Events
Gator By The Bay
May 7-10. With 100 performances across seven stages, the Gator By The Bay Zydeco, Blues and Crawfish Festival returns to Spanish Landing Park. The 23rd annual festival is quite the party—with a music lineup that spans zydeco, blues, roots, Creole and Cajun, rockabilly, salsa and New Orleans jazz. Oh, and the food: Indulge in Louisiana-themed fare, including 10,000 pounds of crawfish, beignets, jambalaya and a chef-led gumbo cook-off; plus craft beer and cocktails. See website for daily schedule and tickets. 3900 N. Harbor Drive, downtown. Details
Coronado Art & Wine Festival
May 9. The fifth annual Coronado Art & Wine Festival—a collab between nonprofits Coronado Schools Foundation and the Coronado Chamber of Commerce—is a vibrant street festival comprising around 100 artist booths; three ticketed wine areas; student art and performances; a live sound stage with a party DJ; a Wine Village and Bubbles Lounge; a VIP Experience with gourmet bites; flowers, photo ops and an idyllic island setting; and more. Noon-5 p.m. See website for all details and ticket pricing. 10th and Orange Avenue, Coronado. Details
The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch
Closes May 10. A celebrated tradition for 60-plus years, The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch close for the season after this Sunday. Don’t miss your chance to take in 70 million flowers, namely the ranch’s famous, double-petaled Giant Tecolote Ranunculus, which are in their final blooms across 55 acres. And be sure to take advantage of other offerings like the sweet pea maze, tractor wagon rides, and more. See website to buy tickets, check bloom status and plan your trip! 5704 Paseo del Norte, Carlsbad, 760.431.0352. Details
Food + Drink
Taste of Cardiff 2026
May 7. Cardiff 101 Main Street presents this 16th annual culinary adventure in Cardiff-by-the-Sea. Enjoy bites from two dozen Cardiff restaurants, including Besta Wan Pizza House, Pacific Coast Grill, Waverly, VG Donut & Bakery, and Cardiff Seaside Market; plus sips from area bars and coffeehouses; offerings from local retailers; and live music. And cast your vote for the coveted Morgan Mallory Golden Fork Award. 5:30-8:30 p.m. $55 Taste Only tickets; $60 Taste & Sip tickets. Downtown Cardiff-by-the-Sea and Restaurant Row along S. Coast Hwy. 101. Details
Mother’s Day Brunch at Hotel del Coronado
May 10. The iconic seaside resort is hosting Mother’s Day brunch in its historical, beautifully restored Crown Room. Enjoy a lavish brunch of classic breakfast dishes from lemon-vanilla pancakes to chocolate croissants to custom omelets; plus a chilled seafood bar, spring salads, a paella station, carving stations, sushi and sashimi, a grand dessert display, and a glass of Champagne. Afterwards, we suggest a stroll along Coronado Beach to walk off a few calories. Reservations are required. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. See website for pricing. 1500 Orange Ave., Coronado, 619.435.6611. Details
Mother’s Day Brunch at L’Auberge Del Mar
May 10. Enjoy Mother’s Day with a side of sea views at L’Auberge Del Mar, whose ocean-view restaurant Adelaide is offering a special brunch buffet. Offerings include carving stations, made-to-order omelets, French toast and pancake stations, seafood displays, chef-curated brunch entrees, and desserts, including baked blueberry bread pudding; plus an array of salads, pastries, meats and cheeses, and L’Auberge’s signature seafood paella. 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.; see website for reservations. $135 adults; $39 kids ages 12 and under. 1540 Camino del Mar, Del Mar. Details
Mother’s Day Brunch at Rancho Valencia
May 10. Make Mother’s Day a family affair at Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa. Indulge in a lavish buffet that includes a generous raw bar, carving stations, spring salads, a dessert bar and brunch libations—from bellinis to bloody marys. Meanwhile, the kiddos can enjoy pony rides, a petting zoo, bouquet making, face painting, bubbles, balloons and more.Call for reservations (seatings available 10 a.m.-4 p.m.); with lawn activities available 11 a.m.-4 p.m. $245 adults; $95 kids ages 4-12. 5921 Valencia Circle, Rancho Santa Fe, 858.759.6246. Details
Arts + Culture
Broadway S.D.: MJ: The Musical
Through May 10. At the Civic Theatre, Broadway San Diego brings us the Tony Award-winning smash, MJ: The Musical. Created by Christopher Wheeldon and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage, the story centers on Michael Jackson’s 1992 Dangerous World Tour—detailing his signature sound, dance moves and creative approach that cemented his status as an icon. Sponsored by Pepsi-Cola, the world tour was Jackson’s second, comprising 70 performances across the globe. See website for showtimes and tickets. 1100 Third Ave., downtown. Details
North Coast Rep: Beau Jest
Through May 24. Hailed by the Chicago Tribune as a “light, sweet romantic comedy,” playwright James Sherman’s Beau Jest is presented by North Coast Rep, and recently extended through May 24. Omri Schein directs the play centered on the humorous, heartfelt experiences and dynamics of a Jewish-American family, and it’s “bursting with laugh-out-loud moments and tender revelations.” (Pictured L-R: Benjamin Cole, Katrina Michaels and Sam Ashdown.) See website for showtimes and tickets. 987 Lomas Santa Fe, Suite D, Solana Beach, 858.481.1055. Details
Oceanside Museum of Art: New Exhibit
Now On View. The Oceanside Museum of Art presents a new exhibit, Kate Tova: A Place to Rest (My Tired Mind), on view through Sept. 27. Explore a dynamic collection of paintings by California-based artist Kate Tova, whose work touches on modern life’s two pervasive conditions—collective exhaustion and burnout—captured by imagery of seasonal blooms like wildflower-covered hills and meadows. (Pictured: “Golden Gate Park Glitch II,” 2020; acrylic on wood.) See website for museum hours and admission info. 704 Pier View Way, Oceanside, 760.435.3720. Details
Photo credits: Broadway San Diego / “MJ: The Musical” is by Matthew Murphy. North Coast Rep / “Beau Jest” is by Aaron Rumley. All other images are courtesy of the venues and businesses featured.
