ARTS IN ACTION

Arts in Action is a free, community-centered arts celebration returning to downtown Port Angeles after over a decade away. Originally launched in 1965, the festival ran for 49 years as a beloved summer tradition, transforming Laurel Street and then the City Pier into a vibrant corridor of art, music, and shared experience. For generations of residents and visitors, Arts in Action was a place to gather, discover creativity, and connect with one another in the heart of the city.

In 2026, Arts in Action returns under the stewardship of the Juan de Fuca Foundation for the Arts, honoring the event’s rich history while reimagining it for today’s community. The revival reflects both a respect for the festival’s legacy and a renewed commitment to accessibility, inclusion, and connection. In a time when many cultural experiences are increasingly costly or screen-based, Arts in Action restores the simple power of gathering together in person to celebrate creativity.

The event will take place August 1 and 2, 2026, on Laurel Street in downtown Port Angeles, utilizing the original festival footprint that longtime community members remember. Festivities will kick off the evening before, on Friday, July 31, with a free Concert on the Pier, setting the tone for a weekend rooted in shared experience and community pride.

Arts in Action is intentionally free to attend, removing fi nancial barriers and welcoming people of all ages and backgrounds. The festival will feature live music, artists creating work on site, youth and family activities, community art projects, and interactive experiences that encourage participation rather than passive attendance. By prioritizing engagement, the event invites attendees to not only witness art, but to be part of it.

At its core, Arts in Action is about connection: connecting people to artists, neighbors to one another, and visitors to the cultural life of Port Angeles. The event activates downtown during peak summer season, supporting local businesses while creating a lively, welcoming atmosphere for residents and visitors alike. It also reinforces the Juan de Fuca Foundation for the Arts’ mission to increase access to the arts and strengthen community well-being through shared cultural experiences.

We’re eager to get back to celebrating the arts and the area. We’re starting with a strong base, enough excitement and activity to impress our visitors, but we have big plans to expand. While the sandcastle component that became the focus in later years probably won’t come back, we are already researching chalk art as a potential addition for future years.

By reviving Arts in Action, the Juan de Fuca Foundation for the Arts is not simply bringing back a festival. It is restoring a tradition that helped defi ne summer in Port Angeles for nearly half a century and ensuring that its next chapter remains rooted in what made it special from the start: free access, creativity in public spaces, and the simple, powerful act of coming together.

We’re so glad you asked!  This event is a celebration of the arts that includes a multitude of artisan vendors, and live art happening in person, for visitors to witness AND take part in.  From community art projects, to live music, and our kids creative zone.  We can’t wait to spend the weekend with you!  It’s a great day to make some art!

Arts in Action is a FREE event in Port Angeles’ Waterfront District!  It is supported by local businesses, volunteers, donors to JFFA, and tourism grants.

Arts in Action takes place on Laurel Street from Railroad Avenue to First Street or as we like to tell people, from the Ferry to the Fountain.  Our Main Stage is located at 101 E First Street.

No sand castles this year.  Arts in Action ran for 49 years (from 1965-2014) and only ten of those included the sandcastle competion.  We loved that tradition, but we’re looking to share a variety of art forms with you.  Carving, painting, wire sculpture, and so many more.  Have a great idea?  We’d love to hear it!

You bet!  We’ll have visiting food trucks and vendors, a beer & wine garden, and beverage station.  Plus, we’re in the heart of the Waterfront District with so many great food options!