Balboa Park provides a beautiful backdrop for destination weddings, corporate functions and other events. There are countless venues–inside and outdoor–for unique gatherings of all sizes. From picturesque terraces to lush garden settings to elegant ballrooms, it should be no surprise that Balboa Park is one of the most popular locations in San Diego for events. Book yours today!

Use of Outdoor Park Areas

 

Balboa Park is a city park and the structures, grounds, and landscaping are managed and maintained by the City of San Diego Park and Recreation Department. Therefore, the Park and Recreation Department rents/provides permits for the beautiful gardens and outside space, as well as several of the Park buildings. All outdoor areas are under the management of the Park and Recreation Department.

To keep the Park well maintained and safe for visitors of all ages, the City has provided a set of Rules and Regulations pertaining to outside areas. To avoid disappointment, find out what is required when planning your event in the Park. To reserve an outside area, call Balboa Park administration at (619) 235-1100.

Use of City Buildings

 

City of San Diego Park and Recreation Department-managed buildings are listed below. Please call (619) 235-1169 for reservation referrals on these facilities, or refer to the City of San Diego’s Permit Sites Map.

  • Balboa Park Activity Center
  • Balboa Park Club
  • Casa del Prado
  • Municipal Gymnasium
  • Puppet Theater
  • Recital Hall
  • Spreckels Organ Pavilion
  • War Memorial Building

 

Museums and Other Spaces

 

The Balboa Park cultural organizations schedule most events individually, and each organization governs the usage of its own buildings. Each museum has its own experienced Special Events Manager available for consultation. You may wish to visit several venues before determining the ideal location for your event. We recommend that you explore the Venue Grid below to find the contact information for a venue of interest to set up an appointment.

 

 

For information about the House of Hospitality or the Casa Del Rey Moro Garden, please contact The Prado Restaurant or call 619-557-9441 x (2).

To learn more about City of San Diego buildings and outdoor areas in Balboa Park (identified below as requiring reservations through the Park and Recreation Permit Center), call 619-235-1169  for reservation details.

Email events@balboapark.org for information about holding large corporate events at multiple venues simultaneously.

 

Special Event Wi-Fi Networks

 

Are you holding an event in Balboa Park?  From weddings to reunions, to symposiums, to conferences, you can provide a dedicated, secure, high-speed Wi-Fi network for your special event. The network name will be customized for your company/event (“Company XYZ” or “Smith-Jones Wedding”), with speeds up to 50 MBPS and no splash page or log-in required. (Available anywhere the Balboa Park Wi-Fi network is available).

Cost is $300 per day for cash or check payments, or $325 per day for credit card payments, plus configuration. The fee includes set-up, tear-down, and on-call connectivity support for the duration of the event.  Please contact the Balboa Park Online Collaborative at least 2 weeks in advance.  Wired connections are also available; please contact (bpoc@bpoc.org), for rates and other technical questions.

Discounts are available for non-profits.

There are many beautiful and fascinating venues to host any event in Balboa Park. From large events to intimate gatherings, there is a perfect space for whatever you need! Listed below are the maximum possible in each format. Please contact any venues of interest to learn more about what is available for your specific group or event.

Venue Location Contact Information Banquet Classroom Conference Outside Reception Theater
Centro Cultural de la Raza 2004 Park Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 235-6135 200 _ 225 _ 300 _
City of San Diego – Balboa Park Club – Ballroom 2144 Pan American Road W
San Diego, CA 92101
Permit Center
(619) 235-1169
500 _ _ _ 700 _
City of San Diego – Balboa Park Club – Santa Fe Room 2144 Pan American Road W
San Diego, CA 92101
Permit Center
(619) 235-1169
80 _ _ _ 120 _
City of San Diego – Casa del Prado – Courtyard: Patio A 1650 El Prado
San Diego, CA 92101
Permit Center
(619) 235-1169
320 _ _ 400 400 _
City of San Diego – Casa del Prado – Courtyard: Patio B 1650 El Prado
San Diego, CA 92101
Permit Center
(619) 235-1169
150 _ _ _ 20
City of San Diego – Casa del Prado – Majorca Room 1650 El Prado
San Diego, CA 92101
Permit Center
(619) 235-1169
240 _ _ _ 300 _
City of San Diego – Marston House Gardens 3525 Seventh Ave Permit Center
(619) 235-1169
_ _ _ 125 125 _
City of San Diego – Recital Hall 2150 Pan American Rd. W Permit Center
(619) 235-1169
200 _ _ _ 300 _
City of San Diego – Redwood Circle 2130 Pan American Plaza Permit Center
(619) 235-1169
200 _ _ 200 200 _
City of San Diego – War Memorial Building Auditorium 3325 Zoo Dr. (619) 546-9073 200 75 _ _ 300 _
Comic-Con Museum 2131 Pan American Plaza (619) 546-9073

ccmvolunteers@comic-con.org

_ _ _ _ _ 150
Fleet Science Center 1875 El Prado
San Diego, CA 92101
Special Events
(619) 685-5728
250 60 150 _ 1000 300
ICA San Diego 1439 El Prado
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 236-0011
victor@icasandiego.org
125 _ 40 _ 300 _
Japanese Friendship Garden 2215 Pan American Road E,
San Diego, CA  92101
(619) 232-2721 ext 1500
private-events@niwa.org
250 50 50 250 200 _
Mingei International Museum 1439 El Prado
San Diego, CA 92101
events@mingei.org 220 30 28 150 300 120
Museum of Photographic Arts at The San Diego Museum of Art 1649 El Prado
San Diego, CA 92101
Special Events Department
(619) 238-7559 x290
events@mopa.org
140 _ 226 _ 250 226
Museum of Us 1350 El Prado
San Diego, CA 92101
events@museumofus.org _ _ _ _ 100 _
San Diego Air & Space Museum 2001 Pan American Plaza
San Diego, CA 92101
Melissa Paris
(619) 234-8291 x117 mparis@sdasm.org

Casandra Diaz

(619) 234-8291 x116

cdiaz@sdasm.org

700 200 600 75 2000 1200
San Diego Automotive Museum 2080 Pan American Plaza
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 398-0308 200 _ 150 500 350 _
San Diego History Center 1649 El Prado Suite 3
San Diego, CA 92101
(619)232-6203 x109
events@sandiegohistory.org
130 35 30 _ 250 70
San Diego Model Railroad Museum 1649 El Prado
San Diego, CA 92101
75 50 _ _ 700 _
San Diego Natural History Museum 1788 El Prado
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 255-0182
events@sdnhm.org
270 75 32 175 1200 300
San Diego Zoo 2920 Zoo Drive
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 685-3259 events@sdzwa.org _ _ _ 5000 5000 _
The Prado at Balboa Park 1549 El Prado
San Diego, CA 92101
Marcy Melley
619-557-9441 x (2)
marcy@pradobalboa.com
380 50 200 300 500 320
The San Diego Museum of Art 1450 El Prado
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 696-1924
events@sdmart.org
350 _ _ 800 500 _
The Veterans Museum at Balboa Park 2115 Park Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 239-2300
vmmc.events@pacbell.net
120 50 10 100 120 150
Timken Museum of Art 1500 El Prado (619) 239-5548 x102

ljacques@timkenmuseum.org

100 _ _ _ 150 _
WorldBeat Center 2100 Park Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 230-1190
events@worldbeatcenter.org
350 _ _ _ 150 _
  • See 75 million years in one day. An orange dinosaur is on one side and a green dinosaur is on the other side. The Nat logo is on the bottom.
  • Pink poster that says "We put the eek in Geek." A black beetle is at the bottom of the photo along with the Nat logo