Get Out!: Your Weekend Guide to Chocolate, Planes and Padres

It’s Thursday and you’re ready to think about the weekend, or even willing to start the festivities a little early. Patch to the rescue! We’ve got the best bets for you, whether you want to stay close to home or find something to do outside of your backyard. Check out our picks for the places to see and things to do.

This week there's a huge U.S. Navy celebration in Coronado, and the San Diego Padres throw open the doors to Petco Park for a day.

• Where/When: Naval Air Station, North Island, Coronado, 8 a.m., Saturday

• Why Go: To help celebrate a century of flight in the Navy. Civilians will get the rare opportunity to see the base and a big flight show, and receive tours of aircraft carriers.

• Price: Free

• Where/When: Petco Park, downtown San Diego, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.

• Why Go: Padres fans can give their team a rousing send-off for the baseball season by attending FanFest at Petco Park in downtown San Diego, featuring clinics with the players, park tours and the chance to grill management about the team. 

• Price: Free

• Where/When: California Center for the Arts, Escondido 7 p.m., Thursday.

• Why Go: Try a play to avoid that most dreaded of weekends for singletons, the one leading up to Valentine's Day. See the musical parody "Menopause: The Musical" with a couple of girlfriends and bond in sisterhood rather than commiserating over men. 

• Price: $34-50.

• Where/When: SweetArt Festival, downtown Escondido, 1-5 p.m., Saturday.

• Why Go: Can you say, chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate? Stroll among the participating vendors while listening to live music and gathering sweet treats.

• Price: Free admission to Sweet Street and garden; $20 for beer/wine pairings.