ArtWalk Rosarito, one of Baja California’s longest-running public art festivals, turns 15 this month with a free two-day celebration at CEART Playas de Rosarito on May 23 and 24. The anniversary edition brings 70 artists, a contemporary circus act from Chicago, eight book presentations, ballet folklórico, and a tribute exhibition honoring nine artists who died during the festival’s 15-year run.
From Local Art Fair to Binational Cultural Fixture
ArtWalk Rosarito launched in 2011 as a small gathering of local painters and sculptors at CEART, the state-funded cultural center on Boulevard Benito Juárez in downtown Rosarito. CEART (Centro Estatal de las Artes) is one of several cultural venues operated by Baja California’s state government, and it has served as the festival’s permanent home since its founding. Over 15 editions, the event has grown from a single-day showcase into a two-day festival that draws both Mexican and American artists, collectors, and families from the Tijuana-Rosarito-Ensenada corridor and San Diego County.
Benito del Águila, the festival’s director, has guided ArtWalk Rosarito since its early years. He described the event as a space where community connections become visible, calling art “an active force within society” rather than something observed from a distance. That philosophy shows in the festival’s format: no admission fee, no velvet ropes, and open interaction between visitors and the artists who make the work.
Rosarito sits just 20 minutes south of the San Ysidro border crossing, making it one of the most accessible Baja California beach towns for San Diego residents. The city’s population of roughly 120,000 includes a significant number of American and Canadian retirees concentrated in coastal developments along the free road (Carretera Libre Tijuana-Ensenada) and in gated communities like Popotla and Puerto Nuevo. Cultural programming at CEART has become a draw for this binational community, and ArtWalk is its flagship event.
Tribute Exhibition Honors Nine Deceased Baja California Artists
The emotional anchor of this year’s festival is an urban exhibition titled “Homenaje a grandes maestros de la plástica de Baja California.” The tribute honors nine artists who participated in ArtWalk Rosarito over the years and have since died. Those named include Alfredo Villafaña, Álvaro Blancarte, Jorge Luna, Manuel Lizárraga, Marilynn Pardee, Martín Téllez, Miguel Nájera, Pablo Beltrán (known as “Pabel”), and Ruth Hernández.
Several of these names carry weight in Baja California’s art world. Álvaro Blancarte was a Tijuana-born painter known for large-format figurative work exhibited across northern Mexico. Marilynn Pardee, an American artist based in the Rosarito area, was among the binational creators who helped shape the festival’s cross-border identity. The tribute will be displayed as an outdoor urban exhibition, making it accessible to all visitors throughout the weekend.
Chicago Circus Company Performs Through San Diego Fringe Connection
ArtWalk Rosarito’s 2026 edition features a collaboration with Baja Fringe, a Mexico-based platform connected to the San Diego International Fringe Festival. The Fringe network, which operates in cities worldwide, supports independent performing arts outside traditional theater institutions. Through this partnership, the festival will host “I Think It Could Work,” a collective improvisation show by Full Out Formula, a contemporary circus company based in Chicago. The performance blends acrobatics, juggling, and physical storytelling.
Also on the performance schedule are Academia de Música Allegro, Ballet Folklórico Yolihuani, and Escuela Superior de Artes y Música, all Baja California-based groups. The mix of local folk dance, music education showcases, and international circus reflects the festival’s effort to program across genres and borders.
70 Artists, Eight Book Presentations, and Pet-Friendly Grounds
The festival floor will feature 70 artists, artisans, and designers showing original work. Returning participants include Rocío Hoffman, David Silvah, Esaú Andrade, Amy Gastélum, AMAYA, Germán Rubio, and Marlen Castor. Work ranges from painting and sculpture to design objects and handmade crafts, with pieces available for purchase directly from creators.
The literary program includes eight book presentations covering novels, short stories, children’s literature, and poetry. Scheduled authors include Homero Fuentes de la Peña, Gustavo Picazo, and Michelle Andonaegui, along with Editorial 3er Ojo, an independent Baja California publisher. An open literary microphone session and a group conversation around Amin Maalouf’s novel “León el Africano” round out the book programming.
Families with children will find dedicated activity areas. The grounds are pet-friendly, and a food section will operate throughout both days. Admission is free for both Saturday and Sunday.
ArtWalk Rosarito 2026 runs May 23 and 24 at CEART Playas de Rosarito on Boulevard Benito Juárez. Updated schedules and artist listings are available on ArtWalk Rosarito’s social media pages.