TL;DR Travels

Your TL;DR Guide to visiting the “City of the Arts”‘s Center for the Arts

TL;DR: The Segerstrom Center for the Arts is a great place to catch touring broadway shows (if you don’t want to visit downtown L.A.), see a ballet, or catch the Symphony. While you do have to pay for parking and the ticket costs, the fees are typical for similar venues. With onsite parking lots and valet parking, everything is fairly easy to find. If you are looking for some free events or are interested in artwork, then stop by to check out the sculptures on the grounds or the OC Museum of Art. Overall, this is a great destination with plenty of things to keep you busy! Just factor in the cost for parking for whatever brings you to the Center.

1. Parking & Transportation
   1. Parking
      1. List of Parking Structures
   2. Transportation
2. Catch a Show
   1. Accessibility at Segerstrom Center for the Arts
3. Enjoy an Event on the Plaza
4. Schedule a Tour with the Docent
5. Stop By Orange County Museum of Art
6. Grab a Bite at George’s Cafe
7. Explore More of Costa Mesa

Costa Mesa’s Segerstrom Center for the Arts is much more than just a theater – it is a beloved community hub, with lovely artwork, plaza events, and shows galore! Opening in 1986, the Center has continued to expand, offering new events, theaters, and classes. Whether you are from Orange County or looking for something to do on your next visit, read on for a few tips on how to enjoy your time in Costa Mesa – from someone who used to work there!

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Parking & Transportation

Address: 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, CA 92626

First things first, how do you get there and what is the parking situation like? All in all, it is fairly straightforward, but it will cost a little bit of money.

Parking

While some people may find free parking off-site and choose to walk to the venue, there are paid parking structures throughout the Center’s campus. The Valet drop-off is located near the Segerstrom Hall box office. In my experience, valet can get full on busy nights. If you’re planning on seeing a major touring show (like Lion King) and want to valet, you may want to show up a little bit early to ensure everything goes smoothly.

Transportation

For Public Transportation, you can look at the Orange County Transportation Authority’s trip planner for an up-to-date route. For foot traffic, there is a bridge connecting South Coast Plaza with the Segerstrom Center campus, making it convenient for people looking to grab a meal from the mall before their show.

Psst – while the venues have bathrooms inside, there is also a public restroom located on the outside of Concert Hall and OCMA.

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Catch a Show

First and foremost, Segerstrom Center for the Arts has various theaters throughout the campus. From broadway and off-broadway productions, to small cabaret shows, to orchestral performances, there is a range of things to see! Check out the calendar here to see what is coming next. My advice – while there may be an option to add the digital tickets to your wallet, I always print out a copy too – sometimes the digital option doesn’t work at the door.

As the site of major foot traffic, there are a lot of rules (both the Center’s and the Artists’) about what is and is not allowed inside the theaters. I recommend scheduling in a little bit of extra time just in case you need to go back to your car and drop something off. You should also look up the policy ahead of time to see if there are any special considerations. And as always – be nice to the people working!

Accessibility at Segerstrom Center for the Arts

The Center has been working on making the arts more accessible and enjoyable for audience members of all backgrounds. When browsing through the schedule, keep an eye out for the ASL (sign language) or SF (sensory-friendly) icons. Before heading out for your show, you can visit the SCFTA website for visual guides (to help introduce the experience ahead of time), and learn what other resources are available (including weighted lap pads, binoculars, large print, audio description, and more).

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Enjoy an Event on the Plaza

Cost: Varies

The Segerstrom Center has cemented itself as a hub for community life. Outside of the traditional theater-going experience, the Center also hosts a variety of paid and free plaza events. From speakeasys, to silent discos, to family fun festivals, the Plaza is a hot-spot for catching unique events. In fact, I personally have stopped by the Plaza to catch a few movies and some World Cup games. Right now, the Plaza is gearing up for the annual Lantern Festival on March 2nd. The plaza portion of the event is free and no ticket is needed!

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Stop By Orange County Museum of Art

Cost: Free

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Grab a Bite at George’s Cafe

I love having a hot chocolate and sitting on the plaza in the evening. Especially during Plaza events, there can be so much to see and do, so grabbing a meal in the middle of all the action is extremely convenient. Located on the Plaza, George’s is a small bistro and cafe that offers small bites, drinks, and full meals. As one of two main dining options by the theaters, George’s is the cheaper and more casual of the two, with an entree costing between $12-14.

If you are looking for more options, you can consider checking out Leatherby’s (around $50 per entree), stop by Vaca for a bit of fine-dining, or cross the foot bridge for more options at the mall.

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Costa Mesa’s Segerstrom Center for the Arts is a vibrant destination. With ample parking options and accessibility features, visitors can easily immerse themselves in the rich offerings, from Broadway shows and symphony performances to art exhibitions and community events. Be sure to look into accessibility-friendly shows and accommodations to enhance your trip. Let me know how your experience at the Center was!