Upcoming Events
The Business of Art: Panel Discussion - Creative Themes
Learn from established, prominent professionals in Fresno's arts community about how to establish themes for your art! In this free conversation, you'll learn how successful artists are inspired to develop thematic artwork that is engaging and meaningful.
This event is part of Scarab Creative Art’s “The Business of Art” Workshop Series. This series offers free workshops with valuable insights and resources for artists.
Joining the panel discussion are local artists Jared Barbick, Leslie Batty, Rivka Schaffner, Robert Weibel, and Ruth Soderlund!
Jazz at the Library with Chiara Izzi
JazzFresno, the Fresno County Public Library, KFSR 90.7 FM, and the Woodward Park Friends of the Library will host a free, in person and open to the public Jazz at the Library presentation on Tuesday, October 14, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. at the Woodward Park Regional County Library located at 944 E. Perrin Ave. (Champlain & Perrin), Fresno, CA 93720.
Oakhurst Art & Wine Hop AND Christmas Market
Celebrate the final Oakhurst Art & Wine Hop of the season with an extra festive twist!
On Thursday, October 15, get a head start on your holiday shopping at the Art & Wine Hop Christmas Market from 12–8 PM, featuring local artists, makers, handcrafted gifts and one-of-a-kind finds.
Then from 5–8 PM, enjoy the Final Art & Wine Hop as Oakhurst comes alive with local art, wine tasting, food and small-town charm—all just an hour from Fresno and near Yosemite National Park.
ArtHop on October 15th
Explore our Third Thursday ArtHop Venues on Thursday, October 15th at various locations in Fresno’s Greater Metro Area! Stay tuned for an announcement on the festivities that await!
In the meantime, look through our full list of venues on our ArtHop map here!
Toasting the Arts Gala
Friends of the Arts at Fresno City College is proud to announce Toasting the Arts Gala, taking place Friday, October 16 at 6pm at the Old Administration Building East Courtyard! This annual fundraiser dinner and auction helps to support our Fresno City College Fine and Performing Arts students through scholarships, funding special workshops and programs.
Tricks & Treats
Looking for a fun, safe, and family-friendly Halloween event in Fresno? Join us for Tricks & Treats, our annual not-so-scary celebration designed especially for kids and families in the Central Valley!
Fresno Writers Summit
This event will feature David St. John, Sam Pereira, Olivia Muñoz, and more!
The event features readings, book signings, and sessions spotlighting award-winning student writers alongside acclaimed alumni authors. Detailed schedules and registration can be found on the Fresno State English Events Calendar.
Live Jazz in the Tower!
LIVE JAZZ in the Tower. Don’t forget the Tower District Preservation Fund’s Tower Jazz Series. On Oct 17th- 4-6:30 we will be presenting DAVID AUS with special guests live in the Tower District. Come see these talented artists at EVA by Vibez Lounge.
Poets in the Gallery featuring Laura Schulkind and Aideed Medina
Join Fresno’s Poet Laureate, Aideed Medina, and award-winning writer, Laura Schulkind, at the Fresno Arts Council Gallery on October 19th from 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM for a live poetry reading around the concept of natural spaces and rivers!
Central California Screenwriter's Group
Calling all storytellers! Join the Central California Screenwriters' Group, a creative community for writers looking to sharpen their craft, share work, and connect with fellow screenwriters right here in the Central Valley.This monthly group, hosted at CMAC, is open to screenwriters at any level of experience.
Jazz at the Library with the New Organ Trio
The New Organ Trio presents the Music of Don Patterson at the Woodward Park Regional Library at 6:30pm on Tuesday, October 20, 2026.
The New Organ Trio:
Mike Dana, guitar
Marshall Gentry, Hammond organ
Gary Newmark, drums
Light-Filled Still Life Painting - A Simple Path with Debbie Mueller
Come join Debbie Mueller for a 3 day still life workshop at the Cambria Center for the Arts! Debbie Mueller will break down the creation of a painting into simple steps that allow the painter to focus their decision making and efforts on one thing at a time leading to two successful pieces of art during the weekend.
Remembering the Art & Life of Robin Armen Dolarian
Remembering the Art & Life of Robin Armen Dolarian
It is impossible to tell whether Robin Dolarian’s art is a reflection of his life, or the reverse is true. In either case, it’s clear from a walk through his studio that the many facts of Dolarian – Christian, survivor of long-term health battles, blistering social commentator, self-deprecating humorist – have each found a medium and a voice.”
Jazz Jam!
Bi-weekly jam session at Tap & Cellar. Free entry, all skill levels welcome. Come out and enjoy great food and beverages from our host Tap & Cellar and great music from Trio Expression and all the players who come out to sit in!
The Art of Love
Chanticleer Shakespeare Co. is building a new professional theatre tradition in Fresno, bringing Shakespeare and other classical works to the stage with artists of national and international experience. Its 2027 production of Romeo & Juliet will continue that work at the historic Warnors Theatre. For the Fresno Art Museum and CSC, The Art of Love is a chance to bring two of Fresno’s leading arts organizations together to support local artists and invite the community to experience Shakespeare in a new setting.
Ancestral Songs, Prayers and Lullabies with Isabel Bayrakdarian, soprano
Grammy-nominated soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian brings to life the songs, prayers, and lullabies of her ancestral homeland, Armenia, in an evocative program that celebrates memory, heritage, and the enduring power of song.
Concert I: HEROES TAKE THE STAGE
The first concert of a heroic 2026-27 season with Youth Orchestras of Fresno! We are celebrating all the marvel-ous heroic music that we can, as well as celebrating our Super Conductor Dr Thomas Loewenheim as he celebrates 20 years with YOOF!
Jazz Mass
Come to hear beautiful music and inspiring words at our monthly jazz mass, a collaboration between Pastor Stephen Carlson and pianist David Aus. Themes vary, but inspiration is guaranteed.
Jazz Jam!
Bi-weekly jam session at Tap & Cellar. Free entry, all skill levels welcome. Come out and enjoy great food and beverages from our host Tap & Cellar and great music from Trio Expression and all the players who come out to sit in!
The Tower Quartet presents: Out of the Shadows
The Tower Quartet presents our first concert of the season, “Out of the Shadows,” featuring composers who struck out to find their own voice despite personal, societal, and cultural pressures. Music by Montgomery, Villa-Lobos, and Brahms.
Coro Solare: THE SONG WE SING
Every voice has a song. This concert celebrates all of them. Coro Solare brings joyful, passionate performances alongside professional instrumentalists to this afternoon concert.
Author Reading: Juan Felipe Herrera
Fresno State's Master of Fine Arts Program in Creative Writing presents an evening with author Juan Felipe Herrera, U.S. Poet Laureate Emeritus, celebrating the launch of his new poetry collection, Flourishing Shadows/Sombras Florecientes: A Chicano Howl (U of Arizona Press, 2026).
The reading, as part of the Fresno Poets' Association series, includes a book signing. Author books for sale from Judging by the Cover. Sponsored by the Fresno State Library and the College of Arts and Humanities.
Also performing will be Benjamin Boone and friends, the Ohuaya Collective, and the Chicanx Writers and Artists Association!
Free admission!
CELLO | FRESNO International Cello Festival
CELLO | FRESNO International Cello Festival brings together aspiring cellists and distinguished artist faculty for three days of music, education, collaboration, and performance. Participants will have the opportunity to learn from accomplished musicians through master classes, workshops, ensemble rehearsals, and performances. FREE
Fresno Master Chorale: BACH ST. MATTHEW PASSION
The Fresno Master Chorale and acclaimed soloists present Bach’s towering masterpiece depicting the last days of Christ on earth, performed in English. One of the greatest choral works ever written, performed at the highest level, right here in the Central Valley.
The Trail to Oregon Fundraiser
A wildly hilarious and completely unpredictable musical comedy, The Trail to Oregon! follows a dysfunctional family as they embark on a perilous journey westward in search of a better life. Inspired by the classic educational computer game, the story transforms the familiar Oregon Trail experience into an outrageous adventure filled with bandits, dysentery, talking animals, and unexpected twists.
Fresno City College Studio Theatre (Tonight’s performance is a fundraiser!)
The Big Tell Showcase 2026
The Big Tell Showcase brings this year’s original short documentaries to the big screen, featuring stories from across Fresno, Merced, Madera, Mariposa, Kings, and Tulare counties. After months of researching, filming, and editing, this year’s filmmakers are ready to share their work and introduce audiences to the people, places, and experiences at the heart of their stories.
ArtHop, Third Thursday!
Explore our Third Thursday ArtHop Venues on Thursday, October 15th at various locations in Fresno’s Greater Metro Area! Stay tuned for an announcement on the festivities that await!
In the meantime, look through our full list of venues on our ArtHop map here!
The Trail to Oregon
A wildly hilarious and completely unpredictable musical comedy, The Trail to Oregon! follows a dysfunctional family as they embark on a perilous journey westward in search of a better life. Inspired by the classic educational computer game, the story transforms the familiar Oregon Trail experience into an outrageous adventure filled with bandits, dysentery, talking animals, and unexpected twists.
Jazz Jam!
Bi-weekly jam session at Tap & Cellar. Free entry, all skill levels welcome. Come out and enjoy great food and beverages from our host Tap & Cellar and great music from Trio Expression and all the players who come out to sit in!
Elgar Enigma Variations
Edward Elgar’s Enigma Variations, a masterful musical portrait of his circle of friends, is one of the most beloved works in the orchestral repertoire for good reason. Guest conductor Rebecca Tong (Resident Conductor of Jakarta Simfonia Orchestra) leads the Fresno Philharmonic in this ingenious and powerful work. Pianist Orion Weiss solos.
Elgar Enigma Variations
Edward Elgar’s Enigma Variations, a masterful musical portrait of his circle of friends, is one of the most beloved works in the orchestral repertoire for good reason. Guest conductor Rebecca Tong (Resident Conductor of Jakarta Simfonia Orchestra) leads the Fresno Philharmonic in this ingenious and powerful work. Pianist Orion Weiss solos.
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
The beloved holiday tradition returns. Conductor Scott Seaton leads the Fresno Philharmonic, Fresno Master Chorale, and mezzo soprano Laurel Semerdjian in an evening of seasonal favorites, including music from A Charlie Brown Christmas, Frozen, and more. Come early for hot chocolate, lobby carols, and photos in front of the Christmas tree.
A Warnors Christmas
Experience one of Fresno's historic treasures! Warnors Theatre house organist Cactus Sam Harris brings holiday favorites to life on the theatre’s historic Robert Morton organ.
Jazz Mass
Come to hear beautiful music and inspiring words at our monthly jazz mass, a collaboration between Pastor Stephen Carlson and pianist David Aus. Themes vary, but inspiration is guaranteed.
Coro Piccolo: AND SUDDENLY WITH THE ANGELS
Coro Piccolo performs technically demanding, emotionally charged repertoire in one of Fresno’s most acoustically beautiful spaces. This is a transcendent experience, sacred without being religious. Two performances. Limited seating. These concerts sell out every year. Watch your email for ticket release.
Youth Orchestras of Fresno: AROUND THE WORLD FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Enjoy a holiday-themed concert performed by members of YOOF’s three orchestras—musicians aged 5 through 18! Paul Shaghoian Memorial Concert Hall, 7pm December 13, 2026
ArtHop, Third Thursday!
Explore our Third Thursday ArtHop Venues on Thursday, October 15th at various locations in Fresno’s Greater Metro Area! Stay tuned for an announcement on the festivities that await!
In the meantime, look through our full list of venues on our ArtHop map here!
Jairito Y La Onda at The Belmont Fresno
Jairito y La Onda brings together Jairo Barsallo, Gio Kincade, Carlos Cabrera, and Aaron Peart to create a vibrant fusion of Latin American rhythms and the timeless sounds of rock ’n’ roll. Join us for this special evening with food, drinks, and live music at The Belmont Fresno in South Tower District.
Latine Film Fest
An evening showcasing award-winning international and locally made Latine films, benefiting CHIRLA’s work for immigrant justice. This Latine Heritage month, celebrate the voices and visions of emerging artists in community while raising funds for California’s largest immigrant rights organization.
Once Upon a Time Fall Pottery Showcases
On Saturday, October 10, Good Dirt Pottery Studio will host “Once Upon a Time,” a fairy tale–themed Pottery Showcase featuring pieces created by students in our Inclusion Pottery Program. We are excited to give them an opportunity to share their work and their stories with the community.
Jazz Jam!
Bi-weekly jam session at Tap & Cellar. Free entry, all skill levels welcome. Come out and enjoy great food and beverages from our host Tap & Cellar and great music from Trio Expression and all the players who come out to sit in!
Standing on Their Shoulders
The Taste of Freedom Project’s “Standing on their Shoulders” event is an intergenerational/multicultural arts celebration scheduled on October 10, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM at Fresno City College to honor the legacy of elders in our communities. Join us!
1984 Live Radio Drama
This 60-minute live radio drama of George Orwell's 1984 depicts our protagonist, Winston Smith, in the totalitarian super-state, Oceania. Fresno City College Studio Theatre, October 9 and 10 at 7pm.
A Gathering of Laureates with Ashley M. Jones-Thompson
Join the Fresno Arts Council for a live poetry reading by Ashley M. Jones-Thompson, the Poet Laureate Emeritus of Alabama. Ashley is the first African American and the youngest individual to serve in this prestigious role.
There will be a panel discussion with current and former Poets Laureate of Fresno including Aideed Medina, Joseph Rios, Megan Bohigian, Marisol Baca, James Tyner, and Evy Singh.
Respite by the River: Reading by Author Brynn Saito
Brynn Saito is the author of three poetry collections, including Under a Future Sky (Red Hen Press, 2023). She co-edited with Brandon Shimoda The Gate of Memory: Poems by Descendants of Nikkei Wartime Incarceration (Haymarket Books, 2025) and her work has appeared in the New York Times, VOGUE, and American Poetry Review. Brynn teaches in the English department at Fresno State. The evening will also feature live music with Scats on the Sly, so bring your dinner, lawn chair or blanket.
Jazz Composers Orchestra
The Jazz Composers Orchestra, directed by Paul Lucckesi, and the Fresno State Jazz Orchestra, directed by Richard Loyd Giddens Jr., present a great night of jazz at Fresno City College.
Jazz Mass
Come to hear beautiful music and inspiring words at our monthly jazz mass, a collaboration between Pastor Stephen Carlson and pianist David Aus. Themes vary, but inspiration is guaranteed.
Fresno State Symphony Orchestra Concert No. 1
The Fresno State Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Dr. Thomas Loewenheim, will open its 2026-2027 season with a concert featuring works by Johannes Brahms and Edward Elgar, highlighting the members of the orchestra in a challenging and exciting program on Saturday, October 3, 2026 at 7:30 PM at the Fresno State School of Music Concert Hall.
Rhythm and Fire
Music from Tradition Performed with Intensity
Bartók, Dvořák, and Ligeti drive an evening of rhythmic energy, with Jackson Snead in Sarasate’s Zigeunerweisen.
Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra
Music for All
The Music Teachers’ Association of California, Fresno County branch, is hosting a concert that will feature young musicians performing music of all genres. It will be a blast!
LitHop
LitHop Returns Saturday, October 3, 2026, to Fresno’s historic Tower District for our 10th year anniversary!
Is This a Room (University Theatre)
Fresno State’s University Theatre will present its first production of the 2026-2027 Mainstage Season, “Is This a Room,” concept and original direction by Tina Satter and directed by Michelle Bellaver. Perfomances October 2 through 10. See individual dates/times in listing.
Great Valley Gathering
The Great Valley Gathering is a free, three-day public event celebrating the living traditions, music, dance, storytelling, craft, and foodways that shape California’s Central Valley. Produced by the Alliance for California Traditional Arts and rooted in the region’s rich agricultural history, the festival highlights a broad range of cherished expressions from diverse communities—Indigenous, immigrant, occupational, sacred, and more.
This three-day event will be in Downtown Fresno’s Courthouse Park featuring 40 collaborating communities nationwide, in collaboration with the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage Center, and more than 100 cultural bearers, artists, community partners, vendors, and contributors.
THE POSTER: The Art of Relational Seeing with Ryan Wurmser
The Poster is a three-day plein air workshop hosted by the Cambria Center for the Arts. This workshop introduces Poster Vision—the perceptual capacity to see the landscape relationally rather than descriptively. Instead of composing object by object, participants learn to perceive the landscape as a relational whole, where color, value, and light are understood within the larger field of vision.
Marsalis Trumpet Concerto
The Fresno Philharmonic continues its celebration of America at 250 with trumpet legend Jens Lindemann performing Wynton Marsalis’ virtuosic Trumpet Concerto. An icon in the worlds of both jazz and classical music, Wynton Marsalis is one of America’s greatest musical treasures as a performer, band leader, composer, educator and institution builder. This exciting opening concert also features Arturo Márquez’s La Conga del Fuego Nuevo and Stravinsky’s colorful ballet score Petrushka.
Marsalis Trumpet Concerto
The Fresno Philharmonic continues its celebration of America at 250 with trumpet legend Jens Lindemann performing Wynton Marsalis’ virtuosic Trumpet Concerto. An icon in the worlds of both jazz and classical music, Wynton Marsalis is one of America’s greatest musical treasures as a performer, band leader, composer, educator and institution builder. This exciting opening concert also features Arturo Márquez’s La Conga del Fuego Nuevo and Stravinsky’s colorful ballet score Petrushka.
Jazz Jam!
Bi-weekly jam session at Tap & Cellar. Free entry, all skill levels welcome. Come out and enjoy great food and beverages from our host Tap & Cellar and great music from Trio Expression and all the players who come out to sit in!
'Phrasing the Arts' book talk with author Dr. Abraham Terian
Abraham Terian, a well-known classicist, theologian and medievalist, has done it again in his latest book — but this time differently. The book, titled Phrasing the Arts, is a collection of poems mostly on the arts in all their forms.
In the author’s own words, he wrote these poems as an escape from strenuous scholarship, to express his profound love for the arts. “Overall, the present collection, a commentary of sorts on the intersection of literary art and other arts, is but a verbal rumination on experiences in time and place, including some memorable places no longer confined to their geography.”
New Organ Trio W/ Special Guest Tom Wilson: Tribute To Coltrane at The Howlin' Wolf
The New Organ Trio, with special guest Tom Wilson will present A Tribute To Coltrane at the Howlin' Wolf on Thursday Sept. 24 at 7:30 pm.
Reading by Amanda Hodes, winner of the 2024 Levine Prize
Fresno State's Master of Fine Arts Program in Creative Writing presents an evening with author Amanda Hodes, winner of the 2024 Philip Levine Prize for Poetry. Hosted by faculty author Mai Der Vang.
The reading, as part of the Fresno Poets' Association series, includes a book signing. Author books for sale from Judging by the Cover. Sponsored by the Fresno State MFA program and Fresno Poets' Association philanthropic partners.
Central California Screenwriter's Group
Calling all storytellers! Join the Central California Screenwriters' Group, a creative community for writers looking to sharpen their craft, share work, and connect with fellow screenwriters right here in the Central Valley.
Sunday Serenade from Moment Musical
Enjoy a diverse program of chamber music by CPE Bach, Charles Gounod, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Composers in Concert
Enjoy new music by composers who are part of the Music Teachers’ Association of California, Fresno County Branch!
LitHop Pre-Festival Celebration
Join us on September 18, 2026, for a conversation with LitHop co-founders, Fresno poets laureate, literary luminaries, and local partners about building stronger communities with writers.
"ACTING LIKE WOMEN" Film Screening
Visit the Conley Art Building at Fresno State on Friday, September 18, from 5 pm - 7 pm for a film screening of "ACTING LIKE WOMEN” with special guest, Nancy Youdelman!
Visit this link for more info!
Islands, Valleys, Jazz | WAVE and The Fresno State Jazz Orchestra
Presented by the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute at Fresno State and the Fresno State Jazz Studies Program. Sixty years, two shores, one rhythm: commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Tulare-Angra Sister City Program.