SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — The weekend before Fat Tuesday is full of Mardi Gras fun in San Diego.
Saturday revelers can jump into the Big Easy Bites & Booze Tour in the Gaslamp District, the Cajun Festival in Vista, or bar hop downtown for more Mardi Gras fun.
There are plenty of educational opportunities around town, with Museum Month in full swing, and special exhibits at the Fleet Science Center, San Diego Art Institute, and San Diego Automotive Museum.
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And the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters stop into San Diego for a night of high-flying dunks and incredible skill on the court.
THURSDAY
Illumination: 21st Century Interactions with Art + Science + Technology
Where: San Diego Art Institute; Cost: Free
The San Diego Art Institute hosts a free exhibit featuring an interactive show created by 26 artists. Guests will experience art through light, sound, metal, textiles, soundscapes, and more. The exhibits will walk visitors through issues like climate change, global health, and sustainability through art.
That '70s Car Show
Where: San Diego Automotive Museum; Cost: $6 - $12
(Thursday - Sunday) Check out the defining era of automobiles that was the 1970s in a new exhibit at the San Diego Automotive Museum. From social changes to political upheaval to technology, the 70s had a profound impact on the automotive industry and U.S. manufacturing. See how the past's innovations fueled what we drive today.
FRIDAY
San Diego Gaslamp Mardi Gras bar hop
Where: Gaslamp District; Cost: Starting at $35
(Friday - Saturday) Celebrate Fat Tuesday and Mardi Gras in San Diego with access to 20 Gaslamp area bars and restaurants, drink specials and welcome drinks, live music, after-parties, and more over multiple nights.
Museum Month
Where: Various locations; Cost: Prices vary
(Saturday - Sunday) Throughout the month of February, San Diegans and visitors can pick up a special, free pass to save 50 percent at more than 40 museums throughout the city. Museums like the Fleet Science Center, Maritime Museum, San Diego Air & Space Museum, Natural History Museum, and many more are participating in the special month.
SATURDAY
Cajun Festival
Where: Ebullition Brew Works; Cost: Free
Head over to Ebullition Brew Works in Vista for a day of Mardi Gras celebrations with Cajun food; a costume contest for adults, kids, and dogs; and live music from The Bayou Brothers.
Big Easy Bites & Booze Tour
Where: Gaslamp District; Cost: $25
San Diego's Big Easy Bites & Booze Tour serves up New Orleans-inspired eats and cocktails throughout the Gaslamp District, with beads, Carnival music and dancing, and entertainment at every stop. The self-guided stroll gets ticket holders more than dishes and drinks at participating bars and restaurants.
Tidepooling adventures
Where: Birch Aquarium; Cost: $15 - $18
Sign up to hit the tidepools at Birch Aquarium, where trained naturalists will walk guests through how to tread lightly over tidepools to discover and learn about the variety of life teeming on our shores.
SUNDAY
Daybreaker SD
Where: Quartyard; Cost: $25
Daybreaker SD is leading a dance party in the heart of downtown, waking up Sunday with several DJs placing live music, free kombucha, breakfast bites, concert, and entertainment.
IMAX Film Festival
Where: Fleet Science Center; Cost: $19.95 -$21.95
Fleet Science Center is hosting a day of Earth's wonders in glorious IMAX, with films reaching into the depths of the ocean, vast forest escapes, and fiery volcanoes during their IMAX Film Festival showcase.
Harlem Globetrotters
Where: Pechanga Arena; Cost: $28 - $133
The limits of basketball have yet to be met and the Harlem Globetrotters always show just that. This weekend they head to Pechanga Arena to demonstrate their unbelievable skills on the court, high-flying antics, and record-breaking attempts in a family-friendly showcase.
