More than 170 juried artists will line Girard Avenue this weekend for the La Jolla Art & Wine Festival's 18th year. Admission is free, and organizers expect 45,000 visitors across the two days.
But Hurricane Rachel's projected path toward San Diego could complicate the outdoor event's Sunday schedule.
The festival runs Saturday, Oct. 10, and Sunday, Oct. 11, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days. It stretches from Prospect Street to Torrey Pines Road in La Jolla Village. Artists from across the U.S. and Mexico will show painting, sculpture, jewelry, photography, ceramics and glasswork, according to the Times of San Diego.
The nonprofit La Jolla Art & Wine Festival Foundation, which organizes the event, has donated more than $1.7 million since 2008 to arts, music, science and technology programs at five La Jolla public schools. Those programs reach more than 4,000 students each year, according to the foundation.
Founder Sherry Ahern told the Times of San Diego she launched the festival after seeing for-lease signs filling storefronts along Girard Avenue in 2008. "Schools needed money, and I needed to get them involved," she said.
The event relies on 475 volunteers and includes a Wine & Beer Garden with 35-plus vendors, 16 food vendors, a two-day silent auction, 10 live music acts and more than 10 pet adoption stations. New this year, the Wine & Beer Garden adds a VIP area with additional tasting options. Garden tickets require a separate purchase and are for guests 21 and older.
Children can try hands-on projects at the Geppetto's Toys Family Art Center, which features more than 15 booths. School robotics teams will also demonstrate their work.
La Jolla palette knife oil painter Krista Schumacher is returning for her eighth year at the festival. She will display her latest collection, "California In Bloom," focused on California landscapes. Schumacher described the work as "very loose and impressionistic with a lot of energy," according to a Times of San Diego profile.
Weather watch: Hurricane Rachel
As the La Jolla Ledger reported Wednesday, Hurricane Rachel has already prompted high surf and flood advisories along the La Jolla coast. The National Hurricane Center on Wednesday, Oct. 7, extended its forecast cone for the Category 1 storm into Southern California. Remnants could reach the San Diego-Tijuana area by Saturday night or Sunday morning, according to KTLA.
Fox 5 San Diego reported the storm could still produce heavy rainfall, flooding and "life-threatening surf and rip current conditions" even after weakening.
The festival's FAQ page states the event takes place "rain or shine" and advises attendees to check the weather and dress accordingly. No organizer statement specifically addressing Hurricane Rachel had been released as of Wednesday, Oct. 7. Attendees should monitor ljawf.com and the foundation's social media channels for updates.
La Jolla Art & Wine Festival: Saturday, Oct. 10, and Sunday, Oct. 11, 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Girard Avenue from Prospect Street to Torrey Pines Road. Free admission. Wine & Beer Garden tickets sold separately at ljawf.com.
