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Become a History Explorer! Engage in free hands-on activities and examine historical items up close with the San Diego History Center. Families welcome to drop in anytime between 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Celebrate Earth Day Weekend with us! Learn about Kate Sessions, the “Mother of Balboa Park”, through free, hands-on activities, including decorating flower pots. A trailblazing horticulturist, Kate Sessions transformed San Diego’s landscape by introducing thousands of trees and plants — shaping the beauty of Balboa Park we love today. Your donation is your admission to our museums San Diego History Center on Facebook / Instagram

Byron Stripling, conductor Mamie Parris, vocals Leo Manzari, vocals & dancer Bobby Floyd, keyboards Rick Shaw, bass Jim Rupp, drums San Diego Symphony Orchestra Byron Stripling’s "America The Beautiful: 250" brings the sound of our nation to life with powerful works that reflect the beauty, complexity, and spirit of America – past, present, and future. Featuring beloved classics like “Puttin’ on the Ritz,” “Yankee Doodle Dandy,” and the triumphant “Stars and Stripes Forever,” this celebratory program traces the musical moments that have defined the American story. Celebrate 250 years of America this Fourth of July the best way we know how: at your favorite waterfront venue, with your beloved San Diego Symphony Orchestra, capped off with a premium view of San Diego’s iconic fireworks spectacular, the Big Bay Boom, immediately following the concert. San Diego Symphony on Facebook / Instagram

Evan Roider, conductor Jessica Hendy, vocals Alex Getlin, vocals Scott Coulter, vocals John Boswell, vocals & piano San Diego Symphony Orchestra Celebrate Broadway’s biggest songs from Broadway’s biggest blockbusters featuring Broadway’s biggest stars! Come experience all the show-stopping tunes you love from Broadway’s biggest hits! Spend an evening with songs from "Wicked," "The Phantom of the Opera," "Annie," "Jersey Boys," "The Sound of Music," "Chicago," "Cats," "The Lion King," A" Chorus Line" and more, performed by some of New York’s top vocalists. It’s the ultimate show tune extravaganza! San Diego Symphony on Facebook / Instagram

...with special guest THE SUGARHILL GANG! From Nairobi to Newark, Kool & the Gang has performed continuously longer than any R&B group in history. Their undeniable funk and jazzy arrangements have also made them the most sampled R&B band of all time. Every year, even after a half-century on the road, yields a non-stop schedule of shows across the globe. Thanks to iconic songs like “Celebration,” “Cherish,” “Jungle Boogie,” “Summer Madness,” and “Open Sesame,” they’ve earned several awards, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, an induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in June 2018 and most recently, an induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame – Class of 2024. Today, the group enjoys global fame and recognition along with a following that spans generations, due in part to the group’s widely sampled catalogue. Their music is heard everywhere, from movie soundtracks to television commercials, including Rocky, Saturday Night Fever, Pulp Fiction, Wreck-It Ralph and countless others. Please note: The San Diego Symphony Orchestra does not appear on this concert. Kool & The Gang on Facebook / Instagram

Celebrating 250 Years of the USA and 60 Years of Pet Sounds! The Beach Boys Sean O’Loughlin, conductor San Diego Symphony Orchestra As The Beach Boys mark more than a half century of making music, the group continues to ride the crest of a wave unequalled in America’s musical history. The Beach Boys – who have become synonymous with the California lifestyle and are an American icon to fans around the world – are bringing “The Sounds of Summer” tour to The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, featuring the San Diego Symphony Orchestra! Since the band’s co-founder, lead-singer and chief lyricist Mike Love penned the lyrics to The Beach Boys’ first hit, “Surfin’” (1961), dozens of the bands chart toppers have become eternal anthems of American youth: “Surfin’ USA,” “Surfer Girl,” “Fun, Fun, Fun,” “I Get Around,” “California Girls,” “Help Me Rhonda,” “Barbara Ann,” “Good Vibrations,” “Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” “Rock and Roll Music” and “Kokomo.” The Beach Boys have sold over 100 million records worldwide and have received more than 33 RIAA Platinum and Gold record awards. The Rock & Roll Hall of Famers were also honored at the 2001 Grammy Awards with the Lifetime Achievement Award. With more than five decades of touring under their belts, The Beach Boys have performed more concerts than any major rock band in history. The Beach Boys are led by Mike Love – legendary Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Grammy® winner, New York Times bestselling author, co-founder, lead singer, and chief lyricist of The Beach Boys, and a 2025 inductee into the Songwriters Hall of Fame – and is joined by longtime member Bruce Johnston, musical director Brian Eichenberger, and an accomplished ensemble including Christian Love, Tim Bonhomme, Jon Bolton, Keith Hubacher, Randy Leago, and John Wedemeyer, who continue the legacy of this iconic band. In 2026, The Beach Boys are celebrating 250 years of the USA while saluting the 60th anniversary of Pet Sounds. The Beach Boys on Facebook / Instagram San Diego Symphony on Facebook / Instagram

Rafael Payare, conductor Stefan Jackiw, violin San Diego Symphony Orchestra SHOSTAKOVICH: Festive Overture, Op. 96 PROKOFIEV: Violin Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 63 TCHAIKOVSKY: Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 54 The San Diego Symphony launches its Summer 2026 season at The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park with Music and Artistic Director Rafael Payare leading a program of sweeping drama and brilliant virtuosity. Dmitri Shostakovich’s electrifying Festive Overture sets a jubilant tone before Stefan Jackiw – one of America’s foremost violinists – takes center stage in Sergei Prokofiev’s lyrical and rhythmically incisive Violin Concerto No. 2. The evening culminates in Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5, a deeply expressive journey from brooding introspection to triumphant resolve. Brimming with color, passion, and orchestral brilliance, Opening Night promises an exhilarating start to the summer season on the San Diego waterfront. San Diego Symphony on Facebook / Instagram

Join us for a live model drawing session. Come engage in figure drawing in the SDMA Museum Art Studio! Exercise and develop your drawing skills through observation of a live, clothed model while exploring your creativity. Drawing materials will be provided or you can bring your own. No oil paints or solvents please! This is a pay-what-you-wish event. Please RSVP to save your spot. Registration is limited to 20 people per session. Registration is limited to 20 people per session. Meet at the House of Hospitality, near the Prado restaurant entrance at 12:50 p.m. and look for the OPEN STUDIO sign. The San Diego Museum of Art on Facebook / Instagram

This annual commemoration of the founding of Chicano Park on April 22, 1970, recognizes all those who fought for it and those who continue to work to honor the spirit of the Chicano Movement and the resilience of the Community. Enjoy music, dance performances, car show and more.

April 26 from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Celebrate the flavors of San Diego’s Filipino community at our Filipino Food Pop-Up, presented by Council of Philippine American Organizations (COPAO), in connection with the "Taste of San Diego: Filipino Culinary Journeys" exhibition. This special event brings the exhibition to life through food—featuring Gabina’s Cuisine serving up beloved dishes and sweet treats that reflect generations of culture and tradition. Explore the exhibition, then experience its stories on your plate as cuisine, history, and community come together in one vibrant afternoon. Come hungry and discover the rich culinary heritage that continues to shape San Diego today. San Diego History Center on Facebook / Instagram

Meet Catherine and learn about Swim California, a never before done swim down the entire coast. Hear from our partners at WILDCOAST. This is an opportunity to hear directly from Catherine--the how and why, to support the cause, and to hear from Wildcoast on how we can all protect our Oceans. Swim California is a story of our coastline and the key players that are working to protect it. Anne Midleton of WILDCOAST will join Catherine to talk about why getting involved matters. Catherine Breed on Instagram