Performance art and live music will converge in the high desert this spring as the Karnival of the Arts (KOTA) West returns to the DeAnza Springs Resort in Jacumba Hot Springs, located in southeastern San Diego County near the U.S.-Mexico border.
The festival runs from 4 p.m. on April 30 through 4 p.m. on May 3. At its center is a triple-decked stage design that allows simultaneous live painting, flow arts, and musical performances โ a format that sets it apart from traditional festivals.
This year's headliners include Thundersmack, a collaboration between Leo P of Too Many Zooz and Michael Wilbur of Moon Hooch, as well as electronic multi-instrumentalist Vincent Antone. Additional performers include Band of Gringos, Cruz Roots, TV Broken 3rd Eye Open, Bass Cowboy, and more than a dozen other regional and national acts.
KOTA co-founder and producer Miguel Munoz said the event is designed to prioritize the creative process over the finished product. "Our event highlights art like no other," Munoz said. "Starting with triple decked stages for simultaneous live painting and dance/flow performances right along side regional favorite bands and international headliners."
DeAnza Springs Resort, located at 1951 Carrizo Gorge Road, sits on 500 acres and features pools, hot tubs, and open desert vistas. Jacumba Hot Springs, once a faded desert resort town, has been experiencing a hospitality and cultural revival in recent years.
Tickets are available at events.com. The resort is approximately 70 miles east of San Diego.