Dignity Health Theater

A little planning helps keep the night easy at Dignity Health Theater, especially for busy downtown events and family shows.

• Re-Entry & Smoking: Follow posted re-entry rules for your event. Smoking and vaping are allowed only in designated areas, and the Theater and Convention Center smoking area may change by event.³
• Payment Options: Cash and card are accepted at the box office.³ Payment options may vary for other on-site purchases.
• Prohibited Items: Weapons, outside food or beverages, professional cameras, audio or video recording devices, selfie sticks, tripods, oversized bags, illegal substances, laptops, tablets, drones, and pets other than service animals are prohibited.³ Refer to the policy page for a complete list of prohibited items.
• Age Restrictions: Events are all ages unless noted on the event page, and children under two generally do not need a ticket if they’re seated on a lap.³

Check the official Dignity Health Theater policy page before the show for bag rules, camera policies, and event-specific entry notes.

Dignity Health Theater sits near downtown Bakersfield’s historic theaters, civic spaces, and Central Valley performance stops.

• Historic Bakersfield Fox Theater: Opened on Christmas Day 1930, the Fox Theater has a 1,500-seat auditorium and has hosted Lawrence Tibbett, Kirsten Flagstad, the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, and Arthur Rubinstein.⁴
• The Nile Theater: Originally opened as the Bakersfield Opera House in 1906, The Nile Theater is being restored as a performance and event space with capacity for 700 standing guests or about 350 seated guests.^5,6

Parking for Dignity Health Arena, Theater and Convention Center is located off N Street between Truxtun Avenue and California Avenue.⁷

Public Transportation: Downtown Bakersfield has local bus service along Truxtun Avenue, California Avenue, and nearby civic center streets. Rideshare can also work well for arrival near the complex.

Driving: Dignity Health Theater is located at 1001 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield, CA. From Highway 99, exit at California Avenue and head east toward downtown, then turn north on N Street for venue parking.⁷ From Highway 58, exit Chester Avenue, continue north to California Avenue, then turn toward N Street.⁷ Parking is available both at the venue and in nearby lots. Parking at the venue can be purchased in advance at AXS, with rates varying by event.

• Parking Lot: 801-899 16th St, Bakersfield, CA 93301
• Parking Garage: N St, Bakersfield, CA 93301

Dignity Health Theater keeps food planning simple: outside food and beverages are not allowed inside, so nearby dining works well before or after the show.^3,8 The surrounding options include full-service restaurants with lunch, dinner, appetizers, burgers, salads, and bar service.⁸

Dignity Health Theater is part of the downtown Bakersfield complex now known as Dignity Health Arena, Theater and Convention Center. The property previously operated as Centennial Garden and later as Mechanics Bank Arena, Theater and Convention Center before its rebranding.⁹

The downtown property brings an arena, theater, and convention center together on one site, giving the complex its current multi-venue footprint.⁹