Here are some of the best things to do this weekend in San Diego from Friday, Feb. 28 to Sunday, March 2
Friday
“Empty Ride”: The Old Globe presents Keiko Green’s world premiere play about a young Japanese ex-pat who returns home to help her parents following the 2011 tsunami and encounters the ghosts of those lost in the floods. 8 p.m. Friday; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday; 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday. Old Globe Theatre’s Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, Balboa Park. $31 and up. 619-234-5623, theoldglobe.org
San Diego Bird Festival: The San Diego Bird Alliance will host the annual San Diego Bird Festival this week. The five-day festival invites the public to educational and social workshops, classes, field trips and keynote presentations about local birds and their habitats. On March 1 and 2, birders and beginners alike can attend the festival for free. Friday to SUnday. March 2. Marina Village Conference Center, 1936 Quivira Way, San Diego. Free to $160 sandiegobirdfestival.org
“A Perfect Ganesh”: Lamplighters Theatre presents Terrence McNally’s play about two middle-ages women touring India while hiding deep secrets, one about her health and other about how she mistreated her son who died of AIDS. Opens Friday and runs through March 23. 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. 2 p.m. Sundays. 5915 Severin Drive, La Mesa. $24-$27. 619-303-5092, lamplighterslamesa.com
Mitch Albom author event: Albom is known for “Tuesdays with Morrie,” and many of his books have been made into movies, including “The Five People You Meet in Heaven.” 7 p.m. $15, or $36.99 with a copy of “The Little Liar.” Free concert by the Coastline Trio at 6:15 p.m. Brown Chapel at Point Loma Nazarene University, 3900 Lomaland Drive, San Diego. pointloma.edu/2025writers
“All the Places We Belong”: Emerging Artists Sean Sarmiento and Gracie Moon are featured in a t exhibition curated by Dina Poellnitz. Opens today and runs through June 13. Gallery 201, 2820 Roosevelt Road, Second Floor, Liberty Station, San Diego. 619-239-1713, libertystation.com/go/gallery-201
Brentano String Quartet’s “Evocations of Home”: UC San Diego ArtPower presents this acclaimed ensemble performing a new work by UCSD’s Lei Liang, and other works by Dvorak, Schubert, Bartok, Tchaikovsky and more. 7:30 p.m. Feb. 28. Conrad Prebys Concert Hall, UCSD, La Jolla. $40 and up. artpower.ucsd.edu/event/brentano-string-quartet
San Diego Musical Theatre presents ‘Hello, Dolly!’: SDMT presents a cast of 23 in this new production of the 1964 Broadway musical about an 1890s New York matchmaker who finds her ideal mate in a reluctant merchant. 7 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays; 8 p.m. Fridays; 2 and 7 p.m. Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. Through March 9. 650 Mercury St., San Diego. $37.50-$75. 858-560-5740, sdmt.org
“White”: Scripps Ranch Theatre presents the San Diego premiere of James Ijames comedy about a White artist who hires a Black woman to pretend she created the canvas he plans to submit for a “diverse voices” exhibition. 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. Through March 9. Legler Benbough Theatre, Alliant International University, 9783 Avenue of Nations, San Diego. $29-$49. 858-395-0573, scrippsranchtheatre.org
Saturday
6 local galleries together, invite public to special events during new ‘Gallery Month’
San Diego Festival of Science & Engineering: San Diegans have an opportunity to attend a free, all-day event with more than 100 hands-on engineering and science activities and performances. The San Diego Festival of Science & Engineering features topics such as robotics, coding, design engineering, architecture, clinical science, biotech and medicine. Some of the interactive areas to expect include a construction corner, a cyber security zone, a virtual reality aircraft carrier and an algae area. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Petco Park, 100 Park Blvd., San Diego. Free. lovestemsd.org
Flower fields season opens: The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch is reopening for its 2025 season on Saturday. This year’s exhibition will feature a traveling exhibit for the first time. Artist Alex Heveri’s work will be showcased at the 55-acre ranunculus flower ranch. The exhibit will include over three dozen glass and steel sculptures of sparkling butterflies, dragonflies, bamboo, bees and insects. There will also be scheduled activities and programming throughout the season such as live music, family yoga, sunset meditation, wine tasting, flower workshops, tractor rides, a sweet pea maze and a tea garden. Ticket fees for one day range from $17 to $27 and children under three years can visit for free. There are also season es available starting at $33. 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday through May 11. The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch, 5704 Paseo Del Norte, Carlsbad. $0-$27. 760-431-0352, theflowerfields.com
Soccer debut: History will be made at Snapdragon Stadium as San Diego FC will play its first Major League Soccer regular season game on the first day of March. The expansion team will face St. Louis SC, which started playing in the MLS in 2023. Mexican star player Hirving “Chucky” Lozano was the first designated player signed by San Diego FC. 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Snapdragon Stadium, 2101 Stadium Way, San Diego. sandiegofc.com
CRSSD Fest: Electronic dance music fans can see Justice, Fisher, Claptone, SG Lewis and A-Trak, just to name a few, at CRSSD Festival Spring 2025. The bi-yearly music festival will have three stages with over 40 acts over two days. Noon. Saturday. 10 a.m. Sunday. Waterfront Park, 1600 Pacific Highway, San Diego. $312.87-$336.47. crssdfest.com
“What the Constitution Means to Me”: North Coast Repertory Theatre presents the San Diego premiere of Heidi Schreck’s play about how the wording of the U.S. Constitution impacts the lives of four generations of women. Opens Saturday and runs through March 23. 7 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; 8 p.m. Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 2 and 7 p.m. and Sundays. North Coast Repertory Theatre, 987 Lomas Santa Fe Drive, Solana Beach. $52-$74. 858-481-1055, northcoastrep.org
“The Art of Tango”: Camarada quintet will perform tango music by Maffia, Piazzolla, Rovira, Troilo and Martín accompanied by tango dancers Carolina Jaurena and Andrés Bravo. 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Baker-Baum Concert Hall, Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla. $38-$98. theconrad.org/events/24-25-camarada_tango/
Key of She presents “Music Takes Flight”: This local women’s vocal ensemble will perform a free concert of songs evoking images of freedom, fancy and flight at two locations. 3 p.m. Saturday at Serra Mesa/Kearny Mesa Library, 9005 Aero Drive, San Diego; 2 p.m. Sunday at Carlton Hills Lutheran Church, 9735 Halberns Blvd., Santee. Free (donations welcome). keyofshe.org
“Border Craft”: UC San Diego’s Mandeville Art Gallery hosts this new group exhibition featuring contemporary artists employing craft practices to address geopolitical realities of borderland regions. Opens Saturday with a reception from 2 to 6 p.m., then runs through June 15. 9390 Mandeville Lane, La Jolla. mandevilleartgallery.ucsd.edu
Sunday
Nathalie Joachim “Ki moun ou ye/Who Are You">museumofmakingmusic.org
Oscars viewing party: with fellow movie fans for a party and a viewing of the 2025 Academy Awards. Guests are invited to dress to impress and there will be a ballot competition and prizes. 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday. ZENTRL Kitchen + Bar, 2620 Truxtun Road, San Diego. Free. libertystation.com/do/oscars-97th-academy-awards-live-viewing
