Abbot Kinney Festival Cancellation Sparks Outrage in Venice
The third consecutive year the popular street fair has been abruptly canceled, leaving locals and merchants frustrated.
The Abbot Kinney Festival, a long-standing Venice tradition, has been canceled for the third year in a row, igniting a firestorm of criticism from community members and local businesses. Organizers announced the cancellation just days before the scheduled Sept. 27 street fair, a decision that comes on the heels of the recent, abrupt cancellation of the Ocean Way Festival in neighboring Santa Monica.
In a statement posted online, Abbot Kinney Festival organizers cited a lack of community involvement and insufficient planning as the reasons for the latest cancellation. "Rather than move forward without those pieces fully in place, we’re turning our focus toward building a stronger foundation for the festival’s future," the organizers stated.
The street festival, known for transforming Abbot Kinney Boulevard with live music and hundreds of vendors, has been a four-decade tradition. Its repeated cancellations have drawn accusations of incompetence and a lack of transparency from locals.
"I cannot believe the people running this show [have] done it again," one resident wrote online. "Do you not realize how this hurts the hard working people of the artist community. Money has been spent. Time has been invested, plans have been made, and places to stay booked."
Some business owners pointed to rising vendor fees as a deterrent. "I found the fee to be too expensive for a vendor spot," one business owner commented. "I chose not to do it this year for this reason… sad I was missing out, but good decision on this one."
Previous cancellations in 2024 and 2025 were attributed to sponsorship challenges and lingering economic effects from the pandemic. The organizers have not yet responded to a request for further comment.
Meanwhile, the Ocean Way Festival in Santa Monica, which was set to feature artists like Olivia Dean and The Killers, was called off after surf and storm water from Hurricane Marie eroded a portion of the festival site. However, rumors of sluggish ticket sales also circulated regarding that event.