Free art & exhibitions in San Diego this weekend

Fri, Sep 25–27

34 exhibitions and openings across 26 venues in San Diego this weekend (Fri, Sep 25–27): Valley Center Library. Updated nightly, free as listed by the venue.

Friday, September 25, 2026 9

10:00 AM
Sewing Group
Spring Valley Library · Spring Valley
Looking for a group to share your love for sewing or discuss projects? Bring your own sewing machine and materials.
Tickets & details
10:00 AM
Cribbage
Poway Library · Poway
Join us for a fun and friendly game of Cribbage . Bring your own board if you have one. All levels are welcome. Instructions will be provided.
Tickets & details
10:30 AM
Fiber Arts Meetup
Julian Library · Julian
Bring a project to work on and make some new friends. All needlecrafters welcome!
Tickets & details
11:00 AM
DIY Adult Craft: Upcycled Denim Bracelets - Fri
Del Mar Library · Del Mar
Use strip seams of upcycled jeans and add beads, stones, and charms to make a customized, unique piece. Registration required. Limited to 15 people. Sign up for one of our two opportunities to take this class! This program is made possible by the friends of the Del Mar Library.
Tickets & details
1:00 PM
Beading & Jewelry Club
Valley Center Library · Valley Center
Join us on Friday afternoons from 1:00–4:00 pm to explore the art of beading and jewelry-making with instructor, LaDawna Williams. Bring your current projects and creative ideas—some beads and supplies will be provided. Discover how fun and rewarding beading can be! Open to all…
Tickets & details
1:00 PM
Crest Craft Circle
Crest Library · El Cajon
Bring your own craft or make something at the library! We have supplies available, and we can teach you the basics. Or, join us to share your skills. Socialize or have a quiet place away from home to get some crafting done.
Tickets & details
1:00 PM
Adult Creative Arts Class
Valley Center Library · Valley Center
Join us each month for a new art workshop. Projects include floral design, watercolor, sculpture, drawing, etc.
Tickets & details
1:30 PM
Adult Crafternoon
4S Ranch Library · San Diego
Calling all crafty adults! September adult crafternoon is the 4th Friday of the month!
Tickets & details
3:30 PM
Teen Craft
Campo-Morena Village Library · Campo
Tickets & details

Saturday, September 26, 2026 10

9:00 AM
Adult Painting Class
Potrero Library · Potrero
This program is free and all supplies will be provided, seats are limited. Contact branch to register, (619) 478-5978*3
Tickets & details
10:00 AM
Knitting Club
Valley Center Library · Valley Center
Join us Saturday mornings at 10:00 am and learn the art of knitting and crocheting. Bring a pair of needles and we'll help you start your project. Yarn and additional supplies provided. See how much fun and gratifying knitting can be! Open to all skill levels.
Tickets & details
10:00 AM
Creative Crafters: Knitting, Crochet & More
Borrego Springs Library · Borrego Springs
Spend the morning with fellow knitting and crochet enthusiasts! All are welcome, including beginners, although no formal instruction is provided. Opportunity to get tips and share what you are working on. Bring your own supplies.
Tickets & details
10:30 AM
Clay Japanese Garden
Rancho Santa Fe Library · Rancho Santa Fe
Samira will help you create your very own Japanese Garden made our of clay. All supplies are provided, but space is limited. Please register online or call the branch at 858-756-2512 to reserve your spot. Registration opens Tuesday, September 1st.
Tickets & details
10:30 AM
Junk Journaling Class
Lincoln Acres Library · National City
Unleash your creativity and make a journal that's uniquely yours. Join us for a fun, hands-on junk journaling class where you'll combine paper, photos, artwork, ephemera, other decorative materials to create a one-of-a-kind journal. Materials will be provided.
Tickets & details
11:00 AM
DIY Adult Craft: Upcycled Denim Bracelets- Sat
Del Mar Library · Del Mar
Use strip seams of upcycled jeans and add beads, stones, and charms to make a customized, unique piece. Registration required. Limited to 15 people. Sign up for one of our two opportunities to take this class! This program is made possible by the friends of the Del Mar Library.
Tickets & details
11:00 AM
Athenaeum Art Center's 10th Anniversary Celebration
Athenaeum Music & Arts Library · San Diego
A free, all-ages celebration marking the 10th anniversary of the Athenaeum Art Center, held at the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library on September 26 at 11 AM.
Tickets & details
12:30 PM
Kingdom Quilters Sit & Sew
Alpine Library · Alpine
Join Alpine's Kingdom Quilters Sit & Sew, quilting to benefit children and babies in need of the comfort of a handmade quilt. No supplies or experience is necessary.
Tickets & details
1:00 PM
Painting at the Library
Crest Library · El Cajon
Try your hand at painting in this informal session and take home a finished painting. Materials are provided and no prior experience is necessary. Space is limited, please call 619-442-7083 to RSVP or stop by the Crest branch to reserve a spot. This program is designed for…
Tickets & details
1:00 PM
Paint with Christy Ross!
Lemon Grove Library · Lemon Grove
Try your hand at a painting class with Christy Ross in this informal session and take home a finished painting. Materials provided. All levels welcome. Space is limited. This program is designed for Adults and Teens. Sign-ups begin on Sept 12 at 10am . To register, please visit…
Tickets & details

Sunday, September 27, 2026 1

1:00 PM
Mending Meetup w/Good Neighbor Thrift
Vista Library · Vista
Join us for our beginner-friendly Mending Meetup. Bring clothing that needs repair. Some supplies available for use, sharing with your neighbors is encouraged! Únete a nuestra reunión de remendado para principiantes. Trae ropa que necesite reparación. Hay algunos materiales…
Tickets & details

On view this weekend 14

On view · through Sun, Nov 15
Farm to Craft
Mingei International Museum · San Diego
An entry-level exhibition at the Mingei International Museum drawn from its permanent collection, exploring the global significance of grains as both a source of sustenance and an inspiration for human creativity and craft.
Tickets & details
On view · through Sun, Nov 1
To Catch a Fish
Mingei International Museum · San Diego
An exhibition at the Mingei International Museum featuring over sixty works of craft and art related to fishing, exploring both utilitarian fishing objects and the deep cultural relationship between people and fish.
Tickets & details
On view · through Sun, Oct 18
India Thompson: Looks Like Home
Mingei International Museum · San Diego
An exhibition at the Mingei International Museum featuring intricately woven reed sculptures by India Thompson that transform everyday domestic objects into meditations on ownership, emotional attachment, and the meaning of home in the age of renting.
Tickets & details
On view · through Sun, Jan 10
Cecil Beaton's Fashionable World
San Diego Museum of Art · San Diego
The first exhibition dedicated to the multifaceted career of Cecil Beaton (1904–1980) — photographer, fashion illustrator, Oscar-winning costume designer, and writer — showcasing his extraordinary influence on both British and American creative scenes in the twentieth century.
Tickets & details
On view · through Tue, Dec 1
Color Changing Artworks in the Sculpture Garden
Bonita Museum & Cultural Center · Bonita
An ongoing outdoor sculpture exhibit at the Bonita Museum & Cultural Center featuring color-changing artworks. The exhibit runs through December 2026 and is free to visit.
Tickets & details
On view · through Sun, Oct 4
'Sugar Rush': OMA's Artist Alliance at Sparks Gallery
Sparks Gallery · San Diego
A free art exhibit presented by OMA's Artist Alliance at Sparks Gallery, running from August 10 through October 4, 2026. The show features works from a collective of local artists.
Tickets & details
On view · through Wed, Sep 30
Artists at Work in Balboa Park
Village Arts Center in Balboa Park · San Diego
A free, ongoing demonstration series featuring artists creating works in arts and crafts and visual arts disciplines at the Village Arts Center in Balboa Park. The series runs through September 30, 2026.
Tickets & details
On view · through Sat, Nov 7
'Becoming Heirlooms:' A Craft Desert Exhibition
San Diego Central Library: Judith Harris Art Gallery · San Diego
A craft exhibition curated by Kerianne Quick and Adam John Manley in conjunction with Handwork 2026, a Craft in America initiative, examining the power of craft and art objects as functional heirlooms. On view through November 7, 2026, with an opening reception on September 11…
Tickets & details
On view · through Wed, Sep 30
'Surfriding: Hawaiian Royalty's Gift to the World'
California Surf Museum · Oceanside
An exhibit at the California Surf Museum presenting the history of how Hawaiian royalty introduced surfing around the world in the 1880s, featuring historic surfboards and stories of cross-cultural exchange. The exhibit runs through September 30, 2026.
Tickets & details
On view · through Fri, Oct 30
Love Letter to San Diego Art Exhibit-Irina Koren
Solana Beach Library · Solana Beach
Love Letter to San Diego Exhibit-Artist Irina Koren Paintings inspired by the beauty of San Diego from the coastline and changing light to people, nature, and everyday moments.
Tickets & details
On view · through Thu, Nov 19
Wild San Diego
San Diego Natural History Museum (The Nat) · San Diego
An exhibition at the San Diego Natural History Museum exploring San Diego's unique position at the crossroads of desert and sea, examining what makes the city a natural oasis that draws millions of visitors each year.
Tickets & details
On view · through Thu, Dec 31
Posters Created by Françoise Gilot for “Symphony at Salk" Concerts 1996-2023
Del Mar Library · Del Mar
The Del Mar Branch of the San Diego County Library, the Del Mar Foundation, and the Salk Institute present: Posters Created by Internationally Known Artist Françoise Gilot for "Symphony at Salk" Concerts 1996-2023. When Françoise Gilot was a 21-year-old art student in Paris, she…
Tickets & details
On view · through Sat, Oct 10
Quilts Japan: The 17th Quilt Nihon
Visions Museum of Textile Art · San Diego
A free exhibition at the Visions Museum of Textile Art showcasing Japanese quilting art from the 17th Quilt Nihon competition. The exhibit continues through October 2026.
Tickets & details
On view · through Sat, Oct 10
Soft Architectures of the Sea
Visions Museum of Textile Art · San Diego
A free textile art exhibit at the Visions Museum of Textile Art exploring ocean-inspired forms and soft sculptural works. On display through October 2026.
Tickets & details