Editing Escondido, California (section)

==Arts and culture==

===Downtown===
[[File:Mark Skovorodko Photography - Escondido Historic Downtown Aerial.jpg|alt=Historic Downtown Escondido|thumb|Historic Downtown Escondido]]

[[File:1st Marine Division Band hosts annual concert in Escondido DVIDS397893.jpg|thumb|The [[1st Marine Division Band]] performing at the Escondido Arts Center|251x251px]]
Downtown has become more active in the past few years with the opening of restaurants, cafes, and galleries. 
A satellite location of the [[Mingei International Museum]], a well-known museum of folk art from around the world, occupied the former J.C. Penney building on Grand Avenue from 2003 to 2010.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2010/apr/02/escondido-mingei-museum-closure-more-bad-news-for/ | title=ESCONDIDO: Mingei museum closure more bad news for downtown | date=April 2, 2010 | access-date=June 5, 2016 | archive-date=August 5, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160805214927/http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2010/apr/02/escondido-mingei-museum-closure-more-bad-news-for/ | url-status=live }}</ref> One block off Grand Ave. is Grape Day Park with the civic center and the [[California Center for the Arts]], which features two theaters, a visual arts museum, an educational complex, and a conference center. Grape Day Park also hosts the Escondido History Center, an independent non-profit museum. San Diego Children's Discovery Museum, across the street on N Broadway, features hands-on exhibits and programs for children up to 10 years of age, with an authentically regional perspective on natural and social science. The History Center features the city's original Santa Fe Depot, first library, Victorian house, barn, and blacksmith shop. The Pioneer Room of [[Escondido public library|Escondido Public Library]] (located in the Mathes Center building next to the Main Library) offers photographs, maps, oral histories, genealogical collections, directories and yearbooks documenting Escondido's history.<ref>[http://www.library.escondido.org/pioneer/index.htm Pioneer Room] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070108190205/http://www.library.escondido.org/pioneer/index.htm |date=January 8, 2007 }}</ref> On Friday evenings a car rally called Cruisin' Grand takes place on seven blocks of Grand Avenue, featuring pre-1970 vintage cars every year from April to September.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.escondido.org/cruisin-grand.aspx|title=Home page|work=Cruisin' Grand|access-date=June 5, 2016|archive-date=May 31, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160531083228/http://www.escondido.org/cruisin-grand.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Escondido Arts Partnership, a non-profit art organization established in 1995, created and hosts the Second Saturday Art Walk, involving several galleries and museums in Escondido. It also has a Municipal Gallery including five galleries and five art study spaces. It operates the Betty Woodaman Memorial Art Library, a donated-based art library that offers art books local community,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.escondidoarts.org|title=HOME PAGE - Escondido Arts Partnership|website=Escondido Arts Partnership|language=en-US|access-date=December 8, 2016|archive-date=June 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210609154741/http://escondidoarts.org/|url-status=live}}</ref> and publishes an annual collection of poetry and art called "Summation".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hitherandyahn.com|title=Hither and Yahn|website=hitherandyahn.com|access-date=December 8, 2016|archive-date=September 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170924202716/http://hitherandyahn.com/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Distinction Gallery on Grand Avenue celebrated its 20th anniversary in September 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Distinction Gallery {{!}} Original Art Available by Gabe Leonard, Kelly Vivanco, Jana Brike... |url=https://distinctionart.com/exhibitgallery.php?showID=208&fltr=exhibit |access-date=September 30, 2023 |website=distinctionart.com}}</ref> Known for its eclectic collection, the gallery has a particular focus on surrealism.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://distinctionart.com/about.php |title=Distinction Gallery |access-date=September 30, 2023 |website=distinctionart.com}}</ref> It represents such notable surrealist painters as [[Casey Weldon (artist)|Casey Weldon]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Casey Weldon {{!}} Distinction Gallery |url=https://distinctionart.com/caseyweldonart.php |access-date=September 30, 2023 |website=distinctionart.com}}</ref> and [[Jon Jaylo]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Distinction Gallery {{!}} Artists featuring Gabe Leonard original art and prints |url=https://www.distinctionart.com/featured.php?artist=Jon%20Jaylo |access-date=September 30, 2023 |website=www.distinctionart.com}}</ref> It is in the same arts complex as the nonprofit ArtHatch.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ArtHatch - About |url=https://www.arthatch.org/about.php |access-date=September 30, 2023 |website=www.arthatch.org}}</ref>