Great times had by all at the 31st annual Abbot Kinney Festival!

It was a fantastic day with beautiful weather, smiling faces and a whole lot of fun!

Now in its 31st year, the festival features:

free admission
300 quality vendors
top food trucks and booths
kids rides and games
5 live music stages
3beer gardens
2 kids stages

The Boulevard’s eclectic boutiques, artisan eateries and influential art galleries infuse the festival with a local flavor that makes this event unique and not to be missed. Check out 2015 Abbot Kinney Festival event photo highlights by Venice Paparazzi below.

Congratulations to this year’s Abbot Kinney Festival‘s Community Grant Program recipients! About: The Abbot Kinney Festival Association has granted community grants to an interesting and eclectic mix of deserving organizations that benefit the Venice community. This year’s recipients are: Children’s Lifesaving Foundation, Creating Better Communities, Create Fixate, Electric Lodge, Friends of Coeur d’Alene Elementary, Friends of Westminster Elementary, Mildred Cursh Foundation, ReDiscover Center, Venice Arts, Venice High School Stemm Magnet, Venice Oceanarium, Venice Symphony Orchestra, Westminster Elementary School.

If you are part of a non-profit or community organization with an annual operating budget of less than $1,000,000 and that serves the community of Venice, you are eligible to submit an application for a community grant. Please check back in the Spring to apply for 2016. Click here for more info!

Venice Paparazzi’s co-founder Edizen getting the Spirit of Venice Award and being presented a City of L.A. Certificate of Recognition by City Council member Mike Bonin.

ABOUT SPIRIT OF VENICE: Since 1989, the Abbot Kinney Festival Association has recognized exemplary stakeholders nominated by the community for their contributions to the spirit, creativity and uniqueness of Venice. For more info, visit http://www.abbotkinney.org/sov/.

City of Los Angeles Certificate of Recognition reads “The City of Los Angeles celebrates the Spirit of Venice Awardee Edizen Stowell and gratefully salutes her leadership and dedication to our neighborhoods. Edizen’s unwavering commitment to the community has impacted countless people while improving and enhancing our quality of life. Through such steadfast dedication and caring deeds, Edizen has helped to make the City of Los Angeles a better place to which to live.”

Here is part of her speech on that fun day in Venice! “We live in a magical place! I love Venice and it’s people. And when you love something, you must do everything you can to support it and make it the best it can be. Thank you Venice, Abbot Kinney Festival, and to my best buddy Alexander Stowell for your support, acknowledgement and friendship.

Spirit of Venice awardee: Challis MacPherson (Posthumous), Community Activist

Spirit of Venice awardee: Cecilia Castillo, Former Field Deputy to Councilman Bonin

Spirit of Venice awardee: Sue Kaplan, Community Activist

Wow what local talent we have! Click here to view the full entertainment line up!

Even Harry Perry was on the scene! Fun!

Spinning and yoga at YAS Fitness Center. www.Go2Yas.com

Cold press Juice at Kreation Kafe and Juicery on Abbot Kinney. So yummy and refreshing!

Fun day had by all! Thanks to the Abbot Kinney Festival Association for hosting another fun community event!

About: Abbot Kinney Festival Association is a 501(c)(3), grant making organization, that supports community-based organizations in Venice with an emphasis on youth, community, and the arts. Our biggest fundraiser of the year, Abbot Kinney Festival, draws crowds of over 100,000 to the most iconic street in Venice. We believe that we can have fun, bring our community together and give back at the same time. In fact that’s exactly the spirit of the community we love so much and are committed to supporting.

Here is a message from the Abbot Kinney Festival Association. “You helped make the 31st Abbot Kinney Festival a great success! Huge thanks to everyone who attended and all those involved as vendors, staff, volunteers, performers, our sponsors, the community and a shout out to all the amazing merchants along Abbot Kinney Blvd! What an amazing day! See you next year at ‪#‎AKF2016‬!”

Fan and follow Abbot Kinney Festival on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram!

Visit AbbotKinney.org for more info on #AKF2015 and #AKF2016!