SeeCalifornia.com

At festivals this weekend you can see fine arts at the Pasadena Contemporary Crafts Market (shown in photos), peruse popular artworks and home decor at the Palos Verdes Street Fair, browse unique creations at the Union Street Festival in San Francisco, enjoy the finer things in life at the annual Sunnyvale Art & Wine Festival and have fun at the Kiwanis Art Fiesta in Sacramento. 35,000 people are expected to attend RB Alive Street Fair in Rancho Bernardo alone where tables and booths line the sidewalks with artisan crafts for sale, while hundreds of thousands more people plan to attend similar events throughout California.  It’s amazing how many art festivals and events there are–but why?

There doesn’t seem to be a consensus as to why art festivals are so popular but here are some theories:

• 1. I think it’s the Internet. It produces this desire in us to have this human connection in ways that are alive, that are physical, that are organic. — Justin Torres, novelist
• 2. Unemployment and a huge population of boomers. — Jo Danson, graphic designer and festival vendor
• 3. California’s great weather and popularity of outdoor markets. — Lee Ostendorf, market manager
• 4. Competition for visitor traffic. While outside vendors appear to compete with local merchants, ultimately festivals help drive more traffic to an area. It’s an inexpensive form of advertising. — Connie Pedenko, former business improvement district director