Art Alive, the museum’s signature fundraiser, supports its exhibitions, education, outreach, and public programs, bringing together local floral designers to create stunning arrangements inspired by the museum's collection of over 20,000 works, spanning from 3000 BC to the present day. The 2025 event will showcase a dazzling floral rotunda installation by San Francisco-based designers Natasha Lisitsa and Daniel Schultz of Waterlily Pond, who previously transformed the space in 2018. Visitors can expect a weekend filled with beloved traditions, including the Premiere Dinner on April 24, a black-tie affair offering a first look at the floral exhibition, and the Garden of Activities on April 26 and 27, providing hands-on art-making for families from 1-5pm, free with Art Alive admission.
The Bloom Bash kickoff on Friday, April 25, from 7pm to midnight, marks a decade of philanthropy and fun, attracting trendsetters and revelers for an after-hours experience. Attendees will enjoy savory and sweet delicacies from over 35 of San Diego’s top eateries, including Mister A’s, Nobu San Diego, and The Prado at Balboa Park, alongside custom cocktails by Harrah’s Resort SoCal, Hendrick’s Gin, and Milagro Tequila, craft beer from Rincon Reservation Road Brewery, and wines from J. Lohr Vineyards.
The event features live music by DJ Gabe Vega, saxophone performances by Erisa Nicole, and entertainment by the Flashpoint Skate Team, with a Ferris wheel on the plaza sponsored by Harrah’s Resort SoCal. Contemporary art installations by LED artist Christopher Schardt and Chicano Park muralist German Corrales, whose work is also displayed on 45 IKE Smart Cities kiosks across San Diego through April 2025, will add to the night's allure. Bloom Bash tickets are priced at $250 for members and $350 for nonmembers, with VIP packages offering exclusive perks like private cabanas and valet parking. Bloom Bash is a 21+ event, requiring ID for entry.
Art Alive general admission tickets are free for museum members, $40 for nonmembers, $5 for youth ages 7-17, and free for children 6 and under, with timed entry required. Members can also access a preview on April 25 from 8am to noon, where they can vote for the Members’ Choice Awards. The floral exhibition will be open on April 25 from noon to 4pm, and on April 26 and 27 from 10am to 6pm.
Bloom Bash and Premiere Dinner tickets are sold separately, and no refunds are available, though tickets are tax-deductible (less $75 per Bloom Bash ticket). The San Diego Museum of Art, located at 1450 El Prado in Balboa Park, invites the community to experience this spring tradition that supports its mission to provide cultural and educational programs for all ages.
For more information about Bloom Bash and Art Alive or to purchase tickets, visit SDMArt.org.
Originally published on April 6, 2025.
