Our region’s winter rains have put us ahead of our yearly rainfall average in San Diego, and even though we’re not quite through with winter yet, hints of spring are beginning to emerge as poppies and other native flowers start to bloom. Two other hints — the spring equinox and Daylight Saving Time on Sunday, March 10.
In the spirit of spring, Carlsbad takes center stage for this month’s events as the city’s flower and strawberry fields ramp up their offerings.
Click the links embedded in this story’s text for more information about the events covered. Information for this month’s Spotlight is provided by organizations and individuals in the communities covered by the North Coast Current and OsideNews.
“Spring into Color” with The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch — The ranunculus fields opened to the public March 1 with a bright display across the hills near the coast. With a theme of “Spring into Color” this year, the fields’ managers have put together a season that is both a celebration of spring and of the working farm’s cultivation of its 55 acres of Giant Tecolote ranunculus. The fields’ season runs eight to 10 weeks with a slate of activities such as live music performances, workshops and wellness classes. The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch are located at 5704 Paseo Del Norte. Single ticket admission is $23 for adults, $21 for seniors 60 and above and military, $14 for children ages 3-10, and free for children under 3. Season passes are $48 for adults, $44 for seniors 60 and above, $28 for children 3-10, with group tours also available. Find out more at theflowerfields.com.
Carlsbad Strawberry Company — The family-run Carlsbad Strawberry Company fields are starting to open operations as picking season approaches. The 25 acres of farmland have been cultivated by the Ukegawa family for four generations. In addition to strawberry sales at its stand at the fields located just east of Interstate 5 on Cannon Road, fruit can also be purchased nearby at the Flower Fields and in Del Mar (both locations expected to open soon). The fields are open for family outings, field trips, team bonding and more. Group visits can be arranged through the Carlsbad Strawberry Company website, carlsbadstrawberrycompany.com.
Encinitas
March 9: Art Night Encinitas — The city presents a Saturday evening of visual art as Encinitas civic and local art galleries open their doors to the community for Art Night. The citywide event is free to the public with a variety of visual, performing, cinematic and literary arts to enjoy. Find out more on the city’s Art Night Encinitas event page.
Ongoing: “Make Friends with Your Food” during National Nutrition Month — Families can join the San Diego Botanic Garden for children’s activities every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to noon for learning, hands-on activities and fun. The garden celebrates National Nutrition Month with “Make Friends with Your Food.” Kids can participate in hands-on learning experiences that stimulate curiosity. The San Diego Botanic Garden is located at 300 Quail Gardens Drive. Find out more about children’s activities at the garden’s SAPLinGS (Science, Art and PLay in Garden Spaces) webpage.
Now through May 9: “Bodies in Rest and Motion” at the city of Encinitas — San Diego artist Liz Kennedy has a solo show through the city of Encinitas’ Visual Arts Program, “Bodies in Rest and Motion,” now through May 9. A reception is set for 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. March 9 as part of Art Night Encinitas. The show, which runs along the hallway of the Encinitas Community Center, 1140 Oakcrest Park Drive, presents Kennedy’s figurative work made in the past three years. Find out more about the artist at lizkennedyart.com.
March 9: Art Night Encinitas at the Off Track Gallery — The San Dieguito Art Guild opens the doors of its Off Track Gallery to the public Saturday evening for a showcase of work by local artists. Admission is free and refreshments will be served. All artwork in the gallery will be 10% off the entire day from 10 a.m. to closing. The gallery is located in The Lumberyard Shopping Center at 937 S. Coast Hwy. 101. Find out more at sandieguitoartguild.com.
March 16: Historical walking tour — This month’s Encinitas Historical Society walking tour focuses on the south end of historic Coast Highway. Suggested donation is $10. The tour begins at the 1883 Schoolhouse, 90 W. F St., where there is plenty of street parking. Contact the Encinitas Historical Society for more information at 760-942-9066.
March 17: Nature Play Purim Celebration — Join the Coastal Roots Farm for a holiday celebration from 9 a.m. to noon featuring food, gift-giving and costumes. Participants can make crafts, listen to the Purim story and boo Haman, and sing songs in an outdoor setting with family and friends. Cost is $8 per child and $8 for the first adult. Find out more at Coastal Roots Farm’s event site.
March 22: “The Big Story of Little Life” at the San Diego Botanic Garden — Allison Cusick of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and co-founder of FjordPhyto, a polar citizen science social innovation project, presents “The Big Story of Little Life: How we owe our lives to phytoplankton in the ocean” from 2 to 3 p.m. at the San Diego Botanic Garden, 300 Quail Gardens Drive. The presentation will describe Cusick’s journey to better understand how melting glaciers in Antarctica influence the diversity of phytoplankton and how travelers to Antarctica help collect samples every year through the FjordPhyto project. Registration information is available on the garden’s event page.
March 24: State of the City Address — The Encinitas Chamber of Commerce presents the annual Encinitas State of the City address by Mayor Tony Kranz from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Encinitas Community Center, 1140 Oakcrest Park Drive. The evening will also feature networking with community leaders and samplings from local restaurants. More information is available on the chamber’s event page.
Oceanside
Starting March 9: Coastal Exposures: 10 Years of Photography at The Osider Magazine — The Oceanside Museum of Art presents “Coastal Exposures: 10 Years of Photography at The Osider Magazine,” an exhibition running March 9 through July 28 showcasing a decade of photography that captures the essence of Oceanside’s community through the lens The Osider Magazine. The museum is located at 704 Pier View Way. More information is available at oma-online.org.
March 9: Pet Palooza Fair — Residents can get education and resources for pets and their families during Pet Palooza from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at John Landes Community Center and Park, 2855 Cedar Road in Oceanside. There will be arts, crafts, entertainment and raffle prizes, in addition to income based spay and neuter vouchers from the Spay and Neuter Action Project. The San Diego Humane Society booth will be giving away free microchips and pet ID tags in addition to free cat and dog food.
March 9: Improv at the Sunshine Brooks Theater — Enjoy “An Evening of Improv Comedy with Indiana Slack and NCIS” at the Sunshine Brooks Theater, 217 N. Coast Highway. Join talented comedians for a night of improvisational comedy. Expect witty banter, unexpected twists and a lively audience. More information and tickets are available at the event’s webpage.
March 16: Shamrock Stampede at Camp Pendleton — Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton and the community come together to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with the Shamrock Stampede 10K, 5K and 2K Kids Run races on the air station’s runway. The event will feature finisher medals for all participants, Irish music and more. Those without base access must arrange to be escorted in on race morning by an authorized base patron. Those without pre-arranged base patron access will be turned away without refund. More information, including race registration fees and instructions, is available on Camp Pendleton’s event page.
March 18: Western Surfing Championship Tour — Surfers convene at the South Harbor Jetty from 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. in competition to qualify for the West Coast Championships, U.S. Championships, Prime Event and any World Team event. Watching the competition is free and open to the public. Find out more at surfwsa.org.
March 19: Oceanside Night with the San Diego Sockers — As work continues toward the opening of Frontwave Arena, which will be the new home of the San Diego Sockers, fans can show their support for the team during Oceanside Night on Sunday, March 19, at Pechanga Arena in San Diego. Ticket information is available at the event’s website.
March 21: Airport Road Community Cleanup — Join I Love A Clean San Diego and Green Oceanside for a litter cleanup from 3 to 5 p.m. to help keep litter from local streets, storm drains and watersheds from entering the Pacific Ocean. Organizers recommend that participants wear comfortable clothes, closed-toed shoes and some form of sun protection (sunscreen and/or a hat), and to bring water. Check out the event website for more information.
March 23: Chamorro Cultural Festival — Chamorro Hands in Education Links Unity (CHE’LU) presents the 12th Annual Chamorro Cultural Festival, celebrating the indigenous people of the Mariana Islands and those of the diaspora living in California and beyond, all day at the Oceanside Pier, 301 The Strand N.
Starting March 30: Craftsmen: Hands On Design — The Oceanside Museum of Art presents “Allied Craftsmen: Hands On Design,” a juried showcase running March 30 through Aug. 18 featuring works from the Allied Craftsmen of San Diego, the oldest professional organization of craft artists in Southern California. The museum is located at 704 Pier View Way. More information is available about the show at oma-online.org.
More Oceanside events this month — Visit Oceanside has an extensive list of events from local restaurants, breweries, nonprofits and more. Check out Visit Oceanside’s calendar at visitoceanside.org/events.
Elsewhere in North County
March 10-11: Fresh Start Surgical Gifts 32nd Annual San Diego Celebrity Golf Classic — Nationally recognized nonprofit Fresh Start Surgical Gifts holds its 32nd Annual San Diego Celebrity Golf Classic at the La Valle Coastal Club in Rancho Santa Fe, formerly Morgan Run Club & Resort. The charity event is set to unite celebrities, philanthropists and golf enthusiasts in support of Fresh Start Surgical Gifts in efforts to provide surgical services to underserved communities. Find out more at the nonprofit’s event website.
March 13-May 8: Vista Leadership Academy — The Vista Leadership Academy is a free eight-week course that gives residents a look at how the city functions. Meetings are weekly on Wednesday evenings from 5 to 7 p.m. Enrollment is limited to 20 Vista residents or business owners ages 18 years and above on a first-come, first-served basis. For registration information, visit cityofvista.com/residents/leadership-academy.
March 27: The Carlsbad Business, Achievement and Distinction Awards — The CBADs, as they’re known, are an event celebrating Carlsbad business and community standouts. The Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce event runs 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Westin Carlsbad Resort and Spa, 5480 Grand Pacific Drive. Find out more on the chamber’s event page.
March 28: Artify Your Life at the Escondido Library — Local artist Lisa McCague of Beautiful Day Calligraphy teaches artistic skills using a brush and paint for participants to customize household objects to take home. The event runs 5:30-7:30 p.m. and will be held in the Turrentine Room of the Escondido Library, 239 S. Kalmia St. Registration is required. Find out more at the library’s event page.
March 30: Persian New Year Celebration — Join the Persian Culture Center and Escondido Library from 3 to 4 p.m. to celebrate Persian New Year. Learn about Nowruz and Persian culture with traditional Persian live music by Niloufar Shiri, dance performances from the Iranian School of San Diego dance academy, crafts and Persian refreshments. The event will be held in the Turrentine Room at the library, 239 S. Kalmia St.
Submit events for publication to the North Coast Current and OsideNews at currentevents[at]northcoastcurrent.com.