Arts & Entertainment

It's a Festapalooza!

The weekend offers ways to celebrate art, music, Mother Earth and more.

It's a quandary kind of weekend, with a veritable cornucopia of things to do, whether you prefer music, art, civic or cultural celebrations.

Take heart, though. You might be able to split your choices for great things to do near Lemon Grove and beyond from April 28 through May 4.

Several two-day fests kick off  Saturday: In San Diego, art will be feted in Little Italy, roots music in Normal Heights, and Cinco de Mayo in historic Old Town.

Find out what's happening in Lemon Grovewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

But the big countywide enviro cleanup on Saturday, and the Asian Cultural Festival in Point Loma on Sunday? They are one-day affairs.

So pick and choose wisely. Maybe even hit two in one day. Seriously, this weekend's a tough one, but in a cup-runneth-over-kinda way. Enjoy, dearies.

Find out what's happening in Lemon Grovewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

CLOSE TO HOME

  • Where/when: San Miguel Avenue and Federal Boulevard, Lemon Grove, and dozens of other sites, 9 a.m. Saturday.
  • Why go: A coordinated series of events throughout the county, the ninth annual Creek to Bay Cleanup brings together thousands of volunteers from Oceanside to Imperial Beach and from the coastline to Lakeside, to restore waterways in inland and coastal areas.
  • Price: Free.
  • Where/when: , 8073 Broadway, Lemon Grove, 1o a.m. Saturday.
  • Why go: Support the Friends of the Library at their monthly half-off sale. Mother's Day will soon be upon us, and if there's a sci-fi fan in your social network, the store has a large collection available.
  • Price: Free.
  • Where/when: La Mesa Pool, 5100 Memorial Drive, La Mesa, noon Saturday.
  • Why go: The city marks May as Drowning Prevention Month by hosting April Pools Day, when entry is free for the pool. Officials will provide safety lessons, and special guests will join in. 
  • Price: Free.
  • Where/when: Mt. Helix Park Amphitheater, 4901 Mt. Helix Drive, La Mesa, 11 a.m. Sunday.
  • Why go: The county gets one last shot at celebrating Mother Earth at East County Earth Day. Shuttles will run from Grossmont High School, 1100 Murray Drive, El Cajon, and the San Miguel Fire Station, 10105 Vivera Drive, La Mesa, to Mount Helix beginning at 10:45 a.m..
  • Price: Free.
  • Where/when:  La Mesa Community Center, 4975 Memorial Drive, La Mesa, 3 p.m. Sunday.
  • Why go: The East County Youth Symphony, featuring soloist Carlos Roldan on trumpet, plays a program of Arutiunian and Rimski-Korsakov.
  • Price: Free.

BEST BETS, A LITTLE FARTHER OUT 

  • Where/when: Normal Heights, Adams Avenue and 35th Street, San Diego, 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday.
  • Why go: Big regional music fests have been all the rage for several years, but that hasn't stopped the Adams Avenue Roots Festival from thriving. It's one of the city's best-regarded street fairs.
  • Price: Free.
  • Where/when: Old Town, Mason Street and San Juan Street, San Diego, 11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday.
  • Why go: Cinco de Mayo falls on a Thursday this year, so Old Town is hosting its celebration the weekend before (look for Ballet Folklorico Aquetzalli de Lemon Grove to perform). Take the San Diego Trolley between Old Town and nearby Little Italy and do two fests in one day.
  • Price: Free.
  • Where/when: Little Italy, India Street and Date Street, 11 a.m., Saturday and Sunday.
  • Why go: The neighborhood hosts ArtWalk, a place for scores of artists to mingle with the public, and show off their pieces, be they paintings, sculpture, glass or mixed media. Again: Try the trolley.
  • Price: Free.
  • Where/when: NTC Promenade at Liberty Station, Roosevelt Road and Cushing Road, San Diego, 10 a.m. Sunday.
  • Why go: The festival celebrates Asian Pacific Heritage Month, and includes martial arts and dance demonstration, cooking by local Pan-Asian chefs and children's activities.
  • Price: Free.
  • Where/when: Humphrey's By the Bay, 2241 Shelter Island Drive, San Diego, 7 p.m., Monday.
  • Why go: A jazz concert to benefit Grossmont College's music scholarship fund will be held on Shelter Island. Performers include alumni Jose Molina Serrano, Tom Stillman and current Grossmont instructors. 
  • Price: $18.


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