School is out and everyone is ready to embrace the summer sunshine. Whether you choose to peruse new art exhibitions, dance along to the beat of free summer concerts, or participate in various crafting workshops, ARTS DISTRICT Liberty Station is the perfect place to get your daily dose of Vitamin D!

With something for everyone, San Diego’s creative arts community is helping you fill up the beginning of your summer calendar.

Free Dance Performance by Emerging Artists | June 7

Two ARTS DISTRICT Emerging Artists, Lexii Regina and Micah Parra will be coming together to host a free multimedia dance performance titled “Tethered.”

Happening on Friday June 7, from 7 PM to 7:45 PM and again from 8 PM to 8:45 PM, the performance will showcase current works exploring the possibilities of dance with a bungee cord. The 45-minute free sessions will include a showing of dance film, new choreographed works, live music and improvisation.

Don’t miss the opportunity to come out for this free showing and get the chance to meet with both Emerging Artists.

First Friday at ARTS DISTRICT | June 7

Check out the various art exhibitions, workshops and more during this month’s First Friday at ARTS DISTRICT. You can view the entire lineup of events here with a highlight listed below:

Mockingbird Improv is hosting a night full of laughs and improvisations. Starting at 7 PM, Lyrics & Laughs will be a family-friendly show where vocal performances create the basis for improv scenes.

At 8:30 PM, Friday Night Flix kicks off with guests improvising movie scenes, followed by All Hands On Deck!, an improv game show meant for mature audiences, at 10 PM. RVSP here.

Mandell Weiss Gallery invites you into their gallery from 9 AM to 5 PM to experience their new exhibit titled Women Work Together. By the Feminist Image Group (FIG), the exhibition explores creative collaboration as a catalyst for change. Stop by on First Friday to check out the free exhibit.

Border Influences, a new exhibit now on display throughout Barracks 19, 17, 16, 15, and 14 and in Buildings 201, 202, 175, and 176.

Featuring the creative works of 7 ARTS DISTRICT artists, the exhibit explores concepts of borders and the creative influences shared across those borders and will be open from 10 AM to 4 PM.

Fiber Fest Kick-Off at San Diego Craft Collective | June 7, 8 and 9

Join San Diego Craft Collective as they kick off their first-ever Fiber Fest weekend. On Friday, June 7, from 5 PM to 7 PM, you’re invited into the studio for a fun, free kids craft, community mending, and open house! Swing by for the main event on Saturday, June 8, from 10 AM to 3 PM.

The afternoon will feature exciting presentations from Noe Vega, Giovanna Bradshaw and more, along with artist demos, Make&Take crafts, an Apricot Yarn & Supply pop up and other fiber fun!

Bilingual Story Time at Visions Museum of Textile Art | June 15

Join Visions Museum of Textile Art as they host their second Bilingual Story Time of the year.

Taking place every third Saturday from May to September, this month’s class, on Saturday, June 15, from 10:15 to 11:45 AM, will focus on fiber art and tell the story of “Extra Yarn” in both English and Spanish translations.

Following the reading, which will explore themes of knitting and creativity, you’re invited to craft cardboard sweater animals.

These monthly events allow community members to come together to celebrate cultural exchange, literacy and artistic expression. The event is free and open to the public so be sure to stop by!

Father’s Day in ARTS DISTRICT | June 16

If you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind Father’s Day gift for dad this year, look no further than the historic former Naval Training Center.

The NTC Foundation is presenting a unique opportunity giving you the chance to dedicate one of the 24 benches along the North Promenade to a family member with a distinctive commemorative bronze plaque.

The North Promenade serves as a focal point for community gatherings, concerts, art installations, and moments of reflection, so your dedication will be witnessed by thousands and will forever serve as a beautiful expression of your love and appreciation each time you visit ARTS DISTRICT.

Make Music Day | June 21

Apt 4 Music is thrilled to announce the third annual Make Music Day in the vibrant ARTS DISTRICT Liberty Station. Taking place on Friday, June 21, from 4 PM to 9 PM, Apt 4 Music invites the community to join in celebrating San Diego’s dynamic local music scene for International Make Music Day.

With performances spanning various genres, talents, and ages, as well as workshops from Mockingbird Improv and Tippi Toes Dance, this free event is open to everyone.

Whether you’re a seasoned musician or eager to share your musical passion for the first time, anyone can sign up and be part of the festivities.

The event will take place in North Promenade, outside of the Stone Brewing Beer Garden and the adjacent lawn, offering ample space to dance around and celebrate the occasion.

ARTS DISTRICT Summer Music Series | June 23

Get ready for the return of ARTS DISTRICT Summer Music Series every fourth Sunday of the month from June to September.

This year, in honor of World Design Capital’s first binational designation of Tijuana and San Diego, ARTS DISTRICT is spotlighting four bands celebrating a variety of Latin American genres.

The first performance by local bilingual supergroup, Tulengua, kicks off on Sunday, June 23, from 4 PM to 7 PM on the North Promenade.

Led by three recording artists, Amari Jordan, Alan Lili, and Jaime Mora, Tulengua will perform a unique blend of genres, including hip-hop, psychedelic, progressive rock, and Spanish-language music.

Grab a picnic blanket and enjoy the free concert from the lawn, or indulge in refreshing beverages at Stone Brewing‘s outdoor patio area while you dance along.

“Women Work Together” Exhibit AT Mandell Weiss Gallery | Now Through August 9

Mandell Weiss Gallery is showcasing their new gallery exhibit titled Women Work Together now through Friday, August 9. By the Feminist Image Group (FIG), the new exhibit explores creative collaboration as a catalyst for change.

Eleven artist pairs have created duets or new works of art that blend their individual ideas and styles, serving as a powerful metaphor for cooperation as a social process.  The duet format encourages collaboration and beautifully illuminates the creative synergy between two artists.

Some of the participating artist duets include Irene Abraham + Stacie Birky-Greene, Kathi McCord + Kathleen Mitchell, Minnie Valero + Linda Litteral, and many more.

The all-media project aims to ignite a dialogue that fosters empathy and understanding and will be on display every day from 9 AM to 5 PM in the Mandell Weiss Gallery (2650 Truxton Rd).

Emerging Artist Exhibition in Gallery 201 | Now through June 30

To wrap up her 18-month Emerging Artist residency in ARTS DISTRICT, Leslye Villaseñor is showcasing a solo exhibition in Gallery 201 titled Y lo que el viento no se lleva, en la tierra queda, culminating her time in ARTS DISTRICT.

In this end-of-residency exhibition, Leslye Villaseñor presents a collection of paintings portraying hidden objects and their surrounding environments.

Using items found throughout the Otay Valley Regional Park in South San Diego, the exhibit showcases once-precious possessions left behind by the families of those who have lost their lives in the park. Each object holds a meaningful story from its past life which is illuminated through each painting.

The culminating exhibit will be on display in Gallery 201 (2820 Roosevelt Rd, 2nd Floor) through Sunday, June 30.

Summer Camps: Enroll Now!

Milk Oolong Pottery: Learn skills on the pottery wheel, sculpting, hand-building, and surface decoration to create a variety of projects. Offering 4 different sessions, the Kids Pottery Camp classes begin June 10 through August 9 from 9 AM to 11 AM.

Monart School of Art: Embrace your inner artist with half-day drawing and mixed media art camps. Weekly camps run from June 10 through August 9, with each week featuring a different theme, including ocean fun, cartoons, amazing animals, fantasy and fiction, and more.

San Diego Craft Collective: Kids are welcome to enjoy fun, hands-on projects in a specific area of interest, including woodworking, game making, fiber arts, fashion design, sewing basics, and more. Weekly camps begin June 10 and run through August 16.

San Diego Dance Theater: Hone your dance technique and learn from some of the best teachers in the area at SDDT’s annual Summer Workshop. The all-day workshops will run from 9 AM to 6 PM from July 8 through July 19.

The New Haven: Preschool camps in Montessori-inspired classrooms and an outdoor garden. Camps begin in July.

See you there!

To know more, visit the ARTS DISTRICT Liberty Station website here and follow them on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook for updates.

See you there, San Diego!