We have some FREE or ALMOST FREE events that will save a pretty penny and dazzle the most important woman in your life.

Asian Cultural Festival of San Diego – Saturday, May 12, 11-6pm, Liberty Station
Experience San Diego’s diverse Asian cultures in full force at this 3rd annual event at Liberty Station. The day’s schedule is packed with musical and dance performances, cooking demos, martial arts, entertainment, games and Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese and Filipino fare.

American Indian Cultural Days – Sat, May 12 + Sun, May 13
PowWow with your family and friends over at this year’s American Indian Cultural Days. Check out gourd dancing, drumming, bird singing, powwow activities and American-Indian food. Located at Balboa Park at the Corner of Park Blvd and President’s Way.

SpringFest – Fri, May 11 + Sat, May 12
This two-day outdoor festival in the park in Allied Gardens features live music from well-known bands, over 100 food and merchandise vendors, a beer & wine garden, carnival rides, inflatables, a rock climbing wall, paintball and laser tag, a car show, the Allied Gardens Annual Parade with 120 entrants and demonstrations by various community and youth groups. 5-11pm

San Diego River Days – Sat, May 12 + Sun, May 13
This weekend begins San Diego River Days—two weeks of great events, including this weekend’s Saturday riverside bike ride and Sunday’s afternoon exploring of San Diego River Foundation’s 516-acre wildlife preserve.

Junior Seau Celebration of Life – Fri, May 11
Come join thousands of fans of the late great Junior Seau  at 4:30pm at Qualcomm Stadium. This free event is hosted by the San Diego Chargers in celebration of life our local football champion. Donations will be accepted for the Junior Seau Foundation. Food trucks.

Tune Up Time -Sat, May 12
Grab your bike and rally to ride! This year, Tune-Up Time is at 6th Avenue in between Laurel Street and Juniper in Balboa Park. At this family-friendly event, you can get a free bike maintenance check, courtesy of Anywhere Bicycle Repair, freebies from  sponsors, and motivation to get you rolling on Bike to Work Day. There will also be bicycle safety and education courses in both English and Spanish and bike rodeos for the kids. 9am-2pm

Save a Life San Diego – Sat, May 12
At the event, the Red Cross will teach San Diego families emergency preparedness, safety tips, and life-saving skills such as hands-only CPR training, a potentially lifesaving technique involving no mouth-to-mouth contact. Shortened Red Cross safety sessions on basic first aid, AED (automated external defibrillator) training, water safety and hands-only CPR will be offered on the hour, starting at 9:00 a.m. with the last session beginning at 1:00 p.m. 9am-1pm Balboa Park Gymnasium

The 19th Annual Border Voices Poetry Fair – Sun, May 12
San Diego award-winning students read poems side-by-side with some of the San Diego’s most-honored poets. Some of San Diego’s Featured Local Poets include: Sandra Alcosser, Reggie Moran, Al Zolynas
and Francisco Bustos with host, Jack Webb. Held at San Diego Museum of Art. Event includes FREE museum admission. 9:30-3:15 pm

Fiesta Old Town Cinco de Mayo – Fri, May 4 – Sun, May 6
The largest Cinco de Mayo celebration north of the border happens in Old Town San Diego  with a lively schedule of entertainment on two stages, children activities, ballet folklorico, lucha libre performances, a bustling street Mercado, a low-rider show, and the sounds of sizzling flamenco and traditional Mariachi music wherever you go. Friday 5-10pm, Saturday 11a-10p, and Sunday 11am-5p.

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo! – Sat, May 5
Visit Kimball Park in National City to Celebrate the community’s diverse culture through live mariachi music, Mexican folk dancing, traditional foods, martial art demonstrations, carnival games, a car show and more family-friendly activities.  11-5pm

Cooking with Beer -  Friday, May 4
Bottoms up!  Visit Whole Foods locations in Hillcrest and La Jolla  as they team with Deschutes Brewery, the award-winning Oregon brewery, to talk about cooking with brewery’s beers. Meet the brewmakers and sample recipes using their beers. 3-5pm

Free Comic Book Day – Sat, May 5
Holy smokes, Batman – free comics! Sure, this may be a plot to hook new comic readers, but it definitely doesn’t disappoint true comic aficionados. During this annual event, publishers print thousands of limited-edition comic books and distribute them for free though local retail stores. This year, there’s 30 titles to collect, so check out the Web site to find the closest comic book store to you. Cruise by Southern California Comics as WildStorm veteran artists Mark Irwin and Richard Friend, now working for DC Comics, will be signing.

Friday Night Liberty – Fri, May 4

http://www.ntcpromenade.org/what.php

Enjoy open artist studios, galleries, performances and food at NTC Promenade at Point Loma’s sprawling Liberty Station. This month, view dance performances by Malashock Dance and Jean Isaacs Dance Theater; new exhibits at Visions Art Museum, Pulse Gallery, Mandell Weiss Gallery; opening of “Scout” at Quarters D.  5-8pm

Chimera: A Group Exhibition – Fri, May 4
View works by urban artists who also divide and then merge elements from life revealing original forms in their artwork. Show continues through May. Mosaic Wine Bar in North Park 6-11pm

Violins from Around the World – Fri, May 4 – Sun, May 6
Come to Sorrento Valley and visit San Diego String Instruments for an exhibition showcasing handmade, one-of-a-kind pieces from around the world, with evaluations offered during lecture and demonstration for tonal comparison. Play the instruments, ask questions.

Moda de Mayo – Sat, May 5
Therapie Boutique, San Diego’s style truck, and Vespa Motorsport host “new fashion boutique on wheels,” as well as music, live art, a fashion show, food trucks, raffle for a red Vespa 150-S, other prizes. San Diego Bulldog Rescue benefits.7-11pm

Kidical Mass – Sun, May 6
This fun event promotes family friendly riding, teaches children and parents about bicycle safety skills, provides a ride to practice bicycle safety, raises community awareness about kids on bikes. Expect a slow-paced, two-mile family ride (9:30am). Post-ride, kids may decorate their helmets and bikes, receive safety tips trading cards, get a mini tune-up, more. Participants 18 and younger required to wear helmets.

Mission Federal Artwalk -  Sat April 28 + Sunday,
Mission Federal ArtWalk 2012 celebrates visual and auditory arts, with more than 350 artists showcasing, selling work in wide variety of media on 17 city blocks. Music and dance performances on six stages; activities for kids. 11-6pm in Little Italy

Green Fair at the Beach – Sat, April 28
Visit the Oceanside Pier Ampitheatre as the City of Oceanside hosts an environmental celebration with children’s activities, booths, food vendors, more. Music by Jeff Diamond, Ray Ream, others. Noon to 4pm, Oceanside Pier

Encinitas Street Faire, Sat, April 28 + Sun, April 29
Browse among 400 unique booths featuring a little of everything: arts & crafts, antiques, clothing, items from around the world, and more.
In the spring, children’s rides, four live stages, and the Stone Brewery beer garden guarantee that you’ll find fun for the whole family at the annual Encinitas Street Faire, ongoing since 1983. 9-5pm Encinitas

Student Shakespeare Festival -Sat, April 28
The Student Shakespeare Festival is held on various open-air stages in Balboa Park, in the pedestrian friendly Casa Del Prado area. Hundreds of students from K-12 representing San Diego City and County schools, perform 10-minute scenes, sonnets, music, and/or dance from Shakespeare’s plays. Noon to 4pm, Balboa Park

Hanamatsuri Festival -Sat, April 28
Come to the Vista Buddhist Temple and Japanese Cultural Center and enjoy the Japanese and Buddhist cultural festival with food and entertainment such as taiko drumming, demonstrations, Japanese candy sculpting, game booths for children, talks on Buddhism. Noon to 6pm, Vista

Spring Garden Festival – Sat, April 28
Cuyamaca College’s Spring Garden Festival, the annual event showcases the Rancho San Diego college’s Ornamental Horticulture program and event partners, the Water Conservation Garden and the Heritage of the Americas Museum. Horticulture displays, garden design advice, food, animal encounters, and more.

House of Italy Lawn Party, Sun, April 29
In Balboa Park at the International Cottages Stage. Free to the public. Free entertainment. Meatball and sausage sandwiches and drinks for sale. Bring your own lawn chairs.  Noon to 4pm Balboa Park

Mile of Music on the Bay – Sat, April 14
The Embarcadero is alive with the sound of music. They’re pumping up the volume along San Diego Bay this weekend with more then 24 acts performing a world of musical styles. Let your ears lead the way and find the artists along a one-mile stretch of North Harbor Drive  from Grape Street south to Tuna Harbor Park, just beyond the USS Midway Museum. 2-5pm

Gran Fondo Cannondale San Diego Expo – Sat, Apr 14 + Sun, Apr 15
Even if you’re not pedaling in this popular Italian-style, long-distance cycling event, the public can still enjoy the Piazza Gran Fondo, the event’s expo featuring the latest cycling gear, accessories, nutritional products, bargains on apparel and equipment. Saturday 10am-6pm and Sunday 10a-4pm

Day at the Docks – Sun, April 15
A San Diego sportfishing tradition, this family-friendly event marks the official start of Southern California’s spring saltwater fishing season. Enjoy open house aboard fleet vessels, boat rides around the bay, casting contests, cooking demos and fishing seminars. 9am-5pm at the Sportfishing Landings in Point Loma

Avocado Festival – Sun, April 15
Get guacamole galore in Fallbrook, the U.S. capital of avocados, during this annual festival that’s all about this green fruit. Check out the culinary contest and the “model” car building event using avocados. Farmers market, live entertainment, and kid rides, too. 9am-5pm

Outdoor Cardio Workout - Sat, April 14
Take it outside! Your workout, that is. Fitzee Foods, a healthy eats store serving pre-cooked, pre-packaged organic meals in Point Loma’s Liberty Station, offers a FREE outdoor workout every Saturday morning. Trainers rotate every weekend; previous workouts have been hosted by Strength and Nutrition and  Function Factory. A fun and great workout for all levels. Meet at Fitzee Foods at 10am in Liberty Station.

Ray at Night - Sat, April 14
North Park’s urban Ray Street Galleries offer Ray at Night on the second Saturday of each month from 7-10 pm. At this art-infused block party,  galleries, cafes and retail shops open their doors and offer light fare to art lovers and curiosity seekers alike. This vibrant scene is often accompanied by live music, dance and spoken-word performances, and food trucks.

Free Family Day at the Lux – Sat, April 14
Enjoy an admission-free day at the Lux Art Institute, a different museum experience that lets you see art happen, rather than a static piece. During this family-friendly Saturday, you’ll enjoy studio tours of Gwynn Murrill’s exhibit, refreshments, an art project, live music by Erika Davies, and a silhouette artist who will be cutting profiles of Family Day guests. 11am – 5pm in Encinitas.

Friday the 13th Gelato Poety - Fri, April 13
Share your poems of disaster and despair during Friday the 13th meeting of Gelato Poetry series at Korky’s Ice Cream and Coffee in Old Town. 760-434-1240. 7-9pm

2nd Friday Sketch Jam – Fri, April 13
Bring your sketch materials, enjoy live music, and refreshments at Studio 2nd Street in Encinitas. 7pm Open to all artists. 760-479-1848.

Small Business Boot Camp -  Sat, April 14
Accion San Diego hosts a start-up program for new and aspiring business owners and a growth program for seasoned business owners. Learn ten key steps to starting a business, financing and banking basics, marketing 101 for new businesses, hiring and managing employees, more. 8am-12pm at the Joe and Vi Jacobs Center San Diego

Earth Day at the Elfin Forest - Sat, April 14
Volunteers of all ages invited to join park rangers to remove debris from banks of Escondido Creek (9am) during eleventh annual Earth Day festivities (bring gloves). Downstream of the reserve, volunteers assist Escondido Creek Conservancy in removing pieces of cars abandoned in the creek. San Diego Zoo offers activities for kids throughout morning, with mammal, reptile, bird animal ambassadors (11am). No pets. 9am-noon Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve, Escondido RSVP: 760-632-4212.

Hostel Takeover – An Evening of Art and Performance- Sat, April 14
In conjunction with Hostelling International San Diego’s Peace Building Conference, enjoy an evening of live music, works by more than 20 artists, poetry, film, crafts, and food. Screening of film by Playing for Change Foundation. Parking in City College garage (1081 16th Street), then take the “hostel hopper shuttle.” Donations accepted. 619-525-1531. 6-10pm

April in Paris - Sun, April 15
A fine art show, “April in Paris” returns to the Chula Vista Bayfront with a free art exhibition and a touch of spring on the bay. Check out a collection of wonderful art by local artists displaying paintings, photos, sculpture, jewelry and mixed media, along with French cuisine and music. The Galley Restaurant will add a touch of Paris with a French sidewalk cafe.