Music, Art, Culture and Sun: Ingredients for Spring in San Diego

San Diego’s beautiful beaches and nearly perfect weather call to visitors year-round. In spring, budding flowers along with a diverse array of art, music and cultural fests unique to this coastal metropolis tempt visitors from all walks of life. The following are the top 10 spring events in San Diego, where big city style meets major beach vibes.

• Cool Music, Chill Vibes: More than 15,000 fans will gather at downtown San Diego’s new Waterfront Park for the return of the CRSSD festival, March 5-6. Attendees can groove to big name electronic acts while enjoying craft beer, gourmet food and an unparalleled daytime atmosphere. Previous CRSSD festivals have featured acts like Jamie xx, Bonobo, Maya Jane Coles and more.
• Concerts with a View: Beginning in March and running through October, Humphreys Concerts by the Bay presents a spectrum of musical and special performances, including rock, jazz, comedy, blues and folk. Attendees can relax and enjoy a performance in a 1,400-seat bayside, outdoor theater under the setting sun and swaying palm trees of picturesque Shelter Island. 
• Latino Life on Screen: Celebrating films and videos about the Latino experience, the 23rd Annual San Diego Latino Film Festival presents more than 160 movie screenings, March 10-20, at the AMC Fashion Valley 18 and the Digital Gym Cinema in North Park. The festival includes parties, workshops, art exhibitions and the opportunity to mingle with international movie and television stars.
• Style by the Sea: Held April 8-10 at the verdant Scripps Park near sparkling La Jolla Cove, the La Jolla Concours d’Elegance draws droves of vintage car enthusiasts to the luxury seaside village. The sophisticated event includes a cocktail party on Friday night, a motor tour and VIP party on Saturday and the signature Concours d’Elegance car show from 9 a.m.–4 p.m. on Sunday.
• Taste Local Flavor: When it comes to local cuisine, San Diegans can’t get enough of the avocado. The city of Fallbrook in San Diego’s North County celebrates its designation as “the avocado capital of the world” during the Annual Fallbrook Avocado Festival on April 17. Highlights include arts and crafts, games, an “Art of the Avocado” competition and creative foods featuring the delicious, green fruit. 
• Art Served Street-side: Local art takes over the streets of downtown San Diego’s vibrant Little Italy neighborhood during the Mission Federal ArtWalk, April 30–May 1. The largest art event in San Diego, this free festival showcases fine art in many media alongside live musical performances, food and beverage booths and activities for kids and families. 
• Honoring Chicano Culture: In the early 1970s, San Diego’s Latino community established Chicano Park, the world’s largest collection of Chicano murals, beneath the San Diego-Coronado Bridge overpass. On April 23, the local community celebrates Chicano Park Day, a free event featuring the art and culture of San Diego’s Latino residents. Visitors can join the celebration with traditional music, dance, a lowrider car show, vendor booths, kids’ arts workshops and more.
• Jam with the Locals: During April 23-24, one of San Diego’s most popular neighborhood music fests, the Annual San Diego Adams Avenue Unplugged, features vintage blues, folk, Appalachian, country, bluegrass and Celtic music performed by roots artists on seven outdoor stages set along Adams Park in University Heights. The free event also includes beer gardens, ethnic cuisine and hundreds of vendor and craft booths. 
• Art in Bloom: Visitors can head to the nation’s largest urban cultural park, Balboa Park, for vibrant springtime views. In addition to many blooming gardens, the park is home to the San Diego Museum of Art, host of the annual Art Alive, an enchanting floral exhibition. Transforming the museum into a colorful display of art and flowers, more than 100 floral designers take inspiration from the museum’s renowned art collection and create floral renditions of famous paintings and sculptures. During April 29–May 1, visitors can enjoy the ephemeral artworks and participate in a variety of special springtime activities and celebrations. 
• High Speeds on Two Wheels: With so much great weather and so many scenic locales, San Diego is a cyclist’s dream. Fans of the sport can catch the Amgen Tour of California, a Tour de France-style cycling road race, on May 15 in San Diego. The multi-day tour kicks off in San Diego, where the world’s top professional cycling teams will depart for a race covering hundreds of miles along the state’s coastline and highways.