The Beverly Hills Art Show returns to Beverly Gardens Park on Saturday, Oct. 17, and Sunday, Oct. 18, with 250 artists lining four blocks of Santa Monica Boulevard between Rodeo Drive and Rexford Drive.

Admission is free.

Both days run 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., rain or shine. The twice-yearly show, which the city has staged every spring and fall since 1973, draws artists from California, other states and countries who sell original work directly to visitors. Categories span painting, sculpture, watercolor, photography, mixed media, ceramics, glass, jewelry, drawing and printmaking.

Beyond the art, the show features a Wine and Beer Garden with live music, gourmet food trucks, demonstrating artists, children's activities and community exhibits. Awards will be presented in every category, along with prizes for Best of Show, Most Original, Best Display of Art and Best New Artist, according to the city's event prospectus.

This fall's edition also ties into Beverly Hills' Route 66 centennial celebration. On both days, Green Dog Workshop will offer personalized folded paper cars and maps, eDiscover Center will run a "vehicles to go" project using upcycled materials, and Starry Night Designs will lead Route 66 road trip-themed marbled coaster workshops, according to the city's Route 66 programming page.

On Sunday only, the Petersen Automotive Museum will facilitate a community project where kids and families can decorate a full-sized vehicle from bumper to bumper.

The show, originally called "Affaire in the Gardens," has run for 53 years and is billed by the city as one of the most popular outdoor art events on the West Coast, according to the city's event page. Dana Beesen, the city's media contact for the show, can be reached at [email protected] or 310-285-6830.