Get out. No, really. Leave behind the constraints of screens, stages, and, yes, even walls at La Jolla Playhouse’s Without Walls (WOW) Festival. This year’s event is the art fest’s seventh iteration (and the second in which every show is 100 percent free).
Attendees will have the chance to experience dozens of fun, fascinating, often family-friendly performances and installations from local and international artists pushing boundaries, asking big questions, and reminding us that art is everywhere. Speaking of—don’t be surprised if you leave with an acting credit. Innovative and immersive, many WOW events tap audiences in as part of the show.
Ready to jump in? Here’s everything you need to know about Without Walls Festival 2024.
What is Without Walls Festival 2024?
WOW is a free performing and visual arts event featuring local and international artists. The festival offers site-specific and interactive performances, installations, and workshops, ranging from plays, musicals, and exhibitions to puppeteering, silent discos, and dance. Think of it as San Diego’s own private, international fringe festival.
When is Without Walls Festival 2024?
The 2024 WOW Festival takes place April 4–7. The WOW festival is partnering with UC San Diego this year to hold events at three main hubs on campus: the Revelle Plaza, the Epstein Family Amphitheater, and the La Jolla Playhouse (though some events take place at other venues). On Thursday, April 4, events begin at 4 p.m. and run until 8:30 p.m. Friday hours are 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday events occur 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday’s activities run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
How do I get tickets to Without Walls Festival 2024?
Though this festival is completely free, some events require or recommend an RSVP. Check out the WOW website to browse the events categorized by “RSVP Required,” “RSVP Recommended,” and “Just Show Up.” Space for some events is limited and reservations may fill up.
Courtesy of La Jolla Playhouse
What should I see and be a part of at Without Walls Festival 2024?
With more than 25 different local, national, and international performances and installations to explore, picking what see will be the hardest part of your weekend. Here are some standouts:
Inertia
Get ready to find yourself following a script on the spot or boogieing with a giant bear. New York City–based artist Drew Peterson brings audiences into the action, inviting them to create a show together as you go.
Beautiful Escape: Emergency Exit
Six actors older than 60 will take to the streets for Beautiful Escape: Emergency Exit, a dance-and-theater experience that explores the anxiety and excitement of aging. The roaming show was first performed in 2010 in France.
Princess Lockerooo’s The Fabulous Waack Dancers: The Big Show
Developed in LA’s hidden gay clubs in the 1970s, waacking came to more mainstream attention on the Black culture–focused music and dance show Soul Train. Princess Lockerooo, a longtime protogé of Soul Train alum Tyrone Proctor, celebrates the art form against a heart-pounding, eclectic soundtrack.
iykyk
From local theatre company Blindspot Collective (who count collabs with The Old Globe and Diversionary Theatre among their accomplishments) comes iykyk, a youth-led showcase of nine performances at UCSD’s Che Café.
Folding Futures
You’ve heard of space tourism. Now get ready for… time tourism? Audiences become interdimensional travelers in this “extended reality” experience that sends attendees forward into 2064, where you can see—and perhaps shape—the future of earth.
Pigments of Imagination: An Interactive Virtual Reality Composition
This VR-driven production is a continuously accessible ongoing event, beginning April 4 at 5 p.m. and ending April 7 at 8 p.m. The experience utilizes various genres of music—from hip-hop and soul to blues and electronic—to tell the remarkable tale of a child’s trip to the moon.
The Apple Avenue Detective Agency
This playable performance makes attendees ages 12 and older members of a kids’ detective club. Unleash your inner Nancy Drew and help the inquisitive young investigators solve a meaningful mystery partly inspired by writers Jeff and Andy Crocker’s real-life experiences.
Courtesy of La Jolla Playhouse
Is Without Walls Festival 2024 family-friendly?
Absolutely—though, some events are more appropriate for younger audiences than others. Here are a few must-see performances and installations if you’ve got kids in tow:
Abeba in the Tall Grass
Recently commissioned by the La Jolla Playhouse, Abeba in the Tall Grass follows a fifth-grade horticulturist as she finds ways to coexist—and even connect—with not-so-like-minded students in her beloved urban garden.
Spectrum: Society of Wonder
Kaleidoscopic creatures star in this family-friendly puppet show soundtracked by a San Diego Symphony string quartet. The celestial critters will save the earth and prompt audiences to consider how they can take better care of our shared planet. Arrive early to make a lantern for the show’s set
Photo Credit: Pixel in Pixel
What should I bring to Without Walls Festival 2024?
We’re finally moving out of rainy season here in San Diego, so expect mid-60s weather and sunny skies during the day, with temps dipping into the 50s at night. Dress in layers, don sunscreen, and bring a jacket to evening performances with the expectation of being outdoors most of the time.
You’ll also want a smartphone and earbuds or headphones on hand, since some events require connecting virtually for the full experience. Pack a portable charger if you plan to be at the fest all day. For some performances, like acrobatic extravaganza Duo, you may want to bring a lawn chair or picnic blanket for comfier seating—see WOW’s FAQ for more specific info on these shows.
Where do I park at Without Walls Festival 2024?
You’ll find plenty of parking structures on UCSD’s campus. The Gilman and South structures are closest to the festival’s venues. Parking passes for the duration of the festival cost $8.40 to $12.40 per day, depending on showtimes.
Save on parking fees (and go the more sustainable route) by taking the Blue Line trolley, which stops just steps from the Epstein Family Amphitheater.
What are the food and drink options at Without Walls Festival 2024?
UC San Diego’s campus dining options will be open during the festival, which means attendees will find themselves spoiled for choice. Grab a bite at more than 15 nearby eateries, including San Diego institutions like Rubio’s and Dirty Birds.
