Legend
- Free + Ticketed
+ San Diego Botanic Garden Lightscape
Illuminated night-time trail in the San Diego Botanic Garden.
+ Ms. Cast: The Naughty List
A one-night only cabaret that flips the script in the best way possible!
+ Soweto Gospel Choir
The multi–Grammy® and Emmy Award®–winning Soweto Gospel Choir returns to North America with PEACE, a joyful program of South African freedom songs, traditional spirituals, and beloved classics.
+ Feeling Festive — A Lovely Mess Holiday Night Out
A mom’s night out filled with food, drinks, and festive fun.
+ "Impressions" Live at Meraki Spaces
An improvisational movement in a multi-medium art gallery.
+ The Nutcracker
Golden State Ballet’s The Nutcracker returns to the Civic Theatre with Raúl Salamanca’s exquisite choreography, stunning sets, and a live performance by the San Diego Symphony—San Diego’s most enchanting holiday tradition.
+ Makers Arcade Holiday Fair
Two-day artisan market featuring over 140 local makers and handmade vendors.
- Lights & Peppermint Market
Come eat, drink, and be pepperminty with holiday fun at this Christmas market.
- School of the Arts Poetry Reading
Students at the School of the Arts Writer’s group share their recent work, featuring Anna DiMartino and her book launch.
- Athenaeum Faculty & Staff Exhibition, Opening Reception
An exhibition of faculty and staff work, ranging from painting to book arts, printmaking, ceramics, illustration, painting, and beyond.
- University Heights Winter Walk
A night to shop, sip, and stroll through University Heights.
- Dear Tomorrow Night Market
A holiday night market with over 25 local artists selling crafts, DJs, hands-on craft stations, and natural wine.
+ Campana Sobre Campana: Christmas in Mexico
Mariachi Garibaldi de Jaime Cuéllar and Ballet Folklorico del Rio Grande weave cherished Mexican traditions into a magical celebration of the season.
- Winter MKT
A daytime vendor market in partnership with Part Time Lover, In Sheep’s Clothing, and We Share Records that features the best in gifts alongside Japonesia, which celebrates Japanese culture through records, food, drinks, and goods.
- Lights & Peppermint Market
Come eat, drink, and be pepperminty with holiday fun at this Christmas market.
+ Makers Arcade Holiday Fair
Two-day artisan market featuring over 140 local makers and handmade vendors.
- I'm Still Developing 2025 Holiday Party
A gallery that focuses on the theme “The photo you’re most proud of in 2025.”
+ Write Out Loud: “Giving Season” Story Concert
Join us for the signature event of Write Out Loud, a curated selection of short stories, poetry, and sometimes music all read by professional actors.
+ Silent Movie Mondays: Double Feature: Old Scrooge (1926) & A Dog’s Life (1918)
Celebrate the season at Silent Movie Mondays with a special double feature!
+ La Jolla Playhouse | Burnout Paradise, Opening Night
Treadmills, chaos, and comedy fuel this theatrical spectacle.
+ Sounding Piñatas: A Creative Workshop for Families
Join us for a creative and imaginative bilingual workshop centered around the pinata.
+ "Impressions" Live at Meraki Spaces
An improvisational movement in a multi-medium art gallery.
+ The Nutcracker | City Ballet
Awarded San Diego’s Best Nutcracker, City Ballet of San Diego performs the traditional full-length holiday classic with live orchestra.
- Female Maker Market in Little Italy
Hosted at the picturesque Piazza della Famiglia, this monthly marketplace brings together a dynamic mix of women-owned businesses, local artisans, and one-of-a-kind treasures.
+ La Jolla Playhouse | Burnout Paradise, Closing Night
Treadmills, chaos, and comedy fuel this theatrical spectacle.
+ An Irish Christmas
Experience the joy of An Irish Christmas as seen on PBS, with all the holiday carols you know and love plus a spectacular high-energy display of Irish dancing at its very best.
+ A Magical Cirque Christmas
A captivating performance of agility, each high-flying spectacle is set to Christmas classics.
+ Ballet of Lights: Peter Pan
Experience J. M. Barrie’s Peter Pan reimagined in a one-of-a-kind ballet show.
+ Silent Movie Mondays: Wings (1927)
Wings combines two then-emerging, innovative technologies – the airplane and the moving picture – into one cinematic experience!
+ Mainly Mozart Wine Pairing Series: National Symphony
Experience the emotion of classical music through taste as world-class sommelier and concertmaster duos collaborate to pair the perfect glass of wine with the music being performed.
+ Mainly Mozart Wine Pairing Series: National Symphony
Experience the emotion of classical music through taste as world-class sommelier and concertmaster duos collaborate to pair the perfect glas of wine with the music being performed.
+ Louisa Gillis | A Play by Joanna McClelland Glass
Joanna McClelland Glass’s searing new drama weaves a sophisticated psychological thriller about family bonds, betrayal, and the possibility of healing.
+ Acousmonium by Sam Dunscombe
Composer and sound artist Samantha Dunscombe surrounds audiences in an acousmonium–an immersive “loudspeaker orchestra” of more than two dozen custom-positioned speakers.
+ Write Out Loud: “Wonder Women” Story Concert
Join us for the signature event of Write Out Loud, a curated selection of short stories, poetry, and sometimes music all read by professional actors.
+ Right in the Eye: Live Movie-Concert of Georges Melies' Films
A creation by Jean-François Alcoléa based on Georges Méliès’ Films.
+ Write Out Loud: “An Enchanted Evening” Story Concert
Join us for the signature event of Write Out Loud, a curated selection of short stories, poetry, and sometimes music all read by professional actors.
+ Ballet of Lights: Sleeping Beauty
A unique reimagination in a ballet show of Sleeping Beauty.
+ SD Opera: The Barber of Seville
Join us for an operatic performance of The Barber of Seville.
+ Samy Wats X 1Leak | The Silo Room | Trip 14
Samy Wats and 1Leak performing inside of a 100+ year old bread factory in San Diego, CA.
+ SD Opera: The Barber of Seville
Join us for an operatic performance of The Barber of Seville.
+ Poetry + Sound in 2 Acts: Fabiola Carranza + Wilfrido Terrazas
This two-part program brings together music, poetry, and performance for an evening of boundary-crossing storytelling.
+ Mainly Mozart Wine Pairing Series: Boston Symphony
Experience the emotion of classical music through taste as world-class sommelier and concertmaster duos collaborate to pair the perfect glass of wine with what’s being performed.
+ Mainly Mozart Wine Pairing Series: Boston Symphony
Experience the emotion of classical music through taste as world-class sommelier and concertmaster duos collaborate to pair the perfect wine glass with what’s being performed.
+ SDMA | The Cake Party
Join us for an indulgent event of boundary-pushing confections, sugar-fueled creativity, and bites almost too beautiful to eat.
+ The Maltese Falcon | A Play
An adaption by Matthew Salazar-Thompson based on Dashiel Hammet’s book.
+ Ballet of Lights: Peter Pan
Experience J. M. Barrie’s Peter Pan reimagined in a one-of-a-kind ballet show.
+ Rhapsody in Blue | City Ballet
A ballet performance with choreography by Geoffrey Gonzalez and music by George Gershwin.
2025-26 Artist Alliance Biennial Closing Day
Join OMA in the closing of their exhibition, the 2025-26 Art Alliance Biennial.
+ Rhapsody in Blue | City Ballet
A ballet performance with choreography by Geoffrey Gonzalez and music by George Gershwin.
+ Rhapsody in Blue | City Ballet
A ballet performance with choreography by Geoffrey Gonzalez and music by George Gershwin.
+ An Artist @ the Table: Ben Guerrette & Chef Flor Franco
Experience the next chapter of An Artist @ the Table, Vanguard Culture’s signature dinner series pairing visionary chefs with boundary-pushing artists.
+ An Artist @ the Table: Ben Guerrette & Chef Flor Franco
Experience the next chapter of An Artist @ the Table, Vanguard Culture’s signature dinner series pairing visionary chefs with boundary-pushing artists.
+ To Live a Loving Life by Patrick Michael Ballard
Los Angeles-based artist Patrick Michael Ballard invites audiences into a surreal, participatory world where performance unfolds in response to those present.
+ An Artist @ the Table: Ben Guerrette & Chef Flor Franco
Experience the next chapter of An Artist @ the Table, Vanguard Culture’s signature dinner series pairing visionary chefs with boundary-pushing artists.
+ An Artist @ the Table: Ben Guerrette & Chef Flor Franco
Experience the next chapter of An Artist @ the Table, Vanguard Culture’s signature dinner series pairing visionary chefs with boundary-pushing artists.
+ The Collector's Table
An unforgettable night supporting Africa New Life - art, auction, and stories of hope.
- Poetic Portraits: Allegory and Identity in Sixteenth-Century Europe (Copy)
This closing exhibition at the Timken Museum explores the rich interplay of art, literature, and identity during the Renaissance.
+ Ballet of Lights: Sleeping Beauty
A unique reimagination in a ballet show of Sleeping Beauty.
+ Mainly Mozart Wine Pairing Series: New York Philharmonic
Experience the emotion of classical music through taste as world-class sommelier and concertmaster duos collaborate to pair the perfect wine glass with what’s being performed.
+ Mainly Mozart Wine Pairing Series: New York Philharmonic
Experience the emotion of classical music through taste as world-class sommelier and concertmaster duos collaborate to pair the perfect wine glass with performance.
+ Celestial Bodies: Moons + Marguerite Brown
Sound artist Marguerite Brown opens the evening with an exploration of the electric guitar as a celestial body, using planetary tuning forks, custom hardware, and extended performance techniques to reveal new resonances and cosmic frequencies.
+ Write Out Loud: “The Soaring Crane” Story Concert
Join us for the signature event of Write Out Loud, a curated selection of short stories, poetry, and sometimes music all read by professional actors.
+ Beau Jest | A Play
A Jewish-American story by James Sherman, directed by Omri Schein.
+ Ichiko Aoba: Across the Oceans Tour
Japanese singer-songwriter-multi-instrumentalist celebrates the release of her eighth album.
+ The Firebird | City Ballet
An original retelling of The Firebird, a feature in Russian fairytales, with choreography by Elizabeth Wistrich and score by Igor Stravinsky.
+ The Firebird | City Ballet
An original retelling of The Firebird, a feature in Russian fairytales, with choreography by Elizabeth Wistrich and score by Igor Stravinsky.
+ Puscifer: The Normal Isn't Tour
A band of 3 creative confidants perform visually and sonically.
+ Algorithmic Rave
Get ready for a full-throttle dance party where human creativity and machine intelligence collide.
+ The Most Happy Fella | A Play
A lush, romantic musical masterpiece by Pulitzer-prize winning Frank Loesser.
+ Write Out Loud: “We the People” Story Concert
Join us for the signature event of Write Out Loud, a curated selection of short stories, poetry, and sometimes music all read by professional actors.
+ Nascar San Diego
Feel the adrenaline of NASCAR like never before at the first-ever coastal race weekend—where high-octane excitement meets breathtaking oceanfront views along the stunning San Diego shoreline.
+ MOMIX: Alice
Travel down the rabbit hole MOMIX-style with a production of Alice, inspired by Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
+ Ginger Minj's Holiday Spectacular
RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 10 winner Ginger Minj brings a brand-new holiday extravaganza with Annie Daynow and The Minx.
- "Inner World" Gabrielle Berens Artist Reception
Join us for an artist reception of the SDSU grad award exhibit with Gabrielle Berens and her work.
+ Ginger Minj's Holiday Spectacular
RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 10 winner Ginger Minj brings a brand-new holiday extravaganza with Annie Daynow and The Minx.
+ It's Kitschmastime Again, Brian & Ryan
Expect a rollicking evening of festive music, offbeat storytelling, absurd theatricality, and lovingly over-the-top seasonal cheer.
- First Friday Open Studios with Artist Leslie Pierce
A behind-the-scenes look at Artist Leslie Pierce in her creative studio at work.
- North Park Gallery Nights
Late-night art openings, maker showcases, and creative pop-ups tucked inside your favorite North Park spots.
+ Loot Hoops Solo Show
Closing exhibition of the year at the SH!FT Gallery, celebrating their 2-year anniversary.
+ Vanguardista Night: A Year-End Fundraiser at Matsu
Enjoy a meticulously crafted 6-course Japanese tasting menu in a sleek, intimate setting.
- East Village Tree Lighting & Holiday Market
A Christmas tree lighting and holiday market in East Village.
+ Sofar Sounds Concert in cafe at Ocean Beach
At this show, you’ll get up close and personal with artists, meet like-minded music fans, and experience a cool, local space in an entirely new way.
+ Broadway Rave
A Broadway Dance Party celebrating the best in showtunes and musical theatre, with surprise guests and your favorite Broadway hits.
- Oceanside Green Friday Fair
Shop local at North County’s kickoff holiday market, with 70+ eco-friendly makers with unique gifts, seasonal food, drinks & live music.
+ FLOW in Concert with the San Diego Symphony Orchestra
Prepare to be transported by Flow in Concert, an extraordinary live experience pairing the breathtaking animated film Flow with a full symphonic performance of its original score.
+ The Nutcracker at Wethersfield
A film that celebrates the joy and value of art in our communities and the magic of the holidays through the classic experience of the Nutcracker.
- Female Maker Market in Little Italy
Hosted at the picturesque Piazza della Famiglia, this monthly marketplace brings together a dynamic mix of women-owned businesses, local artisans, and one-of-a-kind treasures.
+ Bonkers Half-Assed Midnight: The Rare Blue Apes of Cannibal Isle
This film screening follows a young boy after he runs away from home with his beloved pet duck Mr. Quack Quack, and the strange world they discover.
+ One Flea Spare: Closing Night
Set in London at the height of the plague in 1665, this play follows the tale of two quarantined people.
+ Studio Sessions: Live Session by Future is Color
Join us for the last Studio Sessions Jazz Night with Future is Color.
- Opening Reception: Erté for the Holidays
An art gallery that celebrates some of the most renowned art styles and artists of the last 60 - 100 years.
+ Exhibition Celebration @ OMA
Join us for an evening of art and drinks as we celebrate the opening of Oceanside Museum of Art’s newest exhibitions.
+ Art Talk: Fakes and Forgeries
Explore the intriguing world of fakes and forgeries in art with a lively illustrated talk.
2025-26 Artist Alliance Biennial Opening Exhibition
Join OMA in an opening of their exhibition, the 2025-26 Art Alliance Biennial.
+ Mannheim Steamroller Christmas
A beloved holiday tradition for 40 years, Mannheim Steamroller Christmas by Chip Davis blends festive classics, Grammy-winning sound, and immersive multimedia for a dazzling seasonal experience.
+ "Impressions" Live at Meraki Spaces
An improvisational movement in a multi-medium art gallery.
+ MCASD x Black Women SD: Contemporary Thinkers Social Mixer
This intimate social event invites guests to mingle and explore the theme of Conscious Collecting and Cultural Legacy.
+ Elevated 20 Year Reunion Showcase
A reunion of a 15-year passion project, with a showcase from past features, slam team members, and regulars, also in memoriam of Viet Mai.
- A Decade of Pop Prints and Multiples, 1962 to 1972
Join the Museum of Contemporary Art in their free public opening of their new exhibition centered around pop art.