LAUNCH LA, with tremendous support from its sponsors and the local arts and business community, presents the 16h annual music and art festival, TARFEST 2018, which returns to the La Brea Tar Pits Park on Saturday, September 22nd (1-7:30PM). Open to ALL AGES and FREE to the public, TARFEST celebrates local artists, musicians and culture with soon to be announced musical performances . The event is produced by the non-profit arts organization LAUNCH LA and the music is curated by Allison Shaw of Manic Monkee Management

Live painting presented on large, 10 foot easels will feature Los Angeles artists Holly Tempo and Brett Crawford curated by KP Projects and sponsored by Blick Art Materials.

Catering to all ages, TARFEST offers FREE kids art-making and cultural activities with Japan Foundation, Los Angeles, Fusion Academy, Orchard Supply Hardware, The Petersen Automotive Museum and METRO. Theatre of Hearts/Youth First will lead a hands-on, interactive percussion workshop, with call and response activities in a traditional drum circle. Intergenerational hip-hop and breakdancing collective Justice by Uniting in Creative Energy (JUiCE) will conduct art and dance workshops as well. Face painters and balloon artists complete the celebration.

The 21+ crowd can enjoy the Lagunitas outdoor Biergarten as well as a specialty vodka cocktail, Standing Sun Wine, Casa Luigi Sparkling Wine and Coldcock Whiskey. New York Seltzer and Sparkletts Water offer refreshing hydration alternatives. A selection of Los Angeles’ hottest gourmet food trucks will also be on site, including Baby’s Badass Burgers, Meat the Greek, Rice Balls of Fire, The Deli Doctor and Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams.

TARFEST 2018 is made possible in part by a grant from the City of Los Angeles, Department of Cultural Affairs, the Los Angeles County Art Commission, the California Arts Council, and The Japan Foundation, Los Angeles. Some of this year’s sponsors include Olympia Medical Center, Lagunitas Brewery, The Original Farmer’s Market, The Grove, Beverly Connection, Los Angeles City Councilmembers David Ryu and Paul Koretz, Skanska/Traylor/Shea and METRO, builders of the Purple Line subway, Arclight Cinemas, the Miracle Mile Chamber of Commerce, and many other businesses and individuals who believe in advancing creativity and free, innovative arts programming in Los Angeles. A special thanks for the support and participation of cultural partners LACMA and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.