Now nestled in the heart of downtown San Diego, covering 16 blocks between the Convention Center, Petco Park and Horton Plaza, it’s hard to imagine Gaslamp Quarter was once just a dusty plain. Everything started to change in 1867, when Alonzo Horton sailed into San Diego Bay and saw “a Heaven on Earth.”
150 years after Horton docked in America’s Finest City, Gaslamp Quarter is now bustling with 13 hotels, 130 restaurants and bars, 25 nightlife venues, 70 retailers, five art galleries and more. It is now established as a must-experience San Diego destination.
To commemorate its landmark anniversary, the Gaslamp Quarter Association will be hosting a year of fun. Residents can keep an eye out for special promotions from Gaslamp Quarter venues, events hosted by the Gaslamp Quarter Association and check out a new art installation, “Rabbitville.” (Gaslamp Quarter was once jokingly known as Rabbitville, due to its primary inhabitants.) The art installation involves 15 fiberglass rabbit statues, each painted and decorated by a separate artist.
Mark your calendar for two events happening this June.
- Dusty Rabbit Cocktail Contest: Who has the best spirit in the Gaslamp? Cast your vote in the Dusty Rabbit cocktail competition June 16.
- Taste of Gaslamp: On June 17, get a taste of what Gaslamp has to offer at the Taste of Gaslamp. For $30, attendees can savor bites from 25 Gaslamp restaurants; VIP tickets are available for $60.
Getting to Gaslamp Quarter is easy with direct service from the Green Line Trolley and just a short transfer from the Orange and UC San Diego Blue Line Trolleys at 12th & Imperial or Rapid 215 and 235 along Broadway. Download the new Compass Cloud mobile ticketing app to make your trip even faster.
For more information on the Gaslamp 150 events, visit gaslamp.org.
