Get ready for a day filled with art, music, and creativity at Alley Cat Art Fest. This free, open-air festival brings together the best of Artivál and the Alley Cat Art Walk for Downtown El Cajon’s biggest celebration of local arts and culture.

This year there’s an extra layer worth knowing about: a brand-new effort to restore the neighborhood’s existing murals and bring even more public art to the streets.

Browse Work From 50+ Local Artists

The festival spans Main Street, Magnolia Avenue, Arts Alley, Prescott Promenade, and surrounding streets, inviting visitors to wander Downtown El Cajon’s colorful arts district while browsing more than 50 talented local artists.

Expect paintings, sculptures, photography, jewelry, and handcrafted goods around every corner, alongside live music and plenty of food and drinks to keep you fueled as you shop.

Arts Alley’s Murals Take Center Stage

Wander through the iconic Arts Alley, where striking large-scale murals by local artists transform the streets into an open-air gallery.

Whether you’re hunting for a one-of-a-kind piece to take home, looking to support local artists, or just after a fun day out with family and friends, Alley Cat Art Fest is the perfect place to soak up East County’s thriving creative community.

Every corner offers a new photo opportunity, so don’t be surprised if this stretch of the festival slows your pace the most.

Bringing Faded Murals Back to Life

This festival also marks the launch of the Downtown El Cajon Association’s Public Mural Restoration & Expansion Program.

Two murals have already been restored ahead of the event: “Bird of Paradise” in Arts Alley, with support from St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center and Attention Getters, and “Navajos at Castle Creek” at the Olaf Wieghorst Museum, with support from the museum itself.

With more than 15 murals scattered throughout Downtown El Cajon, the program aims to preserve the public art that tells East County’s story while raising funds for new murals and continued neighborhood beautification.

Proceeds from the festival directly support this effort, so every purchase you make helps keep the art alive long after the festival wraps.

See you there!

Between the artists, the music, and the murals getting a second life, Alley Cat Art Fest is Downtown El Cajon’s creative community at its best.

📆 Saturday, September 12, 2026 | 10 AM – 6 PM
📍 270 E Douglas Ave A, El Cajon
🎟️ Free admission
ℹ️ See what’s in store for you here

See you there, San Diego!