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What's Happening

Learn about things to do, events, and news before your visit to the Balboa Park Cultural District. You can also see special messages from the Explorer team here, too!

What's Happening

Learn about things to do, events, and news before your visit to the Balboa Park Cultural District. You can also see special messages from the Explorer team here, too!

Things to Do

NextGen 2025 at ICA San Diego

NextGen 2025 at ICA San Diego

Love Letters from the Heian Period: Emotions in 31 Syllables
Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum
Opening August 1

CHICANOGRAFIA: Las Letras de Los Varrios Chicanos
Centro Cultural de la Raza
Opening August 2

NextGen 2025
ICA San Diego
Ongoing

Survival of the Slowest
Fleet Science Center
Closing September 1

Events

The following events are included with your Balboa Park Explorer Pass.

Family Art Adventures*
The San Diego Museum of Art
Saturdays, August 2 & 16 | 10:30 AM and 1 PM
*RSVP required.

Toro Nagashi Festival*
Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum
Friday, August 8 and Saturday, August 9 | 10 AM - 6 PM
*Separate special event ticket required for evening ceremony.

Thomas Family Day
San Diego Model Railroad Museum
Saturday, August 16 | 10 AM - 4 PM

Make at Mingei: Plug-In Night Light Workshop*
Mingei International Museum
Sunday, August 17 | 10 AM - 3 PM
*RSVP required.

Family Art Adventures at The San Diego Museum of Art

Family Art Adventures at The San Diego Museum of Art

News

Balboa Park Explorer Annual Pass

Balboa Park Explorer Annual Pass

Museum Closures
- Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum will close early at 5 PM on 8/19.
- San Diego Automotive Museum will be closed on 8/19 for exhibit changes.

New Perks for Explorers!
Did you know Balboa Park Explorer Annual Passholders get a special early access hour at the San Diego Natural History Museum on the first Sunday of every month? Start each month feeding your appetite for adventure by browsing fossils, exploring extinct species, and seeing what's new at The Nat a whole hour before the museum opens to the general public!

Balboa Park Explorer Annual Passholders also get access to the Fleet IMAX Documentary Film Pass Add-On! For $75 you'll receive 10 documentary film tickets (a savings of $25!) that can be used anytime during regular business hours (special engagements are not included) while your Annual Pass is active. This add-on benefit is only available in person at the Fleet Science Center admissions desk.
Visit the Annual Pass Benefits section of our website to learn more about these new offers.

A Message from Explorer

Give the Best Back-to-School Gift!
School is just around the corner, but just because summer break is ending doesn't mean the fun has to end, too. After all, nothing pairs better with in-class learning than a Balboa Park Explorer Pass: Your key to year-round access to art, science, history, and culture!
Click here to give the gift of exploration and purchase a Gift Voucher for a student or educator in your life!

Balboa Park Explorer Annual Pass

Balboa Park Explorer Annual Pass

Things to Do

NextGen 2025 at ICA San Diego

NextGen 2025 at ICA San Diego

Love Letters from the Heian Period: Emotions in 31 Syllables
Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum
Opening August 1

CHICANOGRAFIA: Las Letras de Los Varrios Chicanos
Centro Cultural de la Raza
Opening August 2

NextGen 2025
ICA San Diego
Ongoing

Survival of the Slowest
Fleet Science Center
Closing September 1

CLOSE

Events

The following events are included with your Balboa Park Explorer Pass.

Family Art Adventures*
The San Diego Museum of Art
Saturdays, August 2 & 16 | 10:30 AM and 1 PM
*RSVP required.

Toro Nagashi Festival*
Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum
Friday, August 8 and Saturday, August 9 | 10 AM - 6 PM
*Separate special event ticket required for evening ceremony.

Thomas Family Day
San Diego Model Railroad Museum
Saturday, August 16 | 10 AM - 4 PM

Make at Mingei: Plug-In Night Light Workshop*
Mingei International Museum
Sunday, August 17 | 10 AM - 3 PM
*RSVP required.

Family Art Adventures at The San Diego Museum of Art

Family Art Adventures at The San Diego Museum of Art

CLOSE

News

Balboa Park Explorer Annual Pass

Balboa Park Explorer Annual Pass

Museum Closures
- Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum will close early at 5 PM on 8/19.
- San Diego Automotive Museum will be closed on 8/19 for exhibit changes.

New Perks for Explorers!
Did you know Balboa Park Explorer Annual Passholders get a special early access hour at the San Diego Natural History Museum on the first Sunday of every month? Start each month feeding your appetite for adventure by browsing fossils, exploring extinct species, and seeing what's new at The Nat a whole hour before the museum opens to the general public!

Balboa Park Explorer Annual Passholders also get access to the Fleet IMAX Documentary Film Pass Add-On! For $75 you'll receive 10 documentary film tickets (a savings of $25!) that can be used anytime during regular business hours (special engagements are not included) while your Annual Pass is active. This add-on benefit is only available in person at the Fleet Science Center admissions desk.
Visit the Annual Pass Benefits section of our website to learn more about these new offers.

CLOSE

A Message from Explorer

Give the Best Back-to-School Gift!
School is just around the corner, but just because summer break is ending doesn't mean the fun has to end, too. After all, nothing pairs better with in-class learning than a Balboa Park Explorer Pass: Your key to year-round access to art, science, history, and culture!
Click here to give the gift of exploration and purchase a Gift Voucher for a student or educator in your life!

Balboa Park Explorer Annual Pass

Balboa Park Explorer Annual Pass

CLOSE