Palo Alto Festival of the Arts

For one weekend in late August, downtown Palo Alto turns into an outdoor gallery. University Avenue closes to traffic, white artist tents line both sides of the street back to back and crowds drift from booth to booth with iced coffee in hand. A side street fills with chalk artists on their knees, slowly turning plain asphalt into Renaissance-style paintings. Bands play on several stages. The Palo Alto Festival of the Arts is the biggest weekend of the year downtown and one of the most popular art fairs on the Peninsula.

This guide covers the festival's history, what to see and practical tips for parking, timing and buying art. The 2026 festival was the 43rd and ran August 22 and 23. The 2027 dates had not been announced in October 2026, so check with the organizers before you plan a trip. For the rest of the season, see our summer events guide and the August guide.

History

The festival is hosted by the Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce, with the City of Palo Alto as a co-sponsor. The Chamber does not publish a founding year, but its edition numbers tell the story. The Paly Voice student newspaper called the 2012 festival the 31st and said organizers expected about 150,000 visitors and more than 300 artists that year. The Palo Alto Daily Post reported that the 2023 festival marked its 40th year. Counting back, the first festival was held in the early 1980s. The numbering also suggests it skipped two summers during the pandemic. The 2026 festival was the 43rd.

Over the years the festival has kept its basic shape: an art fair along University Avenue with music and food. The biggest addition is the Italian Street Painting Expo, which the Paly Voice described in 2012 as being in its tenth consecutive year. That would put its start in the early 2000s. Newer features include a children's chalk area and a public piano. In 2026 the festival added Artistry in Action, a stage for live artist demonstrations.

The 2026 festival at a glance

Watch the Chamber's festival page for the 2027 announcement. Dates usually appear in spring or early summer.

Italian street painting on Tasso Street

The festival's signature attraction is the Italian Street Painting Expo. The tradition comes from the madonnari of Italy, street artists who drew religious images in chalk on town squares. At Palo Alto's version, chalk artists from around California take over Tasso Street, a short side street off University Avenue. Over the two days they create what the Chamber calls "larger-than-life works of art." In the madonnari tradition, artists often reproduce old master paintings, while others draw original designs.

The fun is in watching the work develop. On Saturday morning, the squares are outlines and color blocks. By Sunday afternoon they are finished pieces. In 2012 the expo ran from 1 p.m. on Saturday to 7 p.m. on Sunday. The expo is a fundraiser, with Palo Alto Youth Community Service and Ada's Cafe named as co-beneficiaries in 2026.

Children get their own space. The Kids' Chalk-a-Lot gives young artists a patch of pavement and a box of chalk to make their own masterpieces.

The art booths

The core of the festival is about 250 booths of fine art and contemporary craft, set back to back along University Avenue. Typical media include painting, photography, sculpture, ceramics, glass, jewelry, wood, fiber and mixed media. Prices range from small prints and cards to large original works.

Artists apply to show through Pacific Fine Arts, which runs the artist application for the festival. The Chamber says the festival draws visitors from throughout California and the West Coast.

Buying art

• Bring a tote bag. Palo Alto bans plastic and paper checkout bags, so the Chamber recommends bringing your own.
• Ask about shipping. Some artists will ship large pieces so you do not have to carry them through the crowd.
• Take a card. If you are undecided, most artists have a website and many take orders after the show.
• Go early for the best choice. Popular pieces sell on Saturday morning.

Music, food and drink

Live music plays on several stages throughout both days. Look for the Chopin and Chandeliers piano, a "Play Me" piano that anyone can sit down at, which in recent years was set up near Bryant Street. In 2026 the new Artistry in Action area ran scheduled demonstrations in oil painting, watercolor and Chinese calligraphy each afternoon.

Food vendors sell festival fare along the route and the Kiwanis Club of Palo Alto runs the beer and wine service. University Avenue's own restaurants and cafes stay open, many with outdoor seating. Our outdoor dining guide lists patios nearby if you would rather sit down for lunch.

Visiting with kids

The festival is easy with children if you plan around the crowds. Mornings are calmer and cooler, so start then. Head to Tasso Street first to watch the street painters at work, then let the kids add their own drawings at the Kids' Chalk-a-Lot. The public piano is another hit with young visitors. When little legs give out, the Palo Alto Junior Museum and Zoo and the parks along Middlefield Road are a short drive or bike ride away. For more ideas, the Palo Alto Art Center runs art classes and family days through the year.

Strollers work, but the busiest blocks get tight by early afternoon. A carrier is easier for babies. Keep a meeting point in mind for older kids, such as a particular cross street, in case you get separated in the crowd.

Getting there and parking

The festival fills University Avenue through downtown, which makes the train the easiest way in. Palo Alto station sits at the west end of University Avenue, a short walk from the first booths.

If you drive, the Chamber says free parking is within a block or two of the festival and parking for disabled visitors is available in all city lots. Downtown garages can fill by late morning on Saturday. Our parking guide lists the city garages and lots. Biking is a good option too. Bring a lock, since racks near University Avenue fill quickly.

Making a weekend of it

The festival pairs well with the rest of downtown. The Saturday farmers market runs on Gilman Street in the morning, a few blocks away. The city's public art collection includes pieces within walking distance of University Avenue; see our public art guide. Shops along the avenue stay open. Our University Avenue shopping guide covers the stores.

If you are coming from out of town, festival weekend is busy but not as tight as Stanford commencement. Downtown hotels are within a few minutes' walk of the booths. Our downtown hotels guide lists the options, or you can compare downtown Palo Alto hotels for the weekend.

Frequently asked questions