Hey Venice! Aug. 15th is the last day to nominate someone awesome for the Venice Spirit Awards.

Do you know someone who deserves to be acknowledged and honored for their contributions to the spirit, creativity and uniqueness of Venice?

Nominate them for the Venice Spirit Award! Details below!

About the Venice Spirit Award: 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.

The first Spirit of Venice Award was presented at the 6th Annual Abbot Kinney Festival in 1989 to descendants of Abbot Kinney, the Founder of Venice, California. Also that year, West Washington Boulevard was renamed to Abbot Kinney Boulevard in his honor.

The award was created by John Kertisz, Poet Laureate and a 1989 Festival Board member, to recognize persons who are actively involved in the community and/or serve as inspirational role models.

Venice Spirit Awards to take place at the 2018 Abbot Kinney Festival on Sept. 30, 2018.

The Abbot Kinney Festival is Southern California’s largest FREE community festival. The festival draws more than 100,000 adults and families. The mile-long stretch of Abbot Kinney Blvd. is lined with FOUR great, live music stages, chalk art, dozens of artisan food vendors, popular food trucks, 300+ quality artisan and fine art vendors, and three beer gardens. The immensely popular KidsQuad has rides, family entertainment, and fun, interactive activities for all ages. The festival celebrates the diversity of creativity of Venice.

View past Spirit of Venice Awardees

2017 SPIRIT OF VENICE AWARDEES

Marianne Brown
Elisa James
Regina Weller
Steve Weller

Councilman Mike Bonin and 2017 Venice Spirit Alley Bean and Orson Bean

2016 SPIRIT OF VENICE AWARDEES

Alley Bean
Orson Bean
Los Angeles City Councilmember, District 11 Mike Bonin
Rabbi Lori Shapiro
LAPD Senior Lead Office Peggy Thusing

Councilman Mike Bonin presents Venice Paparazzi’s Edizen with the 2015 Venice Spirit Award

Venice Paparazzi wins Venice Spirit Award in 2015

The 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.