MarketsFreeGood for kidsOutdoors

Community Market

Name: Community Market
Start: 2026-11-08T11:00:00
End: 2026-12-13
Location: WorldBeat Center

Shop for local goods including crafts, plants, and produce at this monthly community gathering. The market also offers wellness services and food.

Tips for going

Where do I park for Balboa Park without paying?Mostly you can't right now — Balboa Park went to paid parking on January 5, 2026. City of San Diego residents can register for free parking in Level 2 and Level 3 lots; everyone else pays. Paid parking is scheduled to end entirely on January 1, 2027.Which Balboa Park museums are free on Tuesdays?They rotate by week of the month — and it's free for San Diego city and county residents and active military only, with photo ID showing your address. Visitors from out of town pay full price.Do you have to pay to get into Balboa Park?No. The park itself is free and open to everyone — the gardens, the grounds, the architecture along El Prado. The museums inside it charge separately, and the Zoo is a different institution entirely.

It's outdoors. Check the marine layer forecast before you go; coastal mornings are often gray until late morning.

More at WorldBeat Center

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Music

Give Thanks & Praise: Kabaka Pyramid Live

Tue, Nov 24 · 8pm

WorldBeat Center · Balboa Park

Live roots reggae performance by a Grammy Award-winning artist at a cultural center.

Also in Balboa Park, Sunday, November 8

TheaterGood for kids

Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas

4:30pm

Old Globe - Donald & Darlene Shiley Stage · Balboa Park

A musical stage adaptation of the classic Dr. Seuss holiday story returns to the theater for local families to enjoy.

3 tips for going

Talks

Balboa Park Tours: 5 Flavors Tour in Trees for Health Garden

10am

Balboa Park

This guided tour explores a medicinal garden in Balboa Park, focusing on the five flavors of Chinese medicine. It is suited for those interested in botany and wellness.

3 tips for going

Arts$10 – $15

Chanoyu Tea Ceremony Demonstrations

11am

Japanese Friendship Garden and Museum · Balboa Park

A traditional tea ceremony demonstration involving the preparation and serving of matcha and Japanese sweets. Guests can observe this cultural practice in a museum setting.

3 tips for going

Music$10 – $20Good for kids

Paint It Mariachi: A Salute to the Americas

2pm

San Diego Museum of Art · Balboa Park

An orchestra teams up with a mariachi band and folklorico dancers for a patriotic cultural celebration. This family-friendly show honors the armed forces.

3 tips for going

Talks$19.95 – $24.95Good for kids

Sky Tonight: Weekend Edition

11am

Fleet Science Center · Balboa Park

This planetarium series offers guided tours of the solar system for stargazers. The family-oriented sessions are held monthly at a science museum.

3 tips for going

CommunityGood for kids

A Space for All of Us

10am

Museum of Us · Balboa Park

These weekly morning hours provide a calm, low-stimulation environment for families. It is specifically designed to be accessible and welcoming to everyone.

3 tips for going