Petaluma's Art & Garden Festival was started in 2002 by volunteers and the Petaluma Downtown Association (PDA) as a way to raise funds for the beautification of downtown Petaluma, and to provide a place to showcase the work local artists and gardeners. This year's festival will have over 110 local Artists, Gardeners, Merchants, Restaurants and Wineries.

The festival is fantastic showcase of great local art, products and fabulous food. It provides a great wine tasting opportunity with so many of our local wineries all in one convenient place. There is live music throughout the day on the center stage; tables, chairs and umbrellas are provided, and dancing often breaks out in the street (really!).

The festival started out modestly with 3,500 attending in the 2002, but climbed to 5,000 in the 2nd year, and 7,500 in the 3rd year. The 4th & 5th years had 8,000 to 10,000 and last year reached an all time high of up to 12,000.

This year the music will be coordinated by our own local famous Jazz musician Peter Welker. Three bands will play throughout the day with a variety of genres from soulful blue, Latin and funky jazz all are sure to get your feet tapping and hopefully have you dancing in the streets. In it first 3 years the festival was supported in part by the City of Petaluma's TOT funds. In the 4th year the committee reduced their requested funds by 50% and was again awarded TOT funds. In the 5th year the festival was entirely self supporting.

The festival was found largely due to the efforts of Local business owners Amber Balshaw of Preferred Sonoma Caterers and Rose Zamudio of Tuscan Gardens this year the main coordination is being handled by the Petaluma Downtown Association with the support of a wonderful committee made up of Amber & Jim Balshaw. Linda Gonzales from Gallery One, Lisa Krieshok a local artist who provided the Festivals poster and logo, Connie Hammerman a fabulous community supporter, Susan Warren Villa from The Petaluma Museum along with many other day of event volunteers too numerous to mention here, but to whom we all owe a great thanks.

For more information, please contact:
Marie - Petaluma Downtown Association
Marie[at]PetalumaDowntown.com
(707) 762-9348