Get ready for a burst of color in Ventura, California, at the 10th Annual Ventura & Street Painting Festival. Taking place 10 a.m.–5 p.m. on September 8–9 at Ventura Harbor Village, this popular event transforms the harbor promenade into a vibrant outdoor gallery filled with chalk murals created by talented artists from across Southern California.
About 45 artists are expected to participate, producing original sidewalk art that will be on display and available for purchase. Visitors can watch artists work, admire large-scale 3D pieces and intimate chalk portraits, and enjoy the evolving creative process throughout the weekend.
Young artists are welcome in the Children’s Chalk Area, hosted by Kids Arts, Inc. For a $10 admission fee, each child receives chalk and an assigned stretch of sidewalk to design their own artwork, making this a family-friendly opportunity to explore creativity in a relaxed, supportive setting.
The festival lineup includes accomplished street painters such as Gus Moran, Tracy Strum—a world-renowned chalk artist who lives in Ventura—and longtime practitioner Rod Tryon. Their presence adds depth and experience to the event and gives visitors the chance to see a range of styles and techniques up close.
Beyond the chalk art, Ventura Harbor Village offers dining options, unique boutiques and local galleries to browse as you stroll the waterfront. Live music enhances the atmosphere: Blues-country rock artist Sean Wiggins performs on a floating stage from 3–6 p.m. on Saturday, September 8, with additional live entertainment scheduled Sunday, September 9, from 1–4 p.m.
The Ventura & Street Painting Festival is both a celebration of public art and a lively coastal outing. Whether you come to watch master street painters, let children experiment with chalk, shop in the village or enjoy live music by the water, the event promises a colorful, family-friendly weekend in Ventura Harbor Village.