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We need your help to restore precious habitats within the San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve and the surrounding areas. By removing invasive plants and helping grow native plants indigenous to the area, you will support a more balanced ecosystem. Nature Collective is a local conservation and science education nonprofit organization. They work to restore habitats, provide healthier waters, and increase wildlife diversity. They are dedicated to conserving the land and providing experiences for people to fall in love with nature. Ages 6+ (minors with guardians) – Registration Required San Elijo Lagoon (meet-up location shared before the event) RSVP: https://naturecollective.org/event/volunteer-restoration-event-february-21-2026/ Nature Collective on Facebook / Instagram

San Elijo offers an extravaganza of birds, many of which are seasonal visitors. On this Valentine’s Day tour, we are likely to discover lots of waterfowl playing hide-and-seek with us among the lagoon waters. We may find mushrooms along the way. We will also visit four distinct plant communities at Harbaugh Seaside Trails and learn more about the wildlife that these plant communities support. This event is weather permitting; wildlife is unpredictable and there is no guarantee of what you will see. Nature Collective is a local conservation and science education nonprofit organization. They work to restore habitats, provide healthier waters, and increase wildlife diversity. They are dedicated to conserving the land and providing experiences for people to fall in love with nature. Ages 15+ (Registration Required) San Elijo Lagoon (meet-up location will be emailed to registered participants) RSVP: https://naturecollective.org/event/wildlife-tour-february-14-2026/ Nature Collective on Facebook / Instagram

Discover the beauty of San Elijo Lagoon: where fresh water and saltwater meet and mix, migratory and resident birds share a sanctuary, and many animals find a home. This guided tour will inspire all to watch and listen for various birds that rest in – and fly across – the salt marsh and mudflats. No matter the season, you can enjoy, photograph, and identify a host of native plants. Our Nature Center Loop Trail is accessible, providing fun for all. Nature Collective is a local conservation and science education nonprofit organization. They work to restore habitats, provide healthier waters, and increase wildlife diversity. They are dedicated to conserving the land and providing experiences for people to fall in love with nature. Ages 9+ – Registration Required RSVP: https://naturecollective.org/event/discovery-tour-february-7-2026/ Nature Collective on Facebook / Instagram

Steven Schick met and grew to know the venerable composer Chou Wen-chung at UC San Diego on the several occasions Chou was invited to San Diego by Schick’s colleague Roger Reynolds. Professor Chou was a champion of the music of Edgard Varèse and was himself one of the most important composers of the 20th and 21st centuries. The links between Professor Chou and the department strengthened over the years--Lei Liang on UC San Diego has been a steadfast friend and advocate of Professor Chou's music. After his death in 2019, Liang and Schick brought all of Professor Chou’s percussion instruments, including many that belonged to Varèse, to UC San Diego where they now comprise the core of a collection of historically important percussion instruments. Each year, a UC San Diego graduate student is commissioned for a new piece that uses or is inspired by the collection. This year, the newly commissioned pieces are by graduate students Jiyoung Ko and Myles Ortiz-Green. Also on the program are works by Schick’s UC San Diego colleague, Wilfrido Terrazas, and an old friend, Gabriela Ortiz. Visit: https://music-web.ucsd.edu/concerts/cms_index.php?i=804

The 79th Latino Book & Family Festival (LBFF) returns to North San Diego, bigger than ever. This free family-friendly event will be held in tandem with the MiraCosta STREAM Festival, offering a day full of fun activities celebrating literacy, cultura, community, and Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Art, and Math. Attendees of all ages can engage with over 35 Latino authors and International Latino Book Award Winning Authors in the Authors Village, access bilingual health screenings in the Health Village provided by local health providers, and explore educational pathways in the Education Village. Highlighting the intersection of culture and craft, the Cruisin’ Village will showcase Chicano art through a curated lowrider display. The day also features unforgettable keynote speakers, incredible live performances on the Entertainment Stage, inspiring author readings in the Cafecito and Storytelling Stage, and a dedicated Children's Village hosted by local libraries and preschools. This is an event you won't want to miss! **STREAM Festival 12-3 p.m. To sign up as an Author, Exhibitor, or Sponsor, visit www.lbff.us

Come find out about the uniqueness and wonder of ferns and lycophytes. CNPS, San Diego Chapter presents a talk by Jon P. Rebman about local Ferns and Lycophytes. Jon P. Rebman, Ph.D. and Annette Winner are the authors of a new filed guide titled “Ferns and Lycophytes of San Diego County”. This field guide has descriptions, keys for identification, local natural history information, and a color plate for each species that shows all of the key characters important for getting to know these species. This publication is part of the San Diego Natural History Museum’s journal series, the Proceedings of the San Diego Society of Natural History. It will be available for purchase at the meeting, and may be signed by Dr. Rebman. Our meeting starts at 6 p.m. with some socializing, book sales, and information on our upcoming Garden Tour on April 11 & 12, followed by the presentation at 7 p.m. CNPS-San Diego Chapter on Facebook / Instagram

Create your own dream catcher! This craft class for teens ages 12 and up will be led by teachers from the San Diego American Indian Health Center. All materials and instructions will be provided to make your own beautiful piece. Registration is required. Visit sandiego.librarymarket.com for more information. Audience: Recommended for ages 12-17 Location: Community Room Mission Valley Branch Library on Facebook

The Kook Run 2026 will be Sunday, Feb. 8 at 7:20 a.m. Both a fun run and a professional race, The Kook Run is a SoCal Big Game Sunday tradition, where thousands kick off the morning with a 5K/10K fun run and costumed race along the Pacific Coast. The 10K race is the fastest on the west coast and will again be made up of an international field of runners, as well as the top runners in Southern California. In 2026, all elite runners will be racing for a cash purse of $3,000 on the most picturesque 10K course on the West Coast. The kids will get their own day to run at the 5th Annual Junior Kook Run, with a modified course for kids, from 400 yards to one mile, on Saturday, Feb. 7 for kids ages 3-12 at the Ecke YMCA, during packet pick-up, starting at 9:00 a.m. The Costume Contest is one of the most entertaining aspects of the event – and that is what makes this event so fun. The contest awards the top three in each of the following categories: “Best Group Theme,” “Best ‘Kook’ Theme,” and “Most Original.” Costume contest participants need to register/check-in at the Costume Contest Registration table between 6:30 a.m. and 7:15 a.m. The costume award ceremony will immediately follow the 5K race. Winners must be present to win. For rules and more info, visit www.thekookrun.com. The Kook Run is proud to donate a portion of all proceeds to the Ecke YMCA of Encinitas. The Right Hand Angels will be the beneficiary of the event’s Beer Garden sales, as well as participating in the event with their chariot runners. Registration is now open – $59.83 ($54.50, today) for the 5K (3.1 miles), $83.26 ($73.67, today) for the 10K (6.2 miles) and $14.56 for the Junior Kook Run. Each participant receives a premium T-shirt and finisher’s medal. The course starts under the world famous “Encinitas” sign on the historic Coast Hwy 101 in beautiful Encinitas, Calif. This scenic loop passes by the famous “Cardiff Kook” statue, rises above some of the most popular surf breaks in the world and heads down to Cardiff State Beach. Water stations are provided throughout the course. Race Day and Costume Contest registration opens at 6:30 a.m. Welcome and introductions take place at 7:00 a.m. The Elite/10K race start is 7:20 a.m., while the 5K and Costume Division race starts at 8:05 a.m. The awards ceremony is at 9:15 a.m. Advance packet and T-shirt pick-up will be held at the Ecke YMCA – 200 Saxony Road in Encinitas (92024) – Saturday, Feb. 7 between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. One of the “coolest” aspects of the race is its Finish Line Festival at Moonlight Plaza – featuring highlights for Kooks of all ages. The energy will be rocking with live music, breakfast tacos, a Vendor Village, games and activities, and a beer garden, featuring local breweries. EVENT PARKING: Public Parking can be found on Southwest corner of S. Vulcan Ave and E st. Encinitas Library Lot (corner of E D St and Cornish Dr) Civic Center parking Lot (East side of S. Vulcan ave between and D St. and E St) Street parking on 2nd and 3rd street (Between C St and K St) Moonlight Beach Parking Lot (corner of C St and 3rd St) TRANSPORTATION: To help with parking on race morning we encourage using a bicycle, carpooling, ride share services, and other local public transportation to arrive onsite. The train and bus station is only 1 block away. If you are using Uber or Lyft we suggest using the Encinitas Library address as a drop and pickup point so you can walk down to the event area. (540 Cornish Dr, Encinitas, 92024) For more information on the event, visit www.thekookrun.com.

Develop new skills for connecting and communicating more effectively with a person experiencing memory loss, and strategies on how to respond when interactions are challenging. FREE & open to the community! For more information or to preregister visit alzsd.org/classes or call (858) 492-4400. Alzheimer's San Diego on Facebook / Instagram

"Dave Eassa: Head Above the Clouds" presents new paintings, sculpture, and installation by San Diego–based artist Dave Eassa, developed through sustained collaboration with local youth and community partners. The exhibition centers on a new suite of paintings by Eassa and functions as an immersive environment shaped by shared authorship, with participants contributing stories, drawings, and ideas that inform the installation. The project centers grief, resilience, and hope through collective making as core elements of the exhibition. California Center for the Arts Museum on Facebook / Instagram