October, 2024, Vista, CA – On Saturday, October 19, more than 1,000 Vista Unified students will perform and student art projects from each of Vista Unified School District’s 28 schools will be featured as part of the 20th annual Vista Unified Festival of the Arts. The festival will take place across the Vista Village area downtown on Main Street.
Student performances will include several schools’ Ballet Folklorico groups, student choirs, bands, theater, and dance ensembles. Visual arts will be on display as well, featuring painting, drawing, ceramics, photography, and more. The festival is an example of the district’s deep commitment to the arts and providing students with opportunities in the visual and performing arts.
MORE THAN 1,000 STUDENTS PERFORMING
“Every single school in the Vista Unified School District will be represented in at least one of three ways,” says Susan Stuber, head of the festival and the Visual and Performing Arts Resource Teacher for Vista Unified.
“A visual art display, a performance, or by creating a craft space which serves as an art booth that is free for the community to participate in. There will be three stages for music performances.” The festival’s three stages will host close to 40 performances throughout the day.
Among the groups performing are Rancho Buena Vista High School’s Wind Ensemble, Vista Academy’s Children’s Theater, several Ballet Folklorico groups, multiple dance troupes, ukelele ensembles, and many more.
On the visual art side, Stuber says most elementary schools will display artwork representing every student at the schools, while middle and high school art shows will showcase student art and elective classwork.
CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF THE FESTIVAL
2024 will mark the 20th year of the festival, and Stuber has taken the opportunity to reach out to the many people who started and grew the festival.
“Anne Fennell (former music teacher at Mission Vista High School) – who I hope can come and be honored – was the initial pioneer,” she says. Stuber recalls how all of the arts teachers in the district would gather during their professional development time and discuss how great it would be to have a performance and exhibition opportunity for the entire district.
“Anne took it and ran with it,” she says. “And I don’t think she slept for months! It was unreal. She was the brainchild and the one who made it really work.”
Stuber herself has been involved with the festival for the entirety of its 20 years; from the early years, when she bought her middle school choirs to perform, to when she transitioned to elementary and bought those choirs to perform, until more recently when she took up a leadership role.
Date: Saturday, October 19, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Location: Vista Village Center; 235-401 Vista Village Dr, Vista, CA 92083
