San Bernardino’s arts and culture scene is more than a collection of events—it’s the heartbeat of the city. Across music, visual arts, festivals, and public art, local artists and established institutions are making the city a place where creativity grows in every neighborhood. Here’s a look at what’s happening now and what’s continuously enriching our community.
Festivals & Events That Bridge Generations
One of the city’s landmark celebrations is the National Orange Show Festival, which began in 1911 to honor San Bernardino’s citrus heritage. It remains a flagship event featuring food, crafts, music, and live entertainment—even as it honors its century-old roots.
The annual Route 66 Rendezvous also brings together car enthusiasts, musicians, food vendors, and families in downtown San Bernardino. It’s more than a celebration of the road—it’s a reminder of how history, culture, and community intersect on our streets.
Newer gatherings are adding richness too: the city’s “Where Our Cultures Connect Festival,” for example, draws artists, food makers, and storytellers from across local communities—creating space where neighborhoods share heritage, narrative, and art side by side. Efforts like this are spotlighted in our city’s goals to promote arts projects including downtown murals, public art at transit, and culturally themed celebrations.
Venues Anchoring the Arts
San Bernardino has several institutions that serve as cultural foundations. The California Theatre of Performing Arts in the historic downtown area regularly hosts symphony concerts, Broadway tours, and community performances. At educational and curatorial intersection stands the Robert V. Fullerton Museum of Art at CSU San Bernardino, with collections ranging from ancient pottery to contemporary exhibitions that invite reflection on identity and art’s evolving meaning.
Gallery spaces like All Eyes Gallery provide visibility for experimental works and emerging local talent. Their mission centers inclusivity and accessibility—serving artists who want their work to engage with both place and people. Venues like these are vital not just for performance, but for incubating conversations with impact.
Public Art, Community Access & Creative Growth
Beyond festivals and museums, San Bernardino is investing in art that’s visible in everyday public life: murals, placemaking at Metro stops, and artwork along key E Street corridors are becoming landmarks—public art that tells the stories of our neighborhoods and honors our history.
Community support programs are also strengthening the scene. Local organizations offer teaching opportunities in schools, grants to artists, vendor participation at markets and events, and space to exhibit. For many artists, these projects translate into both recognition and sustainable practice.
Why It All Matters
Arts and culture do more than entertain. They anchor identity, enable inter-generational storytelling, bring economic opportunity, and restore pride in place. In San Bernardino, even small events like neighborhood open mics or seasonal public art unveilings are steps in building shared ownership of cultural life.
For locals, that means more than attending—participating. Whether you’re painting a mural, opening a gallery, performing music, organizing a festival, or simply playing a role as an audience member—you are part of the evolving fabric.
Get Involved
- Visit local galleries when they host open hours or artist talks.
- Check calendars for recurring events like DTSB Art Walks or festival calls for artists.
- Follow the San Bernardino Arts Council and community centers for updates on grants or volunteer opportunities.
- Explore public art during walks—Downtown E Street murals and public art at Metro stations are often overlooked but locally vital.
In a city where heritage, diversity, and creativity intertwine, the arts are not just parts of our past—they are central to our future. San Bernardino’s arts and culture scene is always evolving, and community participation keeps it alive, honest, and memorable.