Catalina Casino Venue An Iconic Building Overlooking Avalon Bay. The Catalina Casino has been the focal point of Catalina Island's entertainment and glamour since 1929. Dominating the Avalon landscape from its regal site anchoring the harbor, the Casino exemplifies elegance and prestige. 28th Annual Catalina Island Rugby Festival May 2. Play a little rugby and spend some fun in the sun on Catalina Island with the 28th Annual Catalina Island Rugby Festival. The tournament raises funds for the Wellness Community/South Bay. The Avalon Ball May 16. The annual Avalon Ball is a throwback to the time of big bands and flapper girls. Located in Avalon's Historic Landmark. The ballroom is available for weddings, private parties, corporate events, meetings and seminars. On-site catering for up to 1200 guests. The massive, twelve-story building includes the ballroom as well as a luxurious movie theatre. Without a doubt, the Casino will provide a getaway to remember.
Throughout the year, the calendar of events on Catalina overflows with great things to do. There are so many great island events, in fact, that it can be hard to chose which to attend. Here are our Top Ten events on Catalina.
JazzTrax: For two weekends every October, Catalina Island is filled with the cool sounds of smooth jazz. Artists and bands from around the country perform in the Casino Ballroom, attracting jazz fans from near and far.
Journey inside William Wrigley, Jr.' S Catalina Island landmark building. Learn about the art & architecture that make the Catalina Casino Building world famous. Step on stage in an 1,100+ seat movie palace and meander through backstage hallways & dressing rooms. Catalina Island Conservancy 310.510.2595, ext. Casino Ballroom. Located in Avalon’s Historic Landmark and home of major entertainment. The ballroom is available for weddings, private parties, corporate meetings and seminars. Plenty of food options with on-site catering for up to 1200 guests. Casino Ballroom 310.510.7430.
Catalina Festival of Art: Catalina’s oldest festival is also one of its most popular. For three days every spring, Avalon’s waterfront hosts artists and art from a range of mediums. Whether you are looking for a personal masterpiece or just looking for inspiration, this September weekend is not to be missed.
Catalina Island Wrigley Mansion
Fourth of July: In Avalon, Independence Day is the perfect combination of small town patriotism and island style. A flag-waving golf cart parade along Crescent Avenue, a dance in the Casino Ballroom and fireworks over Avalon Harbor are just some of the ways Catalina does the Fourth of July. This is Catalina’s most popular holidays, so make sure to make reservations well in advance.
Taste Around of Avalon: Catalina kicks off Avalon Restaurant Week with the Taste Around of Avalon, an evening featuring cocktails and culinary creations from some of the seaside city’s best dining establishments. Foodies – and those who just like to eat really good food – won’t want to miss this late spring evening of deliciousness. If your dance card is full that night, check out the Avalon Tasting & Cultural Walking Tour, which was inspired by the event and is held throughout the year.
Catalina Triathlon: With its rugged terrain and splendid scenery, the island has become a mecca for endurance athletes. Marathons, 10Ks and a 50 miler are just some of the races and runs on Catalina. For the ultimate challenge, take on fall’s Catalina Island Triathlon, either as an individual or as a team.
Catalina Wine Festival(s): The most infamous event on Catalina started out as fiction. The Catalina Wine Mixer was a luxury event that drove much of the action in the cult comedy Step Brothers. Always referred to with plenty of, shall we say, colorful adjectives, the mixer looked like too much fun not bring to life and the Catalina Island Company did just that. Every September, the mixer takes over Descanso Beach with an array of movie-inspired shenanigans.
If it’s actual wine you’re looking for, you’d be better off attending the Catalina Women’s Forum Wine Festival, also held in September. That event features live music, appetizers and plenty of wine tasting. Speaking of which, Catalina hosts another annual wine festival, this one at the other end of the island. The Summer Wine Festival happens in Two Harbors in early June.
Silent Film Benefit: The Catalina Island Museum is a must-visit attraction on Catalina. With fascinating permanent collections and compelling temporary exhibits, the museum always offers a reason to return. Each May, you can support the museum and take a trip to the past at the Silent Film Benefit. Held in the Avalon Theatre, the benefit features a classic silent film with period dress optional. Can’t make it in May? The museum’s monthly First Fridays evenings offer an opportunity to learn more while being entertained.
Fallfest (and Springfest): Part of the magic of Catalina Island is that it’s not only a resort destination, it’s also a community – and one of the best ways to see that community is at Fallfest and Springfest. Held every, well, fall and spring, these evenings of community fundraising feature live music, game booths, crafts, food and more, all set up along the Avalon waterfront.
Catalina Conservancy Ball: Thanks to the Catalina Conservancy, the island is a wonderland of wild places and untamed spaces – rather than a continuation of the mainland metropolis. Throughout the year, there are plenty of ways to support the Conservancy, ranging from becoming a member to taking an Eco Tour. Every April, you can also support the Conservancy at one of the most iconic buildings in California. The Catalina Conservancy Ball is a black-tie gala in the Casino Ballroom that has raised millions of dollars for the non-profit over the decades of the its existence.
New Year’s Eve: What better way could there be to ring in the New Year than spending it in paradise? And from a black-time gala at the Casino Ballroom to well-lubricated shindigs at the diviest of Catalina dive bars, the island knows how to do New Year’s Eve celebrations. Make your resolutions now – and your reservations.
Experience authentic Catalina with the help of our friendly island travel advisors.
Find your tourThe island of Catalina, off the coast of Southern California, has been a popular spot for weekend adventures for over a century. The iconic building, known as the casino, is one of the island’s most well known landmarks. The casino is not a casino in the traditional sense with gambling and such, but a gathering place for people with a movie theater and one of the largest circular dances floors in the world. While it is still open for movies and events during the year, you can also tour the casino daily as well. We went for a tour on a recent trip, and I have to say it was an enjoyable experience and one I highly recommend while on the island.
Details
- Cost: $20
- Hours: Daily at 11:45 am and 2:30 pm
- This information was from my visit in 2019
- Read about all of my favorite spots in Catalina here
Getting There
To get to the island, you have to take a boat from either Long Beach or Dana Point. Once you get to Avalon, you will be able to see the famous casino building and can walk over to it for the tour.
The Tour
We got there about 15 minutes before the tour started and paid to join it. There were only three other people with us on the tour, but it was a weekday, so I am not sure if it is more popular on the weekends.
Our tour guide started the one hour tour with some history on the large murals at the front of the Casino. These panels were designed by famous artist John Gabriel Beckman.
From there, we entered into the lobby and then moved into the fantastic movie theater. This theater was immaculate with a sizeable cylindrical ceiling that helped provide amazing acoustics and that the Radio City Music Hall in New York was based on.
We got to watch a short 15 minute movie while we were in the theater on the history of it, and it was a fun way to get a better understanding of the area and to experience seeing a movie there.
Catalina Island Casino Avalon
From the theater, we walked up to the second floor on the slanted cement pathways that resembled what you would find in a baseball stadium (the creator was William Wrigley Jr. from Wrigley Feild).
The next stop was a visit to the famous ballroom, and it was just as impressive as you would imagine.
The 20,000 foot circular ballroom is gigantic (it is the world’s largest circular ballroom), and I have to imagine the parties in here are pretty special.
The ceiling and chandelier are also impressive with an art deco style that I spent a lot of time admiring.
For our last stop on the tour, we got to go out on the balcony and overlook the city of Avalon.
It was a fantastic last stop as the views were awe-inspiring and were worth the price of admission for me. The tour guide gave us a lot of time to take photos out here before we starting walking back down to the lobby.
Catalina Island Casino Events Schedule
This is a great tour and a fun way to experience the history of Catalina Island. I highly recommend you go on it if you are into this type of thing and let me know what you think in the comments.