The De Portola Wine Trail family of wineries in Temecula cordially invites wine aficionados to the 11th anniversary of the “Big Red Fest” tasting event to be held 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, April 26. The event, often called “The Nirvana of Wine Tasting” for Southern California, will feature foods from 10 local artisan chefs, each offering their specialty. Every sample will be expertly paired with three red wines from each winery. Participating wineries include: Cougar Vineyard & Winery, Danza del Sol Winery, Fazeli Cellars, Frangipani Winery, Gershon Bachus Vintners, Leoness Cellars, Masia de la Vinya Winery, Oak Mountain “Cave” Winery, Somerset Winery, and Robert Renzoni Vineyards. The five-mile stretch of picturesque trail on the Southern part of Temecula’s Wine Country passes through Valle de los Caballos – the Valley of the Horses. This road less traveled has nostalgic country charm. Do not be surprised if the winery owners themselves greet you at the door! De Portola’s family of wineries appreciate fine wine, great food and good company. Early Sale Price is $69.99 (per person, plus tax); $79.99 per person plus tax after April 10. Tickets

Join the USS Midway Museum for a very special skydiving demonstration by the U.S. Navy Parachute Team, the “Leap Frogs” on March 3-4! This phenomenal group will be performing precision aerial maneuvers in formation landing expertly on Midway’s flight deck. The first formation will take place at 10 a.m. and the second formation, “formal jump” will take place at 12:30 p.m. Bring your cameras to capture this special moment! The Leap Frogs will stick around after the jump to answer questions and take photos. This event is included in General Admission. Receive one FREE youth pass (ages 6-12) with purchase of one paid adult admission here.

Get ready for the Busker Festival at Seaport Village, set for March 7-8. Running from noon-6 p.m. both days, the festival celebrates the fascinating and unique talents of street performers who come from across the world to entertain us here in San Diego. In its 14th year, this free event – California’s only busker festival – is a family-friendly spectacle and a beloved Seaport Village tradition. View 24 eye-catching and unique acts — like sword swallowing, knife throwing, pogo stick tricks and juggling on unicycles — and help determine the People’s Choice award at Seaport Village on March 7-8.  Learn more about Seaport Village here

Cherry Blossom Week returns for its 15th annual celebration at the Japanese Friendship Garden from March 16-22, 2020. Visitors will be able to stroll the upper and lower areas of JFG filled with various features (koi ponds, bonsai, colorful florae) and enjoy the Japanese custom of Hanami: appreciating the beauty of cherry blossom flowers. During the weekend, JFG blooms into a full festival with a children’s arts and crafts area, an adults-only area where different craft beers and sake can be enjoyed, a tea and dessert garden featuring brews and blends from Café Moto, plus live performances with over 40 different food and merchant vendors! Tickets and More Information Day-of tickets will also be available at the door on each day of Cherry Blossom Week.

• Experience an evening of fun, friendship, food, and of course, great wine during the Gnocchetti Workshop and Cooking Class from 5-7 p.m. March 4 at Cougar Vineyard & Winery. Learn how to make the pasta and take home your own gnocchetti paddle and the pasta you made. Recipes for the pasta and ragu will be emailed to all attendees afterward so you can make this at home. All ingredients will be supplied at the workshop. Tickets
• Also don't miss Salsa & Bachata dance lessons followed by Salsa dancing from 2-6 p.m. Sunday, March 15. Entry includes a glass of Dolce Bubbly upon arrival, dance lessons 2-3:30 p.m. followed by Salsa dancing from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
 Tickets
On regular visits, Enjoy a Two-for-One Wine Tasting here

Spring into Art at FIRST FRIDAY Arts District from 5-9 p.m. March 6! This is San Diego’s most unique, fun and authentic event to find locally made art and gifts. Experience a Malashock Dance performance, make Pizza Art at Solare Ristorante, join the Women's Museum of California as it hosts a Power of the Ballot Box performance, participate in San Diego Craft Collective's Kids Craft Hour and film screening, and so much more! Visitors can start their stroll at the Dick Laub NTC Command Center, 2640 Historic Decatur Road, and pick up a monthly program and District map. Learn more about First Friday here

Milagro Winery invites couples and those who have booked at the winery to Wedding Open House 2020 from noon-3 p.m. on Sunday, March 8. View Milagro’s venue, meet vendors, and get different ideas for decor and setup. This event will be an opportunity for couples searching for a wedding venue to see what Milagro is all about. Milagro Winery Open House

Discover immense talent and exceptional productions in an intimate setting at North Coast Repertory Theatre in Solana Beach. The Rep’s 38th season continues with a slate of diverse plays, including the the West Coast premiere of "The Outsider," (now through March 22) a razor-sharp, hilarious satire of modern American politics and an inspirational tribute to democracy. Overflowing with clever plot twists portraying the contemporary political climate, the play is a fun-house mirror, held up to reflect our often confounding governmental system. If you’re overwhelmed by today’s headlines, this thoroughly non-partisan laugh-fest is just what you need. For ticket information, call (858) 481-1055 or book online here

The Grand Tea Room is excited to be partnering with The 413 Project once again for another wildly popular dinner theater play. "Clue" will be performed for three weekends at The Grand Tea Room from March 5-22 (Thursdays-Sundays). Join the iconic oddballs known as Scarlet, Plum, White, Green, Peacock and Mustard as they race to find the murderer in Boddy Manor before the body count stacks up. Based on the cult classic film and the popular board game. Tickets

Don't miss a moment of the 12th Annual San Diego Festival of Science and Engineering! The 10-day educational experience includes interactive demonstrations, hands-on activities and dynamic speakers to engage kids and families in all that encompasses STEM (science, technology, engineering and math). It kicks off with STEM Expo Day on Saturday, March 7, at Petco Park, and continues through March 15, with events throughout the city for all ages and interests—including adult-only events! Participants include Birch Aquarium, Cabrillo National Monument, Fleet Science Center, the San Diego Model Railroad Museum, San Diego Air & Space Museum, and EcoVivarium. San Diego Festival of Science and Engineering

Spring into March with Port of San Diego-sponsored events including:
•  2020 Mariachi Festival from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday, March 8. The National City Chamber of Commerce's 2020 Mariachi Festival is a community-friendly event providing entertainment for families to come together and celebrate San Diego’s Mexican heritage through mariachi music, traditional ballet folkloric dancing, and a celebration of arts, culture, and culinary delights. This year, it will take place in Chula Vista, Bayside Park! Learn more here
• 6th Annual Best Coast Beer Fest from noon-4 p.m. Saturday, March 21. The event will be held at beautiful Embarcadero Marina Park North. Taste beer from nearly 100 of the West Coast’s craft breweries, with unbeatable views of San Diego Bay and the downtown skyline. Tickets

Enjoy fresh air and ocean views while shopping for local produce  on Thursdays from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at MainStreet Oceanside’s Certified Farmers Market. Shop from among dozens of crafts booths for a selection of handmade goods including jewelry, wearing apparel, soap and lotions, seashells, photography and many others. The Sunset Market is from 5 to 9 p.m. Thousands of residents and visitors alike gather each week to enjoy the varied hot food offerings, the eclectic merchandise selections, the gourmet packaged food section and the live entertainment. The Farmer and Sunset Markets are every Thursdays year-round on Pier View Way west of Coast Highway. MainStreet Oceanside Also mark your calendars for the next free Community Mosaic Building Workshop on April 4! Located next to Don Myers Stained Glass at 1025 S. Coast Highway, drop in from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to assemble mosaic panels with stained glass and mosaic artist Don Myers and, optionally, to sponsor one of the mural’s sea animals or plants. 

San Diego Padres baseball returns to Petco Park when the Padres open the season at home with a four-game series against the Colorado Rockies beginning on Opening Day, at 1:10 p.m. Thursday, March 26. Also enjoy free hat giveaway. Buy Single Game San Diego Padres tickets here

The Spreckels Organ Society presents an "All Bach Celebration" concert in honor of Johann Sebastian Bach's birthday (1685-1750). Celebrate with San Diego Civic Organist Raúl Prieto Ramírez on Sunday, March 22 at 2 p.m. at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park. A magnificent baroque-era composer, Bach is arguably the most famous composer of all time and many of his most familiar works were written for the pipe organ. Experience musical excellence when Ramírez performs Bach’s work on San Diego’s Spreckels Organ, the largest outdoor musical instrument in the world. Musical selections will include many well-known works including the Toccata and Fugue in D Minor. The Society holds free organ concerts at 2 p.m. every Sunday in the park. Spreckels Organ Society

Spend a few hours strolling through the rainbow of blooming Ranunculus flowers, otherwise known as The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch. The 50-acre hillside just off Palomar Airport Road overlooks the Pacific Ocean and offers a special nursery, garden and gift shop in addition to festivals throughout the season. Open March 1-May 10, 2020. Call (760) 431-0352 or visit The Flower Fields online.

Dive into fun at Plunge San Diego, the spectacular oceanside venue at Belmont Park in Mission Beach. Thanks to a five-year restoration project, the historic swimming pool originally built in 1925 is now a state-of-the-art attraction with a retractable roof and floor-to-ceiling glass walls. Swim in a sunlit paradise and enjoy the dining deck attached to the pool’s renovated Beach House Restaurant. The heated pool has seven (7) lap swim lanes, and a shallow area for family fun. Open to the public, The Plunge offers premier programs including: swim lessons for every age, a masters swim team, aqua aerobics classes, recreational swim time, and even underwater hockey! The iconic facility features a floating obstacle course, floating volleyball court, basketball hoop, dry sauna, hot showers, lockers, spin bikes and direct beach access. For current schedules, visit Plunge San Diego online or call (858) 780-4989. Buy One Day Pass and Get a Free Day Pass during Recreational Swim here

Fazeli Cellars Winery in Temecula opens its season of cooking demonstrations with Chef Daragh Matheson on March 26. Matheson will focus on Italy as guests learn to easily produce and handle fresh pasta. From ravioli to fettuccini and then marinara to carbonara and of course the classic Ragu a la Bolognese, each course is engineered to pair perfectly with a Fazeli Cellars wine to complete this interactive series. The class will run from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Tickets Fazeli Cellars is open 11 a.m.-6 p.m. daily. Enjoy $10 Off a Bottle of Wine here

Order unforgettable wedding and other special-occasion cakes from this Point Loma shop, creating delicious memories since 1975. The shop is the home of the now famous “Swiss Black Forest” cake, and is known for its high quality and reasonable prices. The store offers free, walk-in wedding cake tasting from 9 a.m-3 p.m. Tues.-Sat. Choose from five delectable flavors: the Gallery's signature Swiss Black Forest, White Bavarian Raspberry, Carrot Cake, German Chocolate, and Truffle (dark chocolate with layers of boiled chocolate and cream, similar to fudge). Dozens of designs are offered (page through their picture book), all edible masterpieces as beautiful as the wedding couple themselves. The shop also also whips up birthday, baby-gender reveal and other fun theme cakes plus ready-to-go cakes for last-minute needs. Also pick up assorted cupcakes, pies, seasonal sweets and specialties such as apple strudel. Order online for yourself or for multiple guests. The shop's team can even bring your order out to your car! European Cake Gallery

The slower pace, the quiet serenity and the close proximity to some of the area’s finest wineries give Riviera Oaks Resort and Racquet Club its unmatched charm and appeal. This beautiful, family-friendly resort nestled outside of Ramona with 16 tennis courts (pros, lessons, clinics and membership), a Day Spa, fitness center, pools, jacuzzis and nearby golf and hiking trails, sits at the base of the mountains but is still only 30 minutes from San Diego. The modern accommodations are furnished condos, each with a kitchen, living room, patio and fireplace, making them perfect for family visiting over the holidays or a holiday break of your own. Whether taking a weekend to relax and get away from it all or a week to stay and play in it all, you’ll leave both refreshed and impressed. Call (800) 438-2929 for reservations. Learn more about the resort here

The San Diego Model Railroad Museum has been graciously selected by The Thursday Club Foundation to be the recipient of a grant award to help fund the expansion of its STEAM for School education program! The Thursday Club Foundation is hosting their 93rd Annual Rummage Sale on March 7-8, in which proceeds fund all selected grant award recipients. Help SDMRM simply by shopping the sale, to be held at the Balboa Park Activity Center. More information The museum is open every day except Mondays. Enjoy $1 off adult admission to the museum here.

Treat yourself to the sweet life at Swedish Royal Bakery, whipping up dreamy wedding cakes, palate-pleasing pastries and savory sandwiches in Poway. Locals love the family-owned business, known for its authentic Swedish butter cookies, raspberry hearts, raspberry mazarin, biskivi cookies, eclairs, and cream-filled horns. Stopping by for lunch? Flavorful sandwiches such as Smoked Salmon, and Ham and Cheese, start with light mayo spread on golden-brown baguettes topped with drizzles of homemade dressing. The venue's crowning achievement continues to be its delectable Princess Cake, a celebratory Scandinavian dome-shaped delight consisting of layers of sponge cake, Napoleon cream, vanilla cream and raspberry jam all covered in marzipan. Gluten-free, vegan, and sugar-free cakes and bakery items can be made to order. The bakery also offers online ordering and catering. Open every day except Sundays. Swedish Royal Bakery

Entries are now being accepted for the 2020 Student Art Contest “Marines in Flight” at the Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum. Entries are due April 6, 2020. All students in grades 6-12 in San Diego County plus all military dependents in grades 6-12 who reside in the Southwest District are eligible to participate. Information

San Diego’s Balboa Park is the largest urban cultural park in the United States – no other place boasts 1,200 acres, 65 miles of hiking trails, more than a dozen museums, fantastic gardens, performing arts venues, and the San Diego Zoo! The Balboa Park Explorer Pass provides admission to multiple venues, and is up to a 58% savings over purchasing admission separately. Pass options include One-Day, Multi-Day (good for 7 consecutive days), or an Annual Pass that provides admission all year long. Add the San Diego Zoo to the Multi-Day Pass for a truly unforgettable Balboa Park experience! Click here to learn more and purchase your Explorer Pass.

Enjoy delicious deli fare and plentiful portions at Milton's Delicatessen in Del Mar. The restaurant’s menu has more than 100 items, including favorites such as the freshly made matzo ball chicken soup, the traditional Cobb salad with thickly sliced bacon bits, and the famous Reuben sandwich on freshly baked rye bread (its best seller). Milton’s is also a famous bakery, serving treats such New York Cheesecake, lemon bars and chocolate eclairs, as well as a variety of freshly baked breads. The restaurant’s catering service provides foods and a large banquet room for such events as weddings, bar mitzvahs and business meetings. Come see why customers love to “Meet at Milton’s” for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Open daily. Enjoy $5 Off A $25 Order Here

Embark upon an unforgettable journey with the ocean experts at Birch Aquarium at Scripps! Witness the longest mammal migration in the world, when approximately 20,000 gray whales pass San Diego on their annual 10,000-mile round-trip journey from the Bering Sea to the lagoons of Baja California. Whale Watching Adventures run twice daily through mid-April 2020, and trips leave from the Flagship Cruises & Events docks in downtown San Diego (about a 20-minute drive south of the aquarium). Buy tickets at Flagship Cruises & Events. Whale Watching at Birch.

Sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride with North County Transit District! NCTD’s services includes the scenic north-south COASTER commuter train, east-west SPRINTER hybrid rail, BREEZE bus network, FLEX on-demand service, and LIFT ADA Paratransit. In addition to transporting nearly 11 million passengers throughout North San Diego annually, the COASTER and SPRINTER offer a great way to enjoy some inexpensive sightseeing. The COASTER’s double-decker cars traverse the beautiful coastline between downtown San Diego and Oceanside all day long, with stops near beaches, restaurants, and boutiques. The modern and sleek SPRINTER whisks riders past traffic between Oceanside and Escondido with most stations leaving you at the doorstep of theaters, restaurants, and shopping centers. For fares and schedules, visit NCTD online

Grab your paint brushes and color palette and prepare for the first Annual Plein Air Competition. Judging and awards will be Saturday, May 2. The Southwestern Artists Association, located in Gallery 23 at Spanish Village Art Center, will be hosting the contest. Preregistration is now open through April 30 for $20. Onsite registration will be available on the day of the competition for $30. Information

Get rolling and see the sights with family or out-of-town guests! Wheel Fun Rentals has multiple San Diego County locations providing the ultimate experience in outdoor fun. Offering everything from traditional cruiser bikes to carriage-like Surreys, Deuce Coupes and tandem cycles, you won't find a larger variety of recreational rental equipment anywhere! With locations at the Oceanside Pier and many in San Diego, including along the Embarcadero and on Coronado Island, Wheel Fun Rentals has your ride covered! Enjoy $5 off any bike rental here