The Carlsbad Street Faire and Other Events To Attend This Weekend

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 Carlsbad and beyond during the week of April 28 through May 4.

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

But the big county-wide enviro clean-up on Saturday, and the Carlsbad Street Faire? 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.

CLOSE TO HOME

• Where/when: Rear of the Brooks Theater, N. Tremont Street and Pier View Way, Oceanside, 6 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday.

• Why Go: The California Surf Museum and the Longboard Collectors Club
  offer up vintage items, including surfboards, memorabilia and collectibles.  Proceeds from the museum booth support museum programs.

• Price: Free.

• Where/when: San Dieguito United Methodist Church, 170 Calle Magdalenda, Encinitas, 8:30 a.m. Saturday.

• Why Go: Benefit a microloan program and the firefighters association, as the rescuers themselves dish up pancakes and sausage for participants. Skateboarding demonstrations are on tap as well.

• Price: $5-$10.

• Where/when: Mira Costa College, San Elijo campus, 3333 Manchester Ave., Cardiff, 10 a.m. Saturday

• Why Go: The Encinitas Garden Festival and Tour features a walking tour of private gardens and a free marketplace for strolling vendor booths.

• Price: $25, general, if purchased day of the event; discounts available if purchased at local nurseries beforehand.

• Where/when: Frazee Beach, Pine Avenue and Carlsbad Boulevard; South Carlsbad State Beach, parking lot just before La Costa Avenue, and Tamarack State Beach, at lot at end of Tamarack Avenue, Carlsbad, 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: Grand Avenue from Carlsbad Boulevard to Jefferson Street, Carlsbad, 8 a.m. Sunday.

• Why Go: The city hosts the Carlsbad Village Street Faire in the spring and fall. It features more than 900 vendors, a children's area and a pancake breakfast to start the day off right.

• Price: Free.

• Where/when: St. Elizabeth Seton Church, 6628 Santa Isabel St., Carlsbad, 2 p.m. Sunday.

• Why Go: The “Mainly Mozart” series presents five musicians performing Beethoven and Beach. Guess that's why they say “mainly.”

• Price: $25.

BEST BETS, A LITTLE FARTHER OUT

A CITY FILTHY WITH FESTS

• Where/when: Old Town, Mason Street and San Juan Street; Little Italy, India Street and Date Street, and Normal Heights, Adams Avenue and 35th Street, San Diego, Saturday and Sunday.

• Why Go: San Diego has festival-friendly weather most of the year, but the season kicks off in earnest this weekend as the city celebrates ,  and the . Take the San Diego Trolley between Old Town and Little Italy and do two fests in one day.

• Price: Free.

• Where/when: Vista Buddhist Temple, 150 Cedar Rd., Vista, noon, Saturday and Sunday.

• Why Go: The temple marks the birth of Buddha, the prince who shed his material goods to seek enlightenment, with the Hanamatsuri Bazaar, featuring music, games and martial arts demonstrations.

• Price: Free.