BLUE TARP SCHOOL “Armando and the Blue Tarp School” will premier at 7:30 p.m. March 19 and March 20, and at 3:30 p.m. March 21, Ocean Knoll Elementary School, 910 Melba Road, Encinitas. Playwright Pat Lydersen and composer Wendy Woolf of The Park Dale Players based the show on the children’s book by the same name. Visit www.theparkdale players.com or call (760) 753-3820 to learn more. VILLAGE IDIOTS Local authors are welcome to join the Village Idiots Literacy Society’s next open reading night at 7 p.m. March 19, Vista Art Foundation Gallery, 204 Main Street, Vista. For details, e-mail villageidiots@cox.net.

MARCH 20

BIKE TOUR The city of San Marcos will host a free bike tour of its trails and parks at 9 a.m. March 20 starting at Alder Glen Park, 608 Shelly Drive, San Marcos. The ride is 10 miles long and will last two hours, and is mostly flat with some inclines. Hybrid or mountain bikes recommended. For details, visit www.san-marcos.net.

GROWING VEGGIES Master Gardner Karan Cooper will share her secrets to successfully growing vegetables and heirloom tomatoes at the MiraCosta Horticulture Club meeting at 12:30 p.m. March 20, MiraCosta College student center, 1 Barnard Drive, Oceanside. Cooper will have tomatoes for sale during the meeting.

LOOKING BACK The video “A History of Vista, early days to World War II” will be presented by Jack Larimer, director of the Vista Historical Society Museum, at 2 p.m. March 20, Gloria E. McClellan Senior Center, 1400 Vale Terrace, Vista. For details, call (760) 630-0444.

MONTE CARLO NIGHT The La Costa Canyon High School Foundation will host Maverick Monte Carlo Night at 5:15 p.m. March 20, Sheraton Carlsbad Resort & Spa, 5480 Grand Pacific Drive, Carlsbad. Entertainment for the night includes drama students, the LCC Jazz Band, and the LCC teachers’ band The Credentialed. Purchase tickets at www.lcchsfoundation.org.

NATURE WALK Enjoy a free nature walk led by the Batiquitos Lagoon Foundation at 3 p.m. March 20 at the lagoon nature center, 7380 Gabbiano Lane, Carlsbad. Early spring is when the coastal chaparral areas bloom.

SPICE IT UP San Diego Botanic Garden will host its annual herb festival at 9 a.m. March 20 and March 21, 230 Quail Gardens Drive, Encinitas. The festival will feature aromatic plants and a special appearance by botanist and herb aficionado James Duke. Guided tours of the garden, information booths and speakers will be onsite. For details, visit www.sdbgarden.org/herbfest.

SPRING CLEANING Get rid of old treasures and free up closets by selling your items at a parking lot sale at 8 a.m. March 20, Oceanside Senior Citizens Center, 455 Country Club Lane, Oceanside. There is no age limit to rent a 9-foot-by-16-foot parking space for $10. A pancake breakfast will also be served for $3 per person. The event raises money for the city of Oceanside’s senior nutrition program. To reserve a space, call (760) 435-5250.

WATER FESTIVAL Celebrate World Water Day at the Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation Discovery Center at 10 a.m. March 20, 1580 Cannon Road, Carlsbad. The event will focus on water conservation and feature craft booths, activity stations, and wildlife encounter opportunities. For details, visit www.aguahedionda.org.

MARCH 21

BEST BREAKFAST Encinitas Boy Scout Troop 777 is hosting a Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser from 7:30 a.m. to noon March 21 at the Elks Lodge, 1393 Windsor Road, Cardiff-by-the-Sea.Tickets are $5 at the door. The high adventure troop is working to earning their own way to this summer’s camps.

FIGHTING WEEDS Learn the difference between native plants and weeds at 2 p.m. March 21, Buena Vista Audubon Nature Center, 2202 N. Coast Highway 101, Oceanside. Members of the Buena Vista Native Plant Club will identify weed seedlings so they can be pulled up, instead of spreading into your garden. Call (760) 439-2473 to learn more.

GUITAR WORKSHOPS A free guitar workshop will be held at New Venture Christian Fellowship at 6 p.m. March 21, 4000 Mystra Way, Oceanside. Learn the solid fundamentals followed by a more advanced class teaching finger-picking, solo play and improvisation. E-mail amyv@newventure.org to learn more.

HEAVENLY VOICES The Cappella Gloriana chamber choir will perform “Sacred Images,” illustrating in song the paintings of Carlsbad artist Gerrit Greve at 7:30 p.m. March 21, at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 890 Balour Drive, Encinitas. The artist will narrate a slide show of his works as the choir sings related a cappella songs from the Renaissance. For details, call (619) 291-3055 or visit www.cappella-gloriana.org.

SINGING SOIREE A showcase of local teen singers will perform at the North County Sunday Soiree at 3 p.m. March 21, Meadowlark Church, 1918 Redwing St., San Marcos. A $10 donation will be accepted at the door. Proceeds benefit the nonprofit North County Solutions for Change. Call (760) 525-7233 to learn more.

march 22 BIT O’ IRISH Carlsbad Playreaders will continue its season with the edgy Irish play “The Lieutenant of Inishmore” by Martin McDonough, at 7:30 p.m. March 22, Carlsbad City Library, 1775 Dove Lane. Donations are taken at the door. No reservation required. For details, visit www.carlsbadplayreaders.org or call (760) 602-2012.

THEATER AUDITIONS Youth ages seven to 18 are invited to audition for the city of San Marcos Theater West’s production of “Sleeping Beauty” at 5 p.m. March 22, San Marcos Community Center, 3 Civic Drive, San Marcos. Bring an instrumental CD and be prepared to sing a one-minute song excerpt, as well as a school photo and a short list of past speaking, singing, or dancing experience. For details, visit www.san-marcos.net or call (760) 744-9000.

march 23

SPIRITED WALK Tri-City Christian School will hold an All-American Spirit walk-a-thon at 8 a.m. March 23 on the school campus, 302 North Emerald Drive, Vista. The walk will benefit the Military Outreach Ministry on Camp Pendleton. Call Julie Pittman at (760) 630-8227, ext. 215 to learn more.

march 24

HR AWARDS The San Diego chapter of the Society of Human Resource Management hosts its Workplace Excellence Awards winners’ panel at 7:30 a.m. March 24, Sheraton Resort Carlsbad, 5480 Grand Pacific Drive, Carlsbad. The cost is $30 for members, and $45 for nonmembers. RSVP online at www.sdshrm.org.

MARCH 25

NEW EVERY MORNING North Coast Calvary Chapel will host the fine art exhibit “Soli Deo Gloria: New Every Morning” opening at 6 p.m. March 25 and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 26, 1330 Poinsettia Lane, Carlsbad. Call (760) 929-0029, ext. 118 to learn more.

MARCH 26

ASK THE ARTIST LIFE at MiraCosta College will meet at 1 p.m. March 26, MiraCosta College, Room 1068, 1 Barnard Drive, Oceanside. Ceramic artist Karen Bouse will host an “ask the artist” session. Call (760) 721-8124 to learn more.

ongoing

BACK TO NORMAL Recovering Couples Anonymous will meet at 7 p.m. every Monday, New Hope Community Church, 165 Eucalyptus Ave., Vista. RCA is a fellowship of recovering couples who are committed to restoring healthy communication and caring to their relationships, and is based on the 12 Steps of AA. For details, visit www.recovering-couples.org.

PINOCCHIO The city of San Marcos Theatre West Youth Theater will present the musical production “Pinocchio” March 19 through March 21, San Marcos Community Center, 3 Civic Center Drive. Ticket prices are $7 for youth/students/seniors and $10 for adults. Visit www.san-marcos.net or call (760) 744-9000 for show times and more details.