Grab & Go Kids Planner

Liquid-Nitrogen Ice Cream. CSI Meets CSU. Dolphins and You. Intrigued? Have a child who might be too? Then a big festival kick-off this weekend might be for you.

Your choices, near Mt. Helix and in San Diego, include the San Diego Science Festival, a jam-packed week of activities celebrating every aspect of science you could imagine. The ice cream, CSI and dolphin questions all will be tackled at San Diego State Saturday.

Other events include a plethora of plays and some skilled extreme-sports stars.

Click the links for more details.

BEST BETS CLOSE TO HOME 

• Where/when: Encore! Theatre, Spring Valley, 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.

• Why Go: Ragtime, the musical about three families whose lives intersect in turn-of-the-century America, is tackled by the Young Actors' Theatre. Continues on weekends through March 26. 

• Price: $12-15.

BEST BETS, A LITTLE FARTHER OUT

• Where/when: The Salvation Army Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center, San Diego, 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday.

• Why Go: The Peter Pan Junior Theatre takes on the Music Man, the classic musical about a huckster transformed by the love of a good woman. The weekend shows are sold out. Tickets only remain for these two shows. 

• Price: $12.

• Where/when: Casa del Prado Theater, Balboa Park, San Diego, Thursday through Sunday.

• Why Go: San Diego Junior Theatre wraps up two productions this weekend: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and The Fantastic Mr. Fox.

• Price: $8-14.

• Where/when: Balboa Park, San Diego State and various sites, San Diego, 9 a.m., Saturday.

• Why Go: To encounter all manner of science demonstrations and experiments at the sprawling San Diego Science Festival, which continues through March 26 at several area venues. To begin, San Diego State hosts a day of engineering feats, at 9 a.m. Balboa Park's Science Family Day, at museums and other areas in the park, starts at 11 a.m.

• Price: Free at San Diego State, varies at other sites.

• Where/when: YMCA Krause Family Center Skate & Bike Park, San Diego, 11 a.m. Saturday.

• Why Go: Join with the top names in skateboarding and BMX riding at the Clash at Clairemont, a benefit for cancer patients and their families. Watch pros and amateurs try tough stunts and pick up some freebies to boot. 

• Price: Minimum $10 donation.