SeeCalifornia.com

When you have artist friends who own galleries, you’re used to applying the brakes and stopping to see them when you pass by and notice they’re waving “hi.”  But braking for art takes on a unique and very real meaning at the Sebastopol Street Printing Festival where a  three-ton machine (pictured) used to even pavements and roads makes prints from hand-cut linoleum blocks.

Art comes in many forms — you’ll typically find musicians, actors and writers calling themselves artists. At Laguna Beach’s Pageant of the Masters (left photo,) amateur actors step into paintings to create a stage show or pageant.

If you counted all the crafters, makers and gift vendors at farmers’ markets and street fairs in California, then you’re looking at thousands of events that can be considered art festivals, of sorts.

The trend in art festivals is not far off from that concept as event producers have discovered that people tend to buy more items when they’re fed and given some drinks. Add musical entertainment, and you have a complete package that combines art into a bigger celebration which may include wine, beer, cocktails, music, food, or whatever. The majority of art festivals in California include music, food and drinks.

With July in full swing, there are lots and lots of great art festivals to see.

July Art Festivals

EL MONTE: Chalk it Up July 12, 2019

REDWOOD CITY: Summer Art on the Square July 12

PALO ALTO: Palo Alto Clay and Glass Festival July 13-14

OLYMPIC VALLEY: Squaw Valley Art, Wine and Music Festival July 13-14

LOS ALTOS: Arts and Wine Festival July 13-14

OXNARD: Channel Islands Harbor Art Fest July 13-14

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE: Summer Arts and Craft Show July 12-14

CARSON: Original Rubber Stamp Convention July 13

RIO DEL: Arts on the Avenue July 13

PLACENTIA: Craft Fair July 13

SEBASTOPOL: Street Printing Festival July 14

LAGUNA BEACH: Art A-Fair Art Festival and Sawdust Festival

PETALUMA: Art and Garden Festival July 14