Starlight Bowl

Starlight Bowl is an open-air theater with roughly 4,300 seats located within Balboa Park, designed to host large-scale musical and dramatic performances. The structure features a stage built for productions under open sky, with natural acoustics and views of the surrounding landscape.

The venue was built in 1935 for the California Pacific International Exposition and was originally called Ford Bowl due to sponsorship from the Ford Motor Company. Over the following decades it became a space for diverse types of performances and events.

The name reflects the outdoor evening performances that define the venue. You can observe how different communities use the space throughout the year for their own celebrations and shows.

Access is via Pan American Plaza, and visitors are advised to arrive early to secure good seating and acoustic positioning. Be aware that aircraft from a nearby airport may occasionally pause performances.

A restoration project called Save Starlight began in 2016 to transform the amphitheater into a space for multimedia and multicultural events. This effort demonstrates how communities work together to keep historic venues alive and relevant.

Location: San Diego

GPS coordinates: 32.72640,-117.15400

Latest update: December 10, 2025 15:51