Looking for cultural arts activities in Whittier, CA?

Welcome to the Whittier An Arts Destination website. Our mission is to provide visitors to our city, individuals and local families easy access to the arts that are available in the City of Whittier, during the year.

There are calendars that provide detailed information about the art galleries, spoken word, theatre performances, music programs, museums, festivals and art experiences. You can look up events by the date on the composite calendar for all the various cultural activities or you can locate the art of your choice on a single art calendar.

For organizations, individuals or businesses which sponsor cultural arts activities in the community, you can have your event included by filling out the form in the right-hand side of the menu on this website. All events will be reviewed and considered for posting by the webmaster.

A DISCLAIMER - All events listed on this site are based on the best information available online or provided by event sponsors. For additional information and to ensure the accuracy of date or events, we urge you to contact the business or organization directly.

Art Galleries

Whittier has several galleries which have monthly exhibits of Southern California artists.  The  Whittier Art Gallery features local artists and art organizations  Both local colleges house galleries, the Mendenhall Lobby Gallery and the Shannon Center Lobby Gallery on the Whittier College Campus and the Rio Hondo Art Gallery on the Rio Hondo College campus.  The City sponsors the City Hall Lobby Gallery, Parnell Park Gallery, and the Nixon Room at the Main Library with open calls for local artists to show their work.  .

Museums

Whittier is home to 4 museums. The History Museum displays local historical scenes and exhibits.  Bailey House, the home of the City's founder that displays materials from the first home in Whittier.  The Institute for Baseball Studies is located on the campus of Whittier College, providing baseball art and scholarly research materials.  The Pio Pico Mansion, a museum, state park and the home of the last Mexican governor of Alta California. Check the calendars for these and other museum listings.

Theatres/Spoken Word

Whittier has multiple theatre venues.  The City of Whittier has Center Theatre with performances by the Whittier Community Theatre and the Family Theatre.  Whittier College is home of the Ruth B. Shannon Center for the Performing Arts and Rio Hondo College has the Wray Theatre with both professional and student performances.   Check the calendars for these and other theatre/spoken word listings.

Festivals/Celebrations

City-wide festivals and events are scheduled throughout the year.  Founders Day in May, Pio Pico Days in June, Antique Car Show in July, Artists Crawl in September, Dia De Los Muertos in October, and in December a week of caroling, buggy rides and tree lightings in Uptown/Old Town Whittier. These identified celebrations and others can be found on the calendar.

Music/Dance

There are a variety of musical and dance productions and venues.  Whittier Regional Symphony presents classical music 4 times a year.  The First United Methodist Church hosts the Pollyanne Baxter Memorial Concert Series 4 times a year.  Chorale Bel Canto has 4 concerts in Whittier or the San Gabriel area. Ruth B. Shannon Center for the Performing Arts has musical presentations from Hawaiian to Pop.  The City of Whittier also presents Concerts in the Park in the summer months at Central and Parnell Parks. Check the calendars for these and other musical listings.

Art/Cultural Experiences

There are many ways to participate in the Whittier arts scene.  Opportunities might include helping to paint a public mural, taking photos for a city wide photography contest, designing a banner to hang on city streets, or trying out for a theatrical role in a community production. Many opportunities happen on a yearly schedule and others occur when an organization or individual sponsors a new event. Most are no charge or with a minimal fee. These types of experiences will appear directly on the calendar.