Artist Info

Palo Alto Festival of the Arts

Event Description

Fine Arts & Fine Crafts, August 22 & 23, 2026  University Avenue between High and Webster Streets in Palo Alto, CA 

Well-known for showcasing high quality art, Palo Alto’s Festival of the Arts celebrates its 43rd anniversary. Over sixty-thousand patrons who appreciate the festival’s excellence visit this open-air gallery each year. Art lovers stroll along tree-lined University Avenue, browsing fine arts and fine crafts booths, interacting with the artists and shopping the stunning selections from over 260 talented, creative minds.

This beautiful venue delights all senses with the festival’s diverse elements including sidewalk piano virtuosos, Italian Street Painting, delicious food selections and alcoholic beverage varieties. The community-friendly event is hosted by the Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce with the support of the City of Palo alto and is a major fundraiser for the Chamber as well as several local non-profit organizations.              Event Hours: 10:00am – 6:00pm

Advertising & Publicity
Each year the dollars budgeted for paid-advertising & publicity and the amount of in-kind media support received will vary, but the overall estimated value usually exceeds $300,000. The 2025 advertising & PR budget will include but is not limited to: ads & calendar listings in major print & on-line publications, festival-specific postcard mailers/handouts, city-wide poster & postcard distribution, a four-color glossy festival guide, reciprocal web site linkage, e-mail blast copy & graphics for your use, & regular social media postings.

Artist Amenities
Complimentary continental breakfast, afternoon snacks & beverages at our hospitality booth, private artist porta-potties, booth-sitters for single exhibitors, detailed space assignment information, overnight security, post-festival customer referral service, a friendly artist support crew, exhibitor-linked listing on the Pacific Fine Arts Festivals web site’s event page: www.pacificfinearts.com, and complimentary festival-specific publicity postcards and digital media available.

Dates to Remember

March 2  Applications postmarked
April 6  Selection results sent to applicants
April 13  Selected applicants’ space fee deposited
July 27  Customer postcard invitations sent to artists
August 10  Artist Instruction Letter sent

Cancellation & Refund Policy

Through April 12  Space fee refunds given
April 13 – July 12  PFAF Credit Slip minus $50.00 per cancelled space
July 13 – Show  Space fee is forfeited

Pacific Fine Arts Festivals’ credit slip may be used towards any future space fee.

Booth Info

Spaces are on asphalt down the middle of the street.
8dx10w (northwest exposure, most spaces have sun, wide walkway in front of space).
10dx10w space (southeast exposure, narrow walkway in front of space).
Up to 250 spaces.

Space sizes and fees  3% fee added to space fee credit card charges
Standard spaces                   
8dx10w / $295.00 + 10% Commission
10dx10w / $345.00 + 10% Commission
8dx20w / $590.00 + 10% Commission
10dx20w / $690.00 + 10% Commission
WalkThru spaces (open front & back)
10dx10w / $420.00 + 10% Commission
18dx10w / $715.00 + 10% Commission
10dx20w / $850.00 + 10% Commission
Corner spaces                   
8dx10w / $370.00 + 10% Commission
10dx10w / $420.00 + 10% Commission
8dx20w / $690.00 + 10% Commission
10dx20w / $790.00 + 10% Commission
Double corner spaces
10dx18w +2Corners / $885.00 + 10% Commission

Once your work has been accepted, you will be notified of the confirmed size and configuration of the space being reserved for you and the total space fees due. Space fees are due approximately one week after notification.

Commission 
Payment of a 10% commission from on-site sales only will be due to Pacific Fine Arts Festivals within two weeks following the festival. Commissions from post-show sales will be due by Dec. 31.

Artist Information
•Only one artist or a collaborative partnership will be assigned to one space. It is possible, though, for two artists (each must apply separately) to request side-by-side spaces.
•Applicants whose work has been accepted must be on-site the full weekend of the show.
Participating artists are expected to be totally self-supporting by providing a canopy (optional) and all furniture, supplies and materials needed to present an attractive and safe display.
•Artist spaces are lined up back-to-back along nine blocks of University Avenue.
•Booth displays may stay up overnight. Light overnight security is provided.
•Canopies are not required, but if used, white is preferred.
Power is not available and generators are not allowed in the artist display areas.
•Quiet battery-operated units are fine & are to be provided by the participating artist.
•Free parking is within two blocks from the site.
Designated RV & trailer overnight parking will be available.
•Due to City restrictions, set-up can only take place Saturday morning.
•Controlled load-in and load-out is provided with easy access to space location.
•Temperature during August is usually in the mid-80s.

Free digital or hard copy color event postcards available for social media posting, sales tables or customer mailout.

Special requests
Please indicate any special request on your application. Space requests are taken into consideration but cannot be guaranteed.

Licenses, Permits, & Taxes

CA Seller’s Permit  To participate in the event each artist must have a CA Seller’s Permit number. One is not needed to apply to the event but one must be obtained at least 6 weeks prior to the event in order to participate. CLICK HERE for more information.

Rules & Regulations

General Rules

COMMISSION EVENT A 10% commission on gross, pre-tax sales is required for all work sold as a direct result of this opportunity for public exposure, including sales completed after the fair or festival. Commissions should be postmarked to our office (PO Box 280, Pine Grove, CA 95665) by the Wednesday following the event, and for any subsequent sales, as soon as possible. We also accept payments via PayPal, Venmo, and Zelle. Detailed instructions are provided in the event instruction letters.

REFERRAL PROGRAM  Refer an artisan and when both of you participate in any event within the same year, each receives a $50 space-fee credit. Download the certificate at pacificfinearts.com or request one at pfa@pacificfinearts.com / 209-267-4394 and include it with your applications.

INSURANCE  Insurance is not required but strongly recommended. Resource link available at: pacificfinearts.com/insurance/

PHOTOGRAPHY / MEDIA  By applying, you allow PFAF to use your submitted images and event photos/videos for marketing.

CANCELLATIONS (Artist)  See above cancellation policy section.

CANCELLATION (Event)  If the event is cancelled due to weather, disaster, pandemic, or circumstances beyond control of the Host of the Event, the City in which the event is held or Pacific Fine Arts Festivals cause the cancellation of the fair or festival, participation fees will not be returned. The Host of the Event, the City or Pacific Fine Arts Festivals cannot be held liable by exhibitors for the failure of the event to take place.

WEATHER / SETUP Be at the fair or festival no matter what weather is predicted. In case of rain, follow directions given by on-site PFAF staff. Arrive at the event prepared with heavy, see-through plastic and clamps to cover your work in case of rain, and at set-up always install at least 40 pounds of weight on each tent leg and display piece or, in the case of sidewalk events, throughout your display in case of wind (heavily weight all umbrellas, too).

PRODUCTS FOR SALE  Pacific Fine Arts Festivals and its designated representatives reserve the right to limit or remove any products from sale based on quality and integrity, as determined by Pacific Fine Arts Festivals. Any products not listed in the application are not permitted for sale and must be removed from the booth if they have not received prior approval from Pacific Fine Arts Festivals.

THEFT  Although rare, theft does sometimes occur. Pacific Fine Arts Festivals, the Host of the Event, or the City in which the event is held cannot be held liable by exhibitors for any theft that may occur at the event.

EVENT MARKETING  Your marketing efforts are a key part of our collaboration in promoting each event. We provide free color postcards for distribution—indicate the quantity you’d like for each event on your application. In addition, downloadable event graphics are available for use on social media or email campaigns to reach your own customers directly. For every event, we also create Facebook and Instagram posts that are easy to customize and share. Feel free to use these, or create your own content—just tag us with #PacificFineArts and @PacificFineArts. Don’t forget to like and follow us to stay updated on the latest news!

PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT & BOOTH APPEARANCE  Arrive on time, follow parking/load-in/out instructions, and complete all show days. No early teardown or bringing vehicles to your space early. No pets (unless service animals), young children, generators/open flames, smoking, alcohol, drugs, or disruptive music. Booths must be clean and professional, front and back. No “SALE/DISCOUNT” signs. Offensive/abusive behavior is not tolerated. Harassing/abusive/threatening language, physical assault, failure to respond to staff instructions will be addressed and may result in participant’s immediate removal from the event. This is a professional environment—please strive to always reflect that in booth appearance and personal behavior.

ATTITUDE  Our goal is to run a show that is fun as well as profitable for us all. As important as the search for art talent is we do not lose sight of the need for artists who are cooperative and easy for us and other participants to work with. No amount of talent or ability to sell will compensate for this.

Event Eligibility Rules

Important: Applicants considered will be those showcasing their individual perspective in unique, unusual and/or unexpected ways, and with good creative design in their art or craft. Artwork or crafts solely assembled with purchased components are not a good fit for our event. Application is open to creators of quality handcrafted works made in the USA by the artisan selling their worksNot accepted: Buy/sell, imports, kit-based, mass-produced items, work not made by the applicant(s), books, permanent jewelry, CDs, personal care products, specialty pre-packaged foods, body art, living plants. Artwork depicting weapons, nudity, or sensitive wording may be declined to maintain a family-friendly environment. No booth sharing except married/significant-other partners. Two artists may request adjacent booths (each applies separately).

MEDIA FOR CONSIDERATION Ceramics, Fiber: wearable, decorative & functional, Glass, Graphics: digital & hand-drawn, Jewelry, Leather, Metalwork, Mixed Media, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture, Wood.

Participation Agreement

This agreement is entered into by and between Pacific Fine Arts Festivals (Producer), the Host of the Event (Client), the City in which the event is held (City) and the exhibitor, artist or craftsperson filling out, signing, and returning the application (Artist).

The Artist hereby indemnifies and holds the Producer, its agents, employees, sub-contractors and volunteers, the Client, its agents, employees, sub-contractors and volunteers, the City, its agents, employees, sub-contractors and volunteers harmless from any and all claims, including costs and attorney’s fees resulting there from, arising out of said Artist’s participation in any and all events which have been organized by or through Producer, Client, or City. For the purposes of this agreement, the term “participation” shall include, but not be limited to, the delivery and safety/security of equipment, merchandise, structures and arts or crafts to their designated location, the set up and display of any such structure and art or crafts, and the dismantling and removal of all such items from the area provided by or through the Producer or its agents, employees, sub-contractors and volunteers, the Client or its agents, employees, sub-contractors and volunteers or the City or its agents, employees, sub-contractors and volunteers.

The Artist hereby expressly assumes any risk of harm or theft to the Artist, works of art or craft, guests or guests’ property arising out of their participation and the participation of other artists or agents in any given fair or festival organized by Producer, Client, or City including any risk resulting from the location of the space designated for them by the Producer. The Artist agrees to hold harmless the Producer, Client, City from any and all liability for damages to persons and damages or theft of property from any source. If weather, other acts of Nature, pandemic, or other reasons beyond the control of the City, Client or Pacific Fine Arts Festivals causes the event’s cancellation, Artist application and/or space fees will not be returned and neither the City, Client nor Pacific Fine Arts Festivals will be held liable to Artists for failure of the event to take place.

This agreement shall be effective immediately upon execution and shall continue in effect for every fair or festival that the Artist participates in that is organized by Producer during the current year.

THE WORK DESCRIBED IN THIS APPLICATION FOR SELLING AT THE EVENT/S IS HANDCRAFTED IN THE USA BY PERSON/S LISTED UNDER ARTIST NAME ON APPLICATION PAGE, WHO WILL BE SELLING THE WORK AT EACH EVENT, AND WHOSE NAME IS REFLECTED ON THE APPLICATION’S SIGNATURE LINE.

I AGREE TO ABIDE BY THE POLICIES, RELEASE & HOLD HARMLESS AND THE RULES GOVERNING EACH EVENT OUTLINED IN EACH EVENT’S INSTRUCTION LETTER SET FORTH BY PACIFIC FINE ARTS FESTIVALS.

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