February Art Hop Brings Fresno Together For The New Year

After briefly slowing down during the holiday months, Fresno’s Art Hop came back with a vengeance for February. It was as if everyone came out of hibernation to celebrate the art and culture scene in Downtown Fresno.

Ben and I started at the Brewery District. We checked out a community event space called Sombra (@sombrafresno), located right off of Broadway Street, wedged between a shared building. It officially opened back in January, inviting local artists, vendors, and more community members.

It felt very inviting stepping inside. We were met with a giant heart balloon in the entrance, inviting people to leave cute notes on it with a marker.

Local vendors and artists hugged the wall on the side, while a flash tattoo artist posted up on the opposite side. Crocheted goodies, canvas paintings, jewelry, and thrifted clothes were spread out throughout the venue, and continued outside. We were met with a DJ that treated us with house music, and even a Y2K-inspired photo op corner.

I spoke with local model Hanna Burke (@fettywapp.han), who stopped by to check out what was going on at Sombra and asked what she hopes people will take away from stopping by.

“I’m hoping people will gain more of a sense of community and more empathy towards others, and start to gain connections with local vendors and artists… Because that’s what Art Hop is all about, supporting the local community,” she said.

She also explained how the venue has hosted different events outside of Art Hop, including a fashion show hosted by Alley In The Valley.

Walking down Fulton, we were met with plenty of attendees passing by, a DJ set performing at Tioga Sequoia, and even a couple of musicians busking along the sidewalk.

Hardcore music started spilling out of the corner of Fulton and Kern, right by Mammoth Mall.

A massive crowd of people gathered for the “Punks VS Hardcore” show, which was hosted by vintage store Bad Kids Club (@bad.kids.club), photographer Rian Diener (@rianslens), and show promoter Hamp (@hampsdayoff).

Bands including Inspite, Huesera, and Coagulant performed in front of dozens of two-steppers, head bangers, and moshers.

“It was a lot of fun, there were a lot of people out tonight,” Huesera (@hueserascreamsx) vocalist Logan shared.

“It was pretty chaotic, which is fitting for the kind of bands that are on this bill. It was a fun experience; there was a lot of energy that went on. I think everyone was really excited for tonight,” bassist Evan said.

Walking down Fulton, we were met with plenty of attendees passing by, a DJ set performing at Tioga Sequoia, and even a couple of musicians busking along the sidewalk.

Hardcore music started spilling out of the corner of Fulton and Kern, right by Mammoth Mall.

A massive crowd of people gathered for the “Punks VS Hardcore” show, which was hosted by vintage store Bad Kids Club (@bad.kids.club), photographer Rian Diener (@rianslens), and show promoter Hamp (@hampsdayoff).

Bands including Inspite, Huesera, and Coagulant performed in front of dozens of two-steppers, head bangers, and moshers.

“It was a lot of fun, there were a lot of people out tonight,” Huesera vocalist Logan shared.

“It was pretty chaotic, which is fitting for the kind of bands that are on this bill. It was a fun experience; there was a lot of energy that went on. I think everyone was really excited for tonight,” bassist Evan said.

There were blends of different communities coming together along this street that reminded me of how community-based Art Hop really is. Bikers revving their engines, skaters riding down the sidewalk, a concert-goer hurling next to the porta-potties, fashion girlies skimming through the thrifted clothing racks–it was beautiful.

And it didn’t stop there.

Hanna Burke poses for photo. (Alexa Barraza/ Setlist)

Members of the band huesera. (Alexa Barraza/ Setlist)

Walking further down Fulton as the hardcore music began fading, norteño music began phasing in.

Estilo Fino (@estilofinoofficial), a local grupo, performed classic corridos and norteños in front of a jaripeo baile-inspired crowd only a block away from the hardcore show.

Couples of all age ranges, best friends, family members, and even nearby workers all joined in on the dance. The music, the smells of a nearby hot dog stand, and the crowd teleported me back into the motherland.

“I believe Art Hop highlights cultural and subcultural aspects, especially for the youth within our city. It’s one of those events that really makes community accessible for people,” Bad Kids Club owner Fabio Linares said when asked about the purpose of Art Hop.

With several roadblocks that Fresno’s Art Hop had to overcome, including COVID, the street vendor ban in 2024, and the rise and eventual end of Why Not Wednesday, which served as an alternative event in response to the street vendor ban, Fabio explained how attendees feel about the event’s current standing.

Pop-up shops fill tioga-sequoia's beer garden every art hop. (Alexa Barraza/ Setlist)

“I think enough people are tired of the constant reinvention. We’re still trying to consistently bring what brought me to Fulton Street, which was community. It really is just about people willing to put in that passion and willing to put themselves out there to be a part of it. I think [The] Fresno Arts Council should be willing to accept them,” Linares shared.

Downtown Fresno truly showed up and showed out for February’s Art Hop. It’s as if each obstacle and reinvention that this event had to overcome was immediately forgotten about, providing a fresh start into what Art Hop can be and has become.

See you in March!

Fabio linares, owner of bad kids club, in front of the mammoth mall on fulton street. (Alexa Barraza/ Setlist)