More than 170 artists, a ticketed Wine & Beer Garden and family fun take over Girard Avenue Oct. 10-11, with proceeds benefiting La Jolla’s public schools
Mark your calendars, art lovers and wine sippers! The La Jolla Art & Wine Festival (LJAWF) returns to the heart of La Jolla Village on Saturday, Oct. 10, and Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Now in its 18th year, this free, two-day juried art show transforms Girard Avenue, from Prospect Street to Torrey Pines Road, into an open-air gallery packed with fine art, regional and international wines, craft beer, live music and activities for the whole family.
LJAWF Executive Director Abraham Musto calls it “Southern California’s premier coastal arts event,” and with an estimated 40,000 visitors expected to stroll the village over the weekend, it’s easy to see why. Best of all, you can feel good about every glass you raise and every piece you take home.
Art With a Purpose
LJAWF isn’t just a pretty weekend by the sea. The La Jolla Art & Wine Festival Foundation is a nonprofit, and all proceeds benefit underfunded programs at La Jolla’s five public schools: Bird Rock Elementary, La Jolla Elementary, Torrey Pines Elementary, Muirlands Middle School and La Jolla High School. Those funds support art, music, science, physical education, technology and on-site medical care that district budgets don’t always cover. Since its inception, the festival has donated more than $1.7 million to these programs, benefiting more than 4,000 children.
Meet the Makers
More than 170 artists from across the US and Mexico will line the street with work spanning painting, sculpture, jewelry design, fine glass, ceramics, woodwork, mixed media and photography. Whether you’re a seasoned collector or just love a good browse, there’s something here to fall for.
This year’s featured artist is Doug Merskin, a Florida-based mixed media artist whose heat-sculpted, three-dimensional pieces capture the color and movement of the ocean. Every work starts as a flat painting of mineral pigments, metallic powders and acrylics, and Merskin bends and sculpts the substrate with heat only after it has fully cured. His Mona Pass series, inspired by a nighttime sail through glowing bioluminescent water between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, even uses luminescent pigments that glow in the dark. Stop by his booth to touch the textured surfaces, watch installation videos and ask him anything. You can also follow his process on Instagram.
Raise a Glass in the Wine & Beer Garden
Guests 21 and older won’t want to miss the Wine & Beer Garden, located at the corner of Girard Avenue and Silverado Street in the center of the festival. The garden spans more than 13,000 square feet with shaded seating, a dance floor and live local musicians performing both days. Expect pours from about 35 wineries, breweries and distilleries, including Turtle Rock Ridge Winery, Ramona Valley Vineyard Association, La Jolla Crafted Wines, Bernardo Winery, Paul Hobbs Winery, Pure Project, Mike Hess Brewing, Novo Brazil Brewing and Batch 22. Bites come courtesy of participating food sponsors like The Cottage, Shake Shack, PopUp Bagels and Schmackary’s.
The garden runs noon to 6 p.m. both days, with last pour at 5:30 p.m. The festival itself is free, but a ticket is required to enter the garden. Choose from three tiers, with service fees and tax added at checkout:
General Admission ($65): five tasting tickets good for wine, beer, spirits, non-alcoholic options and small bites, plus live entertainment, shaded seating, dance floor access and a collectible tasting cup.
General Admission Plus ($75): everything above with eight tastings.
VIP Admission ($90): 10 tasting tickets good for wine, beer, spirits, non-alcoholic options and small bites, plus a dedicated VIP entrance for faster access, an exclusive limited-edition LJAWF tote, a collectible tasting cup, live entertainment, shaded seating and dance floor access. VIP tickets are available while supplies last.
Tickets are limited and expected to sell out, so grab yours here. Don’t forget your ID, and note that children are not permitted inside the garden. Because the event is a nonprofit fundraiser, all ticket purchases are considered donations and are nonrefundable, rain or shine. Check the FAQs for full details.
Fun for the Whole Family
Bring the kids to the free Geppetto’s Toys Family Art Center, located on Wall Street at Girard Avenue. Longtime sponsor Geppetto’s Toys hosts crafts, prize drawings and giveaways, while the lineup includes ballet and dance with The Rosin Box Project, gymnastics and aerial acrobatics with Momentum Acrobatics, robotics with La Jolla Youth Robotics, hands-on crafting with the La Jolla/Riford Library and face painting. San Diego artist Brandon Fuqua, aka Barfo, will also create live art throughout the weekend, so stop by to watch his colorful monsters come to life.
Four-legged family members are welcome too! LJAWF is a pet-friendly event, and thanks to the support of Ark Antiques, local rescue organizations will host pet adoption stations along Girard Avenue. Come for the art, leave with a new best friend.
Bid, Bite and Browse
Can’t wait until festival weekend? The online silent auction opened Friday, Oct. 2, so you can bid from your phone, computer or by text, and every bid supports the schools.
When hunger strikes, the festival’s gourmet food lineup has you covered with tacos from Belinda’s Familia Taco Shop, bao buns from House of Bao, pies from Isola Pizza Bar, hot dogs from Scrappy Hot Dogs and Doggos Gus, plus sweet treats from Mariposa Ice Cream and Famigos Ice Cream. Chick-fil-A La Jolla, Bread and Cheese Catering, Fusion Eats, Greek Snack and SoCal Lemonade round out the menu.
Plan Your Visit
Street parking and paid parking lots are available throughout La Jolla, but traffic in the village gets busy, so consider a rideshare, especially if you plan to visit the Wine & Beer Garden. Download the 2026 festival map before you go, and follow along on Instagram and Facebook for the latest updates. Want to give back even more? Sign up to volunteer.
Q&A:
Q: Is the La Jolla Art & Wine Festival free?
A: Yes! The festival is free and open to all ages. The only ticketed area is the Wine & Beer Garden, which requires a separate ticket for guests 21 and older. Tiers include General Admission ($65) with five tastings, General Admission Plus ($75) with eight tastings and VIP Admission ($90) with 10 tastings plus perks like a dedicated VIP entrance and an exclusive limited-edition tote. Service fees and tax are added at checkout. Tickets are available here.
Q: When and where does the festival take place?
A: The festival runs Saturday, Oct. 10, and Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. along Girard Avenue in La Jolla Village, stretching from Prospect Street to Torrey Pines Road. The Wine & Beer Garden is open noon to 6 p.m. both days, with last pour at 5:30 p.m., at the corner of Girard Avenue and Silverado Street. Download the 2026 festival map to plan your route.
Q: Can I bring my kids and my dog?
A: Absolutely. LJAWF is both family-friendly and pet-friendly. Kids can enjoy crafts, dance, acrobatics, robotics and live art at the free Geppetto’s Toys Family Art Center on Wall Street at Girard Avenue. Just note that children are not permitted inside the Wine & Beer Garden, though dogs are welcome there. You can even meet adoptable pets at the pet adoption stations along Girard Avenue.
Q: Where does the money go?
A: All proceeds benefit underfunded programs at La Jolla’s five public schools: Bird Rock Elementary, La Jolla Elementary, Torrey Pines Elementary, Muirlands Middle School and La Jolla High School. Funds support art, music, science, physical education, technology and on-site medical care. Since its inception, the festival has donated more than $1.7 million to these programs, benefiting more than 4,000 children.
Q: What should I know before I go?
A: Bring a valid ID if you plan to visit the Wine & Beer Garden, since all guests must show identification for entry. Tickets are limited and expected to sell out, so buy in advance. All ticket purchases are considered donations and are nonrefundable, and the garden is a rain-or-shine event. Street parking and paid lots are available throughout La Jolla, but a rideshare is your best bet. Can’t wait for festival weekend? The online silent auction is already live, so you can start bidding now.
La Jolla Art & Wine Festival
Girard Avenue between Prospect Street and Torrey Pines Road
La Jolla, CA 92037
www.ljawf.com
Erik Hale is the visionary and publisher behind LOCALE Magazine. He launched the magazine in 2010, wanting to give the community of OC a premiere lifestyle magazine that knew all the native knowledge behind OC. “Six years ago Ashley and I sat at a table scratching the name LOCALE (among some other names) onto a sheet of paper,” says Erik, “coming up with story ideas and basically dreaming. Everything we imagined has happened and we have been blessed with so much more. I am so grateful as we start another year for my family, my two wonderful children, my health, our amazing writers, designers and photographers, our advertising partners and you.”
