La Quinta, California, home of the La Quinta Arts Festival has an ancient and archaic name and past.
Founded in 1776 by Conquistadores led by Juan Baustista De Anza.
In those days it was quite common for travelers from Mexico to stop every few miles on their pilgrimage to the Catholic Missions of San Gabriel, Riverside and San Bernardino.
The present location happened to be fifth on the list of stops and consequently the name La Quinta which translated into Spanish as the fifth.
Located on the floor of the Coachella Valley and surrounded by the Santa Rosa Mountains most residents at the time were the Cahuilla Indians, a tribe indigenous to the area and who remain in the valley and are quite active and prominent in the local community.
Following Mexico's independence from Spain, settlements in the area grew rapidly and records of such began to be collected in the early 1800's.
Agriculture expanded in the valley in the early 1900's and La Quinta was the first to have a golf course.
The La Quinta Resort, home of Frank Capra who wrote the screen play for "Lost Horizons" at his home there, became the first of its kind and was a popular watering hole and destination for Hollywood celebrities.
Today, perhaps the most popular place in La Quinta Village is Old Town, an exciting development located on Main Street which adjoins the Civic Center, the home of the La Quinta Arts Festival.
Beginning in 1982 a group of civic minded individuals including then and first Mayor Fred Wolf were determined to create a La Quinta that would be, to quote Mayor Wolf, "the cultural and artistic center of the Coachella Valley, providing the community with the cultural and artistic offerings that are vital to a functional society.
" Wolf and two other contributors created the La Quinta Arts Foundation in 1982.
The Arts Festival is sponsored by Foundation and its partner, the City, which continues to sponsor a myriad of events in the area.
The Festival, which had its debut in 1983 had 50 artists and 1900 patrons including Red Skelton, was first held at the Desert Club Resort in La Quinta Village and has always been held within five miles of the original site.
Today it's held at the civic center adjoining Old Town and is ranked the 3rd best arts festival in the nation.
Typically, it's held in March of each year and features more than two hundred artists from 44 states and Canada and Mexico.
New at the festival in 2011 is the addition on the festival grounds of a restaurant and bar featuring an eclectic myriad of food and drink.
My first time at the festival was in 2004 when I had the distinct honor of meeting many of the award winning artists.
My wife and I have made a point of traveling from Los Angeles each year to attend the festival which continues to get bigger and more compelling each year.
Planning is now in development for the 2012 season which is expected to be larger and better than ever.
Founded in 1776 by Conquistadores led by Juan Baustista De Anza.
In those days it was quite common for travelers from Mexico to stop every few miles on their pilgrimage to the Catholic Missions of San Gabriel, Riverside and San Bernardino.
The present location happened to be fifth on the list of stops and consequently the name La Quinta which translated into Spanish as the fifth.
Located on the floor of the Coachella Valley and surrounded by the Santa Rosa Mountains most residents at the time were the Cahuilla Indians, a tribe indigenous to the area and who remain in the valley and are quite active and prominent in the local community.
Following Mexico's independence from Spain, settlements in the area grew rapidly and records of such began to be collected in the early 1800's.
Agriculture expanded in the valley in the early 1900's and La Quinta was the first to have a golf course.
The La Quinta Resort, home of Frank Capra who wrote the screen play for "Lost Horizons" at his home there, became the first of its kind and was a popular watering hole and destination for Hollywood celebrities.
Today, perhaps the most popular place in La Quinta Village is Old Town, an exciting development located on Main Street which adjoins the Civic Center, the home of the La Quinta Arts Festival.
Beginning in 1982 a group of civic minded individuals including then and first Mayor Fred Wolf were determined to create a La Quinta that would be, to quote Mayor Wolf, "the cultural and artistic center of the Coachella Valley, providing the community with the cultural and artistic offerings that are vital to a functional society.
" Wolf and two other contributors created the La Quinta Arts Foundation in 1982.
The Arts Festival is sponsored by Foundation and its partner, the City, which continues to sponsor a myriad of events in the area.
The Festival, which had its debut in 1983 had 50 artists and 1900 patrons including Red Skelton, was first held at the Desert Club Resort in La Quinta Village and has always been held within five miles of the original site.
Today it's held at the civic center adjoining Old Town and is ranked the 3rd best arts festival in the nation.
Typically, it's held in March of each year and features more than two hundred artists from 44 states and Canada and Mexico.
New at the festival in 2011 is the addition on the festival grounds of a restaurant and bar featuring an eclectic myriad of food and drink.
My first time at the festival was in 2004 when I had the distinct honor of meeting many of the award winning artists.
My wife and I have made a point of traveling from Los Angeles each year to attend the festival which continues to get bigger and more compelling each year.
Planning is now in development for the 2012 season which is expected to be larger and better than ever.
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