Adams Avenue Unplugged, ArtWalk, Pet Day on the Bay and much more… Check out the top San Diego weekend events for April 25-28.
Edited by Jordan Fraser.
EVENTS
Arts & Craft
April 26. Shop locally made arts while enjoying craft beer in the picturesque Spanish Village Art Center in Balboa Park. The Village’s more than 200 resident artists will display and sell works in a variety of mediums as well as offer classes in painting, pottery and more. As you shop and explore, enjoy unlimited tastings from some of San Diego’s best craft breweries and bites from Cohn Restaurant Group. 6:30-9:30 p.m. $35. 1770 Village Place, Balboa Park. Tickets
Queen Bee Market
April 26-27. Co-owned by two San Diego sisters and described as “Etsy comes to life,” this market features artisans and vendors who create handmade home decor, accessories, clothing, paper arts, vintage items and furniture. Along with the creative and unique vendors, there will also be live demonstrations, make-and-take stations and more. F 4-9 p.m.; Sa 9 a.m.-4 p.m. $3, free for kids 12 and under. Del Mar Fairgrounds, Bing Crosby Hall, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar. thequeenbeemarket.com
Adams Avenue Unplugged
April 27. Watch live musical performances inside restaurants, bars, coffee houses and galleries along a two-mile stretch of Adams Avenue. There will be 24 stages with 80 performances at venues such as Twiggs Coffeehouse, Rosie O’Grady’s, Polite Provisions, Ken Club and more. Noon-10 p.m. Free. Adams Ave. from University Heights to Kensington, 619.282.7329. adamsavenueunplugged.com
King’s Day
April 27. Dutch around the world celebrate the birthday of King Willem-Alexander with festivals full of music, food and merriment. Celebrate in San Diego at the Inn at Rancho Santa Fe with a family-friendly cultural event that features traditional Dutch cuisine like bitterballen, herring and poffertjes, traditional Dutch games, live music by DJ Emiel van Wanrooij, a bounce house, a Heineken beer garden with Bols Negronis and libations from Effen Vodka, and a silent auction benefiting the Dutch School of Southern California. 1-7 p.m. Free. The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe, 5951 Linea del Cielo, Rancho Santa Fe. sandiegokingsday.com
Mission Federal ArtWalk
April 27-28. Now in its 35th year, this free festival offers the opportunity to meet more than 350 local, national and international artists and purchase art directly from the creators. The largest and longest running arts festival in Southern California, it showcases every medium including painting, sculpture, glasswork, photography, fine jewelry and much more. Also enjoy live music, dance performances, interactive art experiences, street food and family-friendly art projects at KidsWalk. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Free. Little Italy. artwalksandiego.org
Pet Day on the Bay
April 27. Bring your four-legged friends for a tail-wagging good time aboard a Hornblower harbor cruise. Dress your dog as a pirate or as a mermaid to match this year’s theme. Guests are also encouraged to contribute a gently used blanket or towel that will warm needy animals at Helen Woodward Animal Center. Dogs cruise free with their owners. Cruises depart at 9:30 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 1 p.m., and 2:45 p.m. $28 adults, $26 military and seniors, $14 children 4-12. Free for children 3 and under. Hornblower Landing at Pier 1, 1800 N. Harbor Drive, downtown. 619.686.8715. hornblower.com
La Jolla Half Marathon and Shores 5K
April 28. Kick-start your morning with a marathon course beginning at the Del Mar Fairgrounds that goes along the coast, through Torrey Pines State Park and finishes in Ellen Browning Scripps Park at La Jolla Cove. The 5K course is just as scenic, beginning near Scripps Pier and finishing at the same location as the half marathon. Start time for both races 6:30 a.m. $130 half marathon, $50 5K. Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar. inmotionevents.com
San Diego EarthFair
April 28. Celebrate Mother Earth at this Balboa Park environmental fair that features more than 300 educational exhibits, kids’ entertainment, food vendors and live music. The exhibits represent a well-rounded collection of environmental organizations, government programs and commercial enterprises with goods, services, and causes that address the environment and quality of life. There will also be food courts and an Earth Day Parade starting at the Spanish Village marching to the Children’s Area in the Pan American Plaza. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. Balboa Park, San Diego. earthdayweb.org
FOOD + DRINK
Japanese Whisky Dinner at Stake Chophouse
April 25. Experience an evening of Japanese whisky tastings with whisky expert Adam Parker of Wine Warehouse, one of the largest beverage distributors in the state. Alongside Executive Chef Andrew Kedziora, Parker will guide guests through a tasting of four Kaiyō whiskies and Hibiki ‘Japanese Harmony,’ with a four-course meal that features dishes such as a triple-seared 100-day dry-aged New York strip steak prepared with wasabi, spinach Ohitashi and coffee brown butter. 6:30 p.m. $99. 1309 Orange Ave., Coronado, 619.522.0077. bluebridgehospitality.com
Tequila and Taco Music Festival
April 27-28. The traveling Tequila and Taco Music Festival makes its first stop of the year in San Diego. Both days will include food vendors with gourmet street tacos, craft beer and live music, while Saturday will feature a top-shelf tequila tasting from noon to 4 p.m., Sa noon-7 p.m., Su noon-6:30 p.m. $10 general admission, $40 Saturday tequila sampling. Embarcadero Marina Park South, 200 Marina Park Way, Embarcadero. tequilaandtacomusicfestival.com
Gather Dinner Series: Land & Sea with Pacifica Del Mar
April 28. The first edition of the Gather pop-up dinner series designed to celebrate the talents of Del Mar chefs, Chef Chris Idso’s menu for Land & Sea will feature dishes inspired by the turf and surf of Southern California. The night begins with a barrel-aged whiskey tasting and hors d’oeuvres, followed by an multi-course dinner paired with wines from the Russian River Valley. 5:30-8:30 p.m. $90. 1555 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar, 858.792.0476. Tickets
“ShackMeister” at Juniper & Ivy
Through April 28. Tempt your tastebuds with this epic burger collaboration Shake Shack and Juniper & Ivy in honor of the new Shake Shack outpost opening on April 28 in Little Italy. Chef Anthony Wells created an upscale version of the “ShackMeister” burger, with two housemade patties, beer-infused raclette cheese, shallots pickled overnight in Hoppy Dank Ale from Modern Times and his version of the traditional “Shack Sauce” stacked on a house-fermented potato roll. $21. 2228 Kettner Blvd., Little Italy, 619.269.9036. juniperandivy.com
You & Yours Canned Cocktail Release Party
April 28. Celebrate the arrival of warmer weather and the launch of the You & Yours Distilling Co. canned cocktails at the newly redesigned La Cantina poolside eatery at Loews Coronado Bay Resort. Tickets include two canned cocktails and four La Cantina tacos to be enjoyed poolside. 1-3 p.m. $38. 4000 Coronado Bay Road, Coronado. Tickets
ARTS + CULTURE
James and the Giant Peach
April 26-May 3. Based on the novel by Roald Dahl with music and lyrics by the creators of Dear Evan Hansen and La La Land, James and the Giant Peach is the fantastic tale of a boy, his insect friends, and their amazing journey across the ocean on a giant piece of fruit. To create a magical, immersive theatre experience that brings James’ adventure to life, the San Diego State’s MFA design team combines projections, shadow puppetry, lights and costumes. F-Su and W-Th 7:30 p.m.; Sa-Su 2 p.m. $20 GA, $17 students and seniors, and $10 children. Don Powell Theatre, 5500 Campanile Drive, SDSU, 619.594.5091. sdsu.edu
Cirque du Soleil Volta
Through May 5. Cirque du Soleil tackles the worlds of BMX, street sports and acrobatics in this high-octane production. Riders will jump boxes, perform air tricks, leap off ramps, and crisscross and spin their bikes midair. Driven by a stirring score and inspired by the adventurous spirit that fuels the culture of street sports, at its heart, Volta is a story of transformation, which comes to life with a steep ever-evolving stage. See website for show times and ticket prices. Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar. cirquedusoleil.com
Photos: Arts and Craft Fair courtesy Spanish Village Art Center. Queen Bee Market courtesy Wicked Creative. Adams Avenue Unplugged Courtesy Adams Avenue Business Association. Kings Day courtesy Inn at Rancho Santa Fe. ArtWalk courtesy Olive Creative Strategies. Pet Day on the Bay courtesy Hornblower. EarthFair courtesy EarthFair. La Jolla Half Marathon courtesy InMotion Events. Tequila and Taco Festival courtesy Tequila and Taco Festival. Whiskey Dinner courtesy Blue Bridge Hospitality. Gather Dinner Series courtesy Nth Element. ShackMeister courtesy JS2 PR. You and Yours courtesy RPR. James and the Giant Peach courtesy SDSU. Volta by Matt Beard.
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