This high quality, community-friendly event is sponsored by the Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce and the City of Palo Alto. In the past it has attracted over 150,000 people every year from throughout California and the West Coast. The festival-now celebrating its twenty-ninth year-takes place on tree-lined University Avenue in beautiful downtown Palo Alto, a vital economic area 35 miles south of San Francisco.
The backbone of the festival and the key to its success are the three hundred fine artists and crafters whose display booths are placed back-to-back along University Avenue. These exhibitors are the reason why this festival attracts such a high percentage of fine artists and crafters whose work you'll see only at a few select shows on the West Coast.
To keep interest high, each year the festival organizers offer something new for the public's enjoyment.
Also plein air artists provided by the Pacific Art League will set up their "have canvas, will travel" outdoor studios and will be painting street scenes at various locations throughout the festival.
In the Italian Street Painting Expo, seventy chalk artists will be creating larger-than-life works of art on the Tasso Street. In this same area, KDFC radio will again be sponsoring the KDFC Classical Corner: a joint effort between the Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra & KDFC to bring classical music to the public—up close and personal. Don't miss this great experience from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. both Saturday & Sunday.
Local participation is high at this event. The Palo Alto Parents & Professionals for Art are the organizers and beneficiaries of the kids' art & crafts area called the Kids' Art Studio. Also, the Kiwanis of Palo Alto will again manage and serve the micro-brews and fine wines that can be found throughout the festival.
For those driving to the festival, free parking is within a block or two of the festival site, but festival attendees are encouraged to use public transit. For transit information, call the TravInfo line in your area at 817-1717.
If you are a dog owner thinking about bringing "Fido" to the festival, please reconsider. Large crowds can easily make a typically mellow dog very anxious & sometimes aggressive.
Thanks to our Media Partner, Comcast, for promoting the Palo Alto Festival of the Arts.
For up-to-date information, call: 650-324-3121. |
