Palo Alto Festival of the Arts

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.

And don’t forget to stop by and listen to sidewalk piano virtuosos. Located on the plaza at the corner of University & Tasso Streets: Chopin and Chandeliers. For more info.

And, always a crowd-pleaser, the Italian Street Painting Expo, sponsored by the Palo Alto Weekly, will again offer sixty chalk artists creating larger-than-life works of art all weekend long on Tasso Street. This year’s beneficiary of the funds raised by the Italian Street Painting Expo is Palo Alto’s Youth Community Service.

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 Club of Palo Alto will again manage and serve the micro-brews and fine wines that can be found throughout the festival.

PLEASE NOTE: the City of Palo Alto has a ban on the use of plastic & paper bags for carrying purchased merchandise. The Chamber of Commerce highly recommends that festival attendees bring their own tote bags for easy transportation of multiple purchases.

For those driving to the festival, free parking is within a block or two of the festival site, with parking for disabled patrons in all city lots. Festival attendees though are encouraged to use public transit or ride a bike. For transit information go to 511.org.

If you are a dog owner thinking about bringing “Cuddles” to the festival, please reconsider. Large crowds can easily make a typically mellow dog very anxious & sometimes aggressive.

Check out last year’s promotional clip for a live overview of the festival.