At the 16th Annual Youth in Arts Italian Street Painting Festival, you’ll see hundreds of street painters (known as Madonnari in Italiana) will turn the streets of San Rafael into temporary works or art.  The festival also features entertainment on two stages and tasty Italian food. Saturday is Family Day, with special events and entertainment planned for families and children.

About 60,000 visitors turn out for this event held near the historic Mission San Rafael Arcangel, just 25 minutes north of San Francisco. Founded in 1994, the Youth in Arts Festival has been called one of the finest street painting festivals in the world. This year’s theme is Faces of the Renaissance. All proceeds benefit the programs of Youth in Arts.

DEAL: Admission to the Youth in Arts Italian Street Painting Festival is FREE.

WHEN: Saturday and Sunday, June 13 and 14, 2009, at 9 am to 7 pm.

WHERE: Fifth Avenue and A Street in downtown San Rafael, CA 94901.

FIND OUT MORE: www.youthinarts.org