ABBOT KINNEY FESTIVAL
Since its founding in 1984, the Abbot Kinney Festival has grown in size and popularity to become one of the largest community events of its kind in the country. Each year, it attracts 150,000+ eco-conscious urban singles, couples, and families to the sunny beachside community of Venice on the last Sunday in September.
In addition to giving back to the community, the festival is best known for its unique array of local artisan crafts, live music, good food, and commitment to the environment. Activities and areas are designed to complement the eclectic, cutting-edge mix of over 100 boutiques, art galleries, restaurants, bookstores, design firms, coffee shops, clubs, salons, and much more along the famed bohemian-chic shopping district of Abbot Kinney Blvd., which stretches one mile from Venice Blvd. to Main St.
The festival includes special gathering areas such as the following:
KidsQuad: Situated on the grounds of Westminster Elementary School, KidsQuad is where families can dance and sing along to lively music, create art, play games, and enjoy the day together. Activities include healthy snack-creating by Piccolo Chef, children's gardening by Little Saplings, jewelry making by Ecommunity Arts, exotic wildlife mobile exhibit by STAR ECO Station, and programming just for toddlers in Tot Lot.
The purpose of the Abbot Kinney Festival is to promote the vibrant creativity that makes the beachside community of Venice, California so unique. The event is organized and produced by the Abbot Kinney Festival Association (AKFA), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1984, whose primary goal is to raise funds to reinvest back into the community to support youth and families.
FESTIVAL SUSTAINABILITY COMMITMENT
The Abbot Kinney Festival seeks to be an environmentally and socially responsible event. Following are just a few examples of what we are currently doing to reduce our ecological footprint:
(1) We encourage food vendors to provide biodegradable utensils and attendees to bring reusable utensils, shopping bags, and beverage containers to avoid excessive waste.
(2) We strive to be paperless as much as possible. Our registration is online and publicity materials are distributed electronically. Other items are designed with reuse in mind such as our festival program guides, which are printed using recycled newsprint and soy-based ink.
(3) Everything that can be recycled is done so to the best of our ability. Bins are placed throughout the festival for use by attendees and vendors. Banners are either constructed using recycled materials or designated for recycling or repurposing.
(4) We urge attendees to use greener modes of transportation. Use our bike valet stations, carpool with friends, walk from nearby parking lots, or take the bus.
(5) Our music stages are powered with biodiesel generators.
AKFA COMMUNITY GRANTS PROGRAM
Funded by festival proceeds, the AKFA Community Grants Program awards funding to selected Venice-based nonprofit organizations that offer services and programs aimed at youth and families. Applications are accepted each year during May 15 through July 1 preceding the festival. Since 1984, well over $250,000 in festival proceeds have been invested into the community of Venice. To learn how to apply for next year’s grants, visit http://abbotkinney.org/grant-application.
SPIRIT OF VENICE AWARDS
Since 1984, the Abbot Kinney Festival Association has recognized exemplary individuals nominated by the community for their significant contributions to the spirit, creativity, and uniqueness of Venice. Past recipients include artists, musicians, poets, musicians, athletes, and civic leaders such as Lynn Warshafsky and Jim Hubbard of Venice Arts; artists Tibor Jankay and Earl Newman; poet Fred Dewey of Beyond Baroque; Electric Lodge founder Joel Shapiro; pro skateboarder and Dogtown Skate Park co-founder Jesse Martinez; community advocates Betsy Goldman, Ivan Spiegel, and Diane Bush; and retired LAFD Inspector Mike Neeley and LAPD Sr. Lead Officer Heidi Llanes.
