LAST YEAR'S ARTS FEST
Details from 2025
Details from 2025
10:00 - 5:00 ⭕️ September 13, 2025 ⭕️ 3300 Alpine Rd. Portola Valley
Come join us for this year's gathering of our creative community.
Embedded Files
A Gallery of Art
Theater
Free Concerts
Literary Events
Artist Workshops
Local food and wine
Arts and Crafts for Sale
Art Activities All Day
How is the Portola Valley Arts Fest different than other local festivals?
The Portola Valley Arts Fest is not your typical art fair — it’s a joyful celebration of community and creativity nestled under the redwoods. More intimate and welcoming than a large town festival, yet more refined than your average neighborhood craft fair, it brings together professional, local artists, musicians, writers, and families in a uniquely vibrant atmosphere.
Wander through the art exhibition, explore hands-on activities, pick up a handcrafted piece or a fresh-printed book, and listen to live music drifting across the field. Let your kids join story time, dance to a local band, or chase beach balls in the sunshine. Share a glass of wine with friends, discover new favorite artist, and feel the warmth of a community brought together by the arts. It’s more than a festival — it’s a day to reconnect, create, and celebrate what makes the community special.
10:00 - 5:00 ⭕️ September 13, 2025 ⭕️ 3300 Alpine Rd. Portola Valley
🟢 2025 Booth Artists 🟢
🟢 2025 Booth Artists 🟢
More artists showing in the Group Exhibition
Performances all day long.
KIDS: The morning will have a children's focus with story time of local authors' books and an hour of silly, sweet music and acts from our Portola Valley Theater Conservatory. (Plenty there to be enjoyed by all ages.)
EVERYONE: The afternoon is a mix of back-to-back literary events and music. In the spirit of the Creative Circle, we will have events which look into the process as well as the presentation of these arts. I am excited to close out the day with an "Irish pub under the redwoods." I invite you to join the joyful music at our cèilí.
Story & Theater
Story & Theater
10:30 am -- Local Author Story Time
for the Kid in all of us in conjunction with our wonderful PV Public Library
11:00 am -- Musical Sing-Along
Local youth from the Portola Valley Theater Conservatory will perform and lead a sing-along from your favorite musicals. Bring a costume!
And visit the Book Nook to meet with visiting local children's book authors and learn how to make your own books.
Peruse local author children's books in the Book Nook.
More Music
More Music
12:00 pm -- Fresh Starts
We kick off the afternoon music with a mixed set of gorgeous young voices: Portola Valley's own Julian Nicholls and Jasmine Peck, Katie and Will El Fishawy.
1:00 pm -- Hats Off
Molly and Maceo from @Tiny-Trees-Band will serenade us with their stunning original songs. What talent!!! @hats.off.band
2:00 pm Jen & Jim
Wecome back local musical favorites, Jen and Jim, who will entertain us with their beautiful vocals and guitar again this year.
4:00 The Pub Under the Redwoods
Sorry! Cancelled, but welcome Luc Pardehpoosh with heartfelt roots and folk rock. (Connect with Luc through @bluelemonade.band)
Bay Area favorites, box-player Barry O'Connell and friends will recreate the energy and joy of a traditional cèilí with an open Irish Music session. Bring your own instrument to join in or dance along under the redwoods where a bit of Guinness (or local wine) may be on offer to complete our Irish pub California style! (All ages always welcome.)
Literature
Literature
3:00 pm -- Local Author Readings
This year three local authors will help us explore the process of becoming writers and getting published. Please, join us to take a close look at one strategy used by the Bay Area's Shewrites Press. See how it bypasses some of the gatekeepers of more traditional presses, while maintaining some important perks. Then they will share excerpts from their recent books.
2025 Authors:
Ellen Barker, author of the three-book East of Troost series about reconnecting to a community after urban upheaval and contributor to Grief Like Yours.
Jude Berman, author of award-winning books -- The Die, Shot, and The Vow, a deeply researched rediscovery of an 18th-century woman artist.
Ginny Kubitz Moyer, author of A Golden Life and The Seeing Garden -- historical fiction with a setting inspired by Filoli.
Click on their names to learn more about their wonderful books.
And visit the Book Nook to meet with these and other local authors.
WorkShop -- 1:00 PM
Pet Portraits
Slide show + demo
(in Peabody Hall)
Join local mixed media artist Carol Worthington-Levy as she gives a fascinating look at the practice of pet portrait painting by famous artists and then gives a live demonstration of how to go about painting your own pet portrait.
Location
3300 Alpine Road
Just off 280 in Portola Valley
Lots of Parking
The generous folks at Ladera Community Church have graciously opened their grounds to us again this year, so come enjoy the birdsong and redwoods along with all the beautiful art.
Thank you
Rev. Dr. Evelyn Vigil, Sue Bartalo, and
everybody at the LCC.
Plus a special shout-out to
artists and writers Stelli and Jeff Munnis, LCC's former minister, who kicked this all off with their original, enthusiastic invitation.
Without the generosity of the Ladera Community Church, this event would not be possible, but please know it is an inclusive, non-religious event.
10:00 - 5:00 ⭕️ September 13 2025 ⭕️ 3300 Alpine Rd. Portola Valley
Group Exhibition
Metal Smith Katie El Fishawy poses before her cast jewelry. Libby Raab's paper weavings in the Group Exhibition caught the eye of the director at CSMA who offered her a solo show.
Metal Smith Katie El Fishawy poses before her cast jewelry. Libby Raab's paper weavings in the Group Exhibition caught the eye of the director at CSMA who offered her a solo show.
In addition to nearly 30 artists selling their work from booths on the church grounds, approximately 15 artists will be showing their work in the Group Exhibition in Peabody Hall.
Arts Fest artists Jean Pettigrew Whelan and Kevin Gill were selected for the 2023 De Young Open.
Arts Fest artists Jean Pettigrew Whelan and Kevin Gill were selected for the 2023 De Young Open.
The Group Exhibition is the fullest expression of the community spirit of the Arts Fest. People who may not have time to produce the amount of art which warrants a booth hang their work side-by-side with professional artists and those whose work can be seen in museums.
Be sure to drop by the
group exhibition
group exhibition
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