Bonitafest Parade & Arts Festival 2026

Every September, the horses come out, the golf carts get decorated, and Bonita throws one of its most charming community traditions of the year. Bonitafest returns for its 54th year on Saturday, September 12, free and open to the public. If you’ve never made it out, this is the kind of small-town event that reminds you why this corner of the county is so special.

I’ve made it out to Bonitafest for the past three years since it came back, and I’ve watched it grow a little each year. The first year I went it was a pretty modest turnout, and it’s been building steadily since. My hope is that it keeps growing until Bonitafest gets back to the bigger parade and event it used to be known for.

Twilight Trail Parade

Things kick off at 6 PM with the Twilight Trail Parade, starting at the horse stables at Sunnyside Saddle Club behind Rohr Park. From there, the parade makes its way along the trail toward the Bonita Museum parking lot. Expect a relaxed mix of local businesses, horse riders, decorated golf carts, and community groups, many strung up with lights for the evening walk. It’s not a big flashy production. It’s neighbors, kids, and local organizations walking together, and that’s really the charm of it.

Performing Arts Festival and Street Fair

Once the parade wraps, the celebration continues at the Bonita Museum and Cultural Arts Center, 4355 Bonita Rd, where the Performing Arts Festival and Street Fair gets underway at 6:30 PM. There will be live performances throughout the evening, plus local small businesses set up in the parking lot sharing information about what they do. It’s a good chance to wander around, meet some of the people running businesses in our own backyard, and enjoy a low-key evening out. If you plan on staying for the performances, don’t forget to bring a chair. If you plan on staying for the performances, don’t forget to bring a chair. 

If you’re looking for a free, easy way to spend a Saturday evening with the family, Bonitafest is worth setting aside time for. Get there early for the parade, then stick around for the performances and street fair afterward.