Sunset Beach Art Festival

May 11-12, 2024

(Mother's Day Weekend)
Saturday 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Sunday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Community Center
17222 South Pacific Ave. and along the Greenbelt between N. Pacific and S. Pacific from Broadway to 7th Street
Sunset Beach, CA 90742
Free admission, sunsetbeachartfestival.net

 Parking is available across Pacific Coast Highway at Peter's Landing and the parking lot at the end of Warner with regular shuttle buses delivering you to the Festival.

The Sunset Beach Art Festival,  celebrating its 55th year Mother's Day Weekend, is seeking  Art & Craft vendors. "We're planning on having our  largest turnout ever of vendors and attendees at this fun,  free event," said Frances Small, Festival Art Gallery Chair  for Las Damas, a philanthropic non-profit woman's  organization which has helped local residents and schools  for 50 years. 

This year's festival includes art exhibits, vendor booths, food  booths, bands, raffles and a beer & wine garden. Vendors  sell beautiful jewelry including sea glass, genuine stones  and crystals. You'll also find original drawings,  paintings, sculpture, crafts and photography. There's a Kids  Zone (off 7th St. between North and South Pacific Ave.)  which features activities, including, face-painting, petting  zoo, and bungee jumping. There will be a free booth for  children to create their own handmade masterpieces for Mom  and free gift wrapping for that special gift purchased at  the festival.

The highlight tradition of the festival  is a finely crafted seaside symbol Handmade Quilt, sewn by  members of the community and Las Damas. It features multiple  squares designed to resemble events, coastal landmarks, and  business in Sunset Beach.

A Friday evening art reception is held in the Nobles Family  Community Center (the former firehouse on 12th St.) with winners of a juried art show announced for the public to see--the gallery is open throughout the festival.

"There is a reason this beautiful  location is named Sunset Beach," said Artist Bill Anderson,  a longtime supporter of Las Damas, who captures iconic scenes of Sunset Beach before they disappear, one by one. Anderson Art Gallery in Captain Jack's building across Pacific Coast Highway from the art show displays many of these beautiful and whimsical scenes and buildings the public has grown to love and recognize.

From the nearby Peter's Landing Parking  Lot, people can enjoy a Free Shuttle to and from the  festival. The Shuttle pick-up and drop-off location is  curbside at North PCH, closest to Starbucks, or at the far  end of Sunset Beach, where Warner & N. Pacific meet at  the small parking lot. The public parking can be challenging  as greenbelt spaces are limited. If you have a state beach  parking pass, it's quite easy to park at the north end of  the Bolsa Chica State Beach and walk less than one block  over to the shuttle pick up. For others, there is a charge  for state beach parking.

Sunset Beach Art Festival is a free admission event. Held on Mother's Day Weekend, the festival includes bands, art exhibits, vendor booths, food booths and raffles for items. The festival is hosted by Las Damas, a women's nonprofit club in Sunset Beach that does good deeds through funds raised for special causes.

At this art festival and flea market, vendors sell hats, art, clothing, tables, vases, soaps, jewelry and other items. Many of the vendors can be found at other weekly events such as the Farmer's Markets in Huntington Beach on Fridays or Alamitos Landing parking lot in Long Beach on weekends.

The highlight of the festival is a handmade quilt, sewn by members of the community and Las Damas. It features multiple squares designed to resemble events, landmarks, and business in the community. Raffle tickets are available at the festival. You do not have to be present to win.

Kids Zone features activities a Kid's Talent Show, face painting by Tasha, caricature by Jon, and artisan booths showing kid's clothing, etc. Located in front of the Firehouse on 12th street, the Kids Zone will also have a free booth for children to create their own handmade masterpiece for Mom.

Those seeking to sell their wares or sell art at the event need to apply for an exhibit booth long before the event is held. The public parking can be challenging as greenbelt spaces are limited. If you have a state beach parking pass, it is quite easy to park at Bolsa Chica State Beach and walk less than one block over to the event. Parking in that lot is $15-20 for those who don't mind paying the fee.

With the beach just steps from the Sunset Beach greenbelt, the festival is ideal for families who want to shop, look at art, and go to the beach. However, if you are seeking a day at the beach, since parking is impacted during the Art Festival, you may want to consider alternatives.

The funds raised at this event support charities for the mentally ill, homeless families, and shelter for at-risk teenagers. They also support the art programs in the seven local schools in Seal Beach, Los Alamitos and Huntington Beach. In addition, a portion of the proceeds is used to create continuing education grants for local residents.

Events are not guaranteed. It is your responsibility to confirm before going.