Over 30,000 expected at the 4th Annual La Jolla Art & Wine Festival | October 13-14th

September 18, 2012

The La Jolla Art & Wine Festival (LJAWF), highly regarded as one of the most prestigious events of its kind on the west coast, announces exciting changes as it ramps up for the fourth and largest season yet on Saturday, October 13th and Sunday, October 14th.

Due to the overwhelming success of years past as well as a newly garnered partnership with the La Jolla Village Merchants Association, this nationally renowned, juried art show and fundraiser will migrate north from its debut location on upper Girard to the heart of La Jolla’s picturesque village in between the bustling area of Prospect and Kline Streets on Girard Avenue.

Another momentous change from years past, this year’s event will be FREE and open to the public with a $5 cash donation accepted at all the festival entrances. Since launching in 2009 by chair and founder, Sherry Ahern, the La Jolla Art & Wine Festival has raised over $120,000 for local, underfunded elementary and middle schools.  This year’s LJAWF expects to draw in crowds of over 30,000 individuals, promising to be the largest and most exciting year yet.

Aaron Chang's

Featuring the works of 150 established artists from San Diego, Los Angeles, Orange County, Baja and beyond, this year’s fourth annual LJAWF welcomes veterans and award-winners from years past, but also attracts a surprisingly significant batch of renowned artists who will be showing at the LJAWF for the first time, including New York Times best selling children’s book author, Laura Seeling, and world-renowned surf photographer, Aaron Chang. Artists’ works include a number of mediums such as painting, sculpture, ceramics, jewelry, fine glass, woodwork, mixed media and photography.  All of the artists showing at the LJAWF have been handpicked by a highly qualified jury of artists, authors, critics and collectors.

While many of the leading art shows across the country are seeing a significant decrease in the amount of artists applications, LJAWF’s numbers continue to increase year after year due to the festival’s pristine coastal location and gorgeous setting. "It's been an amazing experience working with LJAWF,” says Paul Fisher, CEO of Juried Arts Services (JAS). “JAS works with the top shows in the nation including the Smithsonian, and it's been a pleasure to see how the drive, determination and professionalism of the La Jolla Art & Wine Festival has made this one of the best and fastest growing events in the industry".

In addition to an eclectic mix of original artwork, the LJAWF proudly boasts an expansive wine and beer garden highlighting over 20 premier wineries from around the world as well as many of San Diego’s award-winning breweries including Stone Brewing Company, Ballast Point and many more.

Offering exciting adventures for kids of all ages, the Geppetto’s/Witt Lincoln Family Art Center will be located on Wall Street.  This year LJAWF is proud to be teaming up with the San Diego Zoo, Girl Scouts, Kiwanis, Outside the Lens, YMCA, Athenaeum Music & Arts Library and Geppetto’s Toy Store.  Children will have the opportunity to paint a car donated by Witt Lincoln, take art or dance classes, participate in games, chalk art, crafts, edible art, cartooning, and even a family scavenger hunt. Families will also be entertained by a lineup of performers including flash mobs, local child musicians as well as circus performances.

Other highlights of this year’s two-day event include an exciting lineup of roving entertainment by the San Diego Circus Center, which teaches children between the ages of three and 22 Cirque du Soleil inspired performances, the Cups Culinary Gourmet Marketplace and live music. In addition, there will be a silent action offering iPads, 2-night hotel stays, gift cards to fine dining restaurants around San Diego, staycation activities for children, theatre tickets, winery and brewery packages, as well as LJAWF participating artist artwork to name a few.

Originally created through Friends of La Jolla Elementary Inc., the LJAWF has most recently garnered the support and established a partnership with the La Jolla Village Merchants Association.  All profits raised benefit underfunded programs such as art, music, science, physical education, technology, and on-site medical care at the four local public elementary and middle schools, which are all part of the San Diego Unified School District.

The 2012 La Jolla Art & Wine Festival takes place the second weekend of October on Saturday, October 13th and Sunday, October 14th from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.  Please note: Pets will be permitted this year within the event. For more information about the festival, its artists, public and valet parking, transportation, and much more, please visit the La Jolla Art & Wine Festival website at: www.ljawf.org -- or join the LJAWF on Facebook and Twitter.