San Diego Icons Celebrate
Originally built for temporary use during the 1915 Panama-California Exposition, the iconic Balboa Park celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2015. The centennial celebration kicked off December 31, 2014 with a special anniversary concert at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion, and continued on January 1, 2015 with the momentous reopening of the California Tower at the Museum of Man, which was closed to the public for 80 years. The 1,200-acre Balboa Park and its many institutions have also lined up a year-long celebration of innovative programming and unique events to enjoy during its centennial year.Chicano Park celebrates its 45th anniversary in 2015 with the Chicano Park Day celebration. The free annual event will be held on Saturday, April 25 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in historic Chicano Park and will offer art workshops, food vendors, a low rider car exhibition and live performances with traditional music and dances. Established by Chicano activists on April 22, 1970, Chicano Park was the result of a peaceful land takeover by students and community members, the park is now home to the largest collection of Chicano art murals in the world.
This year marks 100 years since Flagship Cruises started operating in San Diego Harbor. The locally, family-owned company is planning a special 100th anniversary celebration in spring of 2015. Flagship Cruises offers a variety of harbor tours, gourmet dinner cruises and whale watching tours and private events.
The Keating building, located in the heart of the Gaslamp Quarter of downtown San Diego, is celebrating its 125th anniversary. The Keating Hotel, which currently occupies the space, will celebrate all year long offering exclusive packages, a handful of overnight room rates at $125, special events throughout the year and an exclusive New Year’s Eve celebration.
On December 11, 2015, the seaside village of Coronado celebrates the 125th anniversary of its incorporation in 1890. Coronado is situated just across the Big Bay from downtown San Diego and is known for its pristine sand, gentle surf and charming community with a small-town feel. The “Coronado Celebrates 125” festivity will include a 125-day countdown kick-off event in August and other community-sponsored events.
Arts, Culture and Heritage
Created by the San Diego Museum Council, Museum Month celebrates 25 years this February. The annual campaign offers visitors a chance to enjoy half-price admission at 44 museums throughout the month. Some of the most popular museums include the USS Midway, Birch Aquarium at Scripps, and all museums in Balboa Park. The free museum pass can be found at any Macy’s store in San Diego County, Temecula or Imperial County beginning February 1.The San Diego Opera celebrates its 50th anniversary with a concert at the Jacobs Music Center on April 18 and 19, showcasing arias, duets, ensembles and choruses with the San Diego Symphony. San Diego Opera’s acclaimed productions regularly bring international renowned artists to perform in San Diego throughout the company’s season. The company’s education program is one of the most extensive and diverse in North America, bringing music and arts to 100,000 schoolchildren in San Diego County and northern Mexico annually.
In 2015, San Diego New Music celebrates 20 years of concerts featuring San Diego’s world-class performers and composers. The celebration will take place February 24 at the Auditorium at The Scripps Ranch Institute, in conjunction with the San Diego Symphony, and will feature an all-American program of music by John Cage, David Lang, University of San Diego professor Christopher Adler and more.
Rollicking Good Times
From February 5-15, the San Diego Jewish Film Festival will celebrate its 25th silver anniversary. The festival will showcase 96 films of the best contemporary Jewish themed films from around the world and will feature an international roster of visiting guest artists, including actors, filmmakers and scholars.April 19 marks the 25th anniversary of San Diego EarthWork’s Earth Fair. This family event takes place in Balboa Park and is the largest free annual environmental fair and Earth Day celebration in the world. Produced by 400 volunteers, EarthFair 2015 will feature more than 300 exhibitions, a children’s earth parade and activity area, a food pavilion and a display of energy-efficient and alternative-fuel vehicles.
From July 9-12, the San Diego Comic-Con International celebrates its 45th anniversary. Comic-Con began in 1970 when a group of comics, movie, and science fiction fans teamed up to put on the first comic book convention in southern California. Comic-Con started as a one-day “minicon,” called San Diego’s Golden State Comic-Minicon, on March 21, 1970 at the U.S. Grant Hotel in downtown San Diego. Attendance has topped 130,000 in recent years for this premiere pop culture event.
The charming dessert town of Borrego Springs celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Annual Borrego Days Desert Festival. Located in San Diego’s East County and surrounded by the Anza-Borrego State Park, Borrego Springs is a quaint village with golf courses, a tennis center, horseback riding and much more. From October 23-25, the festival will feature arts and crafts, food vendors, live entertainment, the Miss Borrego Springs Pageant and a parade with marching bands and floats.
Throughout 2015, San Diego will take part in the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of “the Greatest Generation’s Greatest Day,” the remembrance of the end of World War II. Yearlong activities will include a “Kiss-In” event at San Diego’s Bay Greatest Generation Collection, a wreath laying ceremony, the 4th Annual Spirit of ’45 Day National Leaders Conferences, a celebration dinner at the San Diego Air and Space Museum, the Spirit Fest on the USS Midway and “America’s Longest Veterans Day Parade” in Balboa Park.
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