Orange County displays the diversity of the area through creative events like art walks and art crawl experiences. Some cities have monthly events, while others have annual events. To explore a diverse collection of galleries and local artists, here is a list of art walks in Orange County.
Balboa Island Art Walk
Sunday, May 21, 2023
9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
South Bayfront Promenade of Balboa Island
The annual Balboa Island Art Walk showcases the work of talented local artists along a one-mile stretch of Balboa Island. The free event features over 90 artists displaying various artworks including paintings, jewelry, photography, sculpture, and more. The event includes live performers, vendors, food, and more.
Costa Mesa ArtVenture
October 28, 2023
Norma Hertzog Community Event Center & Lions Park Lawn
1845 Park Ave., Costa Mesa, CA
600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
ArtVenture is a free cultural event in Costa Mesa the includes a juried art exhibition, a community arts day, and awards ceremony. Community Day features a full day of family friendly fun with live art activities and performances, artwork for viewing and more.
Juried Art Exhibition artwork will be on display at the Norma Hertzog Community Center October 27 – November 5, 2023.
The Community Arts Day and the Awards Ceremony will take place on October 28, 2023.
Downtown Fullerton Art Walk
First Friday of Every Month
6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. (hours may vary by event)
Multiple Venues around Downtown Fullerton
The Downtown Fullerton Art Walk is a monthly event organized by the Downtown Art Community and local retailers to showcase local art, culture, and history. The best place to start is the Fullerton Museum Plaza at 301 N. Pomona. Here you can get a map of participating venues and explore the area. Participating venues and galleries each display original concepts and may feature entertainment, food, drinks, and vendors. Some of the participating vendors are located at Villa Del Sol, Magoski Arts Colony, and Carpe Diem Experience.
Downtown Santa Ana Art Walk
First Saturday of Every Month
6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
125 N Broadway, Santa Ana, CA 92701
The Downtown Santa Ana Art Walk takes place the first Saturday of every month and showcases more the 25 galleries, 40 vendors, and 40 bars and restaurants. The event features live performances, art activities for kids, Artmusement, a coloring wall at M. Lovewell, community engagement, open mic and free stylin’ opportunities, and games at Good Beer Co. A map for the activities and galleries is available at 2nd Street Promenade at 125 N. Broadway.
Huntington Beach Art-A-Faire
Every Friday
11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Pier Plaza at 1 Main St., Huntington Beach, CA 92648
The weekly Huntington Beach Art-A-Faire is located just steps from the ocean at Pier Plaza in Downtown Huntington Beach. The event features 50 vendors with a diverse collection of hand-made gifts and crafts including jewelry, scarves, surf-themed art and merchandise, paintings, home décor, and more. Art-A-Faire is also held on select weekends throughout the year.
Laguna Beach First Thursdays Art Walk
First Thursday of Every Month
6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
891 Laguna Canyon Rd, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
The Laguna Beach First Thursdays Art Walk takes place year round on the first Thursday of every month from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. During the free event, everyone is invited to explore the many Laguna Beach art Galleries and their diverse art exhibits. The event also features entertainment and other special events. Participating galleries may include Laguna Art Museum, Lu Martin Galleries, Quorum Gallery, Sandstone Gallery, Avran Fine Art, LCAD Gallery, Las Laguna Gallery, and more. Free trolley service is available during the event to easily move from one location to the next.
Newport Beach Art In The Park
Saturday, September 23, 2023
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Newport Beach Civic Center
100 Civic Center Drive Newport Beach , CA 92660
The annual Art In The Park event is a free community event on the green of the Newport Beach Civic Center. The event features the works of more than 125 artists and a variety of exhibitors and crafts for viewing and purchase including glass art, painting, sculptures, mixed media, textiles, jewelry, photography, woodcrafts, and more. The Chuck Jones Center for Creativity provides art activities for kids and food will be available for purchase.
San Clemente Village Art Faire
First Saturday of Every Month
242 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
The San Clemente Village Art Faire is a monthly community event held on the first Saturday of every month. Artists and craftspeople from all over Southern California gather to showcase their goods for purchase. Products offered by artisans includes botanicals, ceramics, clothing, photography, fine art, jewelry, apothecary, leather goods, home décor, glass art, metal work, and more. Food will also be available for purchase at the monthly event.
Tustin Art Walk & Craft Crawl
October 21, 2023
11AM – 5PM
Old Town Tustin
The City of Tustin holds an annual art walk event every October. Each year, the theme varies slightly, but activities and events generally include a plein air contest, historic old town bus tours, beer and wine tasting, photo displays, sidewalk artists, handcraft spaces, kids art activities, and live music. The art walk takes place in Old Town Tustin at El Camino Real and Main Street and the surrounding area.
Art Crawl Experience – Downtown Anaheim
Center Street Promenade from Anaheim to Harbor Boulevards
None Scheduled At This Time
The Downtown Anaheim Arts District hosts the Art Crawl Experience four times a year. The event aims to showcase art in public places, street artisans, pop-up galleries by local artists, and the brick-and-mortar galleries of the Anaheim Arts District. The event features permanent art fixtures on display, live art demonstrations by participating artists, food trucks, vendors with hand-made goods available for purchase, and entertainment. Complimentary rides are available on the Anaheim Resort Transit (ART).
As an alternative to the previously scheduled art walks, Downtown often hosts maker events and community yard sales with live music, food, and vendors selling handmade gifts.
Related Articles
| Instagrammable Spots in Orange County | Farmers Markets in OC |
| Sawdust Art Festival | Fairs & Festivals in OC |
| Orange County Art Scene | Laguna Beach Art, Museums, & Culture |
