13 Can't-Miss Events In SoCal Before Winter Ends

The 2026 events calendar in Southern California is springing to life as winter makes its final push.

The 40-day Lenten season began with Ash Wednesday, and fish fry feeds fill the calendar on Fridays for the rest of February through March.

These events are in addition to the 13 we've rounded up to fill out your February calendar.

Are you planning an event for late winter or early spring? Feature it, so nearby readers see it all across Patch — including in roundups like this!

Here are our picks for the next couple of weeks:

Animal Crossing Aquarium Tour

• When: Through March 26
• Where: Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego, La Jolla
• What: The Animal Crossing Aquarium Tour features themed activities throughout the aquarium, including a photo opportunity featuring characters from the Animal Crossing: New Horizons game.

Cinderella: A Salsa Fairy Tale

• When: Feb. 20-March 8
• Where: South Coast Repertory, Costa Mesa
• What: The classic fairy tale gets a modern makeover as a bouncy, bilingual musical.

Circus Vargas

• When: Feb. 20-March 8
• Where: Westfield Plaza Bonita, National City
• What: This two-hour family-friendly show features world-renowned artists, aerialists, acrobats, comedians, daredevils and more.

Knott's Peanuts Celebration

• When: Feb. 21-22
• Where: Knott's Berry Farm, Buena Park
• What: The family-friendly event celebrates the beloved Peanuts characters. Parkgoers can step inside the pages of a Charles M. Schulz comic strip as the Peanuts characters take over the park.

Los Angeles Chinatown Firecracker

• When: Feb. 28-March 1
• Where: Chinatown Central Plaza, Los Angeles
• What: The L.A. Chinatown Firecracker is one of the largest and oldest running races in the country, with its Lunar New Year run, walk, cycling and dog walk events taking place over the weekend from the historic Los Angeles Chinatown Plaza.

Lunar New Year Celebration

• When: Feb. 21-22
• Where: South Coast Botanic Garden, Palos Verdes Estates
• Details: The celebration offers interactive stations, a wishing tree and Zodiac Stroll, and a new dragon walk and morning tai chi class. Other highlights include include lion dancers, martial artists, folk dancers, drummers, specialty foods and hand-mixed cocktails.

Mardi Gras

• When: Feb. 21-22
• Where: SeaWorld San Diego, San Diego
• What: Celebrate the spirit of carnival with a parade, live music, colorful costumes, and Creole and Cajun food.

Marinelli Bros. Circus

• When: Feb. 25-March 9
• Where: Plaza West Covina, West Covina
• What: The two-hour family-friendly show offers jaw-dropping stunts, soaring aerialists and world-class performers, according to the website.

OC Home and Garden Show

• When: Feb. 21-22
• Where: OC Fair and Event Center, The Hangar, Costa Mesa
• What: The OC Home and Garden Show offers various activities, DIY seminars, hourly prizes and vendors that feature reclaimed, sustainable, reimagined and power- or water-saving products.

Palm Desert Greek Festival

• When: Feb. 21-22
• Where: Saint George Greek Orthodox Church, Palm Desert
• What: The 29th annual festival features Greek music and dancing, food and drinks, games and a kids' zone.

Seven Seas Food Festival

• When: Feb. 27-April 26
• Where: SeaWorld San Diego, San Diego
• What: This year's menu features more than 150 food and drink options inspired by dishes from around the world.

Sugar Plum Arts and Crafts Festival

• When: Feb. 27-March 1
• Where: OC Fair and Event Center, Los Alamitos Building, Costa Mesa
• What: Sugar Plum is the biggest family-owned arts and crafts show in Southern California. They offer thousands of handmade crafts from more than 175 artisans.

World Wildlife Day Community Celebration

• When: Feb. 28
• Where: Newport Beach Civic Center Community Room, Newport Beach
• What: The event features an art and fashion exhibit, a mini fashion show, an interactive painting and pollinator planting in the park, youth and community art, wildlife talks, conservation exhibitors, and a monarch butterfly presentation.