Bands, Cirque and a Renaissance Faire—All this Weekend

Spring has officially sprung, but for many people it's not really official until the first pitch on Opening Day. That happens Tuesday when the San Diego Padres face the San Francisco Giants at Petco Park, and the community will celebrate with a day-long festival leading up to game time. 

If sports isn't your bag, the arts might be, and local girl Stephanie Weiss does good this week, making her debut at the San Diego Opera in Der Rosenkavalier. Those are just two of your choices for fun, artsy and sporty things to do in Poway and beyond, from March 31-April 5.

Other events include a mythical space adventure touching down nearby, a major rowing competition in Mission Bay and a family noted for its guitar mastery.

Click the links for more details.

CLOSE TO HOME

• Where/when: Poway Center for the Performing Arts, 15498 Espola Rd, Poway, 8 a.m. Thursday.

• Why Go: Every high-school and middle-school band in the Poway Unified School District gets a shot at performing during the final day of this two-day showcase, the Spring Music Festival. 

• Price: Free, except for evening performances, where adults will be charged $5.

• Where/when: Poway Center for the Performing Arts, 15498 Espola Rd, 8 p.m. Saturday.

• Why Go: The Romero family has made skilled strumming their family trade for half a century. Now Pepe, a Del Mar resident, performs with brother Celin and nephews Celino and Lito.

• Price: $36-$42, with $5 tickets for children, with the purchase of one adult admission.

BEST BETS, A LITTLE FARTHER OUT

• Where/when: California Center for the Arts, 340 N. Escondido Blvd, Escondido, Thursday through Saturday.

• Why Go: Women's Week features a variety of events, from famed speakers and authors to workshops, banquets and exhibitors.

• Price: $25-$59 a day.

• Where/when: Legoland, 1 Legoland Dr., Carlsbad, Thursday.

• Why Go: The park's new Star Wars Mini-land opens, complete with replicas of famous scenes and characters from the ageless saga.

• Price: $59-69.

• Where/when: Valley View Casino Center, 3500 Sports Arena Blvd., San Diego, Thursday through Sunday.

• Why Go: Cirque du Soleil brings one of its nearly two dozen rotating shows to the former Sports Arena. Quidam unfurls as the dream of a misunderstood youngster.

• Price: $40-$110.

• Where/when: Crown Point in Mission Bay, San Diego, Friday through Sunday.

• Why Go: The San Diego Crew Classic drops anchor at Crown Point for three days, with music and other diversions provided for spectators, in addition to the races.

• Price: $5-$10; Friday is the free preview day.

• Where/when: Felicita Park, 742 Clarence Lane, Escondido, 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday.

• Why Go: Attend the Escondido Renaissance Faire for turkey legs the size of a child's wrist and throwback costumes and demonstrations. Continues April 9 and 10.

• Price: $8-$17 for one day or $11-$27 for the whole weekend, under age 4 free.

• Where/when: Lyceum Theatre, 79 Horton Plaza, San Diego, 7:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

• Why Go: Five local children and teens stood out in the California Young Playwrights Contest. Now their works will be performed, through April 10; a play by partners Kaylin Jeanne Greisen and Sydney Yockey, both 11 and of San Diego, will be among them.

• Price: $9-$20; $50 on opening night.

• Where/when: University of San Diego, 5998 Alcala Park, San Diego, 10 a.m. Sunday.

• Why Go: To tryout for the San Diego Chargers cheerleading team, so you can perform at Qualcomm Stadium and travel around the country. Meet at the Jenny Craig Pavilion on campus. 

• Price: Free.

• Where/when: San Diego Civic Theatre, 1200 Third Ave., San Diego, 2 p.m., Sunday.

• Why Go: To see the opening of Der Rosenkavalier, Strauss' epic tale of love and loss; soprano Stephanie Weiss, who attended La Jolla Country Day School, debuts with the San Diego Opera in the supporting role of Marianne.

• Price: $35-$195.

• Where/when: Petco Park, 100 Park Blvd., San Diego, Tuesday.

• Why Go: Make a day of baseball. The Padres kick off the 2011 season with a 3:35 p.m. game and the East Village community celebrates by holding a street fair starting at 11:30 a.m. 

• Price: Game, $5-$71, with limited availability; street fair, free.