A Recap of the 2023 Bloom Bash Extravaganza
San Diego’s annual Art Alive 2023 took its first breath on the last weekend of March with its most highly anticipated event: Bloom Bash. For the seventh year in a row, San Diego gathered together around The San Diego Museum of Art for a late-night celebration filled with electric art installations, activities galore and the city’s best food and drink. The event takes place annually at Balboa Park and kicks off The San Diego Museum of Art’s signature annual fundraiser, raising money to support the museum’s exhibitions, education, outreach and other public programs. With a dance floor, plenty of photo opps and a Ferris wheel, Bloom Bash brings the fun and pairs it with the limited-time breathtaking art exhibits created by artists far and wide. Here are five reasons to attend next year’s Bloom Bash celebration when you’re looking for what to do in San Diego in the springtime!
The Hendrick’s Gin Bar
Upon entry, the first thought in our head is to get a drink in our hand. Smack dab in the center of the event sat the Hendrick’s Gin Bar, which served specialty gin-based cocktails. They served a classic gin and tonic made with Hendrick’s Gin and Q Tonic with cucumber and a floral garnish, an Unusual Negroni crafted with Hendrick’s Gin, Lillet Blanc, Cappelletti and dehydrated orange and a specialty Honeysuckle cocktail—an effervescent concoction of Hendrick’s Flora Adora Gin, fresh lime juice, honey and Q club soda. The Flora Adora is a limited-release Scottish gin with an enticing aroma of enchanting flowers and a fresh, herbal character—the perfect complement to this bloomin’ event! And the bar itself was adorned with stunning floral decor from none other than beloved local flower shop Native Poppy, making this quenching station far from your average bar.
Lights, Camera, Action!
For an evening so lavish, it’s only right to have a little lights, camera, action. All around the park, the fashion vibe was fun formal—just the right mix of glam and playful. And naturally, everyone came ready to be seen. Photo ops? Everywhere. Whether it was your best look or your messiest moment, photographers lurked in every corner like stylish ninjas.
They caught candid laughs, side-glances, and that one friend mid-sip. It was all fair game. If you were feeling more posed than spontaneous, a chic black-and-white photo booth had your back. Snap as many pics as your heart could handle—and walk away with instant prints, because of course.
But the real scene-stealer? The 360-degree slo-mo camera. Because nothing captures Bloom Bash magic quite like a dramatic wrap-around of your friends busting out those highly questionable dance moves.
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Breathtaking Installations
It’s no surprise that art takes center stage at San Diego’s annual Art Alive. But what is surprising? The way each year brings an entirely new kind of beauty you never saw coming. The moment we stepped into the museum, the buzz of the crowd melted away. Above us, the scent of thousands of fresh flowers floated down like a welcome kiss. The museum’s entryway had been transformed into a blooming portal—flowers everywhere, waiting just for us.
Upstairs, we discovered a floral fantasy. Amanda Witucki from Austin, Texas, created an origami escape that felt like stepping into a dream. Floor to ceiling, papier-mâché flowers unfolded in wild, whimsical color. It wasn’t just an installation—it was an invitation to stay, to drift away from the crowd. Honestly, we didn’t want to leave. That paper oasis had us rethinking reality… or at least the rest of the evening.
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Artistic Eats
They don’t call it fine dining for nothin’. We prefer our meals to be something of little art pieces within themselves, and it’s only fitting that the food spanning the Art Alive event was bite-sized works of art. San Diego’s finest craft food (and cocktails) could be found throughout the space with easy pre-prepared, grab-and-go plates at every booth. We warmed up with appetizers like Puesto’s passion fruit and mango shrimp ceviche, then moved on to Coast Catering’s hearty Cuban panini and ended on a deliciously rich chocolate marble cake by The French Gourmet (and so many mouthwatering options in-between). Even San Diego icons showed up with something sweet—Top Gun House: Home of the Famous High Pie in Oceanside was serving various flavors of its tasty hand pies!
Activities for Everyone
Constantly keeping in theme, Bloom Bash’s many activities throughout the park were all colorful and whimsical to keep spirits high and bodies busy! A centrally located Ferris wheel held a steady spin all night long. Guests enjoy panoramic bird’s-eye views of the event. Located just outside of The San Diego Museum of Art was a light-up dance floor and DJ setup, and for those that knew themselves well enough to know they needed a break, the grassy area beyond the park’s Panama 66 housed colorful circular LED swings perfect for a serene garden-like escape.
Jaclyn is a sunshine chasing San Diego native with an extensive writing background. When she isn’t word-smithing, you can find her playing beach volleyball, skating the boardwalk, or on a rooftop enjoying a drink in the sunshine with her pals.
