The California Center for the Arts is situated on a dozen acres of serene parkland next to City Hall on North Escondido Boulevard, only eight kilometers southwest of downtown San Marcos, CA. The facility for live entertainment and the arts has smaller theatres for dance and dramatic performances in addition to a concert hall with 1,500 seats. The center also holds a variety of yearly events throughout the year, including celebrations of the Fourth of July and the Day of the Dead, a jazz concert series in the summer, and the always-popular Christmas tree lighting ceremony. Also along with hosting over 52 free community events including First Wednesdays, the summer music series Hidden City Sounds, Msica en la Plaza, the Independence Day Festival, the Da de Los Muertos Festival, and the Winter Wonderland Festival, the Center also conducts a robust education program.
The California Center for the Arts, Escondido, is the cultural hub of North San Diego County with the purpose to unite people to discover, develop, and celebrate both the performing and visual arts.
A 1,500-seat music hall, a 400-seat theatre, a museum of modern art, art and dance studios, and a full-service conference center with meeting and banquet facilities ready to host business conferences, weddings, and other important life events are all part of the Center’s distinctive site.
The Center’s operations are overseen by a Board of Trustees, administration, and staff who are committed to advancing arts entertainment and arts education in the community via the maintenance and expansion of programs that offer cultural enrichment to North County residents and others.
A non-profit organization, The Center offers a wide variety of creative and cultural events. The Center is able to improve the quality of life in the neighborhood via free community programs, high-quality programming, reasonably priced rental facilities, and arts in education.
It is an ideal location and an excellent venue for business gatherings. The musical performances are excellent, with cozy seating and superb acoustics. Costs are fair, and the sound systems work well. There are occasionally free performances. The music hall has a unique setting with several tiers. The sound quality is excellent. It is beautifully kept up and a wonderful homage to the City of Escondido. Information on many performances, events, and activities throughout the year are available on the center’s website. The staff is enthusiastic and very helpful.
