Springtime in San Diego makes a colorful entrance every year as warm weather sweeps through the County and brilliant flowers bloom. There are also spring celebrations at the region's major attractions, popular sporting events, cultural festivals and St. Patrick's Day and Cinco de Mayo festivities to keep visitors entertained throughout the season.

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FLORAL CELEBRATIONS

• A spectacular display occurs annually between February and April in the 600,000-acre Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in San Diego's East County as colorful wildflowers bejewel the sun-scorched desert landscape. Since the phenomenon depends upon the timing and quantity of winter rains, the blossoms are at their peak for just two weeks. Guests are advised to call the Park's 24-hour "Wildflower Hotline" at 760-767-4684 before planning a tour of the desert flora.
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• At the Flower Fields of Carlsbad California, a vibrant sea of giant ranunculus flowers transforms 50 acres of hills into rows of brilliant color. During March through May, guests can stroll past oceans of flowers and through beautiful gardens, including a miniature rose garden, fragrant sweet pea maze, a garden featuring more than 50 All American Rose Selection winners and a spectacular display of red, white and blue flowers planted in the shape of a giant American flag.
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• On March 7, the Village Garden Club of La Jolla sponsors Meet the Masters featuring well-known personalities from the world of flowers including Remco Van Vleit, master floral and event designer for the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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• On April 20-21, the City of Coronado presents the 87th Annual Coronado Flower Show in Spreckels Park. Flower exhibits are displayed under tents surrounding a central gazebo, creating one of the largest flower shows on the U.S. West Coast. Guests can also enjoy flower sales, live entertainment, food and an awards ceremony.
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• On April 25-28, the San Diego Museum of Art in Balboa Park blossoms during Art Alive 2013, an enchanting spring 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. 

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SPRINGTIME ATTRACTIONS

• The San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido presents Butterfly Jungle, March 16 - April 7. During this three-week celebration, guests can walk through the Park's Hidden Jungle, an African aviary, and surround themselves with thousands of butterflies of every shape, size and color. A variety of butterfly species flutter freely throughout the Hidden Jungle along with more than 100 birds, creating a realistic rainforest environment.

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ST. PATRICK'S DAY FESTIVITIES

• Lads and lassies celebrate all things Irish at the Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade and Festival, held March 16 at the corner of 6th Avenue and Juniper Street near Balboa Park. The day includes a 10:30 a.m. parade and an all-day Irish festival featuring food, beer gardens, musical entertainment and more.
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• With 60,000 sq. ft. of Astroturf, downtown San Diego's historic Gaslamp Quarter turns into the rolling hills of Ireland from noon to midnight on March 17 at ShamROCK 2013. This St. Patrick's Day party includes Irish rock bands and pints of green beer; guests must be 21 years or older to attend the ticketed event.

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CINCO DE MAYO CELEBRATIONS

• On May 4-5, the 30th Annual Old Town Fiesta Cinco de Mayo is held in Old Town State Historic Park along San Diego Avenue, the area's main thoroughfare. The free festival features Mexican dancers, musicians, food and historical reenactments.
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• On May 4-5, the Bazaar del Mundo Shops in Old Town State Historic Park and the popular family restaurants Casa Guadalajara in Old Town, Casa de Pico in La Mesa and Casa de Bandini in Carlsbad will showcase authentic Mexican food, folklore and fun. Festivities will also include mariachi and folkloric dance performances, as well as food and drink specials.

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FESTIVALS, FAIRS AND EVENTS

• Celebrating films and videos about the Latino experience, the 20th Annual San Diego Latino Film Festival presents over 160 movie screenings, March 7-17. Audiences enjoy short and feature-length films, workshops, meet and greets with cast members and more at the UltraStar Cinemas at Hazard Center in Mission Valley.
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• On March 10-15, the San Diego Oceans Foundation presents Sustainable Seafood Week, a week long awareness celebration where participating restaurants feature a dish or prix fixe menu of seafood which has been harvested in a manner that minimizes impacts on local ecosystems. Over 60 San Diego restaurants will be creating delicious seafood dishes, with a portion of profits going to support marine research and science education programs.
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• Seaport Village comes alive with a celebration of street performers during the Spring Busker Festival, March 23-24. In a battle of entertainment, extraordinary, one-of-a-kind performers including jugglers, sword swallowers, comedic stuntmen and Didgeridoo players take to Seaport Village's cobblestone streets for a weekend of outdoor family amusement.
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• The La Jolla Concours d'Elegance, sponsored by the La Jolla Historical Society, takes place April 5-7 in Scripps Park near La Jolla Cove and draws droves of classic car enthusiasts. Events include a cocktail party on Friday night and a motor tour and VIP party on Saturday; the Concours d'Elegance car show occurs 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. on Sunday.
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• 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 21. Highlights include arts and crafts, games and creative foods featuring the delicious, green fruit.
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• The Third Avenue Village Street Faire in downtown Chula Vista, located in San Diego's South Bay, includes commercial vendors, live entertainment on two stages, artisans, food and activities for kids and families. The festival takes place at 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. on April 14.
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• On April 21, EarthFair in Balboa Park celebrates a range of eco-friendly practices and environmental causes. Offerings include earth-friendly and organic foods, wildlife preservation education, displays of alternative energy vehicles, pet adoption services and more.
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• Art takes over the streets of downtown San Diego's Little Italy neighborhood during the Mission Federal ArtWalk, April 27-28. The free event showcases fine art in many mediums alongside live musical performances, food and beverage booths and activities for kids and families.
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• The Carlsbad Spring Village Faire, one of the largest one-day street fairs in California, takes place on May 5 in downtown Carlsbad. The event features hundreds of exhibitors, international food booths and children's rides.
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• The Escondido Street Faire features live entertainment and hundreds of booths showcasing arts and crafts, international foods and a farmers market. The Street Faire is held May 19 in downtown Escondido. 
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• On May 19, the music, dance, culture and cuisine of Sicily come to the streets of downtown San Diego's Little Italy neighborhood during the 20th Annual Sicilian Festival. Guests can enjoy four performance stages, art vendors, a parade of costumed dancers, musicians and more.

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SPORTING EVENTS

• On April 21, 2013, the Port of San Diego’s 34th Annual Day at the Docks celebration will showcase San Diego’s popular sportfishing industry at American’s Cup Harbor on San Diego Bay. Activities include more than 200 exhibits, live entertainment, a casting competition, captains’ dunk tank, free fishing and art areas for the kids; boat rides around San Diego Bay will cost $2 per person. This event occurs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is free to the public. 
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• During the California Half-Ironman Triathlon on March 30, athletes swim 1.2 miles in Oceanside Harbor, bike 56 miles through scenic Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base and run 13.1 miles along San Diego's North County coast. The competition starts and finishes at the Oceanside Pier.
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• Collegiate, junior and master rowers from the United States compete in over 100 races during the 40th Annual San Diego Crew Classic, held April 6-7 along Crown Point on Mission Bay. Spectators can cheer on participants from the shoreline and enjoy concession stands, a beer garden, sponsor booths and a jumbotron screen showcasing the races.
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• Every April, the San Diego Padres step up to the plate and begin another exciting, six-month season of Major League Baseball. Visitors can catch all the action at the "Pads" home turf, the state-of-the-art downtown PETCO Ballpark. The Padres 2013 home opener on April 9 is against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
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• One of the most prestigious equestrian events in the United States, the 68th Annual Del Mar National Horse Show takes place April 18 - May 5. The event offers more than $350,000 in prize money and attracts more than 3,000 of the finest horses in the U.S. to the equestrian complex at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in coastal Del Mar.
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• On April 19-21, the 49th Annual Lakeside Rodeo & Parade features major rodeo events, arts and craft and food at the Lakeside Rodeo Grounds in San Diego's East County.
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• The Amgen Tour of California begins on May 12 in Escondido, the only city in San Diego County to host a stage of the tour, and finishes on May 19 in Santa Rosa, CA. A week-long calendar of special events leading up to the tour's start is scheduled in Escondido.

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LIVE MUSIC

• From March through October, Humphreys Concerts by the Bay presents a spectrum of musical and special performances, including rock, jazz, comedy, blues and folk, while guests relax in a 1,400-seat outdoor theatre under the setting sun on picturesque Shelter Island.
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• On April 27-28, the Annual San Diego Adams Avenue Unplugged festival features vintage blues, folk, Appalachian, country, bluegrass and Celtic music performed by roots artists on seven outdoor stages set in Adams Park in University Heights. The free event also includes beer gardens, ethnic cuisine and hundreds of vendor and craft booths.
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• On May 10-12, knee-slapping good times abound during the San Diego Annual Gator by the Bay Zydeco, Blues & Crawfish Festival, held at Spanish Landing on Harbor Island. The event features 25 bands on five stages along with dance lessons, food and Cajun cooking demonstrations.
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Happiness is calling in San Diego. For more information on San Diego's offerings, including exciting vacation packages and valuable coupons for attractions, restaurants and more, visit the San Diego Tourism Authority's website at www.sandiego.org or call 619-236-1212.

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