In celebration of Frozen Planet, premiering Sunday, March 18th, 2012, at 8PM e/p, Penguin Cam will be live 24 hours a day throughout March and April — plenty of time to get to know SeaWorld San Diego's nearly 300 penguins, representing all five Antarctic species: emperors, kings, Adélies, gentoos and macaronis.

Check it out here: dsc.discovery.com/tv/frozen-planet/penguin-cam/

Photo © inazakira on Flickr

1. St. Patrick's Day Parade and Festival in Balboa Park: March 17, 2012: Saturday, March 17th, 2012 will mark the 32nd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival in Balboa Park, thanks to the dedication and commitment of the many volunteers that make up the ICSC, the support of the Irish community and that of our sponsors and donors. The parade will feature over 120 entries, includes Marching Bands, Floats, Police and Fire Department units, the Emerald Societies, Border Patrol units, Scout Troops, Clowns, Equestrian entries, Bagpipe contingents, Dancing groups, Drill Teams, Roller Skaters, Shriners, Antique Cars, the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, representatives from Ireland, and the reigning Miss Colleen and Smiling Irishman and more. See the event listing here.

2. shamROCK 2012 in the Gaslamp: March 17, 2012: It’s been 17 years since the birth of sham ROCK and now lucky number 17 falls on a Saturday and sham ROCK is destined to be the biggest Irish Celebration on the West Coast when over 20,000 Irish revelers hit the streets of the Gaslamp. The 17th Annual sham ROCK 2012 presented by Jameson and The Field will take place on the most sacred party day of the year, St. Patrick’s Day, Saturday, March 17th, 2012 from 2pm until Midnight. See the event listing here.

3. St. Patrick's Day 10K Run, 2 & 4 Mile Run / Walk in Mission Bay Park: March 17, 2012: The St. Patrick's Day 10K Run, 2 & 4 Mile Run/walk in Mission Bay Park will take place on Saturday March 17th, 2012 starting at 7:45am. Come out for Domino's Pizza & beer, a special Irish award for the best "Irish Theme" running costume, additional prizes, finish line fun and more. The race is benefiting the Rady Children's Hospital San Diego. See the event listing here.

4. Saint Paddys Pub Crawls San Diego: March 16 - 18, 2012: San Diego is known for their phenomenal nightlife scene, and when it comes to their bars, no other city can compete! Once New Year's Eve wraps up, there's only one party holiday that everyone looks forward to in March - St. Patrick's Day! It's all about being with great friends at different bars throughout the day. Remember, it's St. Patrick's Day, meaning there's absolutely no excuse for you to be cooped up in one bar all day. Variety is key! Knowing that the bar scene in San Diego is one of the best, the producers of the World's Largest Pub Crawl are looking to recreate history this coming year with their Luck of the Irish San Diego pub crawl! See the event listing here.

5. Hooleyfest San Diego: March 17, 2012: Hooleyfest San Diego, taking place on Saturday, March 17th, 2012 at Hooley's in Rancho San Diego will feature live bands, a beer garden and food for this inland St. Patty's celebration. Hooley's offers shuttles to and from the festival and a free ride home to those who live within a five mile radius of either location. Admission is $15 in advance, $20 on the day of the event and $30 VIP. See the event listing here.

Monte Kobey launched his San Diego swap meet in 1976 at the Midway Drive-In with only thirteen sellers. The swap stayed at the drive-in for several years until it was slated to close. In August 1980 Monte moved the swap to the nearby Sports Arena. The Sports Arena's exposed and busy location helped Kobey's Swap Meet take off in earnest.

In 2010, Kobey's Swap Meet at the Sports Arena is still San Diego's biggest outdoor market, drawing close to 25,000 shoppers and nearly 1,000 sellers weekly.

The swap meet is open every Friday through Sunday from 7am - 3pm. Admission is 50¢ Friday, $1 on Saturday & Sunday. Children 11 and under - FREE. For more information, visit: www.kobeyswap.com/index.html

Each year Dr. Beach visits America's finest stretches of sand and rates them based on a long list of criteria including sand softness, water quality, waves, weather, facilities and crowds. Check out what Official San Diego Travel Blog has to say: blog.sandiego.org

Photo © ashleytheartist2002 on Flickr

Photo © randomduck on Flickr

The Old Globe's 14th Annual Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas!: November 19 - December 31, 2011: The annual holiday musical, directed by James Vásquez with book and lyrics by Timothy Mason and music by Mel Marvin, will run in the Old Globe Theatre November 19th – December 31st, 2011.

SeaWorld's Christmas Celebration: November 19, 2011 - January 1, 2012: With special holiday-themed animal shows, real snow, reindeer, festive décor and more, SeaWorld is the place to be this Christmas season. New for 2011 is SnowWorld, a winter wonderland of snowmen, snowballs and family fun!

Holiday Snow Days at LEGOLAND CA: November 19, 2011 - January 2, 2012: The Holiday Snow Days celebration begins with the first-ever snow fall in Fun Town – a rare sight in southern California – and continues with the lighting of the world’s largest LEGO® Christmas tree, and concludes with Kids’ New Year’s Eve.

Nightly LEGO Christmas Tree Lighting at LEGOLAND CA: December 1 - 24, 2011: The giant LEGO tree has become the centerpiece of the holiday season at LEGOLAND California. It stands more than 30-feet-tall and is made of more than 245,000 forest green DUPLO® bricks.

Jingle Bell Rock at Welk Resort Theatre: November - December 31, 2011: An annual tradition and holiday favorite across America, The Alley Cats new 2011 Christmas Show offers a night of comedy, featuring the music of winter time classics in acappella style.

Lamb's Players Festival of Christmas: December 1 - 30, 2011: Lamb's Players Festival of Christmas runs from December 1st - 30th, 2011. Each December their Festival of Christmas travels to a different location and a different era, and showcases the actors and depth of musical talent in and around the company.

Holiday Hayride at the Del Mar Fairgrounds: December 2 - 16, 2011: See more than 400 twinkling, lively displays located around the Del Mar Racetrack. Holiday music and fire pits for roasting marshmallows will entertain you before you board the ride and after you return.

Balboa Park December Nights: December 2 & 3, 2011: Kick off the holiday celebration by embracing the ambiance of beautiful Balboa Park for the largest free community festival in San Diego. Balboa Park December Nights is a two-day present to the community that echoes the holiday spirit.

San Diego Ballet's The Nutcracker: December 3 - 18, 2011: San Diego Ballet's The Nutcracker by Peter Tchaikovsky will run for two weekends in December: December 3rd & 4th at Birch North Park Theater, and December 17th & 18th, 2011 at Mandeville Auditorium, La Jolla. Leaping Cossacks!

Garden of Lights Holiday Event at the San Diego Botanic Garden: December 8 – 23 & 26 – 30, 2011: After the sun goes down, the San Diego Botanic Garden is transformed into a dazzling winter wonderland with over 100,000 sparkling lights illuminating the Garden for a magical holiday experience

San Diego City Ballet Presents The Nutcracker: December 9 - 21, 2011: The San Diego City Ballet Presents The Nutcracker at Spreckels Theatre in Downtown San Diego. Shows will take place from Friday, December 9th through Wednesday, December 21st, 2011.

61st Anniversary of Las Posadas: December 10 & 11, 2011: This centuries-old tradition is being celebrated in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park for the 61st consecutive year on Sunday, December 11th, 2011.

San Diego Zoo's Jungle Bells: December 10, 2011 - January 1, 2012: During the holiday season, the San Diego Zoo is transformed into a winter wonderland, with snow, twinkling lights, and songs of the holiday season.

40th Annual San Diego Bay Parade of Lights: December 11 & 18, 2011: There is nothing more beautiful than a boat, except a boat at night. Come enjoy the 40th Annual San Diego Bay Parade of Lights, featuring decorated boats against the backdrop of downtown San Diego.

Lamb's Players Theatre Presents An American Christmas at the Hotel del Coronado: December 11 - 24, 2011: Lamb's Players Theatre Presents An American Christmas at the Hotel del Coronado from December 11th - 24th, 2011.

The Metrome Pre-Holiday Bazaar: December 11, 2011: Come shop for last minute gifts sold by unique vendors, enter the raffle to win fabulous prizes and enjoy cookies and cocoa while you sign Holiday cards for our valued staff. Check back for more details on vendors, prizes and more!

4th Annual Gaslamp Holiday Pet Parade: December 11, 2011: Once a year San Diego pets and owners are invited to dress up in their favorite costumes for a special promenade throughout the Gaslamp Quarter to celebrate the holiday season - The 4th Annual Gaslamp Holiday Pet Parade, taking place on Sunday, December 11th, 2011.

A Christmas Carol at the Whaley House: December 13 & 14, 2011: Join SOHO and the Whaley House Museum staff for a performance of Charles Dickens' timeless holiday ghost story, A Christmas Carol, set in the historic and haunted Whaley House.

An Irish Christmas at Balboa Theatre: December 16, 2011: Welcome to a great celebration of a Christmas evening in Ireland with glorious music, traditional dance, lively storytelling, laughter and plenty of Irish soul.

San Diego Pub Crawler's 1st Annual Holiday Costume Crawl: December 16 & 23, 2011: Join San Diego Pub Crawler's 1st Annual Holiday Pub/Costume Crawl as they guide you through a variety of bars, clubs, and lounges in downtown San Diego's historical Gaslamp District.

San Diego Symphony's Holiday Pops, A Winter Pops Concert: December 16 - 18, 2011: The San Diego Symphony presents Holiday Pops, A Winter Pops Concert, taking place on December 16th, 17th & 18th, 2011.

11th Hawaiian Christmas Concert with the Legendary Makaha Sons: December 17, 2011: Tula Productions presents their 12th Hawaiian Christmas Concert with the legendary Makaha Sons on Saturday, December 17th, 2011 at Birch North Park Theatre.

10th Annual Unsilent Night San Diego: December 23, 2011: Unsilent Night is an original composition by Phil Kline, written specifically to be heard outdoors in the month of December. It takes the form of a street promenade in which the audience becomes the performer.

The Museum of Man, voted runner-up in 10news.com’s A-List 2011 Best Museum category, explores and shines a light on the emergence of man with five standing collections and special exhibits, filled with the cultural and physical anthropology artifacts housed and studied within its confines. Buy the Groupon here: www.groupon.com

Following a chronological path through the STAR WARS timeline, LEGOLAND guests retrace the major events of the beloved Saga. Some of the 2,000 LEGO models will be more than 6-feet-tall. Interactive buttons will allow children to activate animations throughout the scenes.

Scene Breakdown

Episode I: Naboo: Naboo is one of the most geographically varied planets in the STAR WARS galaxy. This scene depicts the Battle of Naboo and the capital Theed – both the Royal Palace and the hangar can be seen here. In this battle scene, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn encounter and fight the Sith apprentice, Darth Maul. Look closely at the details of this scene, but not so close that you may be pulled to the dark side!

Episode II: Geonosis: In this scene, visitors have a fantastic view of the Geonosis arena, in which Padmé Amidala, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker battle ferocious creatures. Witness the clash between Count Dooku's droid army and the Grand Army of the Republic.

Episode III: Kashyyyk and Mustafar: In this scene, two planets are revealed: Kashyyyk and Mustafar. On one side, you'll be placed right into the Battle of Kashyyyk – the home of Chewbacca and the Wookiees. Here you'll discover fantastic vehicles modeled from LEGO bricks, such as the massive Clone Turbo Tank. On the other side, catch a glimpse of the fateful duel on Mustafar between Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker.

Episode IV: Tatooine: Luke Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, C-3PO and R2-D2 can be spotted in this desert planet...introducing Tatooine. Here you'll discover Uncle Owen's moisture farm, where Luke Skywalker lived as a child; peek inside the Cantina where the animated Cantina Band plays and stand above the spaceport where the largest LEGO model of Han Solo's famous starship, the Millennium Falcon, sits ready for take-off.

Episode V: Hoth: The Rebels take refuge on this icy planet, but the Empire tracks them down and the Rebels are forced to flee. Introducing....Hoth. This scene features LEGO models of the Imperial AT-ATs, Rebel snowspeeders and Luke Skywalker's X-wing starfighter. Look closely and you'll see Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and Princess Leia.

Episode VI: Endor: Next we travel to a forest moon and home of the Ewoks, who fight against the Imperial Forces alongside the Rebels...Edor. The Endor system plays a key role in Return of the Jedi as the site of the Battle of Endor, fought to prevent construction of the second Death Star. This scene presents the final victory of the Rebel Alliance over the Empire. Here you can view a large-scale model of an Imperial shuttle on its landing platform, delivering a fearsome passenger - the Dark Lord of the Sith himself, Darth Vader.

THE CLONE WARS: Christophsis: The seventh area brings us to a scene from the animated series THE CLONE WARS on the planet Christophsis. Chronologically, the series takes place between Episode II and Episode III and focuses on the adventures of Jedi Knights Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi. The LEGO scene depicts part of the planet's surface, with the largest of all LEGO STAR WARS models: an approximately 8-foot tall building from the Crystal City. You will also a scene showing a battle between Separatist battle droids and Republic clone troopers.

For more information, visit: california.legoland.com

Brazilian Day San Diego is free to the public, non-alcoholic and family friendly. It is a day for the community to come together in celebration of Brazilian culture and fine arts. Vendors will serve up traditional Brazilian dishes and other fair favorites, as well as display multicultural arts, crafts, souvenirs and more. Two stages will host live music and dance shows throughout the day. The highlight of the event is the parade, a cultural extravaganza of contagious rhythms, authentic carnival costumes, colorful floats, vibrant folkloric dance groups, beautiful samba dancers, stunning capoeira, and more.

Brazilian Day San Diego will take place September 18, 2011 from 11am - 7pm, on Garnet Avenue between Mission Ave. and Everts St. in Pacific Beach. The parade is scheduled from 3 - 4pm.

For more information, visit: www.braziliandaysandiego.com/