February Cultural Arts eNews

Lunar New Year Celebration

Saturday, Feb. 7

1 to 4 p.m.

Library Learning Center

3368 Eureka Place

Celebrate Lunar New Year 2026, the Year of the Fire Horse! Join us as we welcome a year filled with energy, freedom and passion, bringing exciting opportunities for adventure, growth and breakthroughs.

Enjoy hands-on activities including creating paper fans, crafting your own fortune cookies and making charming horses to take home as keepsakes.

Immerse yourself in a vibrant cultural showcase featuring Chinese, Filipino, Korean, Thai and Vietnamese visual and performing arts, a stunning celebration of Eastern traditions, including the famous lion dance.

2026 TGIF Concerts in the Parks Sponsorship Opportunity Announcement 

Sponsorships now available for 2026 TGIF season 

The City of Carlsbad invites local businesses to take part in our most popular community event, the TGIF Concerts in the Parks summer series. 

The nationally-recognized TGIF concerts are exciting, high-visibility events that attract thousands of community members from Carlsbad and neighboring cities, including families, young adults and active older adults.  

Sponsorship opportunities:

Several sponsorship levels are available to provide enhanced brand visibility and the chance to connect with the community through:  

• Event signs and banners 
• Mentions on the city’s website and social media channels 
• Shoutouts onstage by the event announcer 

Chestnut underpass public art

The city’s Arts Commission will review an updated design concept for the Chestnut underpass public art project at its upcoming meeting on Thursday, Feb. 5.

This updated rendering reflects a revised design approach following the community input process held last fall. Since then, the city and artist team have continued refining the project based on a combination of public input, site conditions and Caltrans requirements for public art within its right-of-way.

The updated design and proposed placement at the four exterior corners of the underpass address maintenance concerns identified after recent winter rains.

How to provide input

• Attend the meeting and provide comments in person
• Email comments in advance to arts@carlsbadca.gov by 4 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 5

Arts Commission Updates

The next Arts Commission meeting is Thursday, Feb. 5 at 5:30 p.m., in City Council Chambers, 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive. See what’s on the agenda, attend in person or watch online. The Arts Commission typically meets on the first Thursday of the month.

Saturdays in the Courtyard 

RB Anthony & The Pacific Sound Brass

Saturday, Feb. 14, 5 p.m.

Ann Kulchin Courtyard

1775 Dove Lane

Bring your Valentine to enjoy this brass sextet performance celebrating African American composers and their lasting influence on American music.

Performances take place outdoors, weather permitting. Seating is limited, so please feel free to bring your own chair. 

Front Row Saturday

Jesse London: The Man and His Music

Saturday, Feb. 21, 5 p.m.

Doors open at 4:30 p.m.

Ruby G. Schulman Auditorium

1775 Dove Lane

Jesse London delivers an intimate solo acoustic set blending jam-band improvisation with modern singer-songwriter storytelling for a spontaneous, engaging experience.

Experience the magic of Front Row Saturday, a free live performance series held in the cozy and intimate 215-seat Ruby G. Schulman Auditorium. This series celebrates the vibrant talent of emerging and established artists from San Diego and North County, offering an exciting mix of music, theater, dance and more.

Night of Ideas

Thursday, Feb. 26

Doors open at 6 p.m.

Curtain at 6:30 p.m.

Ruby G. Schulman Auditorium

1775 Dove Lane

Carlsbad Cultural Arts, in partnership with Alliance Française of San Diego, proudly presents Night of Ideas, featuring a screening of "Defenders of Life". This compelling drama, set in the hills of Costa Rica, explores the resilience of an Indigenous community.

This free, ticketed event celebrates international cinema and fosters cross-cultural dialogue through film and discussion.

Join Director Dana Ziyasheva and UC San Diego physician Janine Young, MD, for a moderated conversation following the film.

Registration is available through the Alliance Française website.

Echoes of Harlem: Art, Music & Words That Changed America

Saturday, Feb. 28

2 to 4 p.m.

Georgina Cole Library, Community Room

1250 Carlsbad Village Drive

Celebrate Black History Month with an engaging presentation by Carole Boyce, Poet Laureate of the North County African American Women’s Association. Through poetry and storytelling, Carole Boyce will guide audiences through the vibrant world of the Harlem Renaissance, highlighting its influential artists, powerful voices and lasting cultural impact.

Join us for a meaningful exploration of this pivotal era in American history and expression.

Reel Wednesday

Wednesdays, 4 & 7 p.m.

Carlsbad City Library

1775 Dove Lane

Our beloved Wednesday Cinema series is back with a fresh new name—Reel Wednesday!

Cinema Club Friday

Fridays, 4 & 7 p.m.

Carlsbad City Library

1775 Dove Lane

Join us for our Cinema Club Friday series.

*Doors will open 30 minutes before showtime. All films are free to the public and are subject to change. All films will be shown in original language with English subtitles excluding the Wednesday at 7 p.m. screening. No food or drinks allowed. 

Grantee Spotlight

In December, the Cultural Arts Center at Carlsbad High School proudly featured two recipients of the City of Carlsbad’s Community Arts Grants. Audiences were treated to festive holiday performances by the Carlsbad High School Choral Boosters and the Carlsbad High School Bands, spreading cheer and showcasing local talent. 

Help Select Carlsbad’s Next Citizen of the Year

Do you know someone who goes above and beyond to make Carlsbad a better place? The City of Carlsbad is now accepting nominations for its Citizen of the Year award, recognizing residents who devote their time and energy to civic improvement, beautification and community well-being. A committee of Carlsbad residents appointed by the mayor will select up to two honorees. Nomination forms are available on the city website and at City Hall (1200 Carlsbad Village Drive). Please submit nominations by April 3, 2026.

The Cannon Art Gallery will be closed: Dec. 15 to March 2026, for upgrades. Check the webpage for updates on future exhibits.

Upcoming Closures

All Carlsbad City Library locations will be closed on Monday, Feb. 16 in observance of Presidents' Day.

Libraries will reopen on Tuesday, Feb. 17 at 9 a.m.

If you have any questions, please contact the Cultural Arts office at 442-339-2090 or email arts@carlsbadca.gov.

If you have any questions, please contact the Cultural Arts office at

442-339-2090 or email arts@carlsbadca.gov.

Carlsbad Library & Arts Foundation



Financially supporting and enhancing Carlsbad libraries and arts facilities, programs and events.

carlsbadlibraryartsfoundation.org/