Vanguard Culture

Mainly Mozart All-Star Orchestra
2025-06-18 - 2025-06-28
The largest gathering of concertmasters and principal players in North America, featuring top players from the world’s greatest orchestras including the New York Philharmonic, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Israel Philharmonic and dozens more.
Music Director Michael Francis
June 18-28, 2025

2025 Black Arts Festival
2025-06-19 - 2025-06-21
The San Diego Black Artist Collective presents the 2025 Black Arts Festival, June 19–22 at Diversionary Theatre. This four-day celebration of Black creativity features theatre, music, dance, visual art, and poetry, centering historically excluded voices. Highlights include a reading of Crack Baby, a performance of Black Creek Risin’, the Lift EVERY Voice showcase, and a joyful Gospel Brunch to close the weekend.
Thursday, June 19, 2025 7:30 PM
Sunday, June 22, 2025 2:00 PM

A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE by Tennessee Williams
2025-06-19 - 2025-07-12
The Big Easy is anything but for Blanche DuBois, the quintessential creation in Tennessee Williams’ classic tale of lustful deceit and the longing for redemption. On the run from her mysterious past, the destitute Blanche arrives on the doorstep of her younger sister Stella who is pregnant with her first child. Desperate for attention and demanding the devotion that has forever eluded her, Blanche inserts herself between the mother-to-be and her hot-blooded husband Stanley and sparks a flame of passion and possession that cannot be contained and can only consume everything in its path.
June 19 – July 12, 2025
Tenth Avenue Arts Center
930 Tenth Avenue
San Diego, CA 92101

Moments Without Proper Names
2025-06-19 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
In his final film as director, Gordon Parks (The Learning Tree, Shaft) turned the camera upon himself and created a deeply personal and remarkably poetic self-portrait. Moments Without Proper Names blends Parks’s striking photographs (spanning four decades) with newly-shot footage of the artist, his own musical compositions, and personal reminiscences performed by a trio of esteemed actors: Avery Brooks, Roscoe Lee Browne, and Joe Seneca. Restored from the original camera negatives, presented in cooperation with the Gordon Parks Foundation and the Library of Congress, Moments Without Proper Names offers a penetrating gaze into the life and mind of one of the 20th Century’s most celebrated artists.
Director: Gordon Parks
Medium Photo members pay just $10 admission ($14 general), with underground parking available.
Thursday, June 19 at 7:00pm
Digital Gym Cinema
1100 Market St,
San Diego, CA 92101

XICANA! San Diego
2025-06-21 - 2025-11-02
XICANA! San Diego explores the powerful intersections of art, activism, and cultural identity through the lens of over one hundred Chicana artists from across Southern California. Curated by Dulce Stein and organized by ESMoA in collaboration with the California Center for the Arts, Escondido, this exhibition will celebrate resilience, identity, and vision through work in all media, including painting, textiles, photography, sculpture, performance, film, and poetry.
See the preview HERE.
June 21 – November 2, 2025
CA Center for the Arts Escondido
340 N. Escondido Blvd.
Escondido, CA 92025

Jewish Short Play Festival
2025-06-23 19:00 - 21:00
After a successful debut, the Jewish Short Play Festival returns with more laughter, drama, and thought-provoking themes! Celebrating local and beyond, this year’s festival features short plays performed by San Diego’s brightest actors. Directed by Debra Wanger, the event explores themes of identity and tradition in contemporary Jewish life. Don’t miss this community-driven celebration of talent and storytelling.
Monday, June 23, 2025 | 7:00 pm
David & Dorothea Garfield Theatre
Lawrence Family JCC

Ran
2025-06-26 - 2025-07-03
Experience Ran, Akira Kurosawa’s stunning adaptation of King Lear, hailed as one of the greatest films ever made. This 1985 epic explores the tragic downfall of warlord Hidetora Ichimonji after dividing his kingdom among his sons. Featuring powerful performances and breathtaking visuals, Ran is a masterwork of Japanese cinema.
Director: Akira Kurosawa Run Time: 160 min. Release Year: 1985 Language: Japanese
Starring: Akira Terao, Daisuke Ryū, Jinpachi Nezu, Mieko Harada, Tatsuya Nakadai
June 26 – July 3, 2025
1100 Market Street
San Diego, CA 92101

SD VAMP: Challenge Accepted
2025-06-26 20:00 - 22:00
Join the June edition of SD VAMP: Challenge Accepted on Thursday, June 26, 8–10 PM at Whistle Stop Bar. Hear bold, funny, and inspiring true stories from local storytellers who faced down life’s biggest challenges—whether heroically or hilariously. Featuring Amanda Qassar, Lisane Basquiat, Katerina Vee, Kristen Nash, Sidra Montgomery, Stephanie Hansen, and Tina Huong. Tickets are $10. Ages 21+.
June 26, 2025
8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

VIP Arts & Culture Baja Tour – PERFORMING ARTS
2025-06-27 09:00 - 17:00
Discover Baja’s Vibrant Art and Culture: A VIP Experience
Immerse yourself in the rich creative landscape of Baja California with an expertly curated cultural tour of Tijuana’s performing arts scene by Art Scene Baja. The VIP experience includes round-trip transportation from the border, a gourmet lunch, and wine tasting featuring Baja’s finest vintages.
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The Vanguard Culture team will meet you on the U.S. side of the border and we will walk across together. The Art Scene Baja bus will pick us up immediately on the other side. Guests will be returned to the San Ysidro border and will walk across with the Vanguard Cult
Friday, June 27, 9am-5pm: Performing Arts Tour

Experience an exclusive tour of a private theater.
Enjoy a contemporary dance performance at the Conservatorio de Danza México.
Savor Baja’s finest wines during a private tasting.
Delight in a gourmet lunch blending Mexican and fusion flavors.
Enjoy live jazz in an iconic Baja venue.
Return transportation to the Tijuana border crossing.

Price per person: $300 USD
What to Bring:

Comfortable shoes and a light jacket (evening return).
Personal or business cards for networking opportunities.
Cash or cards for small purchases (Pesos, Dollars, and credit cards are accepted).
Passport and/or SENTRI card

Embark on a journey of inspiration and creativity. Reserve your spot today!

San Diego Black Arts & Culture District Music Festival
2025-06-28 12:00 - 20:00
Celebrate Black creativity and culture at the Annual San Diego Black Arts & Culture District Music Festival on Saturday, June 28, 2025, from 12–8 PM at MLK Park. Enjoy live performances by Miki Vale, C.C. Carter, Daneen Wilburn, Lenny “Fuzzy” Rankin, and Ben Williams, plus community activities all day. Explore art exhibits, a STEAM tent, local vendors, and more in this family-friendly celebration of music, history, and innovation.
Saturday, June 28, 2025
12:00 PM 8:00 PM
Martin L. King Jr. Park
6401 Skyline Drive
San Diego, CA, 92114

National Theatre Live: A Streetcar Named Desire
2025-06-28 12:15 - 2025-07-29 14:30
Director: Nick Wickham Run Time: 174 min. Release Year: 2014
Starring: Ben Foster, Clare Burt, Corey Johnson, Gillian Anderson, Vanessa Kirby

Synopsis: As Blanche’s fragile world crumbles, she turns to her sister Stella for solace – but her downward spiral brings her face to face with the brutal, unforgiving Stanley Kowalski.
Showtimes:
Saturday, June 28, 2025: 12:15
Sunday, June 29: 2025: 12:45
Ticket Prices: $18 Regular / $16 Students & Seniors / $15 Members *NO OTHER DISCOUNTS/PASSES ALLOWED*
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0SOh95iunE&ab_channel=NationalTheatre

Taste of Adams Avenue
2025-06-29 11:00 - 15:00
40+ Eateries, Two Miles of Tastings. Experience a delicious mix of burger joints, cafés and sushi restaurants that weave in seamlessly with the eclectic, folksy, tried-and-true mainstays on University Heights, North Park, Normal Heights and Kensington.

Saturday, June 29th
11:00am – 3:00pm
3441 Adams Avenue
San Diego, CA 92116

8th Annual PROUD+
2025-07-03 - 2025-08-01
Now in its 8th year, PROUD+ returns to The Studio Door with a dynamic national exhibition of contemporary LGBTQIA+ art, juried by trailblazing gallerist Jonathan Carver Moore. This year features powerful works by queer POC artists and fashion photographer Max-Arthur Mantle’s Bodies Series. Local highlights include Carole Kuck’s immersive installation of 50 LGBTQIA+ flags and the Words of Pride triptych honoring Hillcrest’s new cultural district status. Don’t miss the Preview Night on July 3 and the public reception on July 12.
July 3 – August 1, 2025
The Studio Door, Hillcrest

25 years of The Hapa Project
2025-07-04 - 2026-07-05
Artist and author Kip Fulbeck started The Hapa Project in 2001, photographing over 1,200 individuals who identified as multiracial, including their handwritten response to the question, “What are you?”
hapa.me – 25 years of The Hapa Project features Fulbeck’s photographic portraits as he revisits the cultural and artistic significance of the work, its impact on the participants, and the changing awareness of multiracial identity in the United States. Nearly 25 years later, Fulbeck has re-photographed 130 of the original participants and asked them to write new personal statements, exploring how our self-definitions and perspectives change over time.
A selection of portraits from The Hapa Project were first featured at the Museum of Us in the exhibition Race: Are We So Different? In this expanded exhibition, visitors are invited to reflect on what it means to be you.
The Museum of Us invites visitors to participate in The Hapa Project through an interactive element in the exhibition. On select dates, visitors can have their portraits taken on a polaroid camera in the exhibit and write their own personal statement responding to the question, “What are you?” Portraits will then be displayed in the exhibit.
Friday and Saturday, July 4-5, at 11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. and 3-4 p.m.
The Museum of Us
1350 El Prado
San Diego, CA 92101

The Morning After
2025-07-05 - 2025-07-13
First we ate, then we drank. Now, look what we’ve woken up to! Finish up the night with us as we navigate the nuances of…
The Morning After
Directed by Erica Buechner
Choreographed by Blythe Barton, Erica Buechner, Bradley Lundberg, and Michael Mizerany
The Morning After is the third in a series of movement performances in the Art Produce Gallery – following the food and drink themes of Feast on This (2017) and SAUCED (2022).
The storefront gallery allows for unconventional presentation opportunities for artists and unexpected art encounters for viewers. The Morning After is no exception! The work offers 20 audience members an intimate view of the performance from inside (ticketed seats) while passersby on the street have visual access from outside – becoming an unexpected, and unpredictable, part of the scenery.
This 30 minute show features 8 professional San Diego dance artists: Blythe Barton, Erica Buechner, Nikki Dunnan, Cecily Holcombe, Robby Johnson, Nick McGhee, Jessica Rabanzo-Flores, and David Wornovitzky.
Saturdays, July 5 & 12 – 6pm, 7pm, 8pm
Sundays, July 6 & 13 – 6pm, 7pm
Art Produce Gallery
3139 University Ave San Diego, CA 92104

ACCESS
2025-07-05 - 2025-08-15
Possibility II by Gabrielle Berens
Access is a group exhibition featuring materially and conceptually diverse works by multidisciplinary artists Carolina Danu, Yena Kim, Nanzi Muro, Gabrielle Berens and Philip Brun Del Re.
This exhibition presents the possibilities of visual arts studies in higher education. Danu, Kim, Muro, Berens, and Brun Del Re all current or recently graduated MFA students, strongly believe in the need for diversity in the arts.
Through printmaking, textiles, ceramics, digital graphics and illustrations, paintings, and woven sculpture, the selected works celebrate the evolving practices of these emerging artists and will serve to inspire the possibilities of material expression. The title of the exhibition, Access, represents access to arts education, access to facilities, access to community, as well as access to expression through a variety of media and materials.

On view: July 5 – August 15, 2025
Bonita Historical Society
4355 Bonita Road
Bonita, CA 91902

26th Athenaeum Summer Festival
2025-07-06 - 2025-07-26
The 26th Athenaeum Summer Festival presents a series of four concerts that will feature virtuoso pianist Gustavo Romero. Continuing a beloved tradition, this summer Gustavo Romero will celebrate and focus on the piano music of Sergei Rachmaninoff, including his preludes, etude-tableaux variations, and sonatas, accompanied by select pieces by his Russian contemporaries. For 25 years, the Athenaeum has presented unforgettable festivals featuring Gustavo Romero performing the complete piano repertoire of a specific composer. Whether you have been with us all 25 years or have yet to experience the wonder of this artist—who plays from memory—you will not want to miss our upcoming 26th Summer Festival.
Sundays at 4pm, July 6, 13, 20 & 27, 2025
Athenaeum Art Center
1955 Julian Avenue
San Diego, CA 92113

37th Annual San Diego International Summer Organ Festival
2025-07-07 - 2025-09-01
The Spreckels Organ Society presents the 37th Annual San Diego International Summer Organ Festival, the largest organ festival in the United States, featuring the Spreckels Organ, the largest open-air musical instrument in the world! The summer-long festival – directed by Raúl Prieto Ramírez, Spreckels Organ Society’s Artistic Director and San Diego’s Civic Organist – takes place in the heart of Balboa Park, from July 7 through Sept. 1. The Society brings these special 90-minute concerts to the Spreckels Organ Pavilion for free each Monday evening at 7:30 p.m.

This season’s line-up includes acclaimed international organists and competition winners. Highlights are:

Soprano Alisa Jordheim, who recently performed with San Diego Opera as Despina in Così fan tutte and Gilda in Rigoletto.
An organ & orchestra celebration with concertos by Poulenc, Parker and Bach, plus a premier by Civic Organist Prieto Ramírez. Conducted by Alejandro Gómez Guillén with Raúl Prieto Ramírez (soloist), and Jeff Thayer (concertmaster).
The Not-So-Silent Movie Night, featuring Laurel & Hardy films with Russ Peck, organist.
And an all-Beatles Labor Day Classic Rock Concert to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the San Diego Beatles concert.

EVERY MONDAY NIGHT JULY 7 TO SEPTEMBER 1 AT 7:30PM

Karaoke Dreams
2025-07-10 - 2025-08-03
Welcome to a neon-soaked sanctuary where the mic is hot, the beer is cold, and one unforgettable night turns a dive bar into a confession booth, a concert stage, and a second chance. In this immersive, heartfelt new musical, every regular, newcomer, and wannabe rockstar has a secret, a song, and something to prove. As the drinks get stronger and the bass gets louder, past and present collide — revealing the heartbreaks, hookups, and hopes hiding behind the music. Featuring songs by Lady Gaga, Elton John, Rihanna, Queen, Madonna, Tracy Chapman, ABBA, Bad Bunny, and many more, this world premiere is a joyful celebration of connection, community, and the catharsis of singing your truth. KARAOKE DREAMS reminds us that sometimes, the right song really can change everything.
This production is presented in collaboration with Blindspot Collective, an award-winning theater company based in San Diego whose productions won or been nominated for Best New Play, Best New Musical, and Best Solo Performance by the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle. It is created and directed by Blake McCarty, whose work is “broadening the definition of theater” (The New York Times), with musical direction by Lyndon Pugeda and choreography by Micah Parra.
July 10th – August 3rd, 2025
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 7pm
Sunday at 2pm
The Loft @ UCSD

Conversations in Art: Dignity
2025-07-11 - 2026-01-04
Conversations in Art is an initiative that invites local artists to engage in meaningful dialogue with works from our permanent collection and on loan to the Museum. This first installment centers on the theme of Dignity—what it means, how we recognize it, and how art allows us to reflect on it in ourselves and others. Artists Hugo Crosthwaite, Anthony Sigala, Cat Chiu Phillips, and Shinpei Takeda with The AjA Project have created new works inspired by pieces in the Museum collection.
Through inclusive, interactive elements, visitors are encouraged to engage personally and share their own perspectives, helping shape a collective understanding of dignity.
Featured: Anthony Sigala, Boleros (detail), 2025. Acrylic on canvas. Private collection. Courtesy of the artist. © Anthony Sigala.
July 11, 2025–January 4, 2026
MOPA @ SDMA
1649 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101
Across from the Lily Pond

Summer Arts Fest
2025-07-12 - 2025-09-13
Summer Arts Fest is bringing the heat with an unforgettable celebration of music, creativity, and community at Arts District Liberty Station.
Join Arts District Liberty Station for Second Saturdays on July 12th , August 9th, and September 13th from 4–7 PM on the North Promenade, where the lawn comes alive with incredible live bands, captivating performances, and the energy of summer in full swing.
It’s free, family-friendly, and all set in a stunning outdoor setting. So, grab your picnic blankets, chairs, and favorite snacks, and get ready to dance, relax, and soak up the magic of San Diego’s most creative summer nights!

Infinite Rivers
2025-07-12 - 2025-09-13
Casa Familiar presents Infinite Rivers, an exhibition honoring ancestral craftsmanship and evolving artisanal traditions across generations. Featuring Indigenous artists from the Kumeyaay, Zapotec, Huichol, and other communities, as well as artists from San Diego, Tijuana, Lebanon, and Colombia. Curated by Francisco Eme, the show runs July 12–Sept. 13, 2025, at The FRONT Gallery in San Ysidro. Opening reception: July 12, 5–7 PM, with a special appearance by Colombian artist and musician Andrea Echeverri.
Opening reception: July 12 from 5 to 7 pm,
The FRONT Gallery in San Ysidro
147W San Ysidro Blvd
San Ysidro, 92173

San Diego PoetrySLAM: Gladiator Slam Finals
2025-07-14 20:00 - 21:30
Don’t miss San Diego PoetrySlam: Gladiator Slam Finals, the city’s biggest and most thrilling poetry slam! Witness top local poets compete in high-stakes bouts of impromptu verse.
Queen Bee’s Art and Cultural Center
3925 Ohio Street
San Diego, CA 92104

Monday, July 14
8:00pm – 9:30pm PDT

San Diego Pride Festival
2025-07-16 - 2025-07-20
San Diego’s biggest celebration of diversity and inclusion is calling your name! San Diego Pride returns to Balboa Park with community resources, booths, and four stages of live entertainment. San Diego’s Pride Parade is the largest single-day civic event in the region and is among the largest Prides in the United States, attracting over 250,000 cheering supporters of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Saturday, July 19, 2025 @ 12 PM – 10 PM
Sunday, July 20, 2025 @ 12 PM – 9 PM

ARMIDA
2025-07-18 - 2025-07-19
Experience Joseph Haydn’s rarely performed opera, produced with The Hungarian State Opera and Opera Neo. Based on Jerusalem Delivered, this unique work explores love, war, and human desire through the magical story of a knight and a sorceress. Directed by András Almási-Tóth and conducted by Peter Kozma, the production features young artists from both companies in a powerful, fresh interpretation.
Performances at UC San Diego Park & Market1100 Market Street, San Diego, CA 92101Friday, July 18 at 8:00pmSaturday, July 19 at 8:00pm

Nightshade Navarro and The Cloudmakers
2025-07-18 12:00 - 13:00
Step into the roaring 1920s with Nightshade Navarro and The Cloudmakers, a high-energy jazz band honoring the soulful swing of Harlem and the vibrant rhythms of New Orleans. Led by renowned bandleader Nightshade Navarro, this spirited ensemble brings classic tunes and dynamic improvisation to life. Don’t miss their free performance!
Friday, July 18, 2025
12–1 PM.

Michael Giacchino: Exotic Themes for the Silver Screen
2025-07-22 19:30 - 21:30
Join Academy Award-winning composer Michael Giacchino for a one-of-a-kind retro night at the Epstein Family Amphitheater. Experience Exotic Themes for the Silver Screen come to life, as Giacchino reimagines his iconic scores from Lost, Ratatouille, Star Trek, and more—transformed in the lush, lounge-inspired style of 1950s Exotica. A nostalgic, vibraphone-filled evening that’s equal parts cinematic and cool.
July 22, 2025
7:30 p.m.
Epstein Family Amphitheater
9480 Innovation Ln
La Jolla, CA 92093

The Blank Table
2025-07-24 18:00 - 21:00
Discover The Blank Table—San Diego’s premier secret dinner series—where culinary artistry meets immersive design. Enjoy a 5-course modern meal by Two Ducks, 4 paired cocktails, and a stunning secret location revealed just before the event. Each experience supports Feeding San Diego and offers a night of unforgettable connection, flavor, and creativity under the stars. Limited seats available.
Thu Jul 24, 2025
6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Mademoiselle Cinema at Live Arts Fest
2025-07-25 - 2025-07-26
Photo: Masanobu Yamanoue
San Diego Dance Theater’s Live Arts Fest I welcomes Tokyo-based dance company Mademoiselle Cinema for A Woman’s Journey, a poetic and powerful tribute to the Japanese picture brides of the early 20th century. Known for their emotionally rich dance-theater style, Mademoiselle Cinema blends movement, memory, and cinematic elements to explore women’s lived experiences. This internationally acclaimed company brings their deeply personal storytelling to San Diego in a rare U.S. appearance.
Friday, July 25, 2025, at 7:00 PMSaturday, July 26, 2025, at 2:00 & 7:00 PMLight Box Theater

2025 Indigi-Con
2025-07-25 - 2025-07-27
Join us for a celebration of Indigenous sequential art! Indigi-Con features two panels of Native artists and writers, followed by a mixer with the Afro-Futurism Lounge on Friday. Sunday’s workshop + discussion with California Native comic book creators encourages kids of all ages to attend. All events are free and open to the public.
July 25 · 5pm – July 27 · 11:30am PDT
Doors at 4:30pm
UC San Diego Park & Market
1100 Market Street
San Diego, CA 92101
