Special Events
THE FLOWER FIELDS
March 1–May 13. Enjoy 50 acres of ranunculus flowers, rose gardens and tractor rides. $5-11. Daily 9 am-6 pm. Interstate 5 at Palomar Airport Road, Carlsbad, 760.431.0352.
ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE & FESTIVAL
March 17, from 10 am. The 32nd annual event includes parade, music, food, beer garden and kids’ area. Sixth Ave. and Juniper St., Bankers Hill, 858.268.9111.
SHAMROCK
2012 March 17. Block party with Irish music, food, drinks and dancing. 21+. Fifth Ave. at Market St., Gaslamp, 619.233.5008.
GOODGUYS
12th DEL MAR NATIONALS March 30-April 1. This three-day automotive happening features 2,000 street rods, customs, classics and muscle cars through 1972, plus entertainment and model car-making activities. Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar, 925.838.9876.
LA JOLLA CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE (Formerly the La Jolla Motor Car Classic)
April 1. More than 150 pre- and post-war Italian and British sports cars. La Jolla Cove, 619.233.5008.
ART ALIVE
April 13-15. Innovative arts event finds floral designers interpreting pieces from the San Diego Museum of Art’s collection using plants. SDMA, 1450 El Prado, Balboa Park, 619.232.7931.
TASTE OF UPTOWN
April 16. Hillcrest-area restaurants participate in a foodie festival; $30-35 ticket buys taster portions at more than 40 eateries. 619.233.5008.
OCEANSIDE DAYS OF ART
April 21-22. The 20th annual event celebrates visual/performing arts with hands-on activities and food. Civic Center Plaza and Pier Way at N. Coast Highway, Oceanside, 760.433.3632.
SAN DIEGO EARTHFAIR
April 22. World’s largest annual environmental fair with educational exhibits, kids’ entertainment, earth-friendly food and music. Balboa Park, 858.272.7370.
CELEBRITY CHEFS COOK GALA
April 28. Tapenade’s Chef Jean-Michel Diot and more cook for charity. Sheraton Hotel & Marina, 1380 Harbor Island Drive, Harbor Island, 858.822.1328.
ARTWALK
2012 April 28-29. Hundreds of visual and performing artists showcased in city’s largest arts event. Little Italy, 619.615.1090.
FIESTA OLD TOWN
May 4-6. Free Cinco de Mayo festival features music, food, historical re-enactments and folkloric entertainment. Old Town, 619.291.4903.
CARLSBAD VILLAGE FAIRE
May 6. The state’s largest one-day street fair has exhibitors, food and entertainment. Grand Ave. between Carlsbad Blvd. & Jefferson St., Carlsbad, 760.945.9288.
Festivals
SAN DIEGO LATINO FILM FESTIVAL
March 8-18. The 19th annual festival screens more than 130 features and short films from across Latin America and the U.S. UltraStar Cinemas, 7510 Hazard Center Drive, Mission Valley, 619.230.1938.
SPRING busker festival
March 24-25. Sword swallowers, jugglers on unicycles, escape artists and comedic stuntmen perform on the cobblestone streets of Seaport Village. 849 W. Harbor Drive, downtown, 619.235.4014.
ADAMS AVENUE UNPLUGGED
April 21-22. Blues, folk, jazz, country and world music. Adams Ave. between 34th and 35th sts., Normal Heights, 619.282.7329.
ENCINITAS STREET FAIR
April 28-29. Over 450 vendors sell arts & crafts, antiques, clothing and more. Call for hours. Highway 101 between D and J sts., Encinitas, 760.945.9288.
GATOR BY THE BAY ZYDECO AND BLUES FESTIVAL
May 11-13. Showcasing more than 70 performers on six stages and 8,000 pounds of crawfish, plus cooking demos and dancing. Spanish Landing Park at Harbor Island, 619.234.8612.
SAN DIEGO AMERICAN INDIAN CULTURAL DAYS
May 12-13. 30th annual event features Native American singers, dancers, food, arts & crafts. Free. Park Blvd. & Presidents Way, Balboa Park, 619.281.5964.
KIFM JAZZ FESTIVAL
May 19. Smooth jazz block party. 21+. Call for hours. Fourth and Island aves., Gaslamp, 877.981.1981.
NORTH PARK FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS
May 20. The 16th annual neighborhood celebration of arts and culture. University Ave. between 30th and 32nd sts., North Park, 619.294.2501.
SICILIAN FESTIVAL
May 20. 19th annual cultural festival highlights music and dancing with vendor booths and entertainment from Sicily. India St., Little Italy, 619.469.2206.
