Imagine walking down the street — and suddenly there’s a giant eye on a warehouse wall, staring right at you. Around the corner, a little girl with flowers growing out of her hair. This isn’t a museum. It’s not a dream. It’s Sacramento during Wide Open Walls, the city’s annual street art festival that transforms entire neighborhoods into a colorful outdoor gallery.
Every August, Sacramento changes. Buildings, schools, and even utility boxes become canvases. Artists from around the world arrive with paint, vision, and stories. Cameras click, kids stare in awe, people stop to talk. Best of all — anyone can be part of it.
What Is Wide Open Walls?
Wide Open Walls (WOW) is more than a graffiti festival — it’s a creative movement, a public conversation, a reflection of the city. Since 2017, it’s been turning blank walls into bold messages, stunning murals, and unforgettable experiences.
Each summer, both local and international artists are invited to paint massive murals all over Sacramento. Some are abstract, others tell community stories. Some are beautiful. Others are powerful — even uncomfortable — tackling topics like inequality or climate change.
This year’s festival runs August 16–31, 2025, with over 40 artists from 8 countries. Some are new. Some are back to continue the stories they started years ago.
Art That Speaks
One thing makes WOW stand out: the art doesn’t just decorate — it speaks.
In 2020, a mural supporting Black Lives Matter sparked citywide conversations and became one of Sacramento’s most photographed spots. In 2023, a Brazilian artist painted the Amazon rainforest in flames — right across from City Hall.
This year, one of the most talked-about works is a series about mental health. One mural shows a huge human silhouette filled with floating fish, flowers, and scattered words like “quiet,” “loud,” “inside,” “outside.” It’s by a local therapist who paints in his spare time.
The City Becomes a Gallery
During WOW, Sacramento becomes an open-air art museum. You can grab a map from the official website or use the free app to find each mural, learn about the artist, and follow walking routes.
- Midtown features detailed and surreal murals — a visual feast.
- Oak Park focuses on local history, culture, and Black heritage.
- Broadway shows off bold, abstract styles and vibrant color.
Some artists paint live — you can stop, watch them work, ask questions, or take photos. The process is just as exciting as the result. Street art becomes a shared moment, not just something to admire from afar.
Artists to Watch in 2025
This year’s lineup includes:
- Jet Martinez (USA) — A Mexican-American painter known for colorful, folk-inspired florals.
- Alice Pasquini (Italy) — Her murals often explore female identity and strength. This year she’s painting a former school building.
- Artem Priymak (Ukraine) — Blending street art with traditional patterns from Ukrainian folk art.
- Yulia Gavrilova (Sacramento) — A local artist highlighting endangered Native Californian languages on her mural.
Behind the Scenes
WOW is a collaboration between artists, the city, building owners, sponsors, and art curators. Murals are approved, funded, and supported through grants, donations, and community partnerships. The goal? Make Sacramento more beautiful and connected through art.
For the artists, it’s more than a chance to show their skills. It’s a conversation with the city. A mural isn’t a quick sketch — it might stay on that wall for years. Thousands will walk by it every week. That’s a big responsibility.
More Than Murals
WOW isn’t just paint and walls. It’s a full cultural celebration with:
- Artist talks like “How a Mural Changes a Street”
- School tours with guides turning murals into history lessons
- Night walks with flashlights and music
- DJ sets and live performances right next to murals in progress
Locals don’t just watch — they participate. Families, couples, and friend groups spend the day exploring and discussing what they see. Art becomes the start of conversations.
Why It Matters
Wide Open Walls isn’t just about bright colors. It’s about making the invisible visible:
- Communities we rarely hear from
- Stories not in textbooks
- Emotions that are hard to say out loud
It helps us see beauty in the city — and maybe even in each other.
Don’t Miss It
The festival ends in late August, but the murals stay. Take a walk. Discover a wall that makes you stop and stare. You might find a new favorite corner of the city — or see your neighborhood in a whole new way.
And if you can’t make it in person, follow @wideopenwalls on Instagram for daily updates, artist interviews, and behind-the-scenes content.
🎨 Wide Open Walls is a citywide celebration of creativity — and you’re invited. Don’t just walk by. Look closer. See the story.
