Ocean Art Festival Thousands Turn Out for Inaugural Art on Ocean Festival Along Santa Monica's Oceanfront

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — On a sunny Saturday, August 8, 2026, Ocean Avenue temporarily traded car traffic for creativity as the inaugural Art on Ocean – Palisades Park Arts Festival transformed a stretch of the iconic roadway into a vibrant, car-free outdoor gallery overlooking the Pacific.

The free, all-ages event ran from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. along Ocean Avenue between California and Montana Avenues, adjacent to Palisades Park. More than 100 visual artists from across California displayed and sold original works ranging from paintings and photography to ceramics, sculpture, jewelry, mixed media, and handcrafted pieces. Festivalgoers browsed the curated booths, met the creators, and shopped directly from them against a backdrop of ocean views and sea breezes.

Art on Ocean – Palisades Park Arts Festival (often just called Art on Ocean), a free outdoor arts festival held on Saturday, August 8, 2026,

A woman looks at art at the Art on Ocean – Palisades Park Arts Festival (often just called Art on Ocean), a free outdoor arts festival held on Saturday, August 8, 2026,

Live music filled the air throughout the day, with performances by Nick Kennerly, Mudslide Mojo, La Compania, and Country House Party offering a mix of classical violin, Americana, Latin jazz, and danceable favorites. A wine garden (for guests 21 and older) featured pours from Divine Vintage, a full bar by Thirst Trap, DJ sets, and a popular Paint & Sip experience, while food vendors including Blue Plate Taco, Triple Beam Pizza, and Ubatuba Açaí kept crowds fueled.

Two instructors from the Sling Flight Academy at the Santa Monica airport. First lesson free!

Families flocked to interactive zones, including free art workshops hosted by Santa Monica Paint Lab and a dedicated kids’ area with face painting, bracelet-making, sensory play, and other hands-on activities organized with local preschool and community partners.

Organized by Beach Native Marketing & Events in partnership with the City of Santa Monica Office of Sustainability and the Environment, and with support from the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce, the Wilshire Montana Neighborhood Coalition, and Paint Lab, the festival was designed as a community celebration centered on art. Event organizer Jenny Rice had described it beforehand as more than an art show—a chance for people to stay, explore, and connect in one of Southern California’s most scenic settings.

As the daytime festivities wound down, many attendees lingered for a free outdoor screening of Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle in Palisades Park, presented by the Wilshire Montana Neighborhood Coalition. The inaugural edition successfully closed Ocean Avenue to vehicles for the day, creating a walkable arts destination that organizers hope will become a recurring highlight on Santa Monica’s summer calendar.

The event welcomed thousands of attendees who enjoyed a rare opportunity to experience Ocean Avenue as a pedestrian-friendly space dedicated to local creativity and coastal community spirit.