Empty Bowls, Flower Show, Earth Day Celebrations, and More

Earth Day has pretty much morphed into Earth Month, with events strewn throughout April in much of the county.

But it really hits this weekend, with Earth Day-themed festivals and beach and habitat clean-ups planned from Balboa Park to UC San Diego and all the way up to Palomar Mountain. Coronado offers a salute of a different kind for what the ground can offer up, in the form of the city's annual Flower Show.

Those are just a couple of your choices for fun, entertaining and outdoorsy things to do near Coronado and beyond, from April 14-20.

Click the links for more details.

CLOSE TO HOME

• Where/when: Coronado High School, 650 D Ave., Coronado, 5 p.m. Thursday.

• Why Go: Coronado High ceramics students host a benefit, “” to help San Diego's Hunger Project. They created bowls to represent the difficulties suffered by those who don't have food to fill their dishes. Local restaurants offer up grub so supporters won't face the same fate.

• Price: $10-$30.

• Where/when: , 601 Orange Ave., Coronado, Saturday and Sunday.

• Why Go: The theme of the Coronado Flower Show, “Dig, Design and Dine,” sums it up. Work hard on that garden, present your output in a lovely and original fashion, then celebrate the effort with something fine and tasty. And with any luck, a prize or two.

• Price: $5, general.

• Where/when: Isabella Ave. & Orange Ave., Coronado, 10 a.m. Sunday.

• Why Go: Perhaps there's a gender-role thing at play here? The women enjoy the Coronado Flower Show, while the men head over to Motor Cars on MainStreet to get a load of a muscle car or two? Ah, well, it's 2011. There's bound to be some crossover.

• Price: Free to view, $35 to enter.

BEST BETS A LITTLE FARTHER OUT

CHARITY WALKS O' THE WEEK

• Where/when: Liberty Station, Roosevelt Rd. and Historic Decatur Rd., San Diego, Saturday; Balboa Park, Quince St. and Sixth Ave, San Diego, Saturday, and North Mission Bay Dr. and De Anza Rd., San Diego, Sunday.

• Why Go: Walkers, runners and bikers can raise money this weekend to support those with  (at Liberty Station),  problems (at Balboa Park) and  (at De Anza Cove). 

• Price: Entry fees vary.

• Where/when: , 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, 10 a.m. Saturday.

• Why Go: Look at green options for your vehicle, home and garden at the university's Green Open House, which includes entertainment and a kids' zone. Free parking will be available and free shuttles as well, if your space is too far away.

• Price: Free.

• Where/when: M-Theory, 915 W. Washington St., San Diego; TAANG! Records, 3830 Fifth Ave., San Diego, and Record City, 3757 Sixth Ave., San Diego, Saturday.

• Why Go: High Fidelity depicted the lives of some hardcore music lovers who plied their trade in a little record shop. Big music sellers are mostly long-gone because of the changes in the industry, but many small shops soldier on. Record Store Day celebrates them, and the stores participate by hosting DJs and live performances.

• Price: Free.

• Where/when: Torrey Pines State Reserve, Del Mar Scenic Pkwy. and Carmel Valley Rd., Del Mar, Saturday.

• Why Go: Hundreds of volunteers will fan out to area state parks as part of the California State Parks Foundation's mass Earth Day clean-up. This is one of five sites in the county slated for some tender loving care.

• Price: Free.

• Where/when: Seaport Village, North Harbor Drive and Pacific Hwy., San Diego, noon Saturday and Sunday.

• Why Go: Sure, you like your Gagas and your Biebers, but then there's those authentic souls who love their art so much they are willing to hit the streets and sing, play or juggle to get the crowd's attention—and hopefully some change. Show them some love at the Spring Busker Festival, and stay late Saturday if you want to see some more nighttime oriented acts.

• Price: Free.

• Where/when: Balboa Park, 1500 El Prado, San Diego, 10 a.m. Sunday.

• Why Go: Earth Fair takes over the center of the park, with vendors, music stages, a children's parade and scads of exhibitors. Organizers strongly advise arriving early or taking alternative modes of transportation as 60,000 people are expected.

• Price: Free.