Grab & Go Kids Planner

A night of Filipino culture. A competition for brainy superiority. A big band rocking a church.

These are some of the choice options if you're looking for fun things to do and see with your family near Mt. Helix and San Diego from March 9-15. You also can pick up a gently-used item (or three) while enjoying a day at the park or help keep one local park looking its best. 

Click the links for all the details.

BEST BETS CLOSE TO HOME 

• Where/when: Kroc Corps Community Center, San Diego, 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday.

• Why Go: To celebrate Filipino culture with SDSU's AB Samahan club. There will be a play about family mixed with pre-show events. 

• Price: Free.

• Where/when: Mt. Helix Park, La Mesa, 8 a.m. Saturday.

• Why Go: Help the Mt Helix Park Foundation maintain the park by tidying up the trails. Please bring gear.

• Price: Free.

• Where/when: Cuyamaca College, El Cajon, 8 a.m., Saturday.

• Why Go: High school students compete in engineering, math and technology challenges.

• Price: Free.

• Where/when: Skyline Wesleyan Church, La Mesa, Saturday and Sunday.

• Why Go: To see Denver & the Mile High Orchestra, which performed on the TV show “The Next Great American Band,” appear at four services over two days.

• Price: Free.

BEST BETS, A LITTLE FARTHER OUT

• Where/when: Balboa Park Activity Center, San Diego, Saturday and Sunday.

• Why Go: To take part in a huge rummage sale by the Thursday Club. Toys and games will abound and while you pick up something for the kids, more than a dozen local arts groups and organizations that aid women, the disabled and pets will benefit too.

• Price: Free.