The San Mateo County Office of Arts and Culture and its Art Commission pleased to share that the September Arts & Culture Fest 2025 held on Sunday, September 28, 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM in downtown San Mateo was a big success.
We are especially grateful for our fantastic partners, the San Mateo Area Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Association of San Mateo. A big thank you to the LOCAL musicians, entertainment and cultural performers, artists and craft-makers, poets, muralists, community partners, volunteers, and downtown businesses for making the day filled with joy and connection.
A special shout out to SMC Arts Commissioners, Stephen Seymour and Lois Fried, for making Mural Madness and the Poetry Corner (at Chill Spot Rendezvous), magical. And thank YOU for supporting arts and culture in San Mateo County!
Congratulations to Leysar Garcia, winner of the Mural Madness Competition, by popular vote. Marielle Palatino came in second and Alex Holland, third. All of the muralists did a fantastic job. The murals are on view at AZ Gallery at the Tanforan Mall in San Bruno and will move to the Center for Creativity in January.
We are thrilled to report that over 5,000 people attended the event which featured 3 big bands, 24 performance groups, 80 community booths including 26 visual artist booths, 17 poets, and 9 muralists.
Performances by:
Twisha Anand, Abby Bartfield, Kayden Badillo Duo, Bay Area Educational Theatre Company, Casa Circulo Cultural, Eszterlánc Hungarian Folk Ensemble, iGurukul Odissi -- Amrita Pati, Dr. Mahoni & K42, Kathakaars School Of Dance, Lyrical Opposition, Sally Magness, Motus Dance Collective, Gloria Gutierrez and Silvia Salcedo- Co-Chairs Native and Indigenous Peoples Initiative, Noorani Dance, O' Blue Genes, Pacific Islander Community Partnership, Peninsula Dance Academy, Peninsula Lively Arts, Salt and Poetry, Redemption Breaking, San Carlos Children’s Theatre, San Carlos Sitaras, San Mateo Buddhist Temple Taiko, Alex Sheh, The Based Quartet, The JS String Duet, The New Acoustic Collective
Featured Artists:
Aaron Alvarez Mendoza: Aaron’s Photography, Amber Allen, Peter Baczek; Baczek Studio, Mansi Chawla; Beyond Knots, Erin Cherniss; A&E Craftspace, Emily Chin, Floral Creations, Joanie Crombie; Joanie Crombie Art, Martha Diaz, Natalie Esfahanian; Salayi Designs, Emily Fromm, Jo Fry; Fierce Siren Studios, Terra Fuller, Art Bias, Gadget; @madebygadget, Susan Grabowski; Susan Grabowski Fine Art; Mario Guitron, Claudia Gutsch; Goldammer Jewelry, Yelena Joy; Evocative Imagery, Marianna Kiraly; bicuculline, Neil Murphy; Neil Murphy Studio and Ghostdog design, Mariela Onate; Mariela Onate ART, Evangelina Portillo, Jeanne Schlesinger; Jeanne Schlesinger Photography, Stephen Seymour; Siy Gallery and Atelier for Healing, Sara Valderrama; S. Valdy Art, Pettina Velez; Art by Pettina, Vera Wang: Vera Art Studio, and Xiaoxiao Yan
Featured Poets:
Alexis Rose, Antonio López, Caylie Chiu, Connie Tettenborn, David Jacobson, Gabriel Guiterrez, Kevin Hearl, Lois Fried, M.J. Seja, Madhura Som, Marcella McColl, Maya Osinski, Megan Duffy Brown, Olivia Veroy, Rainer Neumann, Robert Barrows, Salt and Poetry – Hilary King
Mural Finalists:
Christina Edwards, Leysar Garcia, Anne-Sophie Gaudet, Mario Guitron, Alex Holland, Ella Lawton, Marielle Palatino, Nina Wright, Iris Zheng