It’s that time of year when the heat of the summer brings art outdoors! The art fair circuit is in full swing across much of the country, so we wanted to provide a list of the best art fairs in the USA. While the debate between what is Art vs. Craft rages on, this guide focuses on the best art fairs, art festivals and art shows across the US as well as by region. Bonus: If you are an artist yourself looking to break into the art fair scene, make sure to browse the most profitable art fairs list at the end of this guide. Although Max Foster Photography does not currently exhibit at art fairs, we do enjoy attending local art shows and catching up with our favorite artists!
Why Art Fairs Are Good for Artists and Attendees Alike
An art fair is an event that allows artists to display and sell their work as a temporary “exhibit or gallery” for a short period of time, usually from 1 day to 1 week at any given location. This type of artist-customer in person interaction can be great for both parties as it allows artists to build rapport directly with customers, while attendees get to see the quality of the artist’s works up close. Additionally, the fee/commission charged of the artist if often less than a traditional gallery setting, making it a more profitable venue for selling art while still maintaining a reasonable price point for customers.
10 Top Rated Art Fairs in the US
with input from ArtFairCalendar.com
1. Old Town Art Fair, Chicago - June
2. Park City Kimball Arts Festival, Park City, Utah - August
3. Long's Park Art Festival, Lancaster, Pennsylvania - September
4. Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival, Winter Park, Florida - May
5. Geneva Arts Fair, Geneva, Illinois - July
6. St. James Court Art Show, Louisville, Kentucky - October
7. Lakeshore Art Festival, Muskegon, Michigan - July
8. Des Moines Arts Festival, Des Moines, Iowa - June
9. Old Florida Celebration of the Arts, Cedar Key, FL - April
10. Cherry Creek Arts Festival, Denver, CO - July
The Best Art Fairs in the Midwest
1. Old Town Art Fair, Chicago – June
2. Geneva Arts Fair, Geneva, Illinois - July
3. St. James Court Art Show, Louisville, KY – October
4. Lakeshore Art Festival, Muskegon, Michigan - July
5. Ann Arbor Art Fair, Ann Arbor, MI - July
6. Des Moines Arts Festival, Des Moines, IA - June
7. Saint Louis Art Fair, St. Louis, MO - September
The Best Art Fairs in the South
1. Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival, Winter Park, FL - March
2. Old Florida Celebration of the Arts, Cedar Key, FL - April
3. Main Street Arts Festival, Fort Worth, TX – April
4. The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival, The Woodlands, TX - April
The Best Art Fairs in the East
1. Long's Park Art Festival, Lancaster, PA - September
2. Rittenhouse Square Fine Art Show, Philadelphia, PA - June
3. Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, State College, PA – July
4. Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival, Reston, VA – September
The Best Art Fairs in the West
1. Park City Kimball Arts Festival, Park City, UT - August
2. Cherry Creek Arts Festival, Denver, CO - July
3. Art in the Pearl, Portland, OR - September
4. Crested Butte Arts Festival, Crested Butte, CO – July/August
5. Festival of Arts, Laguna Beach, CA - July/August
20 Most Profitable Art Fairs in the US
according to SunshineArtist.com
1. Rittenhouse Square Fine Art Show, Philadelphia, PA - June
2. St. James Court Art Show, Louisville, KY - October
3. Armonk Outdoor Art Show, Armonk, NY - September
4. Rittenhouse Square Fine Art Show, Philadelphia, PA - September
5. Cape Coral Arts & Music Festival, Cape Coral, FL - January
6. Loring Park Art Festival, Minneapolis, MN - July/August
7. Tubac Festival of the Arts, Tubac, AZ - November
8. Summerfair, Cincinnati, OH - June
9. Marietta Art in the Park, Marietta, GA - September
10. Art Fest Naples at Fleischmann Park, Naples, FL - January
11. Bethesda Fine Arts Festival, Bethesda, MD - May
12. 4 Bridges Arts Festival, Chattanooga, TN - April
13. The Village at Winona Art Fair, Winona Lake, IN - June
14. Bonita Springs National Art Festival, Bonita Springs, FL - February (Show 2)
15. Art Fair on the Square, Madison, WI - September
16. IMAGES: A Festival of the Arts, New Smyrna Beach, FL - January
17. Old Town Art Fair, Chicago, IL - June
18. Port Clinton Art Festival, Highland Park, IL - August
19. Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival, Winter Park, FL - March
20. Peoria Art Guild Fine Art Fair, Peoria, IL - September
Virtual Art Fairs | Online Photography Galleries
If your summer is already jam packed with events or you don’t live close enough to attend one of the art fairs on the above lists, there are still plenty of opportunities for you to view art virtually! Whether it be attending a Virtual Art Fair or browsing an artist’s online photography gallery, there are now many ways to stay in the know on talented artists and view their newest work without having to step outside your home.
