Palo Alto Festival of the Arts

PALO ALTO - This vibrant city will show off its artful side when the renowned Palo Alto Festival of the Arts, nestled along tree-lined University Avenue, will return to the downtown area to celebrate its 35th anniversary August 27-28 from 10 a.m. to 6 p. m.

Hosted by the Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce and its Presenting sponsor: the Palo Alto Medical Foundation, they invite you to join in all the festivities. Festival-goers and art collectors will enjoy this multi-faceted arts celebration featuring 300 high quality artists from all over the United States.

Artists will be showcasing unique and many one-of-a-kind works of art from stunning bronze sculptures to elegant contemporary hand-crafted home furnishings to whimsical ceramic garden totems. Two-dimensional paintings and mixed media artwork will amaze the public by the variety of styles, use of colors and the exploration of subject matter.

According to a local patron of the arts, "This festival consistently has had the highest percentage of fine artists that I've seen at any of the festivals I've been to; and I go to a lot of festivals on the peninsula and in the South Bay."

To compliment the exceptional art seen along University Avenue will be the Italian Street Painting Expo on Tasso. Here festival-goers will view 60 artists creating impressive pastel chalk paintings on the hot pavement, some as large as 144 square feet. And, for budding young Picassos, visit the Chalk-A-Lot area where every child has an opportunity to create their own masterpiece side-by-side with the professionals.

At the corner of Kipling and University, the Kids' Art Studio will be offering free art activities so children can take home their own creations as a festival memento.

The plaza at Cowper and University this year will feature a new festival component titled "Chopin & Chandeliers". A colorful array of contestants' chandelier entries will surround the festival's "Play Me a Tune" piano.... a chance for anyone wandering by to stop, settle, and let your inner Chopin take over.

The larger-than-life chandeliers, inspired by Dale Chihuly's amazing glass chandelier installations, were created by festival contestants who were restricted to using recycled plastic bottles as the basis. This creative and unique art sculpture contest is part of the festival's effort to unite art with cleaning up the environment.

Also new this year is the Joseph George Napa Valley Wine booth located at the Bryant Street intersection. Wine connoisseurs can enjoy a selection of hand-picked premium California wines and unique varietals while listening to the stories told by Bert George, this year's guest sommelier and owner of Joseph George Fine Wines of San Jose. Featured wines will be: Joseph George Sauvignon Blanc 2014, Rombauer Chardonnay 2014, Kennedy Lateral 2012, Duckhorn Merlot 2012, Goldeneye Pinot Noir 2013, and Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet 2012.

Continuous entertainment at the Waverley & Webster stages will showcase exciting new performances featuring folk, country, acoustic rock, rhythm & blues, dueling pianos, high energy Latin fusion and toe-tappin' Cajun sounds. Alluring music from each street corner concert musician will also captivate and entertain you as you roam throughout the festival. And, back by popular demand, The Great Morgani, accordionist and costume-designer extraordinaire, will be performing twice daily at the Cowper intersection. Definitely a live performing work of art.

Public transit and free parking make visiting this fine art festival easy, convenient and worth a day's visit. Free admission. And, for everyone's safety, please leave pets at home.

For public transit information: www.511.org.

Call (650) 324-3121 or visit www.mlaproductions.com for more details.