The Palo Alto Festival of the Arts, hosted by the Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the City of Palo Alto, is returning for its 41st installment this weekend. Taking over University Avenue, which will be closed to traffic between High Street and Webster Street from 1:30 a.m. on Saturday until 11:00 p.m. Sunday, the event promises an array of creativity and community spirit set against downtown Palo Alto's verdant streets.

According to the Palo Alto Police Department, the festival runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on both days, featuring 250 artists showcasing their mastery across various mediums. Despite the road closures, free parking will still be within a stroll of the festival, though with public transportation and biking highly encouraged, perhaps it's a good day to leave the car at home. The police department also encourages the public to be aware of alternative routes to avoid possible delays due to the street closures.

The festival, a significant draw for arts and crafts connoisseurs, regularly attracts West Coast visitors eager to view work that transcends the ordinary and is often found only at select events. In addition to the fine arts and crafts that serve as the event's backbone, the Italian Street Painting Expo returns to dazzle with chalk artists transforming Tasso Street into a cinematic canvas. For those whose talents lie in auditory experiences, sidewalk piano virtuosos will be situated at Bryant St., ready to serenade passersby, as per the Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce.