Vanguard Culture

The Strangers
2025-11-14 00:00 - 2025-11-30 23:59 (America/Los_Angeles)
An Our Town for the 21st Century- The Strangers dives into love, identity, and belonging in a changing America. Secrets surface and realities collide in this daring look at what “home” really means today. Cris returns to a place he used to call home-to work on a production of an old play and then falls in love as the end of the world draws near. A group of young people get together to figure out if this is in fact, our town and whether love in the face of near is still worth fighting for.

November 14-30, 2025

Old Town’s Historic Barn Theatre4040 Twiggs StreetSan Diego, CA 92110

Lightscape at San Diego Botanic Garden
2025-11-14 - 2026-01-04
Lightscape returns to transform the San Diego Botanic Garden into a glowing after-dark wonderland, featuring 20+ dazzling new light installations synced to enchanting soundscapes. Stroll illuminated trails, discover immersive floral displays, and enjoy seasonal treats like mulled wine and hot chocolate. A perfect winter outing for families, date nights, and anyone seeking a little holiday magic.
November 14, 2025 – January 4, 2026
San Diego Botanic Garden in Encinitas
Quail Gardens Drive
Encinitas, 92024

Race: Power, Resistance & Change
2025-11-14 - 2026-03-14
“Colors“ (detail) by Hugo Crosthwaite, 2025. Stop-motion animation (drawing-based).
The exhibition Race: Power, Resistance & Change shares stories of how the construction of race has shaped laws, institutions, and daily life in San Diego and the broader multinational region. Presented in English and Spanish, the exhibition highlights key moments in this region’s complex history of race. Experienced through mixed media, artworks, and accounts from regional archives, the exhibition brings forward important stories and voices often left out of mainstream narratives. Created in collaboration with local artists, researchers, and community leaders, this experience highlights stories, past and present, of how communities have resisted oppression and worked for change. Race: Power, Resistance & Change is an invitation and a call to action. It is a space to reflect, connect personal experiences, and take part in ongoing conversations about racial justice and building a more equitable future together.
The Museum of US
1350 El Prado
San Diego, CA 92101

Ten Million Flowers
2025-11-15 19:30 - 21:30
Curated by Andrew McIntosh
San Diego New Music and the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library present Ten Million Flowers, an evening of immersive contemporary works curated by violinist and composer Andrew McIntosh. Music will include works by Takemitsu, Miller, McIntosh, and Von Schweinitz, performed by McIntosh on violin, Vicki Ray on piano, and Matt Kline on double bass.
Athenaeum Music & Arts Library
1008 Wall Street, La Jolla, CA 92037
Saturday, November 15, 2025
7:30 PM

The Salty Series: Seaweeds
2025-11-21 19:30 - 21:30
The next installment of Project BLANK’s Salty Series: Seaweeds features a multimedia performance by interdisciplinary artist Michelle Sui. Blurring the lines between cinema and live performance, Seaweeds reimagines the lost ending of The Toll of the Sea—the 1922 silent film that introduced screen legend Anna May Wong (1905–1961) in the first-ever Technicolor motion picture. In Sui’s bold re- envisioning, actors audition for Wong herself, who breaks free from the script and takes off to Paris and Tijuana in search of her on-again, off-again girlfriend. Past/present and onscreen/offscreen selves begin to blur as performers slip between roles and realities. An Asian-American cast conjures a world where time folds in on itself and stories are rewritten and reclaimed. Merging live performance and music with cinematic fragments, Sui’s Seaweeds creates a layered homage to Wong and the roles she played, as well as those she never got to play.
November 21, 2025
7:30 p.m.
Bread & Salt
1955 Julian Ave
San Diego, CA 92113

OMA Artist Alliance Biennial
2025-11-22 - 2026-03-08
The Oceanside Museum of Art presents the 2025–26 Artist Alliance Biennial (Nov. 22, 2025–Mar. 8, 2026), a juried exhibition showcasing 53 standout works selected from a staggering 1,361 submissions by 260 artists. The show reflects the region’s creative depth and diversity, celebrating both emerging and established voices across Southern California. Don’t miss the opening celebration on Nov. 22, where awards and a grand prize exhibition announcement take place.
Nov. 22, 2025–Mar. 8, 2026
Oceanside Museum of Art
704 Pier View Way
Oceanside, CA 92054

Passion and Purpose
2025-11-30 00:00 - 2025-12-27 23:59
The San Diego Watercolor Society proudly presents “Passion and Purpose”, juried by award-winning artist, Lori Mitchell. The water-based media exhibition runs Nov 30-Dec 27, 2025 at our Gallery in The Arts District, Liberty Station. The free Opening Reception is Friday, Dec 5, 5-8 pm with over 95 ready-to-hang original paintings plus refreshments and the fellowship of other art enthusiasts. The Gallery is open Weds-Sun, 11am – 3pm. The paintings can also be viewed and purchased online.

Vanguardista Night: A Year-End Fundraiser at MATSU
2025-12-03 16:00 - 20:30
Vanguardista Night: A Year-End Fundraiser at MatsuWednesday, December 3, 2025
Join Vanguard Culture for an unforgettable evening of culinary artistry and creative connection at one of San Diego’s most celebrated dining destinations. On Wednesday, December 3rd, Vanguard Culture and Matsu restaurant present Vanguardista Night—an exclusive 6-course tasting experience crafted by Chef William Eick in support of the region’s creative workforce.
🍽️ $300 per person | Includes gourmet 6-course Japanese tasting menu (drinks sold separately)💖 $150 from every ticket directly supports Vanguard Culture📍 Intimate, high-end setting | Limited seats available🖼️ Featuring a silent auction with exclusive arts & culinary experiences
Proceeds benefit Vanguard Culture, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing San Diego’s creative industries through award-winning arts journalism, affordable professional development, and innovative cross-sector cultural events.
Space is extremely limited. Reserve your seat today and close out the year with purpose, passion, and palate.

The Toy Shop
2025-12-05 00:00 - 2025-12-27 23:59
Thumbprint Gallery presents The Toy Shop, a playful and imaginative showcase curated by Zard Apuya that redefines what toy art can be. Featuring resin, vinyl, clay, ceramics, photography, and more, the exhibition brings together established toymakers alongside young artists—including Westview High School design students and creators as young as seven. Explore a world where toys become sculpture, story, and self-expression in this vibrant celebration of creativity and character. Opening reception is December 5, with the exhibition on view through December 27 in La Jolla.

December 5-27, 2025Opening Reception:December 5th – 4pm-9pm

Thumbprint Gallery920 Kline StreetLa Jolla, CA 92037

It’s Kitschmastime Again, Brian & Ryan
2025-12-05 19:30 - 21:30
San Diego’s favorite art duo Brian & Ryan return with the third edition of their irreverent, glitter-drenched holiday variety show, It’s Kitschmastime Again! Expect a rollicking evening of festive music, offbeat storytelling, absurd theatricality, and lovingly over-the-top seasonal cheer. The Pageant runs alongside Brian & Ryan’s 10th annual Kitschmas exhibition—a maximalist explosion of all things fantastically plastic, wonderful, and weird about the holidays. Whether you’re a true tinsel-lover or a holiday skeptic, Brian & Ryan will send you home grinning and ready to deck the halls with reckless abandon.

DEC 05, 2025, 7:30 PM
BREAD & SALT GALLERY

Athenaeum Faculty & Staff Exhibition
2025-12-06 00:00 - 2026-01-03 23:59
The heart of the Athenaeum’s School of the Arts is the faculty, whose knowledge and expertise embrace all aspects of fine art. In this exhibition of their teaching artists’ current work, viewers will enjoy the broad range of mediums and techniques that characterize our faculty’s versatility, from painting to book arts, printmaking, ceramics, illustration, painting, and beyond. Their dedication to lifelong learning and exploration continues to inspire students who take classes in both our Logan Heights and La Jolla studios. In addition to faculty, members of the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library staff who are artists are also presenting their work, reflecting the shared creativity and passion for the arts that infuse every part of our organization.

December 6, 2025–January 3, 2026Opening Reception: Saturday, December 13, 5–8 PM, during the Barrio Art Crawl

Designing the Infinite: Virtual Worldbuilding in Art & Gaming
2025-12-06 08:00 - 2026-04-12 17:00
Designing the Infinite: Virtual Worldbuilding in Art & Gaming brings together an international group of artists who use game engines, digital platforms, and interactive technologies to imagine new worlds and ways of being. Through VR simulations, browser-based universes, generative systems, and machinima, the exhibition highlights how contemporary artists use digital tools to create immersive storytelling ecosystems.

Drawing inspiration from global cosmologies, Designing the Infinite invites audiences to reflect on how we build worlds, how we navigate them, and how virtual spaces can help us rethink identity, community, and connection. Throughout the exhibition, visitors will encounter immersive installations, interactive works, and environments that blend art and technology in unexpected ways.

California Center for the Arts, Escondido340 North Escondido BoulevardEscondido, CA 92025

MOMIX: Alice
2025-12-06 19:30 - 21:30
Travel down the rabbit hole MOMIX-style with ALICE, inspired by Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. As Alice’s body grows and shrinks and grows again, Pendleton’s dancers extend themselves by means of props, ropes, and other dancers. Embark on a journey that is magical, mysterious, fun, eccentric, and much more. As Alice falls down the rabbit hole and experiences every kind of transformation, so will you.
Saturday, December 6, 2025
7:30 PM
San Diego Civic Theatre
1100 Third Ave
San Diego, CA 92101

CINEMATHEK: Goodbye, Dragon Inn
2025-12-11 19:00 - 21:00
Presented by Pacific Arts Movement, producers of the San Diego Asian Film Festival.

Synopsis: Like the Royal Theater in The Last Picture Show and the title movie house in Cinema Paradiso, the Fu-Ho is shutting down for good. The Fu-Ho’s valedictory screening is King Hu’s 1967 wuxia epic Dragon Inn, playing to a motley smattering of spectators. The standard grievances persist: patrons snack noisily and remove their shoes, treating this temple of cinema like their living room. The sense that moviegoing as a communal experience is slipping away takes on a powerful and painful resonance. Yet Tsai Ming-liang’s Goodbye, Dragon Inn is too multifaceted to collapse into a simple valentine to the age of pre-VOD cinephilia. A minimalist where King Hu was a maximalist, preferring long, static shots and sparse use of dialogue, Tsai rises to the narrative challenges he sets for himself and offers the slyest, most delicate of character arcs (the manager, a woman with an iron brace on her leg, embarks on a torturous odyssey to deliver food to the projectionist, played by Lee Kang-sheng). By the time the possibility arises that the theater is haunted, we’ve already identified it as a space outside of time—indeed, two stars of Hu’s original opus, Miao Tien and Shih Chun, watch their younger selves with tears in their eyes, past and present commingling harmoniously and poignantly.

Showtimes:Thursday, December 11, 2025: 7:00

Ticket Prices: $13 Regular / $11 Students & Seniors / $9 MembersTrailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiDI-F0jvAo

Hauntings of the Holiday
2025-12-13 13:00 - 2025-12-14 19:00
The telling of super-natural tales is an English Victorian Christmas tradition, where families entertained each other with chilling stories of the spectral realm. Discover spirits, shadows and Christmas visitations by writers beyond

Dec 13 & 14, 2025Performances at 1pm, 3pm and 5pmLimited seating. Don’t delay.

Performances take place in the enchantedVilla Montezuma Museum in Sherman Heights.

Performed byPaul Maley, Walter Ritter, Rachael VanWormerDirected by Veronica Murphy“Hauntings of the Holiday” is presented in partnership with the Villa Montezuma Museum.

Burnout Paradise
2025-12-17 - 2025-12-21
After a hit run at WOW Festival 2025, Burnout Paradise returns to La Jolla Playhouse for one week only in December. Buzz about this show spread far and wide earlier this year — people clambered to get tickets, dragged their friends back for more, even tried to sneak in once it was sold out! The competition to get a seat rivalled the chaos unfolding on stage. Don’t wait to get your tickets — it will sell out again! Four performers mount four treadmills. What begins as a simple wager between performers and audience becomes a frantic attempt to complete a series of escalating tasks that test the limits of the performers’ bodies, spirits and minds.
This is not an endurance feat. Nor is it performance art. It is an unraveling realization that the system we participate in is not designed for us. A delusional and physical celebration of our collective struggle to establish clear boundaries in our lives. And it’s hilarious.
Australia’s Pony Cam is known for bold, high-energy performances that blur the lines between theatre and physical endurance. Their work is evocative and unflinching, earning them a reputation as one of the most exciting experimental theatre companies of their generation.
Burnout Paradise is an international hit — audiences from Melbourne to Edinburgh to New York rave that it’s one of the most fun theatre experiences they’ve had. Don’t miss this limited encore run in San Diego!
December 17-21, 2025
La Jolla Playhouse
2910 La Jolla Village Drive
La Jolla, CA 92093

Charlie Brown Jingles & Jazz
2025-12-19 - 2025-12-20
Let your yuletide spirits soar with San Diego icon Peter Sprague as he spins his compositional expertise into the soundtrack of the beloved holiday television special, A Charlie Brown Christmas. First released in 1965, the album by American composer and jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi is renowned for jazzing up the sound score of the Peanuts gang’s story about the true meaning of Christmas. Get inspired with Camarada as we enjoy the songs from our favorite holiday classic, including timeless pieces like Linus and Lucy, Winter Wonderland, The Christmas Song, Christmas Time is Here, and Christmas is Coming. Join us for a joyous evening of holiday music that captures the magic and nostalgia of this cherished time of year.
Friday, December 19 — Saturday, December 20, 2025
The Baker-Baum Concert Hall
7600 Fay Ave
La Jolla, CA 92037

Nat at Night
2025-12-19 17:00 - 22:00
Kick off the weekend with Nat at Night, returning for a festive holiday edition on Friday, December 19. Explore The Nat after hours with half-price admission after 5 PM, full access to exhibitions, and a lively rooftop deck featuring drinks, food from Wolf in the Woods, and sweeping views. Sip signature cocktails, enjoy artisan bites from The Craft Taco, and soak up the after-dark museum vibes—with free admission for members and Explorer Pass holders.

San Diego Natural History Museum1788 El Prado, Balboa ParkSan Diego, CA 92101

The Nutcracker with City Ballet
2025-12-20 08:00 - 2025-12-23 17:00
The Nutcracker is the classic Victorian-era story of the adventures of Clara, the Nutcracker Prince, Herr Drosselmeyer, and the Sugar Plum Fairy told through a magical theatrical experience to Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s famous score. Young and old alike will be captivated by Elizabeth Wistrich’s choreography, the exquisite costumes, and grand sets. Let your childhood dreams return and inspire you to imagine a bygone time.

California Center for the Arts, Escondido340 N. Escondido Blvd.Escondido, CA 92025

Classical Inspiration
2025-12-28 08:00 - 2026-01-31 17:00
The San Diego Watercolor Society presents Classical Inspiration, a juried exhibition curated by award-winning artist Keiko Tanabe, featuring more than 95 original works in water-based media. On view December 28, 2025–January 31, 2026 at the SDWS Gallery in Arts District Liberty Station, the show highlights masterful technique and timeless subject matter. Celebrate the opening at a free reception on Friday, January 2, from 5–8 PM, with refreshments and the chance to connect with fellow art lovers. Works are also available for viewing and purchase online.

San Diego Watercolor Society2825 Dewey Rd, Bldg #202San Diego, CA 92106

National Comedy Theatre: NYE Spectacular
2025-12-31 21:00 - 2026-01-01 21:30
National Comedy Theatre, San Diego’s nationally acclaimed improv comedy show, will present the company’s annual “New Years Eve Spectacular” performance and party on Wednesday, Dec. 31. On this special evening, guests enjoy gourmet desserts, San Diego’s legendary unscripted comedy performance, a champagne toast at midnight and a party with the cast of the show. Guests also receive party favors, noisemakers and balloons to ring in the new year.

NCT’s New Years Eve Comedy Spectacular National Comedy Theatre3717 India Street, San Diego, CA 92103Wednesday, Dec. 31 at 9:00 p.m.

Blue Moon
2026-01-02 08:00 - 2026-01-08 17:00
Synopsis: On the evening of March 31, 1943, legendary lyricist Lorenz Hart (Ethan Hawke) confronts his shattered self-confidence in Sardi’s bar as his former collaborator Richard Rodgers celebrates the opening night of his ground-breaking hit musical “Oklahoma!”.

Digital Gym Cinema1100 Market St, San Diego, CA 92101

A Tale of Two Cities
2026-01-07 00:00 - 2026-02-07 23:59
A Tale of Two Cities is a collaborative exhibition between Sparks Gallery in San Diego and bG Gallery in Santa Monica: two art galleries connected by the same coastline, and shaped individually by their respective cities’ rhythms, energies, and audiences. Through this collaborative partnership exhibit, Southern California artists and internationally collected artists represented by each gallery will be on view in each other’s gallery for a limited showing.

On view from January 7th– February 7th in both galleries, the works are curated toward the partner gallery’s audience, and each celebrates the spirit of dialogue, play, and shared imagination that can flourish when two art worlds meet. For this gallery swap, Sparks Gallery brings to bG Gallery a vibrant selection of works by Alexander Arshansky, Kathleen Kane-Murrell, and Ron Carlson. Meditative and expressive works by bG Gallery artists coming to Sparks Gallery include but not limited to: Jayne Walther, Michelle Kingdom, Gay Summer Rick, Gregory Horndeski, Melissa Meier, and Wrona Gall. Learn more about their special exhibit reception at bG Gallery in Santa Monica on January 10th HERE.

Preregistration is required.

January 25th, 2026 5pm -8pmSparks Gallery530 Sixth AvenueSan Diego, CA 92101

soundON Festival
2026-01-08 00:00 - 2026-01-10 23:59
The annual soundON Festival returns! Presented by San Diego New Music and the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, this year’s lineup showcases cutting-edge contemporary music by a global roster of composers, along with music by friends of the festival, such as Juan Campoverde Q.

Authors like Roberto Calasso, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Robert Graves impress upon us the vitality of a grammar of mythologies, not just as fantasy, but as a way of contemplating our own nature, identity, and destiny. Sometimes we create our own myths—stories in our consciousness that stand the test of time—that inform our beliefs, attitudes, and values. The territory spanned by the corridor of our existence may be bordered by history on one side and myth on the other. Through three nights of captivating music, the 18th edition of the soundON Festival will travel this enigmatic terrain.

JOAN & IRWIN JACOBS MUSIC ROOMAthenaeum Music & Arts Library1008 Wall StreetLa Jolla, CA 92037

Red Light Winter
2026-01-08 08:00 - 2026-01-24 17:00
Red Light Winter by Pulitzer Prize finalist Adam Rapp is an unflinching exploration of desire, intimacy, and the fragility of human connection. The story begins with two friends – Matt, a struggling writer, and Davis, a charismatic ladies’ man – who escape to Amsterdam for a night of hedonistic adventure. There they meet Christina, a young woman whose presence shifts the balance of their friendship and ignites a triangle of passion, betrayal, and longing. What begins as a fleeting encounter in a red-light district hotel spirals into a meditation on loneliness, obsession, and the lingering power of memory. Bold, provocative, and heartbreakingly human, Red Light Winter asks: what do we risk in pursuit of love?

Strong Adult and Sexual Content.

Light Box Theatre2590 Truxtun Rd #205San Diego, CA 92106

Chris Blanco exhibition
2026-01-10 08:00 - 2026-01-25 17:00
Chris Blanco’s conceptual photographs delve into the complexities of human emotion, crafting beautiful, surreal narratives that reflect our most powerful inner experiences. Visit our immersive exhibition, step into his imagination and experience his artwork from the inside out. This specially crafted installation will consist of a creative, physical scene Chris will build within the gallery that will feature the likeness used in past projects. The gallery will be transformed like never before.

Chris will host the gallery during his Opening Reception on January 17th, from 4pm – 7pm, giving guests and collectors the chance to get to know Chris, his process, and even take photos within the installation. The exhibition will go live in the gallery beginning January 10th, and end on January 25th. During this time patrons can visit the gallery and experience this unique installation during our regular business hours.

WOOD: A Furniture Show
2026-01-10 08:00 - 2026-02-27 17:00
The Escondido Arts Partnership presents the 16th annual WOOD: A Furniture Show, curated by Brian Murphy of Murphy’s Fine Woodworking. This exhibition brings together some of Southern California’s finest furniture makers, showcasing handcrafted works across contemporary, traditional, and whimsical styles. Expect expertly crafted furniture, functional objects, sculptures, and wood art highlighting the versatility and beauty of the medium.

262 East Grand Avenue Escondido, California 92025

San Diego Short Film Festival
2026-01-10 10:00 - 18:30
Experience the power of storytelling at the San Diego Short Film Festival, a one-day celebration of creativity, innovation, and diverse cinematic voices. From thought-provoking dramas to inventive animations, the festival showcases a dynamic mix of short films by emerging and established filmmakers from around the world. Join fellow film lovers and creators for a day of discovery, connection, and inspiration on January 10, from 10 AM–6:30 PM.

Digital Gym Cinema1100 Market St,San Diego, CA 92101

“Sounds & Swells”
2026-01-11 19:00 - 21:00
Art of Elan’s popular “Sounds & Swells” series returns with newly commissioned surfing footage created by Jimmy Wilson and others that showcases the natural beauty of the California coastline and its epic “swells” that attract visitors from all around the world. Videography and live classical music are synced in this engaging series that features the Hausmann Quartet.

The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center7600 Fay AvenueLa Jolla, California 92037

Many Hands, One Passion.
2026-01-13 00:00 - 2026-04-12 23:59
The San Diego Potters’ Guild is delighted to present its newest exhibition at the Coronado Public Library: Many Hands, One Passion. This special show celebrates the artistry and imagination of our members, highlighting the remarkable range of approaches, techniques, and voices within our community. From functional ware to sculptural forms, each piece reflects the unique vision of its maker while collectively affirming our shared devotion to the ceramic arts. Visitors will encounter an inspiring spectrum of styles—earthy and refined, playful and contemplative, traditional and experimental—all united by the common thread of clay.

Show opens January 13, 2026, and runs through April 12. Join us for the opening reception on Sunday, January 25, 2-4 pm.

Coronado Public Library640 Orange AveCoronado, CA 92118
