Activities for Kids

San Diego Kids Weekend Events: May 13-15

Lace up your sneakers! There are festivals, theater shows, and superhero 5ks that you won't want to miss.

By Aimee Della Bitta April 4, 2022

It’s the weekend! If you’re ready to kick back and be entertained, you’re in luck. The events happening throughout the city are revved up (we’re looking at you, Hot Rods and Cool Treats) and ready to go. From the Fern Street Circus to The Miracle Babies Superhero 5k, here are the most happening kid-centric events in town this weekend. And, don’t miss the last chance to see The Lightning Thief at Junior Theater before the curtain closes!

Hot Rods & Cool Treats
The City of Carlsbad is bringing back the past at the Hot Rods & Cool Treats carnival and classic car show so grab the family and come on out for some good old-fashioned fun. Enjoy vintage carnival games, a build your own sundae ice cream bar and live performances. You can also vote on your favorite classic car! Don’t miss this free event. Sat. Event details.

KPBS Event: Peg & Cat
KPBS and The San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum are teaming up for a special event. Kiddos will have an opportunity to meet Peg and Cat and participate in problem-solving through teamwork and math. There will be socially-distanced photo opportunities, special crafts, storytimes and literacy-based activities all across the museum. Don’t miss it! Fri. Event details.

Miracle Babies Superhero 5K
The 14th Annual Miracle Babies Superhero 5K  is encouraging all to grab their superhero cape and fly on over to run or walk 3.1 miles in support of families with hospitalized infants and perinatal mental health. The event includes a 5K run at 8 am, followed by a family-friendly 5K walk at 9 am, perfect for all skill levels. All participants are encouraged to dress up as their favorite superhero! In addition to the 5K course, the event includes a diaper and dog dash, merchant and resource fair, food trucks, games, crafts, exotic cars, superheroes and more. Four-legged furry friends are encouraged to participate as “Paw Walkers” and compete in a “Doggie Dash.” Along with this furry companion race, Miracle Babies will host a “Diaper Dash” for excited parents interested in a friendly baby crawling competition. Sun. Event details.

Tea at The Westgate Hotel
Celebrate Mother’s Day a little bit longer with tea at The Westgate Hotel. Make memories abound in a chic moment of escape complete with petite gourmet tea sandwiches, pastries, a glass of champagne, and delectable macaroons for mom to take home. Mother’s Day Tea in the Grand Lobby will take place May 12 – Sunday, May 15 from 2:30 p.m. – 5 p.m. Reservations are recommended. Thurs-Sun. Event details.

The Lightning Thief at Junior Theater
It’s the last weekend to attend a showing of The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical. Normal is a myth when you’re a demigod. The Greek gods are real and they’re ruining Percy Jackson’s life. As a son of Poseidon, Percy has newly discovered powers he can’t control. With monsters on his trail, he is on an epic quest to find Zeus’s lightning bolt to prevent a war between the gods. Based on the best-selling novel by Rick Riordan, The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical is an action-packed theatrical adventure that will rock your world. ASL-Interpreted performance 2pm, Saturday, May 14, 2022. Fri.-Sun. Event details.

Fern Street Circus
Join Fern Street Circus for its Spring Neighborhood Tour, which includes a series of free public performances at various parks and community centers around San Diego’s mid-city neighborhoods, showcasing the talents of professional circus artists and musicians from around the world alongside students from Fern Street Circus’s free after-school program in City Heights. With a theme of “Come Out! Come Out,” the multi-generational shows feature bilingual ringmaster Memo Mendez, live music, and a variety of circus acts, including juggling, clowning, contortion, and tumbling, tightwire, puppetry, and more. The global cast includes professional circus artists from Guinea, Ethiopia, Colombia, Chile, the United Kingdom, and Canada. All shows are free and open to the public. All ages are welcome, and no tickets are required. Sat.&Sun. Event details.