There are certain weekends when La Jolla feels especially like itself—and the annual La Jolla Art & Wine Festival is one of them.
Returning October 10–11, 2026, the two-day festival transforms Girard Avenue into an open-air celebration of art, food, wine and community. Admission is free, the setting is walkable and the lineup offers plenty of reasons to linger for the afternoon.
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The Art
More than 170 artists from across the United States and Mexico will line Girard Avenue, showing work across painting, sculpture, photography, jewelry, ceramics, fine glass, woodwork and mixed media. This year’s featured artist is Doug Merskin, a Florida- and California-based mixed-media artist known for sculptural, ocean-inspired pieces made with acrylic paint, mineral pigments and metallic powders.
Whether you arrive ready to collect or simply want to browse, this is the heart of the weekend—and one of the better opportunities to meet the artists behind the work.
The Wine & Beer Garden
At the center of the festival, the ticketed Wine & Beer Garden brings together more than 35 wineries, craft breweries and spirits producers in a shaded, 13,000-square-foot space with seating and a full afternoon of live music. The garden is open from noon to 6 p.m. each day, with the final pour at 5:30 p.m. Admission is limited to guests 21 and older, and tickets are required.
The Soundtrack
The Wine & Beer Garden doubles as the festival’s main stage, with a lineup that moves easily between jazz, opera, reggae, Americana, yacht rock and dance-floor favorites.
Saturday’s schedule includes Josh Weinstein, San Diego Opera, the Seaside Serenaders, Paging the 90s, The Rosin Box Project and Pop Vinyl. Sunday brings Slack Key ʻOhana, San Diego Opera, The Dub Squad, ZB Savoy, Captain’s Orders, The Rosin Box Project and Full Strength. In other words: you might hear an operatic interlude over your first tasting and yacht rock by late afternoon.
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What to Eat
Come prepared to make a meal of it. The 2026 food lineup ranges from pizza, tacos and bao to hot dogs, Greek bites, lemonade and ice cream.
Vendors include Belinda’s Familia Taco Shop, Doggos Gus, Famigos Ice Cream, Fusion Eats, House of Bao, Isola Pizza Bar, Mariposa Ice Cream, Scrappy Hot Dogs, SoCal Lemonade and Chick-fil-A La Jolla. Our move: browse the artists first, stop for lunch and save room for a scoop before heading home.
More Than a Street Festival
The festival is produced by the nonprofit La Jolla Art & Wine Festival Foundation, with proceeds supporting underfunded art, music, science, physical education, technology and on-site medical programs at La Jolla public schools. Since its founding, the organization has contributed more than $1.7 million to local schools, benefiting over 4,000 students.
The weekend also includes an online silent auction, family-friendly art activities and pet-adoption stations presented with support from Ark Antiques and participating rescue organizations.
The Details
When: Saturday and Sunday, October 10–11, 2026, from 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Where: Girard Avenue, La Jolla, CA 92037
Admission: Free
Wine & Beer Garden: Ticketed and limited to guests 21+; open noon–6 p.m. with last pour at 5:30 p.m.
More information: ljawf.com
Follow: @lajollaartandwinefestival
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