30 years ago I was here for something when it was the East County Performing Arts Center...honestly no clue who i saw perform here. This past weekend I attended day 1 of a dance competition. My daughter's old studio was here and she wanted to watch her friends solo's. Parking = Easy ......with a drug induced crazy person in the lot. Entrance = metal detector's and bag search (insane! I've never experienced this at a dance competition before!) Snack bar = looked good! Bathrooms = Clean and ample stalls Seating = beautiful space!!! Stage = Beautiful! Sound quality = amazing I would like to see a show here at some point...it just seems so far away but really it's not read more

I finally got to check out The Magnolia for the first time (GASP!) even though I literally grew up in El Cajon (DOUBLE GASP!) ~ What better way to spend my first time there than with a John Cusack Q&A?! Didn't eat here... they have food?!! But my drink was nice n strong for the price, and service was good. Super rad spot! Hope to go back for another cool event soon. read more

See all

Nicer than expected venue with plenty of close, free parking. Easy to find our section and seats upon entry, and both sound and lighting were on point during a near capacity comedy show. One detail that I liked was the smart fridge vending machine where you can swipe your card and take as many items from the case as you want, including candy, sodas etc, then get charged after you close the door. So very easy to exit and get on the highway after the show vs a downtown SD venue, so I'd return if the opportunity arises. read more

The Magnolia - AKAASH!! - Performing Arts Near Me - El Cajon, California

It was my first time here. We came for a concert and to be clear, the band was 5 stars. The sound system was excellent, the energy was upbeat, and the overall setup had the potential for a great night. I was there with my family (a group of seven), and we had seats near the front of the stage. Unfortunately, the entire experience was overshadowed by one of the security guards, whose behavior (to put it lightly) was unsettling. She spent what felt like the entire concert staring directly at me. Not scanning the crowd, not casually monitoring the area...just fixated. It was distracting at first, then slowly became uncomfortable, and eventually completely ruined the atmosphere for me and my family. I honestly didn't even notice it at first until my dad pointed it out. I almost wish he didn't because once I became aware of it, I couldn't ignore it. It made me feel singled out for no reason. I wasn't drinking, wasn't being loud, I was in my seat trying to enjoy the band. To make sure this wasn't typical, I looked across the venue at another security guard. That guard was doing exactly what you'd expect: watching the band, occasionally scanning the crowd, staying aware without making anyone feel targeted. That's what professional, appropriate security presence looks like. This, however, was personal and completely unnecessary. I could have overlooked the overpriced $20 drinks, but I can't overlook feeling watched and uncomfortable for an entire show when I did absolutely nothing to warrant it. It completely killed the vibe and turned what should have been a great night into one I'd rather forget. read more

The Magnolia - Performing Arts Near Me - El Cajon, California

See all

The Magnolia is a great venue for concerts. No seat is a bad seat. And, the seats in the front are incredibly close to the stage. The venue is set up with movie theater/theatre seats so you're pretty comfortable if you're seating during the concert. I've been to two concerts here and had a great experience both times. Inside the venue you can buy drinks and hot dogs/pretzels. Outside the venue they had a food vendor which was quite mediocre. They could definitely improve on that part of the experience. The Magnolia is definitely a great choice for music performances! read more

The Magnolia - Performing Arts Near Me - El Cajon, California

See all

This venue is great! I've been to several events, one of my favorites being a Marcus Mumford solo concert that blew me away, and it's always a good time. Parking is easy, either in nearby lots or on the street. They have an outdoor patio after you go through security that has a taco station and bar set up with a few places to sit. Inside, there's also plenty of bar areas and snacks, including pizza slices, soft pretzels, hot dogs, and other typical concessions. They also have a VIP lounge upstairs with its own bar and seating, plus free popcorn. We've sat close to the stage as well as pretty far in the back, and because of the smaller size of the venue and how the seats are laid out, you have a good view no matter where you're at. They also host Instagram giveaways, and I won one recently (!!!), and they made it very easy to claim my prize both online and at the venue. We've always had friendly, helpful service any time we've gone, and we already have another show there booked. read more

Another great night at The Magnolia. Easy parking, easy check in, easy getting to seats, comfortable seats, great performance by Trey Kennedy! read more

The Magnolia - Very fun - Performing Arts Near Me - El Cajon, California

Came here for the Mark Hoppus book tour. This is a venue on the smaller side compared to places like Viejas. It was easy to see Mark. Unsure how this would be for concerts but I would say it was perfect for a book tour/speaking event. Parking was easy (I prepaid) and it was easy getting in and out of the venue. No traffic. It's a little out of the way in San Diego but I would come here again. Food/drinks were easy to get. Place was clean and organized. The only thing I disliked about the place is how long the rows are. There should be a walking path in the middle so less people are walking by your seat and for safety reasons. read more

The Magnolia - Mark Hoppus. - Performing Arts Near Me - El Cajon, California

This is my first visit to this venue and I must say I can't wait to see another artist and come back again. The facility was clean and well organized, seating was very comfortable, view of the stage, looked good from every seat, and what was remarkable was the space between the seat and the seat in front of you, which made it very easy for People to walk past you without you having to stand up and allow them to get by without stepping on your feet. I saw Robin Trower last night. At 80 years young, he is still a tremendously gifted guitar player, and I would urge anyone that likes his rock 'n' roll to definitely attend one of his upcoming events. read more

The Magnolia - Stage - Performing Arts Near Me - El Cajon, California

See all

Great intimate venue. Seats and acoustics were awesome too. I will attend another show there in the future.

Never been here until last month. Liked it so much that I booked Christmas eve dinner here. Need to order less net time, its easy to over-order. The dark ambiance is appreciated. Not many dark restaurants left in San Diego. read more

I got to see Morgan Jay this past Saturday and I had never been to The Magnolia, so I was excited to check it out. My husband dropped my friend and I off, but it looks like there is parking structure and plenty of public parking near the area. Getting through security was pretty fast and easy and everyone was so friendly and excited for us to enjoy our time. Megan and I had plenty of time to get drinks and food, I do want to say it is pretty pricey for a watered down margarita, but I thought that price for the nachos was pretty fair especially since it was packed with a lot of carne asada and they were pretty tasty, pretty sure it was $40 with tip. The Magnolia itself is really clean and organized, the women's bathroom has a free pads and tampons which is so nice and thoughtful, it should be like that everywhere! I wish though that the seats were a little more roomy, I felt like I couldn't put my drink in the drink socket without bothering my seat neighbor. Overall, when there is another great act here, I'd definitely book seats especially ones at the end. read more

I really enjoyed this venue. There's plenty of parking, both free and paid. The staff was very friendly, and the interior is impressive. The VIP section offers comfortable seating, a private bar, and food service. However, the event management was poor. The speaker was scheduled to start at 7 PM, but didn't begin until 8 PM. They also delayed entry, leaving us waiting outside for a long time. The food is extremely overpriced--$10 for two tacos, $15 for nachos, $17 for a tall beer, and $6 for a bottle of water. Overall, it's a great theater, but it could be better organized with more reasonable pricing. read more

See all

Didn't seem to have a bad seat in the house, went here for a comedy show, and it was completely packed. You would never have known, plenty of room between seats. I didn't end up getting snacks or drinks, but there were options there. Would definitely come back. We chose to park farther away, so we could have an easy out experience, I think parking close up could be difficult. read more

John 5 & Richie Kotzen concert at The Magnolia really rocked. The guitar playing was out of this world, and the drummer excellent. Aside from my ears ringing from the extreme volume, the concert was awesome! read more

Very nice facility. Clean. Great appearance. Well maintenance. Pro staff. Just need to address seat sizes, cup holders too small, and ensuring adequate bathrooms during large full house events. read more

The Magnolia - Performing Arts Near Me - El Cajon, California

This is a pretty spacious venue as far as the sizing of it. Very clean. Place is pretty well kept. I will say theirs a lot of seating inside where the actual show is but not a good amount of spacing in between the aisle(s) of the seats. People kept kicking my seat during the show. When I would excuse myself to the restroom people would have to squish themselves sideways for me or others to get by. No elbow room between the next seat. Once the lights go out it's pretty hard to see where your going if you want to exit during the show for any reason and return. I would say they have a lot of snacks and drink options. Parking isn't too complicated their are several options close by. read more

The Magnolia - Came to her show. pretty good. she's definitely entertaining - Performing Arts Near Me - El Cajon, California

First time here this year. Decent event area, and looked clean. Only one bathroom for men and one for women. Concession prices seemed high , but that's probably sadly the norm. I jusy went off the price for a water which was almost 8 dollars. Way too many people were coming and going constantly during the show. I don't know if there is any real way of fixing it, but damn it is distracting and very annoying. Also my feet kept getting stepped on each time someone needed to get through. Needs more space. Seats could be better for taller folks Parking was easy and there are some free areas. I wasn't sure where their actual designated parking was I might come here again, but would be more inclined to visit other venues first . read more

The Magnolia is a great venue. Parking is around the neighborhood or in the structure where the courthouse is and free. The seating is comfortable. I been seated in a couple of different areas and the view is always great. It's a smaller venue so not overwhelming. If you get a chance to go give it a try. It's worth a try. The only critique I have is in the ladies bathroom. While there a a number of stalls it's difficult to tell who is in one. Not all stalls were working on my last trip and the area to wait was short and hard to see if all were occupied. Overall I enjoy going to shows here. read more

Every seat on the house is a good seat! Acoustics are great! Comfortable, plenty of parking!

The Magnolia is a very nice comfortable venue with fantastic acoustics. We saw Ryan Adams here a week ago. Good show but he talked way too much between songs. Sorry dude, but I don't need your life story at a two hour concert which ended up near three hours with the monologue. But, very talented artist. Oh yeah, parking was $20 in the venue lot. However, you can find street parking and there is a free parking lot somewhere near. read more

The Magnolia is a pretty decent Venue for watching Comedy Shows And Cover Bands to HeadLiners. Safe Parking Lot. Never had a problem with Security. There's usually more than enough parking spaces. 〰〰|Friendly Event Staff 〰〰|Food and Drinks are sold inside. 〰〰|Plenty of Restrooms to accommodate Tip: Even on a Summer Day or Evening the inside temperatures drop quite a bit with the AC on. We now know to bring Jackets so we don't freeze our asses off. 〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰 〰〰〰〰〰〰〰L O C A T I O N〰〰〰〰〰〰〰 〰〰〰210 E Main Street, El Cajon, CA 92020〰〰〰 〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰 read more

The Magnolia - The Magnolia Lobby Posters - Performing Arts Near Me - El Cajon, California

See all

A lot of bad Yelp reviews for this venue but our experience was very good. There is plenty of free parking all around the facility and if that is not a huge plus, I don't know what is. We parked in the huge (free) lot next to the police station and the walk to the theater was about 5 minutes. Getting through security was a breeze. There were plenty of people scanning tickets, too. We didn't get any food but the food at the taco stand outside the front doors looked terrific. They also have food and drinks inside the venue. The sound inside was very good. The place is also intimate enough where nearly every seat is a good one, with good views. As others have noted, there are only two aisles, one on each side. So if you are seated in the middle (like we were), it's a long walk to or from your seats. Another aisle in the center of the facility would have been nice but would also have eliminated a lot of seats (and extra revenue). I will say there was plenty of leg room, which is another huge plus, if you are sitting for two or three hours. Another reviewer correctly noted that the tickets state the door opening time and not the start time of the show. This is insane at if was done intentionally to get people to the venue early to buy more drinks, that is pure evil. I hope this wasn't intentional but this issue should be fixed. Signage inside could be better, too. It is not intuitive whether your seats are up the stairs or on the floor level, and the signs really do not help. Overall, it is not a perfect venue but the primary reason you are there is to see a good show, with good sound, with nice views, and quality seats. You get all that here. I wouldn't hesitate to return. read more

The Magnolia - Inside the venue. Excellent views. - Performing Arts Near Me - El Cajon, California

Had a wonderful experience there ! Concert was great , food was awesome and drinks were delicious. You can take everything to your seats ! Employees were very accommodating. Would definitely go again ! read more

First time going to The Magnolia, and went for a comedy show. There was offered paid premier parking, however we were able to find free parking on the street (thankfully, since it was a busy Friday night). I was pleasantly surprised to find out that our seating (row O) seemed to be a lot closer to the stage than it appeared to be online when we purchased our tickets. It seemed like such a huge crowd (judging from the initial line outside when we were all waiting to be let in), however once inside it didn't seem to be too packed. From where we were sitting, you could hear people shout out from the front row and even the very back row. Acoustics-wise this was conducive to a very engaging comedy show which worked for this comedian since his crowd work is always funny. However, reading from other people's reviews idk how this would play out for a concert. Passed on the food and drinks due to the prices. I think I saw a Modelo was $14+, maybe it was a tall can? read more

The venue itself was a lot better than I expected. This was my first time here and I was very pleasantly surprised. Parking was easy and a lot of free parking is available. The staff was friendly and helpful. We did try some of the food but it was really just ok. I would definitely come back for another show here. read more

The Magnolia - Performing Arts Near Me - El Cajon, California

I went and saw a Michael Jackson impersonator show a couple weeks ago. The overall experience was disappointing. First of all, they encouraged people to stand during the show. There were only a few people that did so, and unfortunately, one of them was right in front of me, which meant I could not see the dancing. The only way I could do so, was if I stood in front of the people behind me and block their view. They were all sitting. I requested a seat change from the usher, but was told I would need to leave the venue to miss more of the show and speak to the box office. Secondly, they only have one bathroom for women and one bathroom for men. The long line during intermission meant I missed some of the second half of the show. Wont be back! read more

Came here for a Gypsy kings concert this week and had the best time ever. ADA seating was requested and granted at the venue in the evening of. Although, i was initially told I would be seating in row H, they put me in row Q. The acoustics were fair, and i didn't have to wear ear plugs worrying about migraines starting or anything being triggered. The bathrooms were clean, and the parking plentiful for ADA parking mostly because i came 3 hours prior to the start of the event. Thank you for a great evening. If there is another opportunity to visit to watch my favorite band, if they weren't in OC, id come here any day! read more

See all

My husband and I found out BTO was going to be performing the night before the concert. I had not been to this venue before and read the negative reviews and didn't expect much. Randy Bachman is 80 and I really didn't know what to expect of him either. They were great and Bachman still playing his Les Paul like a pro and included songs from The Guess Who. It was a great night. The venue was smaller than what I imagined and more intimate. I don't understand the complaints. I was comfortable but I am not a really big person. But there were bigger people all around me. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. BTO draws an older crowd and patrons were all courteous and decent. I didn't see any sloppy drunks around. The staff are all friendly also. It's a somewhat more intimate theater. I'm a SD native but lived in Boston for 19 years and the Magnolia is a gem to have in the SD area. The sound during the concert was perfect. It was rock so it was loud and the crowd was loud too. I thought the balance of sound was great. read more

I attended the Magnolia Theatre in El Cajon for Britton's Finest Beatles Tribute last night. What was up with the sound system? It seemed to me that there was almost constant loud feedback, making the music hard to enjoy. Also, it was annoying that between the warmup band and the long break before the main act, they didn't start until 90 minutes after the published start time. I've enjoyed concerts there quite a bit in the past, but between this experience and them canceling the Jonny Cash Tribute last weekend within 24 hours of the start, this is likely my last concert at the Magnolia. It's such a shame as the venue had been first class and the local restaurants enjoyable. read more

Modern clean, venue with comfortable seating and good parking. Went to see the Buena Vista Social Orchestra. Great musicians. BUT... the sound was ridiculously loud. This is an acoustically-designed theater where you could hear a classical pianist, folk singer, or listen to musical theater perfectly fine from any seat WITHOUT amplification. So why did they decided to mic everything and pump it through the sound system at the decibel level of a heavy metal band?!? Mind you, the audience for this kind of music isn't head-bangers in their 20's. 70% of the audience was over 35, 30% over 60. So why the acoustic overload? Besides being actually painful, it was so loud that any nuance or ability to distinguish between the different instruments became lost in a sonic blitz. read more

I've been to this venue twice and have had lovely experiences both times! The first time I went was to see Pete Davidson. The venue is cozier than other venues, so it was cool to see a famous comedian so close and personal. The second time I visited was to see "The Nutcracker". The venue had special Christmas-themed cocktails and Nutcrackers for sale, which I thought were nice touches. There's ample parking outside of the venue. The venue itself is very clean. Any staff I've encountered are very friendly and welcoming. I love this venue and look forward to coming back here for future performances! read more

This is a nice venue with lots of great views from all seats. I went to go see comedian Sofia Niño de Rivera, and she was hilarious as always. I got row Z1 which was near the back, but I was still able to have a nice view. The seats were comfy and there are drink holders available. The only thing I didn't like was that the snacks and drinks were only available on the first (bottom) floor, so it made it difficult to go up and down the stairs. They did have options available in other floors but that consisted of having to pay for a VIP package of some sort, and that just wasn't worth it. Parking was available at the court house and we found a spot on the top level. The walk over was short and not bad at all. read more

Nice place! Easy to get to, parking was free- inside was clean and nice. Venue felt nice and cozy. Lights were kind of annoying/blinding into the crowd before the show started. We also ordered a beer and were definitely served the wrong beer! (taps were switched). Prices could be cheaper for being in El Cajon loll but it's a music venue so that's how it is. About 13.25 for a beer and higher for mixed cocktails. Overall a nice time- would return! read more

My 84 y/o friend and I attended "The Nutctacker" back in December. I had purchased the tickets not thinking about the stairs. My friend is much older than I am and she didn't want to risk going down the stairs to Row J for our seats. So she grabbed the first seat she can find which we were asked to move because the rightful owners came. Understandable!!! I asked a guy witb the blue Mohawk if we could move bc of the circumstances he directed me to go to the box office. He offered to walk me down. I declined. But for some reason I asked another usher for the very same thing. I explained how my friend has a hard time going up and down stairs. She replied with "let me see what I can do" 15 mins later I see her looking for me. I jumped up and headed her way. She told me she had seats for us. She gave me directions of how to take the elevator down and go around to Row D (handicap area). Not only were we able to hear and see everything as we were very close to stage BUT she went above and beyond to help us out (mainly my friend who also uses a cane). Kudos to LISA, the usher who went above & beyond to make this happen. I was so grateful to her. And now I know when I purchase tickets I'll know exactly what area I need to be. Thank you LISA the usher!!!! Blessings to you. This was a great gesture she made happen!! Btw...The Nutcracker was excellent. My first time going and definitely not my last. Beautiful performances, flawless costumes, and the songs were out of this world!!!! read more

I have mixed emotions about this venue. I recently saw Ray LaMontagne a bluesy, folk, country, amazing, singer, songwriter. Let me explain a little... Pros: The sound was pretty good. When he belted out some high notes and some loud spots you heard it all. (which will be a con later in this review) The seating was pretty good. I purposely picked out row seats because I saw that their was only one single row 50 seats long. Also, I was seated midway up the seating. Not too far and not too close. Leg room seemed like it was a little more than average. I didn't have to get up every time someone walked by which is normal anywhere else. Parking! The best ever! no fees and its close! Cons: The sound was pretty good. You hear too much! I could hear a loud clap or cough from across the theater. It is great is you have the right band for the venue. The bag check was lame. They had a 4" by 6" only rule. Not sure where or why but it was causing havoc with a lot of people. It was square and a lady had a round purse that went over the long length side and couldn't take it in because essentially, it was round. No common sense applied. Lastly, neither pro or cons: As usual, the drinks were crazy priced and the merchandise was slim. I don't blame the venue so much. Depending on the artist I wouldn't mind coming back to this place for some more live music. read more

See all

The place is beautiful and the feeling you get is amazing. The show we saw there was great and all aspects were outstanding. read more

See all

Never knew about this venue. I caught a Tom Petty tribute band performance here. The place is well set up. They had a bar to purchase drinks, a taco stand outside, and per their website 1200 seats in the venue. The acoustics were pretty good here. My ears were ringing a bit after the concert but it wasn't too bad. read more

I recommend The Magnolia and would return. The acoustics are good, seating is good and the venue is located right in downtown El Cajon, close to bars and restaurants. We were, unfortunately, scammed by a company called TICKETS ONSALE. Make sure, when you buy your tickets, that you are not automatically directed TICKETSONSALE. We were able to get our tickets, after hours of negotiating by phone and online. I hope management of the Magnolia will warn customers about TICKETSONSALE. read more

My first time visiting The Magnolia and it was absolutely perfect! There's a parking structure that made parking super simple and there was no extra fee. The security was super efficient and the lines for concession and bar never felt that long. They had a ton of draft and can options, as well as cocktails. Our seats were a couple rows away from the stage but we still felt so close, something about the way the seats are lower and the stage is wide, every seat has a great view. At intermission we went to get some popcorn and they gave us big one get one free. We had a lovely time and will be sure to visit more often in the future! read more

See all