Get Your Art and Music On! Art Around Adams Is the Place to Be!

Painting a mural on Adams Avenue.

A sculptor at work. Photo by Dennis Andersen.

The fifteenth annual Art Around Adams music and artwalk takes place June 2 along a two-mile stretch of Adams Avenue, in Normal Heights and Kensington. The free, all-ages event is a grass roots street fair with a difference: no street closures, no vendors in the street. The focus here is on the community with almost two dozen stages located in local businesses or numerous outdoor spots around Adams Avenue.

Art Around Adams itself is a kaleidoscope of sights and sounds. A free trolley, hosted by local comedians, will offer rides from stage to stage, but it’s also a lot of fun walking from spot to spot, discovering new visual or aural treasures along the way. Festival goers will find art–from sculptures to paintings to jewelry and everything in between–located at more than 90 shops and galleries along the festival route, with the event’s home base, Smitty’s Garage set to double as both music stage and information booth.

“We’re trying to bring to the community thought-provoking art performances and musical acts you won’t see anywhere else,” said event organizer Adam Rosen. “There is so much great of art and music happening in San Diego, this is a wonderful opportunity to shine a spotlight on some of the best, while giving San Diegan’s a free, family-friendly day of fun in the sun.”

In addition to art, music will be everywhere. There will be six outdoor stages including Smitty’s Garage, Café 21, and the Adams Avenue Rec Center Park, while some of San Diego’s favorite neighborhood bars and restaurants will also host free live music, including the Ould Sod, Rosie O’Grady’s, and DeMilles Italian Restaurant. Meanwhile, Kensington Park will feature an Americana stage with rockabilly, blues, country and folk music. There will also be music at the Normal Heights United Methodist Church and the Masonic Lodge.

While performers were still being confirmed at press time, the musicians featured ranges from music veterans to up and comers–in all genres, including indie rockers Electric Mud, punk pioneers the Dinettes, hip-hop combo Jumbotron, surf trio Alvino and the Dwells, San Diego Music Awards “2018 Song of the Year” winner Ariel Levine, girl group / Bacharach inspired combo The Joyelles, violinist Alicia Previn and award winning Americana group, Enter the Blue Sky — plus many more.
All this is just the tip of the iceberg, Art Around Adams offers up something for just about everyone with surprises around every corner: spoken word, wrestling demonstrations, children’s dance, and even a giant mechanical giraffe. It can all be found here.

With so much free fun on offer, it’s easy to see how Art Around Adams has become one of the summer’s top annual events. If you are a fan of the arts and/or music in San Diego, this is an event that shouldn’t be missed.

Art Around Adams takes place on Saturday, June 2, noon—8pm, along Adams Avenue, from Normal Heights to Kensington. Admission is free.