Events
Gator By The Bay
May 8-11. With 100-plus performances across seven stages, the Gator By The Bay Zydeco, Blues and Crawfish Festival returns to Spanish Landing Park. The 22nd annual festival is quite the party—with a music lineup that spans four days of live zydeco, blues, roots, Creole and Cajun, rockabilly, salsa and New Orleans jazz. (Wear your dancing shoes.) 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. gatorbythebay.com
Coronado Art & Wine Festival
May 10. The fourth annual Coronado Art & Wine Festival—a collab between Coronado Schools Foundation and the Coronado Chamber of Commerce—is a vibrant street festival comprising close to 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 and photo ops; and more. Noon-5 p.m. Event is free to attend but wine tasting requires a paid ticket (see website). 10th and Orange Avenue, Coronado. More Info
The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch
Extended Through May 18. A celebrated tradition for more than 60 years, The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch has extended its season through Sunday, May 18. 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. New this year: the Glass in Flight exhibit by artist Alex Heveri, comprising more than three dozen, larger-than-life glass sculptures of birds and insects; plus traditional offerings like the sweet pea maze, tractor wagon rides, and more. 5704 Paseo del Norte, Carlsbad, 760.431.0352. theflowerfields.com
Food + Drink
Mother’s Day Brunch at Hotel del Coronado
May 11. The iconic seaside resort is hosting myriad Mother’s Day activities, but our favorite would have to be brunch in the historical, beautifully restored Crown Room. Enjoy a lavish brunch of classic breakfast dishes from ricotta-lemon pancakes to custom omelets, a chilled seafood bar, spring salads, a risotto 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. hoteldel.com
Mother’s Day Brunch at Rancho Valencia
May 11. Make Mother’s Day a family affair with some fun in the sun 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 and balloons. Call for reservations (seatings available 2-4 p.m.); with lawn games available 11 a.m.-4 p.m. $235 adults; $95 kids ages 4-12. 5921 Valencia Circle, Rancho Santa Fe, 858.759.6246. ranchovalencia.com
Expanded Dining at Rustic Root
Now Available. RMD Group’s new Solana Beach hotspot, Rustic Root, is now open seven days a week, beginning at 4 p.m.—featuring rotating specials such as Meatloaf Monday, Prime Rib Thursday with live music, a daily happy hour and more. Serving modern American comfort food, the indoor/outdoor restaurant is known for its classic comfort dishes such as chicken pot pie, fried chicken, a signature burger and lobster pappardelle. Return for weekend brunch (Sa-Su beginning at 9 a.m.) and indulge in pork-belly fried rice and slow-braised pot roast hash. 343 S. Highway 101, Suite 100, Solana Beach, 858.381.4800. rusticrootsd.com
Arts + Culture
CA Center for the Arts: Sleeping Beauty
May 10. The State Ballet Theatre of Ukraine presents Tchaikovsky’s classic ballet, Sleeping Beauty, at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido. In celebration of the 10th anniversary of Classical Arts Entertainment, the family-friendly production—centered on Princess Aurora, who is cursed to a century-long slumber by an evil fairy—features exquisite costumes, hand-painted scenery, lavish sets, Tchaikovsky’s enchanting score and world-class dancers (with choreography by the legendary Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov). 7 p.m. See website for ticket pricing. 340 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido, 800.988.4253. More Info
The Old Globe: House of India
May 10-June 8. San Diego playwright Deepak Kumar (pictured) brings us a heartwarming, world-premiere comedy, House of India, at The Old Globe. The play centers on Ananya, who runs a struggling restaurant, House of India, near Cleveland. Should she take her cook’s advice and introduce a trendier fusion menu to pay the bills? (Think: “Indian Chipotle.”) Or hold tight to her late husband’s vision? Ananya’s two grown children weigh in as well. Zi Alikhan directs. See website for showtimes and tickets. Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, 1363 Old Globe Way, Balboa Park, 619.234.5623. theoldglobe.org
S.D. Symphony Weekend Concerts
May 10-11. May is brimming with must-see classical concerts at Jacobs Music Center, presented by San Diego Symphony as part of its esteemed Jacobs Masterworks programming. Among them: Don’t miss the Symphony’s performance of Bruckner’s Symphony No. 7 in E Major; as well as cellist Alisa Weilerstein performing South Korean composer Unsuk Chin’s Cello Concerto. (Chin has spent most of her career in Germany, beginning in Berlin as a young artist.) Music Director Rafael Payare conducts. Sa 7:30 p.m.; Su 2 p.m. See website for ticket pricing. 750 B St., downtown, 619.235.0804. Details
SDMA: American Minimal Exhibit
On View Through June 1. Paying homage to the Minimalist art movement of the 1960s and 1970s, The San Diego Museum of Art (SDMA) presents the landmark exhibition, American Minimal. Curated by Anita Feldman, in collaboration with Jennifer Findley and John Digesare, the installation celebrates works by the likes of Minimalist artist Frank Stella, namely his 1970 painting “Flin Flon VIII” (pictured), part of his Protractor Series, featuring colorful geometric shapes; plus a range of work from diverse media. See website for museum hours and admission info. 1450 El Prado, Balboa Park, 619.232.7931. sdmart.org
Photo credits: Rustic Root by Kimberly Motos. SDMA / American Minimal is © 2025 Frank Stella / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. All other images are courtesy of the venues and businesses featured.
