Special Events
Don Quixote for Kids
Saturday, March 25, 12 p.m., Civic Center GreenJoin the gallant Don Quixote on his knightly quests across old-world Spain in Festival Ballet Theatre’s shortened rendition of this beloved ballet, based on the novel by Miguel Cervantes.
The Don Quixote ballet is an adventurous introduction to Spanish literature, music, culture, and history. Bring a picnic and your beach chairs for this special spring event. No alcohol is permitted. Parking and admission are free. This outdoor performance is supported by the City Arts Commission and will be held on the Civic Green.
Trio Accento
Sunday, March 26, 3 p.m., Central Library Friends RoomHelix Collective
Sunday, April 23, 3 p.m., Central Library Friends Room Los Angeles-based Helix Collective performs a high-energy, out-of-the-box mix of world classical and rock n’ roll. The flexible ensemble includes flute/piccolo/alto flute, oboe/English horn, cello, piano and percussion.Sponsored by the Friends of the Library.
BackhausDance on the Civic Green
Saturday, May 20, 2 p.m., Civic Center Green
Dance lovers from around Orange County are invited to dress comfortably and enjoy this unique interactive dance experience presented by Backhausdance outdoors on the Civic Green. Supported by the City Arts Commission.
Black Canary Strings
Sunday, May 21, 3 p.m., Central Library Friends RoomBlack Canary is a contemporary improvising string ensemble that combines their varied and timeless repertoire of classical, jazz, pop, folk and world music in an acoustic or electric setting. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library.
Sculpture Exhibition Phase X Public Online Survey Opens
- Date: 10/15/2025 (all day)
Newport Beach Civic Center Park Sculpture Exhibition Public Online Poll is Now Open!
The Phase X public online survey is now open. Help choose the new sculptures that will be installed in Civic Center Park from 2026-2029. Please note that the public online poll is open to Newport Beach residents only. See all the sculpture entries here: Sculpture Exhibition Phase X Public Online Poll.
The Sculpture Exhibition in Civic Center Park is an integral feature of the Newport Beach Civic Center. Civic Center Park, which turned nearly half a million square feet of undeveloped land into a new public park, was designed by renowned landscape architectural firm Peter Walker and Partners (PWP). The City Arts Commission determined that a rotating exhibition, in which pieces are loaned for a 3-year period, was an optimal approach to bring sculpture to the City in a cost-efficient manner. In 2013, the Newport Beach City Council authorized the City Arts Commission to implement an inaugural rotational sculpture exhibit in Civic Center Park.
Admission is free and the exhibition continues to be enjoyed by residents and guests of all ages and sensibilities. The exhibition has become a “museum without walls” that offers the temporary display of public art in a unique, naturalistic setting. Moreover, the City is able to exhibit a well-balanced representation of public art, with artistic merit, durability, practicality, and site responsiveness as criteria in the selection of work. The rotational nature of the exhibit ensures that residents and guests are exposed to a variety of work.
Selected sculptures will be on loan to the City of Newport Beach for three years. Sculptors, whose artworks are chosen for installation in Civic Center Park, will receive a small honorarium. The City is responsible for installing the art, while artists are responsible for the maintenance and repair of their work. The outdoor exhibition attracts an audience of all ages, including schoolchildren, the local community, and visitors from Southern California and beyond.