Weekend pick: Visalia’s Arts Consortium Hosts ‘Taste The Arts’ festival
By A. N. Patterson
Visalia’s biggest day in art returns for its 16th year, with more than 70 visual artists exhibiting their artwork.
On Saturday, Oct 17, Visalia’s Arts Consortium will be hosting its annual “Taste The Arts” festival downtown from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event will highlight artists who specialize in painting, sculpture, steel work, photography, dance and jewelry.
One notable artist who will be featured in this year’s “Taste The Arts” is poet Michael Jasso, who was the Arts Consortium’s Artist of the Year for 2025-26.
Performances will be taking place onstage at the Garden Street Plaza while attendees walk through the artist booths on Garden Street. This year’s performers are Valley Life Charter School, Kids Edition Dance, Elite Dance Academy, Loud Mouth Poetry Jam, Sierra Performance Art Center, Polynesian Dance Group, and Dancers Edge Triple Threat.
I spoke with the Arts Consortium’s interim executive director, Merry Miller-Gass, about the festival and how it has changed over the years.
“Taste The Arts started in 2010 with just a handful of artists in the Garden Street Plaza,” said Miller-Gass. “Now in our 16th year, we have this three-block, downtown festival with more than 100 booths and multiple art forms.”
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The reason for this growth has been primarily due to the event’s ability to maintain the public’s special connection to the artists.
“We’ve been able to do more interactive activities for the public, and people are going to get chances to get their hands on some of these art experiences as well,” Miller-Gass said.. “Art isn’t just looking at a painting in a gallery. To be able to get people involved in appreciating art, creating art, and really connecting with their inner creativity, I think, is a really special thing.”
Another reason for the event’s growth is that there are more kinds of artists as well.
Miller-Gass emphasized the importance of genuine connection between a person and art, even if the person didn’t create the art.
“Take some notes as you’re walking around the festival, keep an eye out for your favorite artists, and talk to them about how they create their art and what inspires them,” said Miller-Gass.
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