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| 10:00 AM | Meet the Strings: Ferdinand the Bull Enjoy the heartwarming tale of Ferdinand the Bull, told through music and the beautiful melodies of the string family. Violins, violas, cellos and basses will take center stage, bringing Ferdinand’s peaceful world to life in this charming, interactive experience. A gentle and joyful way to inspire budding music lovers. Featuring a San Diego Symphony Orchestra String Quintet. The Story of Ferdinand (1936) by Munro Leaf is a classic children’s book about a gentle bull in Spain who prefers smelling flowers to fighting. Despite his size, Ferdinand refuses to engage in bullfighting, choosing peace over violence. It is a timeless story about nonconformity, being true to oneself, and resisting pressure to conform.
Jacobs Music Center |
| NOON | 10th Annual Antonio Garra Day A historic gathering in Old Town honoring the legacy of Native American patriot Antonio Garra. This family-friendly event, hosted by the Pala Band of Mission Indians and the First San Diego Courthouse Museum, features traditional bird singing, inspirational speeches, and cultural exhibits showcasing the rich heritage of Southern California's Native American communities.
Old Town State Historical Park |
| 1:00 PM | Persian Nature Day (Nowruz) Nowruz, meaning “new day,” is the Persian New Year celebrated for two weeks starting around the spring equinox. With over 3,000 years of history, it symbolizes renewal, hope and harmony with nature. Join this free event with music, dance and cultural crafts to welcome new beginnings. Editor's note: "Persian Nature Day" (Sizdah Be-dar) is the final day of Persian Nowruz celebrations.
Carlsbad City Library |
| 3:00 PM | Acting Shakespeare with Ben Cole With over 20 years of professional acting experience, Ben Cole has been seen on stage locally at The Old Globe, La Jolla Playhouse, North Coast Repertory Theatre, and many others. In addition to his work at NCRT, he is an adjunct professor of Theatre at Grossmont College. Cole earned his Master of Fine Arts in Acting from Western Illinois University and his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting/Directing from Central Michigan University, and studied acting through New York University in Ireland. He has experience acting, teaching, directing, and fight choreographing across the country, including work with the Orlando Shakespeare Theater, the Oklahoma Shakespearean Festival, and the Illinois Shakespeare Festival.
Mission Valley Branch Library |
| 6:00 PM | 19th Annual Indian Music & Dance Festival Enjoy a celebration of Indian music and dance with unique dance and musical performances featuring over 75 artists from India and USA and 150 children from San Diego and the USA.
JCC |
| 6:10 PM | San Diego Arab Film Festival The San Diego Arab Film Festival is back for 2026 with live, in-person presentations of feature length and short films at the Museum of Photographic Arts. The festival will open on Friday, March 27, and present 8 screenings, each showcasing one feature film and one short film (except for one that has 2 shorts and one in which the feature is long so it doesn’t have an accompanying short), from across the Arab World. All films are presented at the John and Irwin Jacobs Theater in the Museum of Photographic Arts. Each evening, the festival will also offer cafeteria-style Arabic dinner.
This year we have all three films from and about Palestine that were shortlisted for the Best International feature award. Six of our films were the official submission by their respective countries for Best International Feature (Palestine 36, Palestine, The Voice of Hind Rajab, Tunisia, All that’s Left of You, Jordan, A Sad and Beautiful World, Lebanon, The President’s Cake, Iraq,, and Calle Malaga, Morocco. Our short films include two films about Palestine from Iranian filmmakers, who are struggling to find international audiences because of US sanctions, as well as films from Palestine, Jordan, Egypt and Yemen and the US.
We are excited to bring these films to the San Diego community!
Festival Schedule
Museum of Photographic Arts |
| 7:00 PM | Comedy: Persians of Interest Get ready for a one-night comedy takeover as Persians of Interest storms The Yellow Door for a high-octane stand-up showcase celebrating Nowruz with nonstop laughs. This special event brings together a killer lineup of sharp, fearless, and wildly funny comics serving up bold perspectives, big personalities, and crowd-rocking sets. Whether you’re Persian, Persian-adjacent, or just a fan of great stand-up, this show is built to hit hard and leave you smiling. ? Featuring: Persian Karen Awon Ray Cameron Noel Rod Dezzy Aaron Yankosky From clever cultural takes to universal chaos, Persians of Interest blends smart comedy, party energy, and late-night club vibes into one unforgettable night.
The Yellow Door |
| Musical: Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 Theater for Young Professionals presents Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, an innovative, sung-through electropop opera by Dave Malloy, based on a 70-page segment of Leo Tolstoy\'s War and Peace, following young Natasha\'s scandalous romance with the rake Anatole while her fiancé is away, and the existential crisis of family friend Pierre as he tries to sort out the mess, all set to a unique blend of Russian folk, classical, indie rock, and EDM music in an immersive, nightclub-style theatre experience.
Theatre for Young Professionals |
| 7:30 PM | Opera: Carmen The most fearless and indomitable heroine in all opera is back! When Carmen tosses a flower to the soldier Don José, he becomes obsessed, leaving his post to join her band of smugglers. But when she loses interest and sets her sights on a bullfighter, Don José may not be able to handle the rejection. With a score packed with opera classics, including the "Habanera," the "Toreador Song," and one of the greatest overtures ever written, you'll be joining Don José as you fall under the spell of Carmen.
San Diego Civic Theatre |
| Music: Beto Cuevas Luis Alberto Cuevas Olmedo, better known as Beto Cuevas, is a Chilean-Canadian singer, songwriter, plastic artist, and painter. He is the lead singer for the Chilean band La Ley.
The Magnolia |
| 11:00 AM | HPR Queens Lawn Program Every year on the first Sunday in April the Queens are having the Lawn Program on the stage in the lawn area. They perform dances in their colorful costumes with the help from the cottages.
The Scottish Pipe Band performs for them and adds variety to the program.
The food served for that occasion is hot dogs, nachos and a variety of pastries.
International Cottages |
| 2:00 PM | Opera: Carmen The most fearless and indomitable heroine in all opera is back! When Carmen tosses a flower to the soldier Don José, he becomes obsessed, leaving his post to join her band of smugglers. But when she loses interest and sets her sights on a bullfighter, Don José may not be able to handle the rejection. With a score packed with opera classics, including the "Habanera," the "Toreador Song," and one of the greatest overtures ever written, you'll be joining Don José as you fall under the spell of Carmen.
San Diego Civic Theatre |
| Music: Drum Tao Founded in 1993, Drum Tao has redefined the art of Japanese taiko drumming by integrating it with modern performance elements. The ensemble’s rigorous training regimen, which includes daily physical conditioning and musical practice, ensures a level of precision and energy that is evident in every performance. Their commitment to excellence has earned them a reputation as cultural ambassadors, showcasing the rich traditions of Japan to audiences around the globe.
Poway OnStage |
| 3:00 PM | Musical: Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 Theater for Young Professionals presents Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, an innovative, sung-through electropop opera by Dave Malloy, based on a 70-page segment of Leo Tolstoy\'s War and Peace, following young Natasha\'s scandalous romance with the rake Anatole while her fiancé is away, and the existential crisis of family friend Pierre as he tries to sort out the mess, all set to a unique blend of Russian folk, classical, indie rock, and EDM music in an immersive, nightclub-style theatre experience.
Theatre for Young Professionals |
| 6:00 PM | 19th Annual Indian Music & Dance Festival Enjoy a celebration of Indian music and dance with unique dance and musical performances featuring over 75 artists from India and USA and 150 children from San Diego and the USA.
JCC |
| 7:00 PM | Music: Drum Tao Founded in 1993, Drum Tao has redefined the art of Japanese taiko drumming by integrating it with modern performance elements. The ensemble’s rigorous training regimen, which includes daily physical conditioning and musical practice, ensures a level of precision and energy that is evident in every performance. Their commitment to excellence has earned them a reputation as cultural ambassadors, showcasing the rich traditions of Japan to audiences around the globe.
Poway OnStage |
| Music: Ravi Shankar Ensemble (Sold Out) Curated by Sukanya and Anoushka Shankar, the Ravi Shankar Ensemble is a multi-generational collective of world-class musicians dedicated to the masterful compositions and enduring legacy of the uniquely legendary musician Ravi Shankar. In its debut tour, the ensemble presents a special program featuring visual elements from the Ravi Shankar archives alongside a dynamic selection of Shankar’s soul-stirring music.
Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center |
| All Day | Exhibit: Hallyu (Korean Wave) Before Hallyu Before the song “Gangnam Style” (2012), the blockbuster "Parasite" (2019) and the television series "Squid Game" (2021), South Korea’s global cultural influence was already taking shape. This exhibit explores the work of André Kim (1935-2010), the country’s first male fashion designer and a pioneer of international cultural exchange. Known for his theatrical runway shows staged around the world — from Paris to the Pyramids of Giza — Kim blended avant-garde silhouettes with traditional motifs in a style he called “futuristic classicism.” His designs, worn by global icons and early K-pop stars alike, helped lay the visual foundation for what would become the Korean Wave (hallyu). Through original garments on loan from André Kim Design Atelier (Chungdo), along with archival photographs, newspaper clippings, magazines, books and other documents, the exhibit traces Kim’s lasting impact on fashion, performance and global culture.
UCSD |
| 7:30 PM | Book Talk: The Korean Art of Living Well Warwick's presents Jenelle Kim as she discusses and signs her new book, The Korean Art of Living Well: The Eight Keys of Living Meditation for Balance and Transformation. Dr. Jenelle Kim, DACM, L.Ac., is a Taoist longevity expert and ninth-generation doctor of Traditional Oriental Medicine, practitioner of qigong (moving meditation), and teacher of the eight keys of living meditation. She is the founder of JBK Wellness Labs, which develops innovative products in clean beauty and nutraceuticals. Dr. Kim's unique approach to meditation combines lessons on movement and natural medicine learned from a lifetime of studying Eastern philosophy, Eastern medicine, and martial arts. As a wellness expert, she has been featured in Forbes, Allure, Meditation Magazine, Time, and Good Morning America.
Warwick's |
| 6:00 PM | Film: The Visitor Tom McCarthy’s simmering, soulful second feature headlines Richard Jenkins as a stodgy, buttoned-down economics professor, sleepwalking through his empty life, who awakens his soul after he discovers an undocumented couple living illegally in his rarely used NYC apartment.
Coronado Public Library |
| 6:30 PM | Music: Sabrosas Latin Orchestra San Diego's first and only all-female salsa band, Sabrosas Latin Orchestra is a 501(c)(3) organization born out of a shared love for Latin music. The group brings together a talented roster of female musicians dedicated to moving and inspiring audiences throughout San Diego County through live salsa music.
Belly Up |
| 3:00 PM | Stage: Colorín, Colorado Get ready for "Colorín, Colorado," a world premiere Performance Outreach Program (POP) show from the La Jolla Playhouse! Ideal for students in Grades 3–6, "Colorín, Colorado" focuses on Georgie, a shy fourth-grader with a hidden talent for guitar, who develops an unexpected friendship with the fearless and ever-curious Inez. Enjoy this free production from a world-class theater company, dedicated to bringing the magic of theatre to San Diego's students. No registration is required.
Mission Valley Branch Library |
| 7:30 PM | Book Talk: Sheila Grant Warwick’s presents Sheila Grant as she discusses and signs her new book, Passport to Danger, in conversation with Cristina Gurtman. Sheila Grant worked for CBS broadcasting in the late 1960s in the programming department under the legendary television executive Michael Dann, where she was a writer and analyst specializing in US-Soviet relations at the height of the Cold War. She attended Southern Methodist University in Dallas and The University of Texas at Austin where she studied English literature. She also attended the University of Mexico and the American Institute in Mexico City where she lived with Chela del Río, sister of famed actress Dolores del Río. It was Chela del Río who introduced her to the Mexico that became the backdrop of Passport to Danger. Grant is a bibliophile who devours Publisher’s Weekly and visits the nearest bookstore every Tuesday to purchase the new releases. Grant is a native of Dallas where she resides with her husband, Jody, with whom she has two adult children. Reserved Seating is available when Passport to Danger is pre-ordered from Warwick's through the linked green "Reserve Seats Here" button above. Only books purchased from Warwick's will be signed. Please call the Warwick's Book Dept. (858) 454-0347 for details. Passport to Danger is a thrilling story of espionage during the height of the Cold War with the action racing from posh office towers in New York City to a crescendo in the resort towns of Cuernavaca and Acapulco with stakes of nuclear proportions. The CIA-backed invasion of the Bay of Pigs had been repelled by Russian-armed Cuba, the Berlin Wall had been erected separating East from West, and the Cuban Missile Crisis had brought the US and Russia one launch button away from World War III. The arms race between the two world powers was at a fevered pitch and the Cold War was at its apex. It is against this backdrop that supermodel Elizabeth Lamont is recruited by the CIA after a case of mistaken identity and thrust into the conflict as a double agent impersonating notorious KGB operative Nicola Neumann.
Warwick's |
| 10:00 AM | Exhibition: A Journey Across the Pacific Join Senior Curator Michael Brown, PhD, for a talk on The San Diego Museum of Art’s unprecedented touring exhibition of European paintings, which made stops in Japan and Korea. Dr. Brown will share a behind-the-scenes look at this monumental undertaking, detailing the logistical challenges, unexpected hurdles, and, ultimately, the joys of fostering new partnerships with global audiences. Following the lecture, guests are invited to enjoy a guided tour led by our docent team.
San Diego Museum of Art |
| 10:00 AM | Otaku Smash Matsuri Otaku Smash Matsuri is an in-person gathering for anime, manga, and gaming fans, featuring cosplay contests, competitions, and a full day of fandom celebration.
Handerly Hotel |
| 11:00 AM | House of Scotland Tartan Day Celebration Tartan Day is usually observed by the House of Scotland on the first Saturday in April, honoring the achievements of people of Scottish descent throughout the world. Music and dancing are highlighted on stage, featuring the House of Scotland Pipe Band and other area performers. The lawn is filled with clan tents, vendors, traditional foods, children's activities, and a resale shop.
International Cottages |
| Pepper Park Multicultural Celebration Enjoy a free multicultural celebration at the updated Pepper Park on the National City Bayfront!
Pepper Park, National City |
| 7:00 PM | Comedy: Carlos Ballarta Carlos Ballarta is a Mexican stand-up comedian and actor who has been a pioneer in the Spanish-speaking stand-up scene for a decade. His comedy tackles topics like politics, religion, family, millennial culture, and Mexican history.
Balboa Theatre |
| 8:00 PM | Stage: August Wilson's Fences Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning Fences is a cornerstone of August Wilson's The American Century Cycle and a powerful exploration of fatherhood, identity, and legacy. Set in 1957, the play follows Troy Maxson, a former Negro League baseball star now working as a sanitation worker. Grappling with the burden of his broken dreams, Troy struggles to assert control over his family and his future. Director Delicia Turner Sonnenberg helms this deeply human portrait of a family's love and resilience.
Old Globe Theatre |
| 6:00 PM | Music: Hanabie Hanabie is a Japanese metalcore band that fuses elements of J-pop, electronic music, and heavy breakdowns. Their unique sound combines high-energy instrumentals with catchy, melodic vocals, creating an exciting contrast. With a rising global fan base, they are gaining recognition as one of Japan’s most innovative metal acts. The band consists of singer Yukina, guitarist/singer Matsuri, bassist Hettsu, and drummer Chika.
House of Blues |
| 7:00 PM | Stage: August Wilson's Fences Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning Fences is a cornerstone of August Wilson's The American Century Cycle and a powerful exploration of fatherhood, identity, and legacy. Set in 1957, the play follows Troy Maxson, a former Negro League baseball star now working as a sanitation worker. Grappling with the burden of his broken dreams, Troy struggles to assert control over his family and his future. Director Delicia Turner Sonnenberg helms this deeply human portrait of a family's love and resilience.
Old Globe Theatre |
| 7:30 PM | Lecture: Art Deco Paris Due to its 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes, Paris is often credited as the birthplace of Art Deco. Known as the City of Lights, its sophisticated urban lifestyle and historical association with cutting-edge art and architecture made Paris an international magnet. In the aftermath of World War I, creative designers and intellectuals flocked to the city. Receptive to new and imported materials and exotic designs, they incorporated motifs from Africa, Asia, Mesoamerica — and especially Egypt — into meticulously crafted luxury items. This first lecture in the series explores Art Deco's popularity during the waning days of colonialism and the rise of modernism.
Athenaeum Music & Arts Library |
| Book Talk: Marie Benedict Warwick’s presents Marie Benedict as she discusses and signs her new book, Daughter of Egypt. Marie Benedict is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Queens of Crime, The Mitford Affair, Her Hidden Genius, The Mystery of Mrs. Christie, The Only Woman in the Room, Lady Clementine, Carnegie's Maid, The Other Einstein, and with Victoria Christopher Murray, the Good Morning America Book Club pick The Personal Librarian and the Target Book of the Year The First Ladies. All have been translated into multiple languages, and many have been selected for the Barnes & Noble Book Club, Target Book Club, Costco Book Club, Indie Next List, and LibraryReads List. She lives in Pittsburgh with her family. Reserved Seating is available when Daughter of Egypt is pre-ordered from Warwick's through the linked green "Reserve Seats Here" button above. Only books purchased from Warwick's will be signed. Please call the Warwick's Book Dept. (858) 454-0347 for details. New York Times bestselling novelist Marie Benedict transports readers from the glamour and turbulence of 1920s Britain and Cairo to the sands and lush shores of ancient Egypt in Daughter of Egypt. Known for her “delightful blend of historical fiction and suspense,” Benedict weaves a sweeping tale of a young woman who unearths the truth about a forgotten Pharaoh, rewriting both of their legacies forever. In the 1920s, archeologist Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon of Highclere Castle made headlines around the world with the discovery of the treasure-filled tomb of the boy Pharaoh Tutankhamun. But behind it all stood Lady Evelyn Herbert—daughter of Lord Carnarvon—whose daring spirit and relentless curiosity made the momentous find possible. Though not a trained archaeologist, Evelyn nonetheless pursued her passion, determined to leave her mark on the field and be treated as an equal by her male colleagues.
Warwick's |
| 7:00 PM | Stage: August Wilson's Fences Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning Fences is a cornerstone of August Wilson's The American Century Cycle and a powerful exploration of fatherhood, identity, and legacy. Set in 1957, the play follows Troy Maxson, a former Negro League baseball star now working as a sanitation worker. Grappling with the burden of his broken dreams, Troy struggles to assert control over his family and his future. Director Delicia Turner Sonnenberg helms this deeply human portrait of a family's love and resilience.
Old Globe Theatre |
| Disney's MOANA Jr the Musical Disney’s Moana JR., a 60-minute musical adaptation of the 2016 Disney animated film, brings the adventures of Moana and her village of Motunui to life onstage. Moana JR. features all the beloved songs from the film, written by Tony®, GRAMMY, Emmy, and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Lin-Manuel Miranda, Opetaia Foa’i, and Mark Mancina, including “How Far I’ll Go,” “Shiny,” and “You’re Welcome.” This coming-of-age story follows the strong-willed Moana as she sets sail across the Pacific to save her village and discover the truth about her heritage. Moana and the legendary demigod Maui embark on an epic journey of self-discovery and camaraderie as both learn to harness the power that lies within. With empowering messages of bravery and selflessness, Moana JR. is sure to bring out the hero within each of us.
Theatre for Young Professionals |
| The Colorful World of Music: From Balkan to Eastern Europe Join us for dynamic intriguing music! From Romani, Yiddish, to Klezmer & Eastern European tunes that will not let you sit still! Join us for the music from Eastern Europe, Balkan, Spain, Middle East and beyond, all in its originality and ethnic beauty presented by accomplished passionate musicians who devoted their lives to ethnic music, its research, preservation and happy performance. It will not let you sit still! You will meet Yale Strom, an important ethnomusicologist, who travelled all over Europe to map Romani, Yiddish and Eastern European music, presenting his findings in his 16 books (as is “Searching for the Gypsies” or “The Book on Klezmer”), essays, films, celebrated photographic exhibits, collaboration with NPR, notable symphonies and musicians. Elizabeth Schwartz is a vocalist of Romani , Yiddish and Eastren European songs who recorded many albums, and co-wrote award-winning audio dramas. Fred Benedetti is a sought after and beloved professor of guitar and accomplished concert guitarist, havings an equal passion for classical, flamenco, folk, popular tunes to Romani and Yiddish, his finesse shines in each genre. Fred's charisma, purpose, talent and accomplishments makes him a San Diego celebrated legend! Contrabassist Joe McNalley is an outstanding musician, composer, arranger. Joe studied music at the New England Conservatory of Music and U.C. San Diego. He joined many famed musicians in jazz and beyond, and is a founder of the Hutchins Consort, a unique violin orchestra.
Point Loma Assembly |
| 10:00 AM | Songkran Festival Join us as we celebrate Thai New Year with a traditional Thai Monk Blessing Ceremony at National City Muay Thai Academy. This special cultural event will bring together the Muay Thai community to honor tradition, receive blessings, and celebrate Thai culture.
National City Muay Thai Academy |
| Workshop: Hands-on Miso Soup In this hands-on workshop, you will learn all about miso, a magical fermented bean paste that originated in Japan many centuries ago. Miso is full of umami and is used to flavor everything from soups to marinades and salad dressings, stir-fries, to eggs.
Japanese Friendship Garden |
| 11:00 AM | House of Spain Lawn Program The House of Spain will hold their annual Lawn Program featuring Spanish music, dance, food and more!
International Cottages |
| 54th Annual SDSU Pow Wow The San Diego State University Pow Wow is a cherished annual gathering that unites the Native American community in a vibrant cultural and social celebration. This event, one of the longest-running university pow wows in California, is a collaborative effort between the Native Resource Center, the American Indian Studies Department, the Native American Student Alliance, and the American Indian Alu
SDSU` |
| 2:00 PM | Stage: August Wilson's Fences Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning Fences is a cornerstone of August Wilson's The American Century Cycle and a powerful exploration of fatherhood, identity, and legacy. Set in 1957, the play follows Troy Maxson, a former Negro League baseball star now working as a sanitation worker. Grappling with the burden of his broken dreams, Troy struggles to assert control over his family and his future. Director Delicia Turner Sonnenberg helms this deeply human portrait of a family's love and resilience.
Old Globe Theatre |
| Disney's MOANA Jr the Musical Disney’s Moana JR., a 60-minute musical adaptation of the 2016 Disney animated film, brings the adventures of Moana and her village of Motunui to life onstage. Moana JR. features all the beloved songs from the film, written by Tony®, GRAMMY, Emmy, and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Lin-Manuel Miranda, Opetaia Foa’i, and Mark Mancina, including “How Far I’ll Go,” “Shiny,” and “You’re Welcome.” This coming-of-age story follows the strong-willed Moana as she sets sail across the Pacific to save her village and discover the truth about her heritage. Moana and the legendary demigod Maui embark on an epic journey of self-discovery and camaraderie as both learn to harness the power that lies within. With empowering messages of bravery and selflessness, Moana JR. is sure to bring out the hero within each of us.
Theatre for Young Professionals |
| 6:00 PM | Comedy: Akaash Singh Akaash Singh is an American comedian, actor, and podcaster. He is known for hosting the Flagrant podcast with Andrew Schulz and his comedy specials Bring Back Apu and Gaslit on YouTube.
The Magnolia |
| 7:30 PM | Music: Reik Reik is a Mexican pop rock band from Mexicali, Baja California, formed in 2003 by Jesús Alberto Navarro Rosas, Julio Ramírez Eguía, and Gilberto Marín Espinoza. The group's first five albums have been classified as Latin pop, but the group has since transitioned to a more urban-influenced sound since 2015.
Rady Shell |
| 8:00 PM | Stage: August Wilson's Fences Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning Fences is a cornerstone of August Wilson's The American Century Cycle and a powerful exploration of fatherhood, identity, and legacy. Set in 1957, the play follows Troy Maxson, a former Negro League baseball star now working as a sanitation worker. Grappling with the burden of his broken dreams, Troy struggles to assert control over his family and his future. Director Delicia Turner Sonnenberg helms this deeply human portrait of a family's love and resilience.
Old Globe Theatre |
| Disney's MOANA Jr the Musical Disney’s Moana JR., a 60-minute musical adaptation of the 2016 Disney animated film, brings the adventures of Moana and her village of Motunui to life onstage. Moana JR. features all the beloved songs from the film, written by Tony®, GRAMMY, Emmy, and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Lin-Manuel Miranda, Opetaia Foa’i, and Mark Mancina, including “How Far I’ll Go,” “Shiny,” and “You’re Welcome.” This coming-of-age story follows the strong-willed Moana as she sets sail across the Pacific to save her village and discover the truth about her heritage. Moana and the legendary demigod Maui embark on an epic journey of self-discovery and camaraderie as both learn to harness the power that lies within. With empowering messages of bravery and selflessness, Moana JR. is sure to bring out the hero within each of us.
Theatre for Young Professionals |
| 2:30 PM | Music: Stravinsky’s Petrushka The Greater San Diego Chamber Orchestra, directed by Dr. Angela Yeung, performs the 1946 orchestral version of Stravinsky’s Petrushka. Also in the program is the Doll Song (Les oiseaux dans la charmille) Offenbach’s Les contes d’Hoffmann, featuring soprano Emily Ortlieb. Admission is free with free-will donation at the performance. Donation via Venmo, Zelle, or by check can be tax deductible.
All Saints Episcopal Church |
| 3:00 PM | Danish String Quartet & the Danish National Girls’ Choir Combining a string quartet and girls’ choir, two ensembles give visceral power to a millennium of women-centered music. This concert includes the Allemande from Caroline Shaw’s Pulitzer Prize–winning Partita for 8 Voices; the US première of David Lang’s in wildness, co-commissioned by Carnegie Hall; as well as repertoire from Lotta Wennäkoski, Shubert, Anna Thorvaldsdottir, Rune Sørensen, Astrid Sonne, and Nielsen.
Baker-Baum Concert Hall |
| 4:00 PM | Afrodiaspora Celebration Day Get ready to experience the vibrant energy of the Afrodiaspora Celebration Day at Quartyard Join us Afrodiaspora Celebration Day, a celebration of Black arts, culture, food and music.
Quartyard |
| 7:00 PM | Stage: August Wilson's Fences Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning Fences is a cornerstone of August Wilson's The American Century Cycle and a powerful exploration of fatherhood, identity, and legacy. Set in 1957, the play follows Troy Maxson, a former Negro League baseball star now working as a sanitation worker. Grappling with the burden of his broken dreams, Troy struggles to assert control over his family and his future. Director Delicia Turner Sonnenberg helms this deeply human portrait of a family's love and resilience.
Old Globe Theatre |
| Book Talk: Patrick Radden Keefe Warwick's and USD’s College of Arts and Sciences and Humanities Center present Patrick Radden Keefe as he discusses and signs his new book, London Falling: A Mysterious Death in a Gilded City and a Family's Search for Truth, in conversation with KPBS Investigations Editor, David Washburn. Patrick Radden Keefe is an award-winning staff writer at The New Yorker magazine and author of the New York Times bestsellers Rogues, Empire of Pain and Say Nothing, as well as two earlier nonfiction books: The Snakehead and Chatter. Patrick started contributing to The New Yorker in 2006. He received the National Magazine Award for Feature Writing in 2014. Say Nothing received the National Book Critics Circle Award for Nonfiction, as well as the Orwell Prize for Political Writing, and was selected by the New York Times as one of the “20 Best Books of the 21st Century.” He is also the writer and host of WIND OF CHANGE, an 8-part podcast, which investigates the strange convergence of espionage and heavy metal music during the Cold War, and was named the #1 podcast of 2020 by The Guardian and Entertainment Weekly. He lives in New York. From the bestselling, prize-winning author of Say Nothing and Empire of Pain comes a spellbinding account of a family devastated by the sudden death of their nineteen-year-old son, only to discover that he had created a secret life which drew him into the dangerous criminal underworld that lies beneath London's glittering surface In the early morning of November 29th, 2019, surveillance cameras at the headquarters of MI6, Britain's spy agency, captured video of a young man pacing back and forth on a high balcony of Riverwalk, a luxury tower on the bank of the river Thames. At 2:24 a.m., he jumped into the river. In a quiet London neighborhood several miles away, Rachelle Brettler was worried about her son. Zac had told her that he had gone to stay with a friend, but then he did not come home. Days later, a police car pulled up and two officers relayed the dreadful news: her son was dead.
USD |
| 5:00 PM | Talk: Lina Meruane Lina Meruane (Chile, 1970) is a writer and holds a doctorate in literature from NYU. Her fiction includes two collections of short stories (Las Infantas and Avidez) and five novels (Póstuma, Cercada, Fruta podrida, Sangre en el ojo, and Sistema nervioso), translated into twelve languages. Her non-fiction works include two essays on the body (Viajes virales and Zona ciega), two feminist essays (Contra los hijos, Esa cosa animal, and Coloquio de las quiltras), the autobiographical essay Señales de nosotros, and three books on the Middle East: Palestina en pedazos (an expanded version of her earlier Volverse Palestina, winner of the Chilean-Arab Institute of Culture Prize in 2015), the lyrical essay Palestina por ejemplo, and her writings on genocide collected in Matarlo todo. Her shorter essays are compiled in Ensayo general and Tantos frentes. She has also ventured into playwriting with a theatrical adaptation (Un lugar donde caerse muerta) and two plays (Esa cosa animal and Hamelin). Her work has been recognized with the José Donoso Ibero-American Literature Prize (Chile 2023), the Blue Metropolis Prize (Canada 2023), the Cálamo Prize (Spain 2016), the Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz Prize (Mexico 2012), and the Anna Seghers Prize (Germany 2011), as well as writing fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation (USA 2004), the NEA (USA 2010), the DAAD (Germany 2017), and Casa Cien Años de Soledad (Mexico 2021), among others.
UCSD |
| Talk: Migration and Indigenous Healing Practices in a Global Church The lecture will examine the context of structural and direct violence that marks migration throughout the Americas and the impact of such violence upon the health of migrant communities in the United States. Prof. Guardado will then explain some of his fieldwork with an indigenous healer from southern Mexico who migrated to New York City during Covid and the conceptual, psychological, and spiritual challenges that emerge through this work. Lastly, the lecture will raise questions about dominant Euro-American forms of Roman Catholicism that reject indigenous healing practices that serve as the healthcare of the poor, and how this rejection continues a legacy of spiritual and psychological violence that must be exorcised from the church
USD |
| 7:00 PM | Stage: August Wilson's Fences Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning Fences is a cornerstone of August Wilson's The American Century Cycle and a powerful exploration of fatherhood, identity, and legacy. Set in 1957, the play follows Troy Maxson, a former Negro League baseball star now working as a sanitation worker. Grappling with the burden of his broken dreams, Troy struggles to assert control over his family and his future. Director Delicia Turner Sonnenberg helms this deeply human portrait of a family's love and resilience.
Old Globe Theatre |
| Film: Alvira Notari - Beyond Silence Alvira Notari: Beyond Silence is a feature documentary chronicling the life and work of Elvira Notari (1875-1946), Italy’s first woman film director. Despite directing hundreds of silent films that captivated from Naples to New York, Elvira was relegated to the margins of film history for half a century. Her films, poised between realism and staged drama, were deeply rooted in Neapolitan folklore. A woman in a man’s world, her works were targeted by Fascist censorship yet found the embrace of audiences on both sides of the Atlantic. The documentary interweaves voices of those who celebrate her legacy today – from the experts who rediscovered her films to contemporary artists reimagining her vision through new works – to resurrect Elvira’s singular vision. More than a biography, Elvira Notari: Beyond Silence is a portrait of an artist who continues to inspire new creative pathways.
Digital Gym |
| Monty Python's Spamalot! Get ready for flying cows, killer rabbits, dazzling divas, and knights who say… well, you know. Lovingly ripped off from the legendary film Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Monty Python’s Spamalot gallops onto our stage with outrageous comedy, unforgettable music, and nonstop laughs. Join King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table on their quest for the Holy Grail — a quest filled with show-stopping numbers, over-the-top characters, and the iconic anthem Always Look on the Bright Side of Life. The original Broadway production won three Tony Awards®, including Best Musical, and audiences have been laughing ever since. Now, our talented cast brings the School Edition to life with all the silliness, sparkle, and spectacle you love — adapted for audiences of all ages. Whether you’re a longtime Monty Python fan or just need a great night out, this show promises laughter from start to finish.
Thompson Performing Arts Center, Carlsbad |
| 4:00 PM | Author Talk: Kate Hilton Warwick's presents Kate Hilton as she discusses her new book, City of the Muse, in conversation with Rachel McMillan. Kate Hilton is the bestselling author of three novels: The Hole in the Middle, Just like Family, and Better Luck Next Time. She is also the coauthor, with Elizabeth Renzetti, of the Quill & Packet mystery series. When not writing, Kate maintains an active psychotherapy practice, working with individuals and couples. She has a particular interest in personal reinvention and life transitions. Kate has had prior careers in law, university administration, and major gift fundraising. She lives in Toronto with her family. For fans of The Lost Apothecary, a gripping dual-timeline novel about the mysterious death of an indomitable female papyrologist during an archaeological dig in the early 1900s and an aspiring young female researcher's present-day quest to find out who killed her. An ill-fated dig. An ancient city believed to be cursed. And a century-old mystery at the heart of it all. Egypt, 1903: When renowned papyrologist Helen Gardiner arrives at an excavation site in the ancient city of Calliopolis, she learns that she has been given the job because her predecessor has disappeared under mysterious circumstances. One of the only women on the dig, Helen—tasked with restoring and cataloguing the thousands of papyrus fragments recovered at the site—soon discovers that there's more to Calliopolis than meets the eye. The archaeologists on the dig, mostly men, all have not only their own towering egos, but their own agendas, including secrets they might kill to protect.
Online Streaming Event |
| 6:15 PM | An Ode to Esperanza Spalding & the Music of Brazil Jazz singer/songwriter Danielle Angeloni presents songs from the vast discography of Esperanza Spalding while paying homage to the Brazilian music that laid the foundation for Esperanza’s compositions. The set will include unique vocal arrangements, an array of Afro-Latin rhythms, and poetic melodies that give you butterflies. The fantastic band includes Angelica Pruitt (bass), Julien Cantelm (drums), Kat Shoemaker (keys), Joe Amato (guitar), and Kenna Rose (vocals)
The Jazz Lounge |
| 7:00 PM | Stage: August Wilson's Fences Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning Fences is a cornerstone of August Wilson's The American Century Cycle and a powerful exploration of fatherhood, identity, and legacy. Set in 1957, the play follows Troy Maxson, a former Negro League baseball star now working as a sanitation worker. Grappling with the burden of his broken dreams, Troy struggles to assert control over his family and his future. Director Delicia Turner Sonnenberg helms this deeply human portrait of a family's love and resilience.
Old Globe Theatre |
| Film: Il tempo che ci vuole (The Time It Takes) Francesca Comencini returns with an intimate and deeply moving reflection on her relationship with her father, Luigi Comencini — a revered figure in Italian cinema, yet a distant and elusive presence at home. With both tenderness and restraint, she explores the contradictions of their bond, tracing a path from the wonder of childhood through the turmoil of adolescence, offering an honest and evocative portrait of love, memory, and the spaces in between. A devoted father and filmmaker shares a special bond with his young daughter, discovering the magic of childhood together — especially on the fantastical Pinocchio set he’s working on, where chaos and wonder collide. But as the daughter grows, the enchantment begins to fade. Adolescence brings distance and disillusionment; she spirals into drug use, concealing her struggles from her father. Refusing to turn away, he takes a decisive step — bringing her to Paris in a final attempt to rekindle their connection and guide her back to herself.
La Paloma Theatre |
| Monty Python's Spamalot! Get ready for flying cows, killer rabbits, dazzling divas, and knights who say… well, you know. Lovingly ripped off from the legendary film Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Monty Python’s Spamalot gallops onto our stage with outrageous comedy, unforgettable music, and nonstop laughs. Join King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table on their quest for the Holy Grail — a quest filled with show-stopping numbers, over-the-top characters, and the iconic anthem Always Look on the Bright Side of Life. The original Broadway production won three Tony Awards®, including Best Musical, and audiences have been laughing ever since. Now, our talented cast brings the School Edition to life with all the silliness, sparkle, and spectacle you love — adapted for audiences of all ages. Whether you’re a longtime Monty Python fan or just need a great night out, this show promises laughter from start to finish.
Thompson Performing Arts Center, Carlsbad |
| 8:00 PM | Music: Protoje Protoje is the name that reverberates at the core of Jamaica’s musical renaissance. A visionary and an architect of sound, Protoje has redefined what it means to be a modern artist, blending the rich heritage of reggae with the fresh influence of hip-hop, soul, and jazz. From his roots in Saint Elizabeth, Jamaica, Protoje’s journey is one marked by passion, purpose, and an unwavering commitment to his craft.
Music Box |
| 4:00 PM | Talk: Chinese Global Environmentalism Join Professor Alex Wang of the UCLA School of Law as he presents his new book on China’s global environmentalism. In the book, he chronicles how, as the United States steps back from the Paris Agreements, China is advancing a distinct model of “developmental environmentalism” that departs from Western approaches. Drawing on case studies — from clean-tech expansion and green investment in Chile, to hydropower development across Southeast Asia — Wang examines how China is reshaping global environmental governance and the geopolitical tensions that come with it.
School of Global Policy and Strategy, UCSD |
| 6:00 PM | Matilda the Musical Jr. Matilda the Musical Jr. — a spirited youth production of Roald Dahl’s beloved tale full of imagination, catchy songs, and heart. Follow clever Matilda as she outsmarts cruel adults, inspires friends, and proves even the smallest voice can make a big difference!
The Bornemann, San Marcos |
| 6:45 PM | San Diego Arab Film Festival The San Diego Arab Film Festival is back for 2026 with live, in-person presentations of feature length and short films at the Museum of Photographic Arts. The festival will open on Friday, March 27, and present 8 screenings, each showcasing one feature film and one short film (except for one that has 2 shorts and one in which the feature is long so it doesn’t have an accompanying short), from across the Arab World. All films are presented at the John and Irwin Jacobs Theater in the Museum of Photographic Arts. Each evening, the festival will also offer cafeteria-style Arabic dinner.
This year we have all three films from and about Palestine that were shortlisted for the Best International feature award. Six of our films were the official submission by their respective countries for Best International Feature (Palestine 36, Palestine, The Voice of Hind Rajab, Tunisia, All that’s Left of You, Jordan, A Sad and Beautiful World, Lebanon, The President’s Cake, Iraq,, and Calle Malaga, Morocco. Our short films include two films about Palestine from Iranian filmmakers, who are struggling to find international audiences because of US sanctions, as well as films from Palestine, Jordan, Egypt and Yemen and the US.
We are excited to bring these films to the San Diego community!
Festival Schedule
Museum of Photographic Arts |
| 7:00 PM | Stage: August Wilson's Fences Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning Fences is a cornerstone of August Wilson's The American Century Cycle and a powerful exploration of fatherhood, identity, and legacy. Set in 1957, the play follows Troy Maxson, a former Negro League baseball star now working as a sanitation worker. Grappling with the burden of his broken dreams, Troy struggles to assert control over his family and his future. Director Delicia Turner Sonnenberg helms this deeply human portrait of a family's love and resilience.
Old Globe Theatre |
| Disney's MOANA Jr the Musical Disney’s Moana JR., a 60-minute musical adaptation of the 2016 Disney animated film, brings the adventures of Moana and her village of Motunui to life onstage. Moana JR. features all the beloved songs from the film, written by Tony®, GRAMMY, Emmy, and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Lin-Manuel Miranda, Opetaia Foa’i, and Mark Mancina, including “How Far I’ll Go,” “Shiny,” and “You’re Welcome.” This coming-of-age story follows the strong-willed Moana as she sets sail across the Pacific to save her village and discover the truth about her heritage. Moana and the legendary demigod Maui embark on an epic journey of self-discovery and camaraderie as both learn to harness the power that lies within. With empowering messages of bravery and selflessness, Moana JR. is sure to bring out the hero within each of us.
Theatre for Young Professionals |
| Monty Python's Spamalot! Get ready for flying cows, killer rabbits, dazzling divas, and knights who say… well, you know. Lovingly ripped off from the legendary film Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Monty Python’s Spamalot gallops onto our stage with outrageous comedy, unforgettable music, and nonstop laughs. Join King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table on their quest for the Holy Grail — a quest filled with show-stopping numbers, over-the-top characters, and the iconic anthem Always Look on the Bright Side of Life. The original Broadway production won three Tony Awards®, including Best Musical, and audiences have been laughing ever since. Now, our talented cast brings the School Edition to life with all the silliness, sparkle, and spectacle you love — adapted for audiences of all ages. Whether you’re a longtime Monty Python fan or just need a great night out, this show promises laughter from start to finish.
Thompson Performing Arts Center, Carlsbad |
| 7:30 PM | Bulgarian Music: Ivan and Tzvetanka Varimezov Immerse yourself in the vibrant sounds and soulful spirit of Bulgaria through a performance by Ivan and Tzvetanka Varimezov, two of that country’s most esteemed folk artists. Rooted in the musical traditions of the Strandzha and Thrace regions, their program showcases the haunting tones of the gaida (bagpipe) and the dazzling ornamentation of Bulgarian village singing. Through their shared artistry, they bring to life centuries-old songs of love, celebration, and ritual—music that has long united communities and marked life’s most meaningful moments. Interwoven with their artistry are stories of the regions and traditions that shaped this music, offering audiences a rare glimpse into Bulgaria’s living folk heritage
Mingei International Museum |
| Film: Crazy Rich Asians An American-born Chinese economics professor accompanies her boyfriend to Singapore for his best friend’s wedding, only to get thrust into the lives of Asia’s rich and famous.
Porto Vista Hotel |
Matilda the Musical Jr. — a spirited youth production of Roald Dahl’s beloved tale full of imagination, catchy songs, and heart. Follow clever Matilda as she outsmarts cruel adults, inspires friends, and proves even the smallest voice can make a big difference!
Admission/Cost: $15 - $21
Location:
The Bornemann
555 Deer Springs Road
San Marcos, CA
Dates and times:
Friday, April 17 - 6:00 PM
Saturday, April 18 - 2:00 PM and 6:00 PM
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