For more than a century, Coronado has enticed and inspired visitors with its temperate climate, sea-swept breezes and beautiful postcard setting cradled between the Pacific Ocean and San Diego Bay. It's no wonder Coronado is often referred to as the "enchanted" island. Coronado continues to stir the imagination and satisfy the soul with a rich mix of arts and culture offerings for visitors to enjoy throughout the year.

CURTAIN CALL

Coronado is home to two professional theaters offering entertaining shows year-round.

• Lamb's Players Theatre, Coronado's award-winning professional theater company, produces timeless classics, musicals and lesser-known theatre gems on its resident stage on Orange Avenue.
• Coronado Playhouse, San Diego's oldest community theater founded in 1946, produces classic and modern comedies, dramas, mysteries, musicals and original works by local playwrights in an intimate 100-seat cabaret-style theatre overlooking picturesque Glorietta Bay.

Film buffs can enjoy Hollywood blockbusters in the magnificently restored Art Deco-style Village Theatre, located on Orange Ave. Originally opened in 1947 and shuttered in 2000, the theater celebrated its grand re-opening in June 2011 after a $3 million renovation. Incorporating design concepts by the late, legendary theater designer Joseph Musil, known for his restoration of Hollywood's El Capitan Theatre, retro-modern design details include hand-painted murals by Disney muralist Bill Anderson, a towering illuminated "Village" sign and a classic sidewalk ticket booth.

The main theater seats 215 moviegoers and two smaller screens seat 45 people each. Bringing movie magic into the 21st century, the Village Theatre also utilizes the latest 3-D technology.

The premier Coronado Island Film Festival, scheduled to launch in fall 2015, will celebrate "where movies began, and the magic continues." Coronado's Hollywood connection spans over a century. Some of the first movies ever made were produced at the Hotel del Coronado in 1901 and numerous stars have visited the island over the years to work and play.

The four-day festival will feature guest filmmakers and screenings of classic films like Some Like it Hot and The Stunt Man (both filmed at the Hotel del Coronado) and contemporary movies like Act of Valor (2012) shown at the Village Theatre and Coronado School of the Arts' 580-seat theater, as well as family-friendly events including a free movie on the beach.

LITERARY FIND

Follow the yellow brick road to Coronado on August 1-10, 2014 for the island's first-ever Oz Con International, a celebration of the magical literary works of Wizard of Oz author L. Frank Baum. Festivities include a screening of the digitally-enhanced 75th anniversary version of the original Wizard of Oz movie at the Village Theatre; Wizard of Oz Walking Tours to the Hotel del Coronado - Baum's inspiration for the Emerald City - and the house where Baum wrote three of his famous Oz books; a Wizard of Oz musical cabaret at the Coronado playhouse; exhibitions of Oz memorabilia and collectibles at the Coronado Public Library, and fun children's activities including a Wizard of Oz Musical Theater Day Camp, Oz storytelling, costume contests and more.

MUSEUM/ART GALLERIES

Thought-provoking visual arts, including paintings, sculptures and interpretive works and displays, can be viewed at Coronado's history and art museum, plus a number of fine art galleries.

• The Crown City's colorful and fascinating history comes alive at the Coronado Museum of History and Art on Orange Ave., where visitors can explore the island's early days, including the prominent U.S. Navy presence and rich history of the Hotel del Coronado. The museum also offers fascinating walking tours, exploring Coronado's history, famous buildings, residents and gardens. Tickets prices are $10-$15 (children 12 and under are free); reservations are required. Admission to the museum is free; donations welcome.
• Celebrating 39 years on the island, Art & Frames by Wood Gallery on Orange Ave. features a variety of local, national and international artists, ranging from traditional to contemporary, who work in a wide a range of mediums including painting, sculpture, ceramics and glass. The gallery also displays a selection of hand-signed lithographs by 20th Century Master artists such as Chagall, Picasso and Matisse.
• Shorelines Gallery on Orange Ave. showcases handcrafted jewelry, glass art and chic home décor and furniture by 150 artists from throughout the United States.
• The Dan McGeorge Gallery on Orange Ave. displays a variety of photographic works from throughout the U.S. and around the world, including breathtaking nature photos. The gallery's Coronado School of Photography holds regular private and group lessons for photographers of all skill levels.
• Austin's Gallery on C Avenue, a co-op of local Coronado and San Diego artists, showcases paintings, pottery, textiles, blown art glass, photography, jewelry and other unique handcrafted items.
• The Coronado Ferry Landing on San Diego Bay is home to Art for Wildlife Galleries, exhibiting wildlife-inspired artworks, and the Stephen Clayton Gallery, featuring the "Secret Art of Dr. Seuss." One popular painting, "I Dreamed I Was a Doorman at the Hotel del Coronado," depicts Seuss' vibrant otherworldly view of Coronado.

On the first and third Sunday of every month, Spreckels Park, Coronado's large city park located in the center of the island (Orange Ave. and 6th St.), is transformed into an outdoor gallery featuring more than 50 artists selling their works. The aptly named Art-in-the-Park event showcases a dazzling array of artworks, including paintings, photographs, sculptures, handmade jewelry and more.

ART WALKS

Coronado weaves a rich tapestry of public art that can be found throughout the island.

• Visitors are in for an eye-opening treat when they take a self-guided Public Art Walking Tour of Coronado. Featuring 30 artworks, from murals, mosaics and photo montages to sculptures, fountains and architectural marvels, highlights include the playful "My Bike" sculpture in Tidelands Park, "Sea Passage" fountain by artist James Hubbell ("San Diego's Gaudi") at the Glorietta Bay Promenade, Wizard of Oz Glass Panels at the Coronado Public Library and a Solstice Clock on the Silver Strand. A Public Art Walking Tour Map can be found online at http://coronadovisitorcenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Public-Art-Walking-Tour.pdf
• The annual Coronado Art Walk in September at the Coronado Ferry Landing is the city's annual celebration of the arts, featuring exhibits of paintings, photography, ceramics, hand-crafted jewelry and other mediums by over 100 artists. Admission is free and a complimentary shuttle transports guests along Orange Avenue, with a stop at the popular Art-in-the-Park in Spreckels Park.

From sweet and soulful to grand and commanding, the sound of music fills the air in Coronado throughout the year.

• During the Coronado Ferry Landing Summer Concert Series, 1-4 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday, late May through early September, visitors can enjoy live music performances from local bands and spectacular views of San Diego Bay.
• Visitors can also enjoy live music at various venues around the island including the redesigned 1887 on the Bay, Leroy's Kitchen + Lounge, Babcock & Story bar in the Hotel del Coronado, Costa Azul, Candelas on the Bay, Vigilucci's Ristorante and Wine a Bit.

Happiness is calling in Coronado. For more information on Coronado arts and culture, visit the San Diego Tourism Authority's website, www.visitcoronado.org, download the free Coronado app at http://qr.coronadotourismdistrict.org or call (619) 236-1212.