North County and San Diego Events for April
April North County and San Diego events bring spring fairs and festivals, Earth Day events, along with multiple running events and classic car shows. There is also a horse show, gem and mineral show, stargazing, a crew classic and an interactive entertainment and arts show. Keep reading for more great San Diego and North County events!
The Flower Fields
Through May 14
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. This annual burst of color has become part of the area’s local heritage.
The Flower Fields, 5704 Paseo del Norte, Carlsbad
www.theflowerfields.com
WOW Festival
Apr. 4-7
Free to attend and with events for the whole family, La Jolla Playhouse’s celebrated annual WOW Festival is a four-day celebration of immersive, interactive and breathtaking experiences from local, national and international artists.
Multiple locations in La Jolla and UCSD
858-550-2020 / lajollaplayhouse.org
San Diego Crew Classic
Apr. 5-7
The San Diego Crew Classic is the premier spring rowing regatta in the United States. It is highly regarded as the inaugural race of the rowing season among rowers of all genders, levels and abilities.
For decades the Crew Classic has provided athletes and spectators an outstanding combination of action-packed competition, San Diego’s finest food and beer, and grand hospitality events, all set in our iconic Crown Point venue on Mission Bay.
6am-7pm / Crown Point Shores, Mission Bay
crewclassic.org
Goodguys Meguiar’s Del Mar Nationals
Apr. 5-7
Over 2,500 rods, customs, classics, muscle cars and trucks thru ’99. Goodguys AutoCross featuring six four car “Duel in Del Mar” shootout. Indoor car show including street Rod d’Elegance competition. Nitro Thunderfest dragster exhibition. Burn Out competition. Swap meet & Cars 4 Sale corral. Kids zone with free arts and crafts, games, prizes & more!
Fri & Sat 8am-5pm, Sun 8am-3pm / Del Mar Fairgrounds
800-777-1258 / www.good-guys.com/dmn
IRONMAN 70.3
Apr. 6
Start your race season where triathlons originated in beautiful Oceanside with the beach breeze and chill vibes. The race features two incredible opportunities only athletes can experience come race day, swimming in the Oceanside harbor and biking throughout an activity military base, Camp Pendleton.
Athletes will experience one of the top-rated run courses along the Pacific Ocean with stunning views, lined up spectators and a finish along the strand.
Pier Area and Harbor, Oceanside
www.ironman.com
Carlsbad Earth Month Events
Apr. 6,13,20,27
Carlsbad is celebrating the 54th anniversary of Earth Day with events throughout the month of April! Enjoy fun activities and a showcase of city programs to help you reduce your environmental impact and live more sustainably.
- April 6 – Earth Month Celebration from 9am-1pm at Pine Avenue Community Park.
- April 13 – Fixit Clinic & Repair Event plus E-Waste Collection from 10am-1pm at Carlsbad City Library.
- April 20 – Creek to Bay Cleanup from 9am-12pm. Location upon registration. Registration for cleanup sites opens on April 1.
- April 27 – Shred and Recycle It! from 9am-1pm. Location upon registration. Register on the Republic Services website starting March 25. Advanced registration and proof of residency are required.
- April 27 – Donate, Don’t Waste Collection Event from 9am-1pm at La Costa Canyon High School. No registration is required.
www.carlsbadca.gov
Race for Autism
Apr. 6
This family friendly event attracts thousands of Superheroes from all across San Diego to promote awareness, shine a spotlight on neurodiversity, and inclusion efforts, and to raise funds to support local autism programs and initiatives.
6:30-11:30am / Balboa Park, San Diego
www.raceforautism.org
REINS Spring Classic — A Fun Day Horse Show
Apr. 6-7
Join us for an inspiring weekend to celebrate and showcase our students’ accomplishments. Classes run all day. Food and refreshments. Music and demonstrations. Ribbon presentations. Tack and merch sale.
9am-4pm / 4461 S. Mission Rd., Fallbrook
760-731-9168 / reinsprogram.org
Vista Spring Gem and Mineral Show
Apr. 6-7
You will find everything from crystals and gems, rough slabs and cabs, and even lapidary tools. The Artist’s Alley will be returning focusing on our lapidary artists and jewelry makers.
Sat. 10am-5pm, Sun. 10am-4pm / Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum, Vista
vistarocks.org
Carlsbad 5000
Apr. 7
The Carlsbad 5000 road race has been a spring tradition and a San Diego event since 1986 and features a full weekend of running festivities. The World’s Fastest 5k welcomes runners of all ages and paces to a fast oceanfront course with unforgettable views and an energetic atmosphere. Even the youngest runners show up for the iconic Junior Carlsbad kids’ race.
The full day of racing culminates when the fastest running professionals on the planet look to set new world and national records in the Elite Invitationals!
6am-12pm / Carlsbad Village, Carlsbad
carlsbad5000.com
Classic Car Show Carlsbad
Apr. 13
Visit the Leo Carrillo Ranch and admire period vehicles. Guests can enjoy seeing a variety of classic cars with the rustic beauty of Leo Carrillo Ranch as the backdrop. Free walking tours of the historic structures and grounds will be available at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. This event is presented in partnership with the San Diego Packard Club.
9:30am-12:30pm / Leo Carillo Ranch Historic Park, Carlsbad
760-941-8800 / www.carlsbadca.gov
Heartbreak Ridge Run
Apr. 13
Join us for this iconic trail run held at the home of the 11th Marines on Camp Pendleton. It offers multiple distance choices with a challenging hill climb and scenic views of surrounding mountains and meadows. Marines and civilians ages 4 and up. Half marathon, 10K, 5K and 1K kids’ run.
7-11:15am / Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton
pendleton.usmc-mccs.org
Great Futures Gala
Apr. 13
Enjoy a silent auction, dinner, awards, live auction, and dancing at this festive Boys and Girls Club of North County fundraiser. By joining us, you will help over 2,000 club members achieve their goals and provide a safe, secure place for kids to thrive and be great! Black tie optional.
5:30pm / Pechanga Resort and Casino, Temecula
bgcnorthcounty.org
Solar Walk and Stargazing
Apr. 13
Travel through Blue Sky and learn about the planets in our solar system. Join astronomers with their powerful telescopes and experience our nighttime skies up close. Suitable for all ages. Limited to 25 participants per time slot. Time slots: 6:30 pm; 6:45 pm; 7:00 pm; 7:15 pm
6:30-9:30pm / Blue Sky Ecological Reserve, Poway
poway.org
La Jolla Concours D’Elegance
Apr. 19-21
Celebrating the timeless elegance of the roaring 20’s and the glamorous 30’s. It’s international and exquisitely detailed. And, we haven’t even begun to talk about the 170+ cars displayed along the pristine Pacific Ocean at the La Jolla Concours d’Elegance. The anticipation soon will become reality, with the eighteenth year of this premiere automotive and lifestyle San Diego event, splashed with Southern California flair.
10am-10pm / Ellen Browning Scripps Park
619-233-5008 / lajollaconcours.com
Stay Classy O’Side Earth Day Event
Apr. 20
The Green Oceanside team is hosting another fun, family-friendly Earth Day celebration and we need your help to make this the most sustainable yet! Check out educational booths, activities for kids, music, games, and more!
9am-12pm / Libby Lake Park
www.ci.oceanside.ca.us
Earth Day at the Gardens
Apr. 20
Alta Vista Botanical Gardens invites you to join us for a free event for the community to celebrate the Earth with fun and informative activities for the whole family. We’ll have food available to purchase, door prizes, children’s activities, music, a children’s garden, a plant sale and vendor booths.
10am-3pm / Alta Vista Botanical Gardens, Vista
760-945-3954 / altavistabotanicalgardens.org
Fallbrook Avocado Festival
Apr. 21
Fallbrook will have three entertainment stages that will include live music and avocado-related competitions. Stroll through Main Avenue and indulge in fresh avocado treats and items crafted by local artisans. Don’t miss the Festival’s Farmers Market, Agricultural Area, Avocado Culinary Demonstrations, Guacamole Contest, Avocado Ice Cream, Holy Guaca-Moly, the Art of the Avocado Contest, the Avo 500 Children’s Car Race, and the Best Decorated Avocado Contest.
9am-5pm / Main Ave., Fallbrook
kennedyfaires.com/fallbrook
Pirate Plunge
Apr. 27
Come dressed in a swimsuit and enjoy the swashbuckling activities which include diving for treasure, ship raider race, walking the plank, and other fun pool activities and floating obstacles. The Splash Pad will also be open for the little ones.
Dry activities include a pirate ship slide, 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.
5-8pm / 6565 Alicante Rd, Carlsbad
442-339-2843 / www.carlsbadca.gov
Encinitas Spring Street Fair
Apr. 27-28
Located down the center of scenic South Coast Highway 101, this two-day fair has been a San Diego event since 1983. There’s fun for the whole family with international food, children’s rides, four live stages, and a craft brewery beer garden.
9am-5pm / S Coast Highway 101, Encinitas
kennedyfaires.com/encinitas
Spring Home/Garden Show
Apr. 27-28
Extravaganza of inspiring real “Garden Masters” landscapes, hands-on demonstrations, hundreds of home-improvement products and services exhibitors, educational seminars, plant sales and face-to-face consultations with top experts.
Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 10am-4pm / Del Mar Fairgrounds
springhomegardenshow.com
Enjoy April’s North County and San Diego events! Do you have North County or San Diego events that you’d like included here? Just let me know, and I’ll add them for you.
Please excuse any errors or omissions and let me know if there’s anything that needs fixing. Check with the organizations holding these events for registration requirements, costs, tickets, availability, changes, limitations and important details.