Join us for the inaugural KPBS San Diego Book Festival presented by the University of San Diego.
Admission/Cost: $0 - $35
Location:
University of San Diego
5998 Alcala Park Way
San Diego, CA
Saturday, August 23 - 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Local Cross-Cultural Events
March 2026
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7:30 PM -
Book Talk: The Korean Art of Living Well
* Upcoming Events *
Thursday, March 12
| All Day | Cherry Blossom Festival Celebrate the tradition of hanami at the annual Japanese Friendship Garden & Museums Cherry Blossom Festival March 12-15, 2026. Join us from March 12-15 for an exciting lineup of special performances, featuring guest acts on March 14 and 15! Come see new attractions, including a wall of lanterns and community art. Bring the whole family for a fun-filled day of including activities in our children's area! Sample a variety of cultural food, or delicious beverages in the popular beer and sake garden, nestled in the lower garden. Don’t miss the chance to shop from our amazing local vendors in the upper garden, and then take a leisurely stroll through the cherry blossom grove. It’s the perfect way to celebrate spring!
Japanese Friendship Garden |
| 4:00 PM | Passover Block Party We’re celebrating Passover in the most festive way possible at the LFJCC’s Community Passover Block Party! Inspired by the traditions of the holiday, think four questions, four glasses, and plenty of fun. Enjoy shopping local vendors at the Shabbat Market, hands-on activity booths, great entertainment, and a joyful evening that’s the perfect blend of tradition, community, and celebration.
JCC |
| 6:00 PM | Film: Hercules Unchained Tonight’s feature – the 1959 Italian-French epic fantasy feature film, Hercules Unchained! “Spectacles of Massive Might Beyond Any Ever Known Before!” En route to Thebes for an important diplomatic mission, Hercules drinks from a magic spring and loses his memory. He spends most of the movie in the pleasure gardens of Queen Omphale of Lydia. While young Ulysses tries to help him regain his memory, political tensions escalate in Thebes, and Hercules' new wife Iole finds herself in mortal danger.
Charlie and Echo |
| 7:00 PM | Stage: Somewhere Over the Border Inspired by a real-life journey, Somewhere Over the Border weaves a heartwarming tale of resilience and hope. Blending magical realism with the charm of The Wizard of Oz, this moving musical follows Reina’s courageous journey to build a better life. With vibrant characters and a lively score, it’s a musical about family, sacrifice, and the pursuit of the American Dream. Featuring a lively, Latin-inspired score infused with cumbia, mariachi, boleros, American rock, and hip hop, this moving story reminds us that courage can lead us anywhere — even over the rainbow.
Cygnet Theatre, Liberty Station |
| Stage: SIX! (Teen Edition) From Tudor Queens to Pop Icons, the SIX wives of Henry VIII take the mic to reclaim their identities out of the shadow of their infamous spouse, remixing five hundred years of historical heartbreak into a Euphoric Celebration of 21st-century girl power.
Canyon Crest Academy |
| 7:30 PM | Stage: The Recipe Before Julia Child became the TV personality that we all know, she careened from Pasadena to New York to Washington D.C. to Ceylon and finally to Paris’s famed Cordon Bleu cooking school. A funny and delicious new play about the early life of an endlessly fascinating character and her path from confusion to discovery, failure to success.
La Jolla Playhouse |
| 8:00 PM | Music: Ricardo Arjona Edgar Ricardo Arjona Morales, known as Ricardo Arjona, is a Guatemalan singer and songwriter who has been active since the 1980s. He's known for his heartfelt ballads and rock that combine traditional South American folk with hip hop, classical, and rock.
Pechanga Arena |
Friday, March 13
| All Day | Cherry Blossom Festival Celebrate the tradition of hanami at the annual Japanese Friendship Garden & Museums Cherry Blossom Festival March 12-15, 2026. Join us from March 12-15 for an exciting lineup of special performances, featuring guest acts on March 14 and 15! Come see new attractions, including a wall of lanterns and community art. Bring the whole family for a fun-filled day of including activities in our children's area! Sample a variety of cultural food, or delicious beverages in the popular beer and sake garden, nestled in the lower garden. Don’t miss the chance to shop from our amazing local vendors in the upper garden, and then take a leisurely stroll through the cherry blossom grove. It’s the perfect way to celebrate spring!
Japanese Friendship Garden |
| 7:00 PM | Stage: Somewhere Over the Border Inspired by a real-life journey, Somewhere Over the Border weaves a heartwarming tale of resilience and hope. Blending magical realism with the charm of The Wizard of Oz, this moving musical follows Reina’s courageous journey to build a better life. With vibrant characters and a lively score, it’s a musical about family, sacrifice, and the pursuit of the American Dream. Featuring a lively, Latin-inspired score infused with cumbia, mariachi, boleros, American rock, and hip hop, this moving story reminds us that courage can lead us anywhere — even over the rainbow.
Cygnet Theatre, Liberty Station |
| Film: From Hilde, With Love German Currents Kino presents From Hilde, With Love
Berlin, 1942: it was the most beautiful summer for Hilde – madly in love with Hans and joyfully pregnant. But amid the passion there is grave danger. Hans becomes involved in the anti-Nazi resistance, with a group of young people who will later be called the “Red Orchestra”. Despite the huge risks, Hilde decides to get involved herself but is arrested by the Gestapo and gives birth to her son in prison. Now in a desperate situation, Hilde develops a quiet inspirational strength, but she only has a few months left with her son.
FROM HILDE, WITH LOVE is the eighth collaboration between director Andreas Dresen and screenwriter Laila Stieler. The film is based on the true story of Hilde and Hans Coppi, who were executed in Berlin-Plötzensee. Between 1942 and 1943, more than 50 members of the “Red Orchestra” resistance group were murdered. The film tells a nearly timeless and powerful love story — about decency and resistance, intuition and civil courage, dignity and fear.
Digital Gym |
| 7:30 PM | Stage: The Recipe Before Julia Child became the TV personality that we all know, she careened from Pasadena to New York to Washington D.C. to Ceylon and finally to Paris’s famed Cordon Bleu cooking school. A funny and delicious new play about the early life of an endlessly fascinating character and her path from confusion to discovery, failure to success.
La Jolla Playhouse |
| Dance: WinterWorks Directed by Bernard Brown, WinterWorks 2026 is a timely and powerful collection of dance works celebrating the circularity of shared histories, looking at what binds us together — a call to remember, guided by radical love toward a beautifully reimagined future. A tap dance work by Melissa Tannus is inspired by the Portuguese notion of "saudade," the deep emotional state of longing for something or someone loved and lost, but with love that still lingers. Alison D. Smith's contemporary dance honors circle dances from all of our ancestral lineages, creating embodied belonging and community weaving through collective movement. A new work choreographed by Bernard Brown considers the lasting effects of colonialism on global communities of color through the prism of sugar — an important harvest crop in the trans-Atlantic slave trade — as the dancers slide, spin, and collide through a visceral landscape in search of intimacy and shared dignity.
Mandell Weiss Forum Theatre |
Saturday, March 14
| All Day | Cherry Blossom Festival Celebrate the tradition of hanami at the annual Japanese Friendship Garden & Museums Cherry Blossom Festival March 12-15, 2026. Join us from March 12-15 for an exciting lineup of special performances, featuring guest acts on March 14 and 15! Come see new attractions, including a wall of lanterns and community art. Bring the whole family for a fun-filled day of including activities in our children's area! Sample a variety of cultural food, or delicious beverages in the popular beer and sake garden, nestled in the lower garden. Don’t miss the chance to shop from our amazing local vendors in the upper garden, and then take a leisurely stroll through the cherry blossom grove. It’s the perfect way to celebrate spring!
Japanese Friendship Garden |
| St. Patrick's Day Parade & Festival Come join us for a day filled with fun, music, and all things green! The festival will be held at Sixth Avenue & Laurel Street, where you can enjoy live performances, delicious food, and festive drinks. This year, we are celebrating "Irish Here, There, and Everywhere" as we recognize and honor Irish culture and heritage around the world and connecting with our wonderful San Diego communities. Attending the parade is free and fun for the whole family. It starts at 5th and Laurel, proceeds to Upas, crosses to 6th and down to Laurel where the festival area is located. Entry to the festival is $10 for 21 and up and free for under 21 and active duty military with i.d. Get your tickets for festival entry and while you are at it, some beer tickets at the same time (21 and up only, must show valid i.d. to collect tickets). Don't forget to wear your best green outfit and get ready to celebrate St. Patrick's Day in style. Whether you're Irish or just Irish at heart, this event is perfect for everyone looking to have a shamrockin' good time.
Balboa Park |
| NOON | German Flea Market Clear your closets and book shelves and find new treasures from other German families! Browse the tables, meet new and old friends, and enjoy coffee and cake in our Flohmarkt Cafe!
Hall of Nations, Balboa Park |
| Exhibit: Unrolling Paradise Unrolling Paradise explores the Persian garden as a living design tradition carried through textiles, memory, and everyday objects. Interdisciplinary artist Maryam Bayat reinterprets centuries-old carpet aesthetics through sculptural works that merge traditional Persian rugs with contemporary form and function. Raised in Tehran in a family of rug producers and now based in North County San Diego, Bayat draws from inherited craft to create installations that reflect on place, belonging, and cultural continuity. Her woven sculptures — appearing as furniture, abstract trees, and domestic interiors — extend the symbolism of the garden into three-dimensional space, linking ideas of sanctuary to personal and collective memory.
California Center for the Arts |
| 2:00 PM | Stage: The Recipe Before Julia Child became the TV personality that we all know, she careened from Pasadena to New York to Washington D.C. to Ceylon and finally to Paris’s famed Cordon Bleu cooking school. A funny and delicious new play about the early life of an endlessly fascinating character and her path from confusion to discovery, failure to success.
La Jolla Playhouse |
| Stage: Henrik Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler Film, television, and stage star Katie Holmes (Broadway’s Our Town, Off Broadway’s The Wanderers) brings to life a landmark role in one of the defining masterpieces of world drama. Hedda and Tesman have just returned from their honeymoon—and the cracks in their marriage are already showing. Bored and restless, Hedda tries to control those around her. But as her schemes tighten, her own world begins to unravel. Artistic Director Barry Edelstein, reuniting with Holmes in a vivid new version by Erin Cressida Wilson (Secretary, The Girl on the Train), brings a fresh and emotionally charged lens to this Ibsen classic.
Old Globe |
| Stage: Somewhere Over the Border Inspired by a real-life journey, Somewhere Over the Border weaves a heartwarming tale of resilience and hope. Blending magical realism with the charm of The Wizard of Oz, this moving musical follows Reina’s courageous journey to build a better life. With vibrant characters and a lively score, it’s a musical about family, sacrifice, and the pursuit of the American Dream. Featuring a lively, Latin-inspired score infused with cumbia, mariachi, boleros, American rock, and hip hop, this moving story reminds us that courage can lead us anywhere — even over the rainbow.
Cygnet Theatre, Liberty Station |
| Stage: SIX! (Teen Edition) From Tudor Queens to Pop Icons, the SIX wives of Henry VIII take the mic to reclaim their identities out of the shadow of their infamous spouse, remixing five hundred years of historical heartbreak into a Euphoric Celebration of 21st-century girl power.
Canyon Crest Academy |
| Comedy: Cristela Alonzo Alonzo the first Mexican American woman to create, produce, write, and star in her own American primetime comedy
Balboa Theatre |
| 7:30 PM | Stage: Motown March is Motown Month! Mosaic Theatricals’ Motown: The Groove that Changed America returns once more to the Center’s Concert Hall in March 2026. The D. Ben-Jamin’ Orchestra and an incredible group of vocalists will have you on your feet with the music of Smokey Robinson, The Temptations, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Martha and the Vandellas, The Supremes and so many more. This ultimate celebration of Motown music is unlike any other. Audiences rave year after year. Come see what everyone is talking about!
California Center for the Arts |
| Dance: WinterWorks Directed by Bernard Brown, WinterWorks 2026 is a timely and powerful collection of dance works celebrating the circularity of shared histories, looking at what binds us together — a call to remember, guided by radical love toward a beautifully reimagined future. A tap dance work by Melissa Tannus is inspired by the Portuguese notion of "saudade," the deep emotional state of longing for something or someone loved and lost, but with love that still lingers. Alison D. Smith's contemporary dance honors circle dances from all of our ancestral lineages, creating embodied belonging and community weaving through collective movement. A new work choreographed by Bernard Brown considers the lasting effects of colonialism on global communities of color through the prism of sugar — an important harvest crop in the trans-Atlantic slave trade — as the dancers slide, spin, and collide through a visceral landscape in search of intimacy and shared dignity.
Mandell Weiss Forum Theatre |
| 8:00 PM | Stage: The Recipe Before Julia Child became the TV personality that we all know, she careened from Pasadena to New York to Washington D.C. to Ceylon and finally to Paris’s famed Cordon Bleu cooking school. A funny and delicious new play about the early life of an endlessly fascinating character and her path from confusion to discovery, failure to success.
La Jolla Playhouse |
| Stage: Henrik Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler Film, television, and stage star Katie Holmes (Broadway’s Our Town, Off Broadway’s The Wanderers) brings to life a landmark role in one of the defining masterpieces of world drama. Hedda and Tesman have just returned from their honeymoon—and the cracks in their marriage are already showing. Bored and restless, Hedda tries to control those around her. But as her schemes tighten, her own world begins to unravel. Artistic Director Barry Edelstein, reuniting with Holmes in a vivid new version by Erin Cressida Wilson (Secretary, The Girl on the Train), brings a fresh and emotionally charged lens to this Ibsen classic.
Old Globe |
| Music: Peso Pluma Global icon and leader of the Música Mexicana revolution, Peso Pluma announces his DINASTÍA by Peso Pluma & Friends Tour, following the massive success of his collaborative album DINASTÍA with Tito Double P. After selling out two previous U.S. tours, Peso Pluma returns with a new live show featuring elevated production, immersive creative elements, and a rotating lineup of special guest appearances by his friends in select cities.
NICU Amphitheatre |
| Music: Gipsy Kings Gipsy Kings feat. Tonino Baliardo ‘Historia’ Biography 202625 million albums sold, modern dance classics like Bamboléo and Djobi, Djoba, sellout tours across the globe and a legendary Glastonbury 2024 performance, which according to a four-star review in The Times gave “any tired legs struggling to make it to the end of a long weekend a new lease of life.” The Gipsy Kings have come a long way since they started out playing the streets, weddings and bars of their native Arles, France in 1979. Perhaps their greatest achievement, however, which continues on their superb new album Historia, is in keeping the rich, passionate, virtuosic traditions of flamenco music and Catalan gipsy culture alive.
Sycuan Casino |
Sunday, March 15
| All Day | Cherry Blossom Festival Celebrate the tradition of hanami at the annual Japanese Friendship Garden & Museums Cherry Blossom Festival March 12-15, 2026. Join us from March 12-15 for an exciting lineup of special performances, featuring guest acts on March 14 and 15! Come see new attractions, including a wall of lanterns and community art. Bring the whole family for a fun-filled day of including activities in our children's area! Sample a variety of cultural food, or delicious beverages in the popular beer and sake garden, nestled in the lower garden. Don’t miss the chance to shop from our amazing local vendors in the upper garden, and then take a leisurely stroll through the cherry blossom grove. It’s the perfect way to celebrate spring!
Japanese Friendship Garden |
| 11:00 AM | House of Ireland Lawn Program House of Ireland celebrates St. Patrick's Day with their annual lawn program featuring Irish food, music and dancing.
International Cottages |
| 2:00 PM | Stage: Henrik Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler Film, television, and stage star Katie Holmes (Broadway’s Our Town, Off Broadway’s The Wanderers) brings to life a landmark role in one of the defining masterpieces of world drama. Hedda and Tesman have just returned from their honeymoon—and the cracks in their marriage are already showing. Bored and restless, Hedda tries to control those around her. But as her schemes tighten, her own world begins to unravel. Artistic Director Barry Edelstein, reuniting with Holmes in a vivid new version by Erin Cressida Wilson (Secretary, The Girl on the Train), brings a fresh and emotionally charged lens to this Ibsen classic.
Old Globe |
| Stage: Somewhere Over the Border Inspired by a real-life journey, Somewhere Over the Border weaves a heartwarming tale of resilience and hope. Blending magical realism with the charm of The Wizard of Oz, this moving musical follows Reina’s courageous journey to build a better life. With vibrant characters and a lively score, it’s a musical about family, sacrifice, and the pursuit of the American Dream. Featuring a lively, Latin-inspired score infused with cumbia, mariachi, boleros, American rock, and hip hop, this moving story reminds us that courage can lead us anywhere — even over the rainbow.
Cygnet Theatre, Liberty Station |
| Stage: Motown March is Motown Month! Mosaic Theatricals’ Motown: The Groove that Changed America returns once more to the Center’s Concert Hall in March 2026. The D. Ben-Jamin’ Orchestra and an incredible group of vocalists will have you on your feet with the music of Smokey Robinson, The Temptations, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Martha and the Vandellas, The Supremes and so many more. This ultimate celebration of Motown music is unlike any other. Audiences rave year after year. Come see what everyone is talking about!
California Center for the Arts |
| 3:00 PM | Stage: Vignettes Vignettes: Stories from the Latina Experience is an evening of original short plays that center the voices of Latina women, including U.S.-born Latinx artists, as they navigate life, identity, and belonging in the United States. Through intimate, deeply personal stories, these vignettes explore family relocation, cultural adjustment, generational ties, and the resilience it takes to carve out a sense of home. Rooted in lived experience yet resonating far beyond it, Vignettes illuminates universal themes of identity, community, and hope. Each performance is brought to life through a rich blend of live music, song, and dance, with musicians collaborating alongside playwrights from the very beginning. The result is a moving, multidisciplinary theatrical experience that invites audiences to listen, reflect, and connect.
New Village Arts |
| Film: From Hilde, With Love German Currents Kino presents From Hilde, With Love
Berlin, 1942: it was the most beautiful summer for Hilde – madly in love with Hans and joyfully pregnant. But amid the passion there is grave danger. Hans becomes involved in the anti-Nazi resistance, with a group of young people who will later be called the “Red Orchestra”. Despite the huge risks, Hilde decides to get involved herself but is arrested by the Gestapo and gives birth to her son in prison. Now in a desperate situation, Hilde develops a quiet inspirational strength, but she only has a few months left with her son.
FROM HILDE, WITH LOVE is the eighth collaboration between director Andreas Dresen and screenwriter Laila Stieler. The film is based on the true story of Hilde and Hans Coppi, who were executed in Berlin-Plötzensee. Between 1942 and 1943, more than 50 members of the “Red Orchestra” resistance group were murdered. The film tells a nearly timeless and powerful love story — about decency and resistance, intuition and civil courage, dignity and fear.
Digital Gym |
| Music: Irish Traditional Storytelling Music The Center Chorale and Pacific Coast Chorale will perform Music of the Heart in the Irish tradition of storytelling through song. Choirs will perform with the City Ballet Orchestra ensemble folk, classic, and contemporary ballads both familiar and unusual in honor of the celebration of the seasonal St. Patrick's Day holiday. Join us for this performance of familiar and unusual tunes as conductor John Nettles, soprano soloist Caroline Nelms, and the singers and dancers of Cinballera Entertainment take us on a poignant journey with rousing dances, moving ballads, and wonderful examples of Celtic music and film scores.
The Grand, Escondido |
| 7:00 PM | Stage: Somewhere Over the Border Inspired by a real-life journey, Somewhere Over the Border weaves a heartwarming tale of resilience and hope. Blending magical realism with the charm of The Wizard of Oz, this moving musical follows Reina’s courageous journey to build a better life. With vibrant characters and a lively score, it’s a musical about family, sacrifice, and the pursuit of the American Dream. Featuring a lively, Latin-inspired score infused with cumbia, mariachi, boleros, American rock, and hip hop, this moving story reminds us that courage can lead us anywhere — even over the rainbow.
Cygnet Theatre, Liberty Station |
Tuesday, March 17
| 4:30 PM | Stage: SIX! (Teen Edition) From Tudor Queens to Pop Icons, the SIX wives of Henry VIII take the mic to reclaim their identities out of the shadow of their infamous spouse, remixing five hundred years of historical heartbreak into a Euphoric Celebration of 21st-century girl power.
Canyon Crest Academy |
| 7:00 PM | Highland Way featuring Rose Academy of Irish Dance Highland Way brings a lively performance of “Scirish” (Scotland and Ireland’s) song, mixed with rapid-fire-fiddling, guitar, accordion, bass, percussion, and humor. Scotsman Brian Caldwell, from Glasgow and now Escondido, leads the 6-piece band in songs of work and play, conflict, love, and the gathering of friends. He is joined by master of all-things-strings Paul Graham Castellanos, Sharon Whyte (accordion, keyboard, vocals), Jim Soldi (bass. guitar, vocals), Glen Fisher on bass, and Bob Sale on percussion.
California Center for the Arts |
| 7:30 PM | Stage: The Recipe Before Julia Child became the TV personality that we all know, she careened from Pasadena to New York to Washington D.C. to Ceylon and finally to Paris’s famed Cordon Bleu cooking school. A funny and delicious new play about the early life of an endlessly fascinating character and her path from confusion to discovery, failure to success.
La Jolla Playhouse |
Wednesday, March 18
| 3:35 PM | 33rd San Diego Latino Film Festival Bienvenidos! Media Arts Center San Diego is proud to announce our 33rd San Diego Latino Film Festival, March 18 - 22, 2026
Beyond the screen, SDLFF 2026 comes alive with a vibrant lineup of cultural experiences – from live music and immersive art exhibitions to culinary celebrations that honor the bold flavors and traditions of Latino culture. From Opening Night to the festival’s closing celebrations, these events create a festive, community-driven atmosphere where storytelling, culture, and connection united.
Film Schedule
AMC Mission Valley/Digital Gym Cinema |
| 4:00 PM | Iranian Music Presentation A short presentation on Iranian culture and music in time for Nowruz or Spring Equinox at our local library.
San Carlos Library |
| 4:30 PM | Stage: SIX! (Teen Edition) From Tudor Queens to Pop Icons, the SIX wives of Henry VIII take the mic to reclaim their identities out of the shadow of their infamous spouse, remixing five hundred years of historical heartbreak into a Euphoric Celebration of 21st-century girl power.
Canyon Crest Academy |
| 7:00 PM | Film: Mavka, The True Myth Join us for the exclusive premiere of the year’s most captivating romantic fantasy — an unforgettable night where myth, passion, and magic come alive. Mavka is one of the forest lake’s nymphs, creatures shrouded in mystique and dangerous allure. When she meets Lukian, a gifted biology student, she is given a single task: to lure him to her lake, where mermaids and other nymphs await, ready to capture human souls. But instead of leading Lukian to his doom, Mavka falls in love with him. As her feelings deepen, she begins to realize that the mermaids will stop at nothing to keep her on the dark side. The film is in Ukrainian with English subtitles.
UltraStar Mission Valley |
| 7:30 PM | Stage: The Recipe Before Julia Child became the TV personality that we all know, she careened from Pasadena to New York to Washington D.C. to Ceylon and finally to Paris’s famed Cordon Bleu cooking school. A funny and delicious new play about the early life of an endlessly fascinating character and her path from confusion to discovery, failure to success.
La Jolla Playhouse |
Thursday, March 19
| NOON | Art Exhibition: Aladino Ghioni An exclusive exhibition featuring 40 paintings of acclaimed Italian surrealist painter Aladino Ghioni [aladinoghioni.com] known for his expressive use of color, layered texture, and surrealist interpretations of classical themes, will be presented at Petra Stone.
At age 90, Ghioni remains one of Italy’s most respected living artists. His work has been showcased by many of the world’s leading cultural institutions, and his paintings are held in prominent museum and cathedral collections throughout Italy. In recent years, he has focused primarily on personal portraiture and commissioned works for private collectors. Ghioni’s art is permanently installed in several notable churches in Italy, including the Basilica of San Zeno in Verona, the Basilica of Saint Mary of the Assumption in Montecatini Terme, and the Duomo of San Lorenzo in Pescantina. These installations required extensive authorization from ecclesiastical authorities and Italy’s Soprintendenza delle Belle Arti, underscoring both the quality and cultural significance of his work.
Throughout his distinguished career, Ghioni has earned numerous honors, including the Golden Palette in Milan, the Gold Medal of the Senate of the Republic in Rome, recognition from the American Embassy, and awards from art institutions throughout Italy and abroad. His paintings have been featured in leading art publications, newspapers, and film productions.
Petra Stone |
| 4:15 PM | 33rd San Diego Latino Film Festival Bienvenidos! Media Arts Center San Diego is proud to announce our 33rd San Diego Latino Film Festival, March 18 - 22, 2026
Beyond the screen, SDLFF 2026 comes alive with a vibrant lineup of cultural experiences – from live music and immersive art exhibitions to culinary celebrations that honor the bold flavors and traditions of Latino culture. From Opening Night to the festival’s closing celebrations, these events create a festive, community-driven atmosphere where storytelling, culture, and connection united.
Film Schedule
AMC Mission Valley/Digital Gym Cinema |
| 7:00 PM | Film: C’è ancora domani (There's Still Tomorrow) In this moving comedic drama set in postwar Rome, a working-class woman dreams of a better future for herself and her daughter while facing abuse at the hands of her patriarchal husband. When a mysterious letter arrives, she discovers the courage to change the circumstances of her life. A wonderful movie with brave women as main characters, and a box office phenomenon, also winner of six David di Donatello Awards.
La Paloma Theatre |
| 7:30 PM | Stage: The Recipe Before Julia Child became the TV personality that we all know, she careened from Pasadena to New York to Washington D.C. to Ceylon and finally to Paris’s famed Cordon Bleu cooking school. A funny and delicious new play about the early life of an endlessly fascinating character and her path from confusion to discovery, failure to success.
La Jolla Playhouse |
Friday, March 20
| 4:15 PM | 33rd San Diego Latino Film Festival Bienvenidos! Media Arts Center San Diego is proud to announce our 33rd San Diego Latino Film Festival, March 18 - 22, 2026
Beyond the screen, SDLFF 2026 comes alive with a vibrant lineup of cultural experiences – from live music and immersive art exhibitions to culinary celebrations that honor the bold flavors and traditions of Latino culture. From Opening Night to the festival’s closing celebrations, these events create a festive, community-driven atmosphere where storytelling, culture, and connection united.
Film Schedule
AMC Mission Valley/Digital Gym Cinema |
| 7:30 PM | Stage: The Recipe Before Julia Child became the TV personality that we all know, she careened from Pasadena to New York to Washington D.C. to Ceylon and finally to Paris’s famed Cordon Bleu cooking school. A funny and delicious new play about the early life of an endlessly fascinating character and her path from confusion to discovery, failure to success.
La Jolla Playhouse |
| Music: Oghlan Bakshi The Center for World Music presents Oghlan Bakshi in concert. Step into the ancient musical world of Turkmenistan with Mohammad Geldi Geldi Nejad, known by the honorific Oghlan Bakhshi, roughly translated as “prodigious child bard.” In this rare solo performance, he brings to life a centuries-old tradition of dutar (two-string lute) playing and bardic singing passed down through generations of nomadic storytellers. His strumming evokes the galloping rhythms of horses across the steppes, while his guttural vocal ornamentation conveys the full range of nomadic emotions—from love and longing to sorrow and heroic struggle.
La Jolla Community Center |
Saturday, March 21
| 9:00 AM | SDUSD Indian Ed Youth & Social Powwow Join us for the Youth & Social Powwow 2026 — a powerful day of culture, community, and youth celebration!
San Diego Miramar College |
| 10:00 AM | Fangaea 2026 FANGAEA 2026 is coming Saturday, March 21, 2026! Where fan worlds collide and there is something awesome for everyone! You are invited you to be a part of the Awesomest Pop Culture and Fandom Convention - the SEVENTH Annual Fangaea (fan-JEE-uh)! Meet up with your posse and make new friends at the Fangaea family friendly fandom festivities! Sci fi, steampunk, comics, cosplay, art, video games, escape room, vendors, martial arts, virtual reality, and much more! We have something for everyone - Fangaea is where Fandoms join forces for fun!
Handlery Hotel |
| NOON | Ticitozaá Folklorico Dance Festival The Ticitozaá Folklorico Dance Festival is a vibrant celebration of traditional Mexican dance and culture. Attendees can expect to be dazzled by the colorful costumes, energetic performances, and the rich history of folkloric dance.
California Center for the Arts |
| 33rd San Diego Latino Film Festival Bienvenidos! Media Arts Center San Diego is proud to announce our 33rd San Diego Latino Film Festival, March 18 - 22, 2026
Beyond the screen, SDLFF 2026 comes alive with a vibrant lineup of cultural experiences – from live music and immersive art exhibitions to culinary celebrations that honor the bold flavors and traditions of Latino culture. From Opening Night to the festival’s closing celebrations, these events create a festive, community-driven atmosphere where storytelling, culture, and connection united.
Film Schedule
AMC Mission Valley/Digital Gym Cinema |
| 2:00 PM | Stage: The Recipe Before Julia Child became the TV personality that we all know, she careened from Pasadena to New York to Washington D.C. to Ceylon and finally to Paris’s famed Cordon Bleu cooking school. A funny and delicious new play about the early life of an endlessly fascinating character and her path from confusion to discovery, failure to success.
La Jolla Playhouse |
| Stage: SIX! (Teen Edition) From Tudor Queens to Pop Icons, the SIX wives of Henry VIII take the mic to reclaim their identities out of the shadow of their infamous spouse, remixing five hundred years of historical heartbreak into a Euphoric Celebration of 21st-century girl power.
Canyon Crest Academy |
| 3:00 PM | Opera: Giulio Cesare The epic Baroque opera about the love story which shaped empires! George Frideric Handel’s opera “Giulio Cesare” (Italian for Julius Caesar) set London afire with its passionate music in 1723. In 2026, the drama and musical genius are coming to San Diego in Cinballera Entertainment’s dynamic production. Many consider this to be Handel’s greatest opera, if not the best opera of the Baroque period. An intrinsic component of its enduring popularity is its evocative subject matter, torn from one of ancient history’s most dramatic pages. When Roman general Julius Caesar conquers Egypt, he quickly finds himself conquered by the beautiful maiden Lydia. Little does he know that she is really Cleopatra, the brilliant Egyptian queen. Can romance and royal ambition survive the passion and devastation of war? This unique production honors tradition while creatively incorporating classical ballet to convey the intricate story more dramatically
Shiley Theatre, USD |
| 4:00 PM | RefugeeNet Story Fest Our annual fundraiser, reimagined to deepen your encounter with the people, cultures, food, song, and dance of those whom we serve! We're so excited to share that we've reimagined our annual fundraiser in order to deepen your encounter with the people, cultures, food, song, and dance of those whom we serve. We will be centering the stories of the families we've helped to resettle over the past year, inviting them to share what the first twelve months of life in San Diego has been like. It will be an unforgettable night! We hope you'll join us in celebrating the resilience of the human spirit together.
St. Luke's Episcopal Church |
| 7:00 PM | Music: Gypsy Jazz & Brazilian Choro Two world-class guitarists unite Brazilian Choro and Django-style Gypsy jazz into a fiery, elegant, and wildly virtuosic evening
Paper Moon Event Hall |
| Music: Enjambre Enjambre is a Mexican indie rock band. It is composed of brothers Luis Humberto, Rafael, and Julián Navejas, their cousin Isaac Navejas, and Ángel Sánchez.
The Observatory |
| Ticitozaá Folklorico Dance Festival The Ticitozaá Folklorico Dance Festival is a vibrant celebration of traditional Mexican dance and culture. Attendees can expect to be dazzled by the colorful costumes, energetic performances, and the rich history of folkloric dance.
California Center for the Arts |
| 8:00 PM | Stage: The Recipe Before Julia Child became the TV personality that we all know, she careened from Pasadena to New York to Washington D.C. to Ceylon and finally to Paris’s famed Cordon Bleu cooking school. A funny and delicious new play about the early life of an endlessly fascinating character and her path from confusion to discovery, failure to success.
La Jolla Playhouse |
Sunday, March 22
| 11:00 AM | House of Iran Lawn Program The House of Iran lawn program begins with the usual speeches and National anthem, followed by a musical program. Professional dancers from Los Angeles and dancers from the local Persian Dance Academy will perform some of their traditional ethnic and folk dances in their authentic costumes. In addition, there will be reading of poems plus singing and playing of instruments.
International Cottages |
| NOON | Ticitozaá Folklorico Dance Festival The Ticitozaá Folklorico Dance Festival is a vibrant celebration of traditional Mexican dance and culture. Attendees can expect to be dazzled by the colorful costumes, energetic performances, and the rich history of folkloric dance.
California Center for the Arts |
| 33rd San Diego Latino Film Festival Bienvenidos! Media Arts Center San Diego is proud to announce our 33rd San Diego Latino Film Festival, March 18 - 22, 2026
Beyond the screen, SDLFF 2026 comes alive with a vibrant lineup of cultural experiences – from live music and immersive art exhibitions to culinary celebrations that honor the bold flavors and traditions of Latino culture. From Opening Night to the festival’s closing celebrations, these events create a festive, community-driven atmosphere where storytelling, culture, and connection united.
Film Schedule
AMC Mission Valley/Digital Gym Cinema |
| 3:00 PM | Opera: Giulio Cesare The epic Baroque opera about the love story which shaped empires! George Frideric Handel’s opera “Giulio Cesare” (Italian for Julius Caesar) set London afire with its passionate music in 1723. In 2026, the drama and musical genius are coming to San Diego in Cinballera Entertainment’s dynamic production. Many consider this to be Handel’s greatest opera, if not the best opera of the Baroque period. An intrinsic component of its enduring popularity is its evocative subject matter, torn from one of ancient history’s most dramatic pages. When Roman general Julius Caesar conquers Egypt, he quickly finds himself conquered by the beautiful maiden Lydia. Little does he know that she is really Cleopatra, the brilliant Egyptian queen. Can romance and royal ambition survive the passion and devastation of war? This unique production honors tradition while creatively incorporating classical ballet to convey the intricate story more dramatically
Shiley Theatre, USD |
| Performance: Doodle POP A mischievous duo starts to doodle… and ends up creating a whole imaginative world! What will happen as we follow their vivid drawings into this beautiful watery world? From BRUSH Theatre in South Korea, this touching and playful non-verbal show uses live musicians who perform the accompanying score and sound effects, stunning interactive animation projections and live whiteboard drawings, and an abundance of theatrical imagination.
Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center |
| 5:00 PM | Ticitozaá Folklorico Dance Festival The Ticitozaá Folklorico Dance Festival is a vibrant celebration of traditional Mexican dance and culture. Attendees can expect to be dazzled by the colorful costumes, energetic performances, and the rich history of folkloric dance.
California Center for the Arts |
Tuesday, March 24
| 9:00 AM | Workshop: Sword Casting Class The class begins with my teaching about Bronze Age history, the beginning of metallurgy, and the story of several swords. Next, everyone chooses their sword and I’ll demonstrate how to make sand casts. Afterwards, everyone gets to work making their molds and I circulate around helping. If you’d like to prep for class a bit, you can hear much of my information about Bronze Age history on my first appearance of How To Make Everything.
TBA |
| 4:30 PM | Stage: SIX! (Teen Edition) From Tudor Queens to Pop Icons, the SIX wives of Henry VIII take the mic to reclaim their identities out of the shadow of their infamous spouse, remixing five hundred years of historical heartbreak into a Euphoric Celebration of 21st-century girl power.
Canyon Crest Academy |
| 5:30 PM | Music: Kourosh Taghavi Enjoy a free concert of classical Persian music at Del Mar Library featuring master musician Kourosh Taghavi.Through the delicate tones of the setar and the poetry that inspires his work, Kourosh weaves a captivating performance of improvisation, storytelling, and musical dialogue—inviting audiences into a meditative and emotionally rich journey through one of the world’s great musical traditions.
Del Mar Library |
Wednesday, March 25
| 7:00 PM | Stage: SIX! (Teen Edition) From Tudor Queens to Pop Icons, the SIX wives of Henry VIII take the mic to reclaim their identities out of the shadow of their infamous spouse, remixing five hundred years of historical heartbreak into a Euphoric Celebration of 21st-century girl power.
Canyon Crest Academy |
Thursday, March 26
| 6:00 PM | Soirée en Egypte: Music & Flavors of Egypt Indulge in an elegant evening celebrating our 5th Soirée Francophone, highlighting Egypt this year, set against a stunning view of San Diego Bay.
Savor a night of culture, flavors, and sophistication at our Soirée en Égypte. Guests will enjoy a traditional dinner (menu below), accompanied by live music and a singing performance by guest star Yasmina El-Abd.
Secure your place with our early-bird tickets—availability is limited for this exclusive event.
Dress code: Cocktail attire
An Egyptian and award-winning actress and singer whose career spans music, television, and cinema, Yasmina El-Abd gained international recognition through her role in the Netflix series Finding Ola. As a singer, she performed at the prestigious Grand Egyptian Museum Opening in Cairo. She represents a new generation of artists sharing modern Egyptian storytelling and creativity with the world and appeared on the Forbes Middle East 30 under 30 list.
Yasmina embodies a unique fusion of cultures and serves as an excellent ambassador for the Francophonie as she is Egyptian and Swiss.
Tower Beach Club |
| 7:00 PM | Film: Rapito (Kidnapped) In 1858, in the Jewish quarter of Bologna, the Pope’s soldiers burst into the home of the Mortara family. By order of the cardinal, they have come to take Edgardo, their seven-year-old son. The child had been secretly baptized by his nurse as a baby and the papal law is unquestionable: he must receive a Catholic education. Edgardo’s parents, distraught, will do anything to get their son back. Supported by public opinion and the international Jewish community, the Mortaras’ struggle quickly takes a political dimension. But the Church and the Pope will not agree to return the child, to consolidate an increasingly wavering power...
Digital Gym Cinema |
Friday, March 27
| 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 |
Saturday, March 28
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Stage: 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: Drum Tao Back by popular demand, Drum Tao combines traditional Japanese taiko drumming with acrobatics and stunning visuals, creating a dynamic performance that captivates audiences and transcends cultural boundaries.
Poway OnStage |
| 7:00 PM | Stage: 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 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 |
| Music: Drum Tao Back by popular demand, Drum Tao combines traditional Japanese taiko drumming with acrobatics and stunning visuals, creating a dynamic performance that captivates audiences and transcends cultural boundaries.
Poway OnStage |
Tuesday, March 31
| 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 |
Wednesday, April 1
| 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 |
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The True True Story of Raja the Gullible
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Instrumental Music from Lebanon
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