A 1,210-seat restored performing arts theater in downtown El Cajon — Live Nation's East County stop for national comedy and touring music.
The most common questions, answered.
The Magnolia holds approximately 1,210 seats. It's a large-format room sized for festival-tier touring acts.
No, The Magnolia is an all-ages venue. All ages are welcome. ID requirements vary by event - check the specific show listing for any age-tier sections.
The Magnolia is located at 210 E Main St, Downtown El Cajon, CA 92020 (East County). The venue sits in the El Cajon neighborhood of San Diego.
The Magnolia books Comedy and Rock, plus crossover programming year-round. National touring comedy, rock, country, Latin, R&B, tribute acts, family programming. Live Nation books, so the calendar mirrors mid-tier theater tours.
The Magnolia is open daily. Specific hours: Box office and showtimes by event (not a daily-operations bar).
The Magnolia is a 1,210-seat performing arts theater in downtown El Cajon, the centerpiece East County venue that reopened in September 2019 after a decade dark as the former East County Performing Arts Center. The building is owned by the City of El Cajon and operated under a Live Nation operating agreement.
Live Nation books the room, which means a calendar of national comedy headliners, mid-tier touring rock and country, Latin and R&B nights, tribute acts, and family programming — most events are all-ages seated. The booking ladder positions The Magnolia between The Observatory North Park (similar capacity but in central SD) and arena-scale rooms.
Notable as the only mid-size seated theater serving East County — ideal for fans who'd rather see a touring act 20 minutes from home than drive into Downtown or Mission Valley. The 2019 restoration included production-tier sound and lighting upgrades that put it on par with Live Nation's broader Clubs & Theatres network.
National touring comedy, rock, country, Latin, R&B, tribute acts, family programming. Live Nation books, so the calendar mirrors mid-tier theater tours.
The Magnolia typically books 8–15 shows a month. A snapshot of the calendar's character:
Tickets and lineups update fast. These are the most reliable places to check for upcoming nights at The Magnolia:
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