New to the site: Alley Cat Art Fest brings East County’s biggest celebration of local arts and culture to Downtown El Cajon on Saturday, September 12, 2026, from 10am to 6pm.
This free, open-air festival combines the best of two longstanding local traditions, Artivál and the Alley Cat Art Walk, into a single, reimagined event spanning Main Street, Magnolia Avenue, Arts Alley, Prescott Promenade, and surrounding streets. More than 50 local artists and makers will show and sell paintings, sculpture, photography, jewelry, and handcrafted goods, alongside interactive art installations, live music, cultural performances, and food vendors.
Visitors can also wander Arts Alley, where large-scale murals by local artists have turned the streets into an open-air gallery, and stop into the Olaf Wieghorst Museum, which will be open for the day. Proceeds from the festival help restore Downtown El Cajon’s murals and support future public art in the district.
Organized by the Downtown El Cajon Business Partners in partnership with Sophie’s Gallery and St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center, the festival is expected to draw more than 10,000 attendees from across San Diego County and Baja California.
