The fourth annual La Jolla Art & Wine Festival (LJAWF) is expected to draw more than 30,000 people to the Village on Oct. 13-14 for a weekend of artwork, entertainment, food, wine and beer. This year, for the first time, there will be no admission fee to the fundraiser that benefits local schools.
Relocating closer to the heart of the Village on Girard Avenue between Prospect and Kline streets, LJAWF will be twice as big as years past, offering 300 booths, artwork from 165 artists, and a wine and beer garden holding upward of 700 people. There will also be a culinary section, family arts center for children, live entertainment and a silent auction. Also new this year, pets will be permitted at the festival. “We’ve had to turn away 100 artists this year because of the overwhelming response we received,” said Sherry Ahern, LJAWF founder and chairwoman. The addition of Wells Fargo as the festival’s 2012 title sponsor has afforded LJAWF the ability to ditch the entrance fee. Because of the success of the festival and close proximity to Village businesses, LJAWF has partnered with the La Jolla Village Merchants Association to make this year’s festival bigger and better than ever. “I’m so pleased the merchants are happy,” said Ahern. “We wanted to bring art back to La Jolla, the schools needed money and the merchants needed business.” Although there are 12 people on the LJAWF executive committee, only two are paid festival employees. The 450 volunteers who help during the two-day festival are critical to the operations.
Since its inception in 2009, LJAWF has raised over $120,000 for La Jolla elementary and middle schools. This money benefits underfunded programs like art, music, science, technology and physical education, and makes it possible for the schools to have a dedicated nurse and librarian. “How will our children ever know the culture of the world if we never give them a taste of it?” asked Ahern. Artists from San Diego and surrounding areas were selected to showcase their work at LJAWF by a jury of artists, authors, critics and collectors from Juried Art Services. A variety of mediums will be presented, including painting, sculpture, ceramics, jewelry, fine glass, woodwork, mixed media and photography. More than 20 regional and international wineries and breweries from the Southern California and Baja regionswill serve up spirits in the wine and beer garden. Entertainment in the form of circus acts and flash mobs, jugglers, stilt walkers and live music will run continually throughout the festival streets and stages. LJAWF will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days. Donations will be accepted at festival entrances and there will be a valet service, public parking and shuttles available. For more information, visit www.ljawf.com.
