Sunday, May 27, 2012 – Vista Hosts Annual Strawberry Festival
Looking for something to do this Memorial Day Weekend? Take the family to the Vista Strawberry Festival!
The Vista Strawberry Festival is the only festival in San Diego County that celebrates all the joys and pleasure of the Strawberry. Vista was once the “Strawberry Capital of the World” and still boasts many strawberry fields. This annual Festival & Street Fair draws thousands of visitors each year to delectable events which features vendors selling arts & crafts, jewelry, clothing and business services. Downtown Vista will be filled with over 200 booths offering shopping experiences as well as many strawberry delights, live entertainment, and a kid’s fun zone. This year’s Strawberry Festival will also include athletic competitions, carnival rides, a strawberry pie eating contest, a beauty contest and a “Best Strawberry Dress” costume contest.
Free Ride on the Sprinter, Coaster and Breeze – Buy one ticket and bring a friend for free to any destination served by the Sprinter, Coaster and Breeze on May 26 and May 27, 2012. Why not take transit to the Vista Strawberry Festival and avoid the hassle of parking at the area’s most popular, family-friendly spring events?
The Vista Strawberry Festival 2012 takes place on Sunday, May 27, 2012 from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm in Downtown Vista. This is a free, family friendly event.
May 19, 2012 – Experience the Wild West at Leo Carrillo Ranch in Carlsbad
The City of Carlsbad celebrates Native American culture on Saturday, May 19, 2012 at the Wild West Fest 2012. Guests at this free, family friendly event will enjoy war, eagle and hoop dancing demonstrations, crafts, pony rides, a salsa tasting contest and an adventure activity card which will take you through Native American themed activities and projects.
Salsa Making Contest - Think you’ve got the best homemade salsa this side of the border? Enter the salsa making contest and find out! Fill out an entry form (available by phone or email, see website for details) and bring 1 gallon of your best homemade salsa and whatever you need to spruce up your table – bowls, ladles, chips, tasting cups and napkins will be provided. Entry in the contest is free, and winners will be awarded in the following categories: Best Salsa, Best Presentation, Funniest Presentation, Best Fruit Salsa, Hottest Salsa and Most Unique.
Free Parking - Free Parking to the Wild West Fest is available at the Carrillo Elementary School. Park you car for free and enter the Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park through the school field. Special Event Parking will also be available from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm on the north side of Carrillo Way starting at Flying L.C. Lane to Rancho Caballo; the south side of Carrillo Way will remain a “no parking” zone.
The Wild West Fest 2012 takes place on Saturday, May 19, 2012 from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm at the Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park in Carlsbad, CA. Admission to this family friendly event is free; some activities require purchase of an activity card.
May 20, 2012 – Free, Family Friendly Street Festival in North Park
The North Park Festival of the Arts returns on Sunday, May 20, 2012 with another year of family friendly fun! Now in its 16th year, this free outdoor street festival has grown into a local tradition embracing a diverse line-up of bands, dancers and artists into one marathon day of performances spread across five stages.
Being on forefront of the art scene, the North Park Festival of the Arts celebrates all types of art forms in its Juried Arts Area with over 40 artists showcasing everything from elaborate paintings to metal sculptures. Over 35,000 friends and families will come together in North Park to explore the historic and energetic neighborhood and take in the sights and sound of artisans from over 150 specialty booths, who will be showcasing amazing arts from every possible medium. Participants to this free interactive and educational festival will also be able to peruse the local merchants, creative crafters and hundreds of vendors.
In addition, the streets along University Avenue will be filled with the intoxicating aromas of international cuisines and the Craft Beer Block featuring a wide variety of rich and robust local and international brews (tickets must be purchased for Craft Beer Block; must be 21 years of age or older to enter). While festival goers satisfy their visual and taste palates, the exciting sounds coming from one of the five live music stages with San Diego’s hottest live bands, World Music groups, beat-boxers and even exciting and colorful dance troupes will keep their hips shaking all day long! There’s even a Kids Art Beat area where children can engage in numerous free, interactive arts activities designed to stimulate and inspire their imaginations to create their own masterpieces.
Free Parking and Free Bike Valet Service
Free Parking – In addition to street parking in and around North Park, free parking will be available all day on Sunday, May 20, 2012 at the large parking garage located at the intersection of 29th Street and North Park Way (3829 29th St San Diego, CA 92104-3670).
Free Bike Valet – To help decrease parking congestion during the Festival, free bicycle valet will be available to Festival goers. The free Bike Valet will be available from 30th Street & University Avenue, in front of Home Mercantile.
The North Park Festival of the Arts takes place on Sunday, May 20, 2012 from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm in the North Park area of San Diego (near University Avenue and 30th Street). The Festival is a free, family friendly event; the Craft Beer Block is offered at an additional fee and is open to guests 21 years of age and older only. Click on the above link for more information about the entertainment line up, to order tickets to the Craft Beer Block and for general information about the North Park Festival of the Arts.
Family Open Studios are free, hands-on art making workshops designed for the whole family. Presented in conjunction with exhibitions at the William D. Cannon Art Gallery, each Family Open Studio event allows guests to view the current exhibition in the Gallery, create works of art in the courtyard based on the Gallery exhibition and then take the finished project home to enjoy.
Here is a list of upcoming Family Open Studio events for 2012. Each event takes place from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm:
Saturday, May 19, 2012 – Joe Brubaker: The Exquisite Garden
Saturday, August 18, 2012 – Public Artists, Private Works
Saturday, November 17, 2012* – Full Deck: A Short History of Skate Art (*PLUS program, which will include a free performing arts event at the Schulman Auditorium at 11:45 am and 1:15 pm)
Family Open Studios take place in the Carlsbad Dove Library Complex located at 1775 Dove Lane, Carlsbad, CA. All workshop materials are provided free of charge and each family friendly event is free and open to the public.
May 20, 2012 – New Children’s Museum Hosts A Musical, Trash-Filled Birthday Celebration
The San Diego New Children’s Museum (“NCM”) is turning four! To celebrate the event, the Museum has planned a fun day full of music, trash and more! Taking place on Sunday, May 20, 2012, the NCM’s birthday bash festivities is free with general admission.
Birthday bash party-goers will experience a day of listening, building, and performing with sound projects based on trash and recycling, and work alongside artists, scientists, musicians and engineers to create original musical compositions. Kids of all ages can perform in a music ensemble made from obsolete computers, build contact microphones and turn trash cans into electric drums.
Visitors to NCM have been both delighted and surprised by the Cash Machine, a creative engineering feat designed and installed by Los Angeles-based artist collective, Machine Project. This fundraising device, some say a cross between a drive up bank teller and a vacuum cleaner, literally comes to life when a visitor makes a contribution. Now, the amazing minds that brought NCM the Cash Machine return to take over the galleries, studios, and park for a celebration of trash, music and NCM’s 4th birthday!
Machine Project will transform the entire Museum into a percussion device! Highlights include:
Waste Wind Chimes: This instrument building workshop lets guests create beautiful sounding wind chimes from trash materials that can be played individually or in chorus with others. NCM’s outdoor patio will resound with the clinking and clanging of this collective wind chime sculpture.
Tin Can Phone Tap: Talk, sing, or laugh with a friend in this giant game of telephone that sends your voice across the Museum’s galleries! You can even record your voice over the line, and hear it played back on the Cricket Wireless Lower Level.
Computer Stethoscope: Discover the strange sounds hidden inside discarded electronics. Visitors will use stethoscopes to perform a sound analysis and explore outdated technology.
Parental Den of Child Catharsis: Relax in the parental den and listen to the remixed sound-scapes of trash music played by children in the galleries.
In addition to Machine Project’s performances and workshops, guests of the NCM birthday bash can play NCM-style birthday party games in the Museum’s park! Participate in a free fun-filled lineup of games to win special prizes. Party Games include:
Museum Musical Chairs: Dance around to live music and play NCM’s super-sized musical chairs!
Break the CakePiñata Party: Take a swing at NCM’s artist-made piñata!
Chalk Mural: Can you draw with your eyes closed? Collaborate on a massive birthday-party chalk mural, and draw birthday candles to “pin the candle on the cake!”
The San Diego New Children’s Museum Birthday Bash featuring Musical Trash and Machine Project takes place on Sunday, May 20, 2012 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. This family friendly event is free with general admission to the museum.
Happy 4th Birthday, NCM!
Editor’s Note: Want a sneak peak of what Machine Project’s incredible events are all about? This collaborative group of innovative artists and performers have staged one-of-a-kind events for all ages at other prestigious institutions such as the Getty, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and the Hammer Museum. Check out the videos below for a sneak peak of what these incredible events are all about:
Pirates and Lifeguards Take Aim at Each Other as Water Cannons Arrive to Pirate Reef at Legoland California!
A battle took place at Legoland California yesterday as Lifeguards from Legoland Water Park and Pirates from Pirate Shores tested water cannons for the first time for the family theme park’s new ride, Pirate Reef, opening May 25, 2012.
Guests of Legoland California and Legoland Water Park are invited to board boats and plunge 25 feet down a chute between two pirate ships and make a giant splash! The fun doesn’t stop there…equipped with 12 water cannons, guests can choose which ship to board and choose who they’d like to battle: Captain Blue Brick or Captain Red Brick.
“Experiencing great success with both our PirateShores attraction and LegolandWaterPark, we felt creating a pirate-themed splash down ride would be a great addition to our Park,” said Legoland California General Manager Peter Ronchetti. “Of course our Model Citizens (employees) take pride in each of their areas so it’s only natural for our Lifeguards and Pirates to want to take ownership of this new ride, but there is plenty of room for all to play.”
Situated in between the Legoland Water Park and Pirate Shores (and accessible from both areas), Pirate Reef features two massive pirate ships that stand 20 feet high and 40 feet long, a splash bridge that is sure to leave guests soaked and a pirate inspired brick building play area. Throughout Pirate Reef more than 30 pirate-themed Lego models, made up more than 223,000 Lego bricks, are featured including both Captain Red Brick and Captain Blue Brick, pirates, monkeys, parrots and more.
Stay tuned, the countdown has begun…Pirate Reef at Legoland California Resort is scheduled to open on May 25, 2012!
May 4 – 13, 2012: Happy Hour at Starbucks = Cheap Frappuccinos
Happy Hour at Starbucks is back! Enjoy a half price Frappuccino blended beverage at participating Starbucks Coffee Shops during the Starbucks Happy Hour from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm every day starting Friday, May 4 and ending Sunday, May 13, 2012.
Editor’s Note: Why not take Mom out for a coffee shop date on Mother’s Day? Mother’s Day (Sunday, May 13, 2012) falls during this Starbucks half price Frappuccino event. Don’t worry, we won’t tell her you got a great deal!
Sunday, May 13, 2012 – Mom Gets in for Free When You Buy a Ticket for Yourself
The Reuben H. Fleet Science Center makes it easier for you to show Mom how just how special she is on Mother’s Day this year (Sunday, May 13, 2012), with a special BOGO offer to their newest IMAX movie, To The Arctic. Take advantage of this Mother’s Day freebie while it lasts!
Mother’s Day Freebie – IMAX Movie at the Science Center
Moms receive free admission to the new IMAX film of love, family and hope on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 13 2012! Purchase one ticket for To The Arctic for any member of the family at full price and receive one ticket free for Mom to see the same show. Science Center Members may redeem an IMAX voucher in lieu of purchasing a ticket and will receive one ticket free for Mom to see the same show. As always, a ticket to an IMAX film includes general gallery admission to the Science Center, so plan to make a day of it!
About To The Arctic: Narrated by Oscar winner Meryl Streep, To The Arctic takes audiences on a never-before-experienced journey into the lives of a mother polar bear and her twin seven-month-old cubs as they navigate the changing Arctic wilderness they call home. Over the course of several days the mother polar bear allowed the film crew an unprecedented window into her life at close range – hunting, playing, nursing, and teaching her youngsters how to escape from danger, or stand their ground. To The Arctic is an extraordinary journey to the top of the world; the ultimate tale of survival. This movie delivers captivating, adventurous and intimate footage of one family’s struggle to survive in a frigid environment of melting ice, immense glaciers, spectacular waterfalls, and majestic snow-bound peaks.
The Fine Print: This Mother’s Day Freebie offer is available on Sunday, May 13, 2012 only; and only applies to the IMAX film To The Arctic. Tickets must be purchased in person at the ticket counter. Other restrictions apply.
The Reuben H. Fleet Science Center is located at 1875 El Prado, two blocks south of the San Diego Zoo on Park Boulevard.
May 4, 5 & 6, 2012: Old Town Celebrates Cinco de Mayo with the Largest Celebration North of the Border
The spiciest weekend of the year will be “hot, hot, hot” as Fiesta Old Town Cinco de Mayo expands from a two-day free festival to a three-day free festival extravaganza!
The 29th Annual Fiesta Old Town Cinco de Mayo will be going all out in 2012 by closing down the entire Historic Old Town area and transforming the streets into the largest Cinco de Mayo celebration north of the border on Friday, May 4, Saturday, May 5 and Sunday, May 6, 2012.
This free, family friendly Fiesta will feature three stages with live entertainment, over 40 bands, traditional ballet folklorico dancers, Lucha Libre performances, equestrian shows, a mercado with over 100 retail and food booths, a beer garden and Lowrider Lane! There will be something for everyone including a Children’s Area complete with fun carnival rides and games, entertainment, stage coach rides provided by Wells Fargo and an array of interactive activities where participants an learn about the history behind this beloved holiday. After so much excitement, visitors can appease their appetites by visiting over 15 delicious restaurants to enjoy zesty food and quench their thirsts with Margaritas and Corona & Corona Light specials.
Cinco de Mayo only lands on a Saturday every six years so don’t be left out this year as Old Town celebrates this three-day grand fiesta. The Cinco de Mayo Fiesta Old Town takes place in San Diego’s historic Old Town area on Friday, May 4, 2012 from 3:00 pm to 10:00 pm, Saturday, May 5, 2012 from 11:00 am to 10:00 pm and Sunday, May 6, 2012 from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. This is a free, family friendly event.
April 21, 2012 – Free Frozen Yogurt, T-Shirts and More at Menchie’s Carlsbad
The RandomSanDiego.com Deal Finders have found a great freebie for you! Take advantage of this deal for free frozen yogurt and more at Menchie’s Carlsbad while it lasts!
Free Frozen Yogurt at Menchie’s
To celebrate its one year anniversary in Carlsbad, the Carlsbad, CA location of Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt is offering several freebies on Saturday, April 21, 2012.
Here’s a list of the Menchie’s freebies and schedule for the day:
Free Frozen Yogurt (12:00 pm to 1:00 pm)
Free Gift Bags for the first 30 children (11:00 am)
Visit from Menchie
Free Face Painting (1:00 pm to 3:00 pm)
Free Children’s Color-In T-Shirts (3:00 pm to 5:00 pm)
Karaoke (6:00 pm to 8:00 pm)
Raffle with a Chance to Win a Menchie’s Gift Bag Valued at $100 (8:00 pm)
The Fine Print: These offers are valid on Saturday, April 21, 2012 at the Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt Carlsbad location only (5617 Paseo Del Norte, Suite 120, Carlsbad, CA 92008). The free frozen yogurt is for a single serving of up to 8 oz, one per guest. The free gift bags and free color-in t-shirts are one per child, while supplies last. You do not need to be present at the time of the drawing to win the raffle.
Salsa Making Contest - Think you’ve got the best homemade salsa this side of the border? Enter the salsa making contest and find out! Fill out an entry form (available by phone or email, see website for details) and bring 1 gallon of your best homemade salsa and whatever you need to spruce up your table – bowls, ladles, chips, tasting cups and napkins will be provided. Entry in the contest is free, and winners will be awarded in the following categories: Best Salsa, Best Presentation, Funniest Presentation, Best Fruit Salsa, Hottest Salsa and Most Unique.
Being on forefront of the art scene, the North Park Festival of the Arts celebrates all types of art forms in its Juried Arts Area with over 40 artists showcasing everything from elaborate paintings to metal sculptures. Over 35,000 friends and families will come together in North Park to explore the historic and energetic neighborhood and take in the sights and sound of artisans from over 150 specialty booths, who will be showcasing amazing arts from every possible medium. Participants to this free interactive and educational festival will also be able to peruse the local merchants, creative crafters and hundreds of vendors.
Here is a list of upcoming Family Open Studio events for 2012. Each event takes place from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm:
Waste Wind Chimes: This instrument building workshop lets guests create beautiful sounding wind chimes from trash materials that can be played individually or in chorus with others. NCM’s outdoor patio will resound with the clinking and clanging of this collective wind chime sculpture.
Happy Hour at Starbucks is back! Enjoy a half price Frappuccino blended beverage at participating Starbucks Coffee Shops during the 
The spiciest weekend of the year will be “hot, hot, hot” as Fiesta Old Town Cinco de Mayo expands from a two-day free festival to a three-day free festival extravaganza!
Cinco de Mayo only lands on a Saturday every six years so don’t be left out this year as Old Town celebrates this three-day grand fiesta. The 
