Join us Dec. 6 and 7 in beautiful Balboa Park for the City of San Diego's largest free holiday festival. The family-friendly December Nights celebration brings visitors and locals together to enjoy the lights, the sounds, the attractions and, of course, the amazing food.

The Maritime Museum of San Diego, whose mission is to serve as the community memory of our seafaring experiences by collecting, preserving, and presenting our rich maritime heritage and historic connections with the Pacific world, announces the opening of the new exhibit Celebrating the Sea: Exploring the Maritime Museum of San Diego’s Hidden Collection in the Compass Gallery on the ferryboat Berkeley. Entry to the new exhibit is included with general admission. October 2024 through July 2025 visitors can revel in a rare and rich tapestry of treasured maritime-themed art and admire notable artists’ work, embracing the nautical world of breathtaking coasts, artifacts & treasured ships. 

Enjoy a uniquely-San Diego experience at one of our city’s most iconic historic landmarks. Make the climb on a guided tour that highlights the origins of Balboa Park and the histories of some of the many diverse communities that call the region home. All tours culminate in breathtaking 360-degree views of San Diego from the Tower’s eighth-floor viewing deck–from the Pacific Ocean in the west to the Cuyamaca Mountains in the east, and beyond.

 Learn more about the California Tower, what to expect on a tour, and get a sneak peek of the views at CaliforniaTower.org.

Ready to step up your Pleistocene rock art skills to the next level? If so, put on your dirty painting clothes and come to the SDAC for this all-ages outdoor art event where we’ll be spraying, blowing, and flinging our favorite ancient pigments like an Ice Age Jackson Pollock!

All art materials will be provided. Tickets include coffee, tea, and light refreshments.