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Thursday, July 4, 2025 | 4 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. | Grape Day Park & Center for the Arts The California Center for the Arts, Escondido, is proud to present the 60th Annual Independence Day Festival, a beloved community tradition filled with music, culture, and patriotic fun. This free family-friendly event returns on Thursday, July 4, 2025, from 4 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. in Grape Day Park and the Center for the Arts campus. Festival goers can look forward to an exciting day of entertainment and celebration featuring: - Live music on the main stage - Artisan market and local vendors - Delicious food trucks and craft beer garden - Great Green Canteen VIP Experience - Free arts & crafts, face painting, and airbrush tattoos (4:30 p.m.–8:30 p.m.) - Complimentary admission to the Escondido History Center (4 p.m.–7 p.m.) - Fireworks spectacular at 9 p.m. Main Stage Schedule: 4:30 p.m. – Opening Remarks and National Anthem by the Mayor’s Contest Winner 5:15 p.m. – 6:15 p.m. – Back to the Garden This crowd-favorite tribute band channels the spirit of the 1960s and ’70s, covering hits from Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Joni Mitchell, The Beatles, and more. Their nostalgic sound and multi-instrumental performances bring peace, love, and harmony to every stage they play. 6:20 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. – Hula Hoop Contest 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. – Kimmi Bitter Hailed as one of Southern California’s rising retro-country stars, Kimmi Bitter blends vintage twang with modern Americana soul. With a voice reminiscent of Patsy Cline and Linda Ronstadt, her timeless sound has earned her acclaim on stages across the country. 7:50 p.m. – 8 p.m. – Dance Party Interlude 8:00 p.m. – 9 p.m. – 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Band Enjoy a stirring patriotic performance from one of the U.S. Marine Corps’ premier musical ensembles. 9 p.m. – Fireworks Show! This event is free and open to the public, with activities and entertainment for all ages. Bring your blankets, lawn chairs, and festive spirit! Special thanks to our sponsors: City of Escondido, Linden Root Dickinson Foundation, County of San Diego, and the California Center for the Arts Charitable Trust. VIP seating available in the Great Green Canteen: “The Great Green Canteen” – A CCAEF Independence Day Fundraiser BBQ with VIP seating Ticket Cost: $80 for a table of 4 Table seating includes the following for each attendee: 1 beer token, VIP concert seating in the orange grove area of the Great Green for the entire event, and 1 meal from the Great Green Canteen BBQ. - Cheeseburger on a brioche - Nathan’s Hot Dog - Blackened Chicken Sandwich - Black Bean Patty on Brioche *all served with a fresh cut watermelon wedge and potato salad Click here to order VIP seating at the tables! California Center for the Arts, Escondido on Instagram

Join us to walk the neighborhood and participate in lots of free activities and fun for the whole family, including free Fitness and Yoga Classes and Fun Workshops. Scavenger Hunt Grab a Scavenger Map at either South Bark Dog Wash or Wicked Fit. Do cool activities around the neighborhood and collect stamps to enter into the South Park Raffle to win 1 of 3 Grab Bags featuring gifts from your South Park favorites (South Park Stores / Restaurants / Services!) - Collect min. 15 stamps for a single entry into the raffle - Fill your card completely to get 3 entries First 100 check-ins get a FREE South Park Daytime Walkabout TOTE BAG! Activities Include: Angelica B Beauty: Your official SPF Stop — Try, Buy, and Reapply AYI: Art Activity featuring Laurie Nascia (featured gallery artist) Baby Garten: Free baby sign language class 10-10:30 (ages 5-10 months) Pre-reg required Bad Madge: Music, lemonade and mimosas, custom cap bar, preview of Kid’s Corner and gift w/ purchase Bock: Tri Tip Sandwich specials & Brewery Spotlight of Wondrous Brewing (21+) Book Catapult: Community Book Map — help build a literary map of South Park. Bravo School of Art: Community Art Project and Instructor Demonstrations Carbon Angela’s Kitchen: Arepa Tastings Hawley Group with Compass: Old House Trivia Game Ivy Street Coworking: Kids’ Interactive Activity Kinder Mission Preschool: Games and Giveaways La Loupe Noir: Vintage clothing pop-up Mind Body Love: Mini Classes (yoga, breathwork, hypnosis) Moon & Sun: Sidewalk chalk art competition, Winner wins a $25 gift card Rad Habits: Juice & Smoothie Samples; Kids temporary tattoos & stickers South Bark Dog Wash: Dog and Cat Trivia and Prizes South Park Yoga: Four 30 min classes @ 10am, 11am, 12pm, 1pm The Ivy School: Interactive Art Activities and Live Music + Tour the Preschool The Rose Wine Bar: Mommenpop tastings & Spritz special (21+) Thread & Seed: Complimentary Mocktails and Treats Wicked Fit: 30 Minute Fitness Classes The South Park Business Group on Facebook / Instagram

Bestselling author S.A. Cosby brings his latest crime fiction thriller to the University of San Diego this weekend for a Q&A and book signing. Plus, a dancer explores an Autism diagnosis in a new documentary.

New exhibit of paintings and photographs by members of the La Jolla Art Association Light refreshments available. La Jolla Art Association on Facebook / Instagram

Explore ceramic handbuilding & funky glazes! Tuesdays, July 22, 29, August 5, 12, 26 From 6 p.m. - 8:30 p.m., with the last class of the series from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. Select a date from the drop-down menu. In this 5-week series, students will learn the basics of handbuilding to create functional pieces with an emphasis on decorative techniques. Working with mid fire clay, we will explore various methods of building forms and decorative techniques with underglazes, slips, glaze, and various experimental materials. Students will complete multiple projects throughout the course with an artistic and creative approach to decorative designs. Inspired by printmaking, painting and drawing, we will explore image transfers, mark making, layering, stencils, and more! Through the use of technique and materials, students will explore the fusion of 2D art and 3D form. Students will be able to utilize a wide array of glazes and colors through the course. The instructor will have a wide array of custom decorative materials for use and sale. All materials provided. Additional materials available via the instructor for a fee. Ages 15+ welcome! • Military, first responders and sibling discounts. • Scholarships available. • Homeschool funds accepted. • If this class is full, join the Interest List to be notified. • If you would like to be notified of future offerings, join the Interest List to be notified when new dates are available. San Diego Craft Collective on Facebook / Instagram

Feeling crafty? Join us on the 2nd Tuesday of every month for arts and crafts. In the month of June, we’ll be making our own mini art masterpieces! Participants will have the chance to have their paintings displayed in the library’s mini museum of art. This program is for adults over the age of 18. Registration is not required but recommended. Coronado Public Library on Facebook / Instagram

Material Land Escapades (Ages 7 – 9) July 14 – 18, 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. Want to come on an adventure on land, sea, and into space? Make new friends as you go on an adventure of colorful landscapes and radiant underwater worlds at MCASD! Learn how contemporary artists combine mediums and materials and make art inspired by the natural world around us: Create your very own underwater world inspired by Andrea Chung. Team up with other camps to film and build an installation just like Fox Maxy. Bend light to create mysterious wonders to celebrate Robert Irwin. Schedule Day 1: Create moon maps and planet keychains as you learn about the moon and space inspired on the works from the permanent collection. Day 2: Finds yourself back on earth surrounded by nature, as you make dancing tree murals and find your way out of escape rooms. Spend the rest of the week exploring the sea and its textures, creating ponchos and totems while also working a book to share your adventures. MCASD on Facebook / Instagram

Florida's Most Traditional Community Festival for 14 years is hitting San Diego! On July 23, take a journey into Brazil’s art, culture and tradition featuring international musical acts, Samba dancers, kids rides, exhibitors and a taste of Brazilian cuisine. Get ready to vote for the Community Awards. Tix start at $20. Visit: https://www.theheartbeatfoundation.org/event-details/17th-edition-brazilian-festival-san-diego

Cinema Junkie joins Midday Movies to spotlight Digital Gym Cinema, a microcinema keeping cult classics, international gems and community film events alive in San Diego.

¡Qué onda, friends! In this special bonus edition of Port of Entry, we're bringing you the story of Charles Glaubitz and Giancarlo Ruiz—two compadres from the Tijuana-San Diego border region who recently collaborated on a graphic novel titled "The Fracture." We dive into how this decades-long bromance made this comic book happen. And... we're doing it a little differently this time. Drumroll please Introducing Port of Entry Shorts: short video capsules that bring our cross-border stories to life in a fresh new way—through video! To kick off this brand-new format, we're starting with two videos: one featuring Charles, the other starring Giancarlo. These capsules originally premiered last fall at our live event, and they're part of a special five-episode bundle that includes this bonus episode, plus a two-part release (Part 1 & Part 2) capturing our live event itself. We hope you enjoy this five-episode bonanza! ¡Nos vemos pronto!