Events

Join us for an aromatic afternoon centered around the scents of the San Pasqual Valley! Learn about the plants, both native and contemporary, that grow in our beautiful valley, as you create your own fragrance oil blend that captures the lush vegetation of San Diego. This workshop includes a presentation and the creation of your own signature scented oil to take home and enjoy. Scents used in the workshop include Black Sage (Salvia mellifera), California Wild Rose (Rosa californica), Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus), Laurel Sumac (Malosma laurina), Lemon Scented Gum Eucalyptus (Corymbia citriodora), Orange (Citrus sinensis), California Sagebrush (Artemisia californica), Pink Peppercorn (Schinus molle), Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus), and Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia). Cost: $30; SDAC Members $25 Registration is full.

Local archaeologist and historian Richard L Carrico will be joining us to talk about his latest book, El Presidio de San Diego: Excavating Southern California’s Lost City, where he uncovers San Diego’s first European settlement. Founded in 1769, the ruins of upper California’s first mission and fort lie buried beneath the landscaped hills in Presidio Park. Carrico’s extensive research on the presidio and its people include materials from Spanish archives housed in Mexico City and Berkeley, Kumeyaay oral tradition, and nearly a decade of archaeological excavation at the site - two seasons of which Professor Carrico directed himself. In this talk, Professor Carrico will delve into the men, women, and children who lived and died at the presidio. Cost: $15 (includes museum admission); SDAC Members $5 Online registration is closed. Please pay at door. About the Presenter Richard Carrico is an Army veteran and award-winning author of non-fiction and historical fiction on eclectic topics including Indigenous people, Spanish colonial history, archaeology, and, most recently, true crime. He grew up in San Diego, California and has traveled extensively in Mexico and France in search of archaeological sites. Professor Carrico taught history, anthropology, and Native American studies at San Diego State University for thirty years before retiring in 2024.

Before paint tubes and art stores, people around the world created vibrant colors from the earth itself. In this hands-on workshop, discover how ancient artists turned natural materials into the pigments used in rock art and other early forms of expression. Participants will learn how people source the raw materials that produce rich reds, bright whites, and other colors found in rock art sites across the globe. Then try the process yourself by grinding and mixing natural materials to create your own pigments. Once your colors are ready, you can experiment with the paint that you have made. All materials are provided. Ages 10+. Register for Workshop

Join us on the rooftop of The Grand | Ritz Theater to create a meaningful piece of art while learning about cultural traditions, creativity, and exchange within Native American communities. While the dreamcatcher originates with the Ojibwe people of the Great Lakes region, it has been adopted by many Tribal Nations and is now a widely recognized symbol within the broader Native American community. Today, some Kumeyaay have incorporated this symbol into their tradition of gourd crafting. In this hands-on workshop led by SDAC Tribal Outreach Coordinator Neve Luna (Kumeyaay Ipai), participants will transform natural gourds into beautiful dreamcatchers while exploring the Kumeyaay cultural knowledge, stories, and connections to the local landscape that inspire this tradition. By the end of the workshop, you’ll leave with your own handmade gourd dreamcatcher and a deeper appreciation for the cultural traditions and shared knowledge that shape Native art today. All materials are provided. Ages 13+. Register for Workshop