Here are some of the best things to do this weekend in San Diego from Friday, Feb. 27 to Sunday, March 1.

Friday

Pokemon Day Extravaganza: The 30th anniversary of Pokemon will be the source of a celebration this weekend at the Central Library. Head to the IDEA Lab for prizes, a sewing project, a scavenger hunt and a terrarium craft. 1 to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Free. sandiego.librarymarket.com/event/celebrate-pokemon-day-356171

Circus: Circus Vargas is bringing a new production to National City. Masquerade is described by event organizers as a show that transports guests to an “alternate, other-worldly dimension.” Performances and stunts are delivered by international acrobats and clowns during music and light shows. After National City, the circus will move on to Escondido from March 13 to April 6, Temecula from April 10 to 27 and San Clemente from May 1 to 18. Friday through Monday, Wednesday through March 9. 3030 Plaza Bonita Road, National City. $25-$90. circusvargas.com 

Bingo Loco: The interactive live game show and concert Bingo Loco returns to San Diego. The event is packed with lip sync battles, prizes and giveaways, dance competitions, a comedian and DJs playing club classics from the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. Bingo Loco is an ages 21-and-older gathering. 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday. Quartyard, 1301 Market St., San Diego. $35. us.bingoloco.com/san-diego 

San Diego Symphony Brahms Festival: The orchestra, under the baton of Music and Artistic Director Rafael Payare, will present five concerts from Fridayt through March 7 celebrating the works of German composer Johannes Brahms. This weekend, Brahms’ A German Requiem will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Also, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Brahms’ Symphonys Nos. 1 and 2 wil be performed. Jacobs Music Center, 750 B. Street, downtown. $30-$108. 619-235-0804, sandiegosymphony.org

Final weekend for Museum Month: Throughout February, locals can visit over 70 museums, gardens, aquariums, parks and historic sites at a discounted rate. The public can receive their 50% admission discounts by picking up free printed museum passes at about 80 public libraries throughout San Diego County.  Digital passes can be downloaded directly to smartphones on the San Diego Museum Council website: sandiegomuseumcouncil.org

“Somewhere Over the Border”: Cygnet Theatre presents the San Diego premiere of Brian Quijada’s musical about a young Salvadoran woman’s journey to America, with characters and situations inspired by “The Wizard of Oz.” 7 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays; 2 and 7 p.m. Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. Through March 15. The Joan, 2880 Roosevelt Road, Arts District Liberty Station, San Diego. $44 and up. 619-337-1525, cygnettheatre.org

“The ’70s! The Golden Age of the Album”: Lamb’s Players Theatre is bringing back its hit 2025 music revue of the greatest songs of the 1970s. 7 p.m. Wednesdays-Fridays; 2 Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Through April 12. Old Town Theatre, 4040 Twiggs St., San Diego. $49-$98. 619-437-6000, lambsplayers.org

“The Book of Will”: Lamplighters Community Theatre presents Lauren Gunderson’s historical fiction comedy about William Shakespeare’s friends and fellow actors John Heminges nad Henry Condell who collected and published his plays in the First Folio after the Bard’s death. Opens Friday and runs through March 22. 7:30 p.m. Fridays; 2 p.m. Sundays; select performances on Saturdays. 5915 Severin Drive, La Mesa. $28-$30. 619-303-5092, lamplighterslamesa.com

“Hedda Gabler”: The Old Globe presents Katie Holmes in Henrik Ibsen’s classic drama, in a new version by playwright Erin Cressida Wilson. 7 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays. Through March 22. The Old Globe, 1363 Old Globe Way, Balboa Park, San Diego. $61 and up. 619-234-5623, theoldglobe.org

Winter Olympics poster display: In honor of the 2026 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Milan-Cortino, Italy, Point Loma Nazarene University has installed in its Ryan Library a temporary exhibit of historical artists’ posters from its Carolyn W. Thomas Memorial Olympic Poster Collection. The display features Winter Games posters from the same region of Italy from both 1956 and 2026. The exhibit will be on display at least through March. Ryan Library, Point Loma Nazarene University, 3900 Lomaland Drive, San Diego. 619-849-2385, pointloma.edu

“The Gin Game”: Music&Arts@3rd&Ash will present a concert reading of D.L. Coburn’s tragicomedy “The Gin Game.” 7 p.m. Friday. First Lutheran Church, 1420 Third Ave., San Diego. $20 donation. 619-234-6149.

“The Trip to Bountiful”: Lamb’s Players Theatre presents  Horton Foote’s drama about an elderly woman who takes a trip back to her childhood hometown to reconnect with fond memories from her past. 7 p.m. Friday; 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. 1142 Orange Ave., Coronado. $39-$78. 619-437-6000, lambsplayers.org

“The Recipe”: La Jolla Playhouse presents the world premiere of Claudia Shear’s play about the life of chef and author Julia Child before she rose to TV fame. 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 1 and 7 p.m. Sundays. Extended hrough March 29. La Jolla Playhouse, 2910 La Jolla Village Drive, UCSD campus. 858-550-1010, lajollaplayhouse.org

“A Conversation with Edith Head”: Moxie Theatre presents La Jolla actor-playwright Susan Claassen in her play about the Hollywood legency, who won eight Academy Awards and 35 nominations for her movie costume designs. 7:30 p.m. today; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. Moxie Theatre, 6663 El Cajon Blvd., Stuite N, Rolando, San Diego. $20-$51. 858-598-7620, moxietheatre.com

“Beetlejuice”: This national touring production of this comedy musical is about a demon trying to trick a family into freeing him from death. 8 p.m. today; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday; 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday. San Diego Civic Theatre, 1100 Third Ave., downtown. $47-$245. broadwaysd.com

“How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying”: San Diego Musical Theatre presents the 1961 Frank Loesser satirical workplace about a wily window-washer who schemes his way to the top of a company. 7 p.m. Friday; 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. San Diego Musical Theatre, 4650 Mercury St., Kearny Mesa. $49-$69. 858-560-5740, sdmt.org

Saturday

San Diego Bird Festival: Learn all about local birds and their habitats during two free community days at the San Diego Bird Festival. Guests will get to see some of the various bird species that live and roam in our region via workshops, classes and keynote speakers. Some of the programs include talks about bird species, flight paths, light pollution, bird watching and a live painting demonstration. There will also be exhibitors with information about San Diego’s wildlife, live music and food vendors. 8:30 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. Saturday. 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Marina Village Conference Center, 1936 Quivira Way, San Diego. Free. sandiegobirdfestival.org/free-days 

San Diego—North County Lunar New Year Festival: The Hong Konger Club and Oceanside Public Library are collaborating on a new Lunar New Year celebration for North County. The event will feature a lion dance, giveaways, live performances, crafts and other activities. Noon to 5 p.m. Feb. 28. Oceanside Civic Center Library Community Rooms. Free. thehongkongclub.com

San Diego Chinese New Year Fair: The Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association has been hosting this fair since 1983. This year’s theme is: “When ten thousand horses move as one, everyone rejoices.” Locals can enter an art contest through Feb. 18. 10 to 5 p.m. Feb. 28-March 1. 428 3rd Ave., San Diego. Free. SDCNY.org

“Straddle”: Diversionary Theatre presents the world premiere of Harrison David Rivers’ play about a long-married lesbian couple who are struggling to get their romantic spark back. Opens Saturday and runs through March 15. 7 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. Diversionary Theatre, 4545 Park Blvd., University Heights. $11.50-$61.50. 619-220-0097, diversionary.org

“Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”: Backyard Renaissance Theatre presents Edward Albee’s 1962 drama about a New England college professor and his wife invite who a young faculty member and his wife over for a night of drinking, dancing and debauchery. Previews Saturday through March 6. Opens March 7 and runs through March 21. 7:30 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays; 3 p.m. Sundays. Tenth Avenue Arts Center. 930 Tenth Avenue, San Diego. $50.  backyardrenaissance.com

SACRA/PROFANA: This professional choral ensemble will present “The Infinite and the Divine,” a concert program of choral works from different cultures and eras. 7 p.m. Saturday. San Dieguito United Methodist Church, 170 Calle Magdalena, Encinitas. $15 – $40. sacraprofana.org  

Camarada Tango Quartet presents “The Art of Tango”: The San Diego ensemble performs the music of Piazzolla and many others with bandoneon player Pablo Jaurena, tango historian Ignacio Varchausky and tango dancers Carolina Jaurena and Anton Domansky. 7:30 p.m. Saturday.  Baker-Baum Concert Hall, The Conrad, 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla. $28-$98. /theconrad.org/events/25-26-camarada_art-of-tango-ii/

Sunday

Carlsbad Flower Fields: Flower enthusiasts can rejoice once again as the Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch opens for its 10-week spring showcase this week. New this year to the 55-acre venue are weekly local pop-up vendors selling drinks and sweets, a 1,000 square foot greenhouse filled with butterflies and an outdoor music concert series featuring bands and singers such as Michele Lundeen, Cool Rush and Bayou Brothers. Attractions coming back this year are meditation and sound healing classes, wine tasting, tractor wagon rides, a sweet pea maze, blueberry picking and yoga classes. Sunday through May 10. 5704 Paseo Del Norte, Carlsbad. $17-$57. 760-431-0352, theflowerfields.com 

Some Chula Vista residents lashed out on Tuesday against their city council members who they believe are trying to force their police chief into early retirement.

“I believe it’s politically motivated,” said Bill Turpin, who owns multiple properties in Chula Vista and calls Chief Roxana Kennedy a friend.

“She’s come up through the ranks,” said Turpin. “She’s a female police chief in one of the fastest-growing communities in the nation. She’s done an unbelievable job. There’s nothing she’s done wrong. She should be getting awards,” he added.

Turpin was one of more than a dozen people who planned to speak during the public comment period at Chula Vista City Council on Tuesday night. Also on the speaker list is Maricris Drouaillet, sister of Maya Milliete, a mother who vanished in 2021. Chula Vista Police eventually arrested Maya’s husband for murder. Drouaillet told NBC 7 she had praise for Chief Kennedy for her department’s handling of the case.

Before Tuesday’s city council meeting, several Kennedy-supporters rallied outside city hall, carrying signs and wearing hats that read, Kennedy should stay, and “keep politics out of policing”.

Supporters of Chief Kennedy are rallying outside Chula Vista City Hall, saying her job is on the line for purely political reasons, reports NBC 7’s Allison Ash.

Attorney for Chief Kennedy’s response

City councilmembers were expected to meet in closed session to discuss a letter from Cory Briggs who said he is representing Chief Kennedy. That letter says in part:

“I am writing to request that your agency and all of those under its control preserve in its current form any evidence regarding the allegations that the Chief has been subjected to improper discipline, retaliation, discrimination, and/ or a hostile work environment, including but not limited to adverse actions against her as a subterfuge for the desire of a majority of the City Council to force the Chief into an early retirement and replace her with a Latino.”

NBC 7 and Telemundo 20 were unable to get comments from city council regarding rumors that some members may be trying to force Kennedy out. Mayor John McCann responded to NBC 7’s request for an interview.

McCann said he believes politics is at play. When asked if Kennedy had done anything to warrant her removal he said, “I have not seen anything.” 

He added that he hoped Tuesday night’s closed session meeting would help him “find out exactly what is the hullabaloo.”

City of Chula Vista’s response

The City of Chula Vista provided the following statement in response to the situation Tuesday night:

“The City of Chula Vista is deeply disappointed over the continued misrepresentation of the facts involving its relationship with Police Chief Roxana Kennedy. The City is proud of the advancements in policing that have been made during the Chief’s tenure. While the City is prohibited from sharing information on any individual personnel matter, we can unequivocally state the following facts:

1. The City Manager has never been pressured by any elected official to replace Chief Kennedy for political purposes. To state otherwise is entirely false.
2. Chief Kennedy requested and is currently out on approved personal leave. This was not a City-directed action.
3. The City of Chula Vista has not proactively discussed these matters in public. Reporting on this issue has consisted of untruths, rumors and innuendo generated by other parties, in an apparent effort to attract media attention, create a false narrative and combat factual information.

We will continue to govern our city with integrity and professionalism and adhere to all employment policies to foster a work environment that is respectful, inclusive, and free of discrimination or harassment.”

Chief Roxana Kennedy is on medical leave as her attorney alleges city leaders are trying to force her out following a holiday party, reports NBC 7’s Joe Little.