Ocean View School District Celebrates Student Creativity at Annual Arts Festival

The third annual district-wide Festival of the Arts showcased a diverse range of visual and performing arts from students across all grade levels.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 11:03pm

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An abstract, out-of-focus photograph in warm, vibrant colors, capturing the joyful and expressive atmosphere of an arts festival featuring a variety of student artwork and performances.The annual Festival of the Arts showcases the creative talents of students across the Ocean View School District, inspiring the next generation of young artists.Fountain Valley Today

The Ocean View School District held its third annual Festival of the Arts on Thursday, featuring a variety of student artwork and performances. The event, which took place at the district office, included visual art displays, musical and dance performances, and even a cookie decorating contest. Students from the district's 10 elementary schools and 3 middle schools participated, sharing their creative talents in mediums ranging from painting and drawing to woodworking and mariachi music.

Why it matters

The Festival of the Arts provides a valuable platform for students to showcase their artistic abilities and explore different forms of creative expression. By celebrating the diverse talents of students across the district, the event helps foster a love of the arts and encourages young people to pursue their passions, whether in visual arts, music, dance, or other creative disciplines.

The details

The festival featured a wide array of student artwork, including paintings, drawings, woodshop projects, and more. Many students also took the stage to perform, with musical acts like the Vista View mariachi band and dance teams from the middle schools. In addition to the creative showcases, the event included a cookie decorating contest judged by the district's deputy superintendent of human resources.

  • The third annual Ocean View School District Festival of the Arts was held on Thursday, April 6, 2026.
  • The event took place at the Ocean View School District office.

The players

Aislinn Cortez

An eighth grader at Vista View Middle School who displayed her artwork, 'La Niñez', which was inspired by the Mexican game of 'Lotería'.

Hayden Cunningham

A sixth grader at Marine View Middle School who proudly displayed his intricate drawing of a rattlesnake, which he had been working on for four months.

Mikayla Nguyen

An eighth grader at Vista View Middle School who performed with her dance team, showcasing a hip-hop routine set to early 2000s pop music.

Reagan Headrick

The district deputy superintendent of human resources, who served as a judge for the cookie decorating contest.

Ocean View School District

The school district that organized the Festival of the Arts, which serves the cities of Huntington Beach, Fountain Valley, Midway City, and Westminster.

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What they’re saying

“I love how some are sketch, some are paint, some are watercolor, some are just stamping, some are woodshop. I love the different types of art.”

— Aislinn Cortez, Eighth grader, Vista View Middle School

“I've been drawing it for four months, drawing each scale meticulously. Mr. [Andrew] Estrada is just an awesome teacher. He's really helped me a lot with my art skills.”

— Hayden Cunningham, Sixth grader, Marine View Middle School

“[This event] just gives a way for kids to explore what they want to do in the future. As fifth-graders, what they want to do in middle school, or fourth graders, elementary kids. [They can say], 'Oh my gosh, I want to dance like them.'”

— Mikayla Nguyen, Eighth grader, Vista View Middle School

What’s next

The Ocean View School District plans to continue hosting the Festival of the Arts annually, providing students across all grade levels with opportunities to showcase their creative talents and explore different artistic disciplines.

The takeaway

The Festival of the Arts celebrates the diverse artistic abilities of students in the Ocean View School District, fostering a love of the arts and encouraging young people to pursue their creative passions. By providing a platform for students to display their work and perform, the event helps nurture the next generation of artists, musicians, and performers.