Idyllwild’s nearly twenty galleries, featuring work by more than two hundred artists, have earned it a place of honor in John Villani’s The 100 Best Small Art Towns in America. During Jazz in the Pines this wealth of artistic talent is concentrated in our Festival Marketplace, where you can browse jewelry, pottery, and other crafts as well as Festival tee shirts, hats, and posters. The Marketplace also offers a broad range of food and drink options, including Cajun cooking and barbecue, ice cream and smoothies, and much more.

Founded in 1946, Idyllwild Arts Academy & Summer Program is located on 205 acres of forest in the tranquil, artists village of Idyllwild in Southern California’s San Jacinto Mountains.

Here are some fun facts about Idyllwild:

• – Prior to 1860, Bands of Cahuilla Indians used to camp in Idyllwild to replenish their winter food supplies. Large mortars and other artifacts can still be found on the Idyllwild Arts campus today.
• – The community of Idyllwild has always been a center for arts, artists and art aficionados. Cecil B. DeMille filmed one of his earliest films, “The Girl of the Golden West” and in 1961, Elvis Presley came to Idyllwild to film the musical, “Kid Galahad.”