Author: Faryn Borella
Imagine a music and arts festival where admission is absolutely free. You get to listen to great, off-the-radar music and browse works of over 400 artisan vendors at no charge to you. Fabulous, right? But let’s say you decide to throw down a little cash, maybe on a T-shirt or a hamburger or a piece of artwork. Well, with every dollar you spend, you are helping someone who is truly in need. Don’t you want to attend a festival like that?
This Saturday, Sept. 26, you can. Venice Beach (a short 45-minute drive from campus) will hold the 26th annual Abbot Kinney Festival. Beginning at 10 a.m. and running until 6 p.m., vendors, concert stages and food trucks will line Abbot Kinney Boulevard.The first Abbot Kinney Festival took place in 1984 and the event has grown exponentially since. The festival is designed to raise awareness about environmental issues and raise money for local non-profits. Over 150,000 people attended last year’s festival, making it the “second largest of its kind in Southern California,” according to the festival’s official website.
Vendors will line the already eclectic street that contains boutiques, restaurants, coffee houses, art galleries, nightclubs and yoga studios. Additionally, three stages will be set up for performances by a wide variety of bands, including Olin & the Moon, Matt Ellis, Abe Vigoda, Puro Instinct and many more.
When one hears “Venice Beach,” many stereotypes pop into mind. It’s often known for its almost circus-like qualities. People imagine fortune-tellers, body-builders and roller-skaters. According to the event’s website, this one town seems to draw people from all walks of life, and this is what attracted the festival organizers to this location.
While admission to this event is free, there are still many ways the festival’s organizers encourage attendee spending. For example, all vendors must pay a cover charge in order to sell their goods during the festival. Additionally, festival merchandise, such as T-shirts and tote bags, are for sale both on the website and at the festival itself. As specified on the website, the money raised from vending fees and some profits from goods is then redistributed by the Abbot Kinney Festival Association (AKFA) to local non-profit groups, especially those which benefit at-risk youth. Since its establishment in 2009, AKFA has donated $200,000 to local organizations in grants ranging from $5,000-$30,000.
If you are interested in the arts, if you are a music enthusiast or if you simply have never been to Venice Beach before, then mark this down in your calendar immediately. Charity and festivity have never fit together so well!
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