arrow-down arrow-left arrow-right arrow-up play-button plus tab-indicator dots close menu search facebook google-plus instagram pinterest rss twitter tiktok youtube rss-two heart Check FeaturedBadge linkedin minus apps placeholder linkedin
Discover San Diego's

Arts & Culture Scene

Creativity Around Every Corner

Photo By Eric Scire
Celebrate the Arts

Known as the Smithsonian of the West, Balboa Park hosts an incredible concentration of arts and culture offerings including 17 museums and performing arts venues. San Diego is also home to two Tony® Award-winning theaters, historic sites, public art, music venues, dance performances, film festivals, galleries, missions and much more to explore.

Find a place to stay

Book online or call 1-800-350-6205 to speak with a local expert

Discover San Diego

What's Hot|
What's On|

San Diego's Rich and Diverse Culture

From Balboa Park to Chicano Park to Oceanside, San Diego is home to three state-designated cultural districts that embody the very best of the region.

Discover

Favorite Spots to Take Pictures in San Diego

Landmarks, City Scapes and Animals Make Great Subjects

Discover

Balboa Park, The Cultural Heart of San Diego

Just minutes from downtown, explore the history, legacy, and future of this ever changing, always amazing cultural park.

Discover

Port of San Diego's Day at the Docks

Apr 7, 2024

A San Diego sportfishing tradition, The Port Of San Diego’s Day At The Docks is the West Coast’s largest public celebration of sportfishing. Signaling the official start of Southern California’s spring saltwater fishing season, Day At The Docks takes place on Sunday, April 7, 2024 against the colorful and dynamic backdrop of world renown sportfishing fleet on San Diego Bay.

Discover

Gator By The Bay-Zydeco, Blues & Crawfish Festival

May 9 - May 12, 2024

The spirit, sounds and flavors of southwest Louisiana come alive at the largest and most-authentic Louisiana-themed music and food festival this side of the bayou. With everything from A to Zydeco, this 4-day, family-friendly cultural celebration takes place on picture-perfect San Diego Bay, featuring 100+ live musical acts & performances on 7 stages, wooden dance floors, shade, green grass and plenty of fun for the kids.

Come for the music, stay for the food. Gator By The Bay’s mouthwatering French Quarter Food Court is what foodie dreams are made of. Check off every box on your bayou-inspired culinary bucket list and chow down on authentic Cajun, Creole and Southern culinary delights, including gumbo, jambalaya, beignets and 10,000 pounds of crawfish brought directly from Louisiana. Gator By The Bay is Mardi Gras in May

Discover

Wonderfront Music & Arts Festival

May 10 - May 12, 2024

A highly-anticipated 7+ stage, 80+ bands, 3-day music, culinary and arts festival will descend upon the stunning waterfront of downtown San Diego all along the Embarcadero. The festival offers diverse attractions including yacht parties, water sports, art installations, after-parties, a craft beer village and plenty of local flavors. Wonderfront festival’s re-entry policy encourages festival-goers to customize their weekend experience and truly integrates the city into the fabric of the festival.

Discover

Fashion Dangers: From Victorian to Vanguard

Apr 27, 2024

Join the Gaslamp Museum at the Davis-Horton House and artist MartyO for a lecture to coincide with the exhibition “A Splendid Decennium: Victorian to Vanguard”

 

Discover

What's Hot

View More

San Diego's Rich and Diverse Culture

Discover

Favorite Spots to Take Pictures in San Diego

Discover

Balboa Park, The Cultural Heart of San Diego

Discover

What's On

View More Events

Port of San Diego's Day at the Docks

Apr 7, 2024
Discover

Gator By The Bay-Zydeco, Blues & Crawfish Festival

May 9 - May 12, 2024
Discover

Wonderfront Music & Arts Festival

May 10 - May 12, 2024
Discover

Fashion Dangers: From Victorian to Vanguard

Apr 27, 2024
Discover

Deals just for you

Galleries & Museums

Save up to $3 on admission to The Nat

San Diego Natural History Museum
Valid: Dec 4, 2023 - ongoing

Save $3 on Adult Admission and $2 off other admission categories at the San Diego Natural History Museum. Admission includes access to 3D films. 

Activity

$10 off Tall Ship Sail Experiences

Maritime Museum of San Diego
Valid: Mar 20 - ongoing

Join the Maritime Museum of San Diego Sail Crew for a 4-hour sail aboard the state tall ship Californian or the Spanish galleon San Salvador and save $10.00 with this promo code TALLSHIPSAILFUN24! ...

Galleries & Museums

Show Your Badge & Save at SDCHM

San Diego Chinese Historical Society and Museum
Valid: Jun 30, 2023 - ongoing

Explore the story of San Diego's historical Asian Pacific Historical Thematic District. Learn about the history of Downtown through the years as San Diego's Chinatown of yesteryear. Show your...

Related Articles and Features

More from San Diego

Neighborhoods

Stay in touch

Sign up to receive the latest news, events, and updates about San Diego. Our monthly and weekly newsletters will keep you informed about the latest and greatest happenings in the destination.

Sign Up

Explore

Plan

Stay

Follow Us

Language:

English | Change Language

Select your country or region

China
Germany
Great Britain
Japan
Mexico
Korea
Switzerland
Brazil
France
Australia
Canada
USA

Or use Google Translate

Afrikaans
Albanian
Arabic
Belarusian
Bulgarian
Croatian
Danish
Deutsch
Español
Estonian
Filipino
Finnish
Francais
Georgian
Greek
Haitian-Creole
Hebrew
Hindi
Hungarian
Icelandic
Indonesian
Irish
Italian
Japanese
Korean
Latvian
Lithuanian
Macedonian
Malay
Maltese
Nederlands
Norwegian
Persian
Polish
Portuguese
Romanian
Russian
Serbian
Slovak
Slovenian
Swahili
Swedish
Telugu
Thai
Turkish
Ukranian
Vietnamese
Yiddish