100 miles.
Your Tour Day experience includes:
- Well planned and marked routes
- Vehicle support with mechanics
- Fully stocked rest stops
- A fantastic lunch and post event festival
- Live music
- Kids’ activities
- Free diabetes resources and more!
Make a difference for this great cause and register for the Tour de Cure today!
Pirate Plunge
April 14
5 – 9 PM
Location: Carlsbad, Alga Norte Aquatic Center, 6565 Alicante Rd
Enjoy pirate themed pool activities and games during the City of Carlsbad’s annual Pirate Plunge event. Come dressed in a swimsuit and enjoy the fun, swashbuckling activities which include diving for treasure, cannonball crush, hook it, ship raider race and more. Race across the floating obstacles and test your balance and agility on the Key Logs.
Dry activities include a pirate ship slide, a tropical bounce house, a photo op and a treasure hunt where children will have the chance to follow a map around the decks collecting treasure along the way.
The night ends with a special movie presentation of The Princess Bride (rated PG) on the giant outdoor movie screen.
Enjoy dinner at the Dive in Grill open during the event. Menu includes made-to-order grilled burgers, chicken sandwiches, pizza, shaved ice, ice cream and other tasty treats.
Cost is $10 per person. Children ages 3 and under are free.
Family Movie Night
April 14
Location: Vista, Moonlight Amphitheatre, 1250 Vale Terrace Drive
Comedy, adventure, romance, and fantasy! There is something for everyone in the classic film The Princess Bride, and you can experience it on the big screen. Rated PG.
Come early for fun pre-movie activities the entire family can participate in. Tickets run from $5 to $10. Gates open at 6 pm. The movie starts at 7:30 pm.
Oceanside Days of Art
April 14 – 15
Location: Oceanside, Pier View Way
ODA is a juried fine art festival selling a variety of unique artwork – paintings, sculptures, glass, ceramics, fine jewelry and photography. The festival which is offered free to the public has live stage performances, children’s and adult’s hands on art activities, street chalk artist, painting and sculpture demonstrations, and a delicious variety of food choices in the food court. Oceanside Days of Art is conveniently held downtown on Pier View Way.
In addition, hundreds of pieces of art by high school students from Carlsbad, Oceanside and Vista will be on display in the building of the local outpost for the National Independent Order of Odd Fellows, 503 Mission Ave, Oceanside. This is part of the Carlsbad-Oceanside Art League’s annual High School Art Show, with its grand conclusion through Oceanside Days of Art. The free exhibition, promoted by OCAF, features paintings, mixed media, graphics, ceramics, photography and sculpture. The gallery will be open the weekend of Oceanside Days of Art and also a couple of weeks leading up to the event.
Fallbrook Avocado Festival
April 15
Location: Fallbrook, Main St and Alvarado St
Fallbrook’s annual Avocado Festival celebrates Fallbrook’s agricultural heritage in a fun day filled with entertainment, art fun contests, food and avocados. Don’t miss the Guacamole Contest, Little Miss & Little Mister Avocado, Best Dressed Avocado, the Art of the Avocado Contest on display, the Avo 500 children’s car race, and the Artisan Walk on Alvarado. A variety of avocado products are also found all along the festival streets.
Bands and other live entertainment are offered for the pleasure of festival-goers. Beer gardens and numerous food vendors cater to every whim.
Del Mar National Horse Show
April 17 – May 6
Location: Del Mar Fairgrounds Arena, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd
Bringing equestrian excellence to San Diego County since 1946, the Del Mar National Horse Show runs from April 17 through May 6 at the Del Mar Fairgrounds Arena. Elegance, excitement, and excellence are the hallmarks of the Del Mar National Horse Show, one of the oldest and most prestigious equestrian competitions in the Western United States. This three-week equestrian event features: Western Week – April 17 – 21; Dressage Week – April 26 – April 29; and Hunter/Jumper Week; May 1 – 6.
Over the years, Del Mar has earned its reputation for being among the toughest, most exciting, finest, and richest horse shows in Southern California. With its world-class, multidisciplinary equestrian competition and signature Saturday evening performances, Del Mar ranks high among the most prestigious horse shows in the western region. A Del Mar win merits bragging rights as well as literal and figurative currency.
Earth Day Celebration at Alta Vista Botanical Garden
April 21
10 AM – 3 PM
Location: Vista, 1270 Vale Terrace Dr
Earth Day Festival is a family friendly free event at Alta Vista Botanical Gardens. This is a fun day of events including:
- Children’s Activities
- Plant and Potter Sale
- Music and Entertainment
- Artists and Vendors
- Eco Exhibitors
- Lions Club BBQ
- Guest Speakers
- Closing Drum Circle
Hanamatsuri Festival
April 28 – 29
Location: Vista, Vista Buddhist Temple, 150 Cedar Rd
Hanamatsuri Bazaar Flower Festival – Celebrating The Birth Of The Buddha
- Japanese Food
- Taiko Drumming
- Japanese Classical Dancers
- Hands On Taiko Workshop
- Japanese Folk Dancers
- Buddhist Practices
- Boutique
- Raffle
- Book Store
Encinitas Spring Street Fair
April 28 – 29
Location: Encinitas, Hwy 101 from D Street to J Street
Enjoy over 450 unique food, arts and crafts vendors plus four entertainment stages, Bike Valets, and a Beer Garden! Take advantage of free family fun, entertainment, a National Award Winning MainStreet and a traditional So-Cal beach town. Come for the sun; stay for the moonlight.
Savor craft beers and soak up the sun while listening to the best bands in San Diego rock out at the Beer Garden Stage. You can even bring your kids and your dogs! Take a break from the hustle and bustle by listening to the eclectic music at The Lumberyard Courtyard Stage. See the stars of tomorrow perform at the Hansen’s Community Stage and the Encinitas School of Music Stage! Great news cyclists, our two Bike Valet stations are open both days to store your bicycles while you peruse the Street Fair!
PLEASE NOTE that there is NO PARKING on Hwy 101 from D to J Street on Saturday and Sunday from 4am – 6pm. Your car will be towed by law enforcement if parked in the specified area. There will be signage leading up to the Street Fair as a reminder.