This fall could very well be the coolest autumn Avalon’s ever seen.
First off, there’s the Catalina Festival of Art, which for 50 years has attracted art and art lovers to Crescent Avenue. This year’s festival will be held Saturday and Sunday Sept. 20 and 21.
Then there’s the Catalina Island Wine Festival on Saturday, Sept. 27. With dozens of wines, a silent auction, temping appetizers and live music, this afternoon of fun has become a favorite of visitors and locals alike.
And I don’t care if you’re into blues, jazz or classic Irish, if you like music – any kind of music – you’re going to find a festival that fits your taste.
Let’s start with the blues. Starting Sept. 26, there will be a three-day Blues Festival, with performances on Wrigley Stage, the Casino Ballroom, Descanso Beach and at a couple more watering holes in town. The headline show, Saturday night in the Casino Ballroom, will be enough to get any blues fan into overdrive: Buddy Guy and Jonny Lang.
The world famous JazzTrax takes over the island for the first three weekends in October. If you’re a fan of smooth jazz this is an event that’s not to be missed. Each weekend features a different line-up, so you can either pick one weekend or if you’re seriously into jazz, pick all three.
On Saturday, Oct. 25, Catalina will host the first annual Festival of World Music, featuring a tempting taste of musical genres and a sampling of food and family fun. The music will be the big draw that day, with more than half a dozen bands representing music from around the world scheduled to perform. The main attractions include Benny and the Swampgators playing hot bayou zydeco, Gtonic’s afro-latin funk, Skelpin, a classic Irish quartet and Delta Nove, masters of rockin’ Brazilian reggae. Tickets, which are $26 in advance and $30 at the door, are available from the chamber of commerce, (310) 510-1520.

Labels: entertainment, festivals