Due to increased COVID numbers, some festivals may be canceled or postponed. Please check follow the links (teal text) to festival websites for current information and festival hours. This is obviously not an exhaustive list. If you would like, add the url of your favorite southeastern art fair that takes place this October in the comments.
Alabama
October 16-17
River Clay, Decatur, AL
https://www.riverclay.org
The River Clay Fine Arts Festival artist market features artists from all over the country selling their creations. Come spend a day in beautiful downtown Decatur shopping for art. In addition, patrons and festival goers will enjoy live music, children’s activities, student art exhibits, chalk art, food trucks and more!
Kentuck Festival of the Arts, 3401 5th Street, Northport, AL
https://www.kentuck.org
TICKETS: $10 single day pass, $15 weekend pass, kids 12 & under get in free. The two-day festival has its roots in folk art and features 260+ artists, live music, spoken word, activities for children, folk and contemporary craft demonstrations, food trucks, and local craft brews. Kentuck has been featured in Smithsonian Magazine, Southern Living, American Style Magazine, and National Geographic Traveler. I
33rd Annual Jubilee Festival of Arts, Lott Park, on Main Street in Olde Towne Daphne, AL.
Art, music & local cuisine meet southern charm at this annual festival set along the Eastern Shore of Mobile Bay. Find the very best in jewelry, paintings, pottery, sculpture, wood, mixed media, functional & decorative items. Olde Towne Daphne’s picturesque bay views are an inspiration to artists from across the country. The Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce hosts the Jubilee Festival of Arts each year to support tourism and the arts & spotlight the beauty and fun of Olde Towne Daphne.
Florida
October 23-24
Estero Open Air Fine Art Show, JetBlue Park, Fort Myers, Florida
https://artsandeducationinc.org/events/estero-fine-art-show/
Become immersed in an exclusive collection of high-quality art from a carefully selected elite group of unique, professional artists at the Estero Fine Art Show. Come join us and see for yourself why the Estero Fine Art Show is voted as one of the Top 100 art shows in America!
Ocala Arts Festival, Ocala, Florida
FAFO.org
The Ocala Arts Festival has been voted as one of the most loved events in our community. Artists are chosen by an independent panel of four judges. There will be 150+ artists from all over the United States bringing their beautiful pieces to downtown Ocala, Florida. The Art Festival is produced by an all-volunteer board and draws more than 25,000 visitors each year. Artists compete for $22,000 worth of award money presented to the winners which are selected by two prestigious judges.
Georgia
October 2-3
Norcross Art Splash Festival, Lillian Webb Park, 5 College St., Norcross, GA
https://www.splashfestivals.com/events-festivals/norcross-art-splash/
Ninety artists from across the country will show off their talents with folk art, ceramics, paintings, photography, mixed media, fiber art, metalwork, and of course, jewelry…lots of sparkly bling! Bring the kids for an interactive Kidz Zone with face painting, sand art and inflatable rides. Of course, we’ll have lots of festival food and drink.
October 9-10
Festival on Ponce, 1451 Ponce De Leon Ave NE Atlanta, GA 30307
http://festivalonponce.com
The Festival on Ponce is an Atlanta arts and crafts festival set in the historic park, Olmsted Linear Park. Visitors will enjoy the gorgeous landscape designed by one of America’s most celebrated landscape architects, Fredrick Olmsted Sr. along with over 125 displays of fine arts and crafts, folk and “outsider art”. In addition to the fine arts, there will be a children’s area and local food and beverage. Attendance is Free.
The Arts Festival of Carrollton, Carrollton Center for the Arts, 251 Alabama St., Carrollton, GA
artfestivalofcarrollton.com
On the 2nd weekend in October, a tent city miraculously appears around the Center for the Arts, where you will find exceptional art, entertainment, and children’s activities.
Fall Arts in the Park, City Park, Blue Ridge, GA 30513
https://www.blueridgeartsinthepark.com
Located at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, the Arts in the Park festival series draws in excess of 20,000 attendees annually and a wide array of artists and food vendors. With over 170+ artists, exhibitors, and vendors booths, our visitors enjoy a variety of fine arts and fine crafts, demonstrations, food, and much more during the Arts in the Park festivals.
October 16-17
Magnolia Fine Arts Festival, Drake Field, 155 Willowbend Rd, Peachtree City, GA 30269
http://www.magnoliaartsfestival.org/
Plan to Play! Juried fine arts market, student art exhibit, great food, kids’ corner, and demonstrations with live performances all weekend! Admission is FREE!
Johns Creek Arts Festival, 1930 Bobby Jones Dr., Johns Creek, GA 30097
https://www.splashfestivals.com/events-festivals/johns-creek-arts-festival/
The serene green space across from The Atlanta Athletic Club will come alive with 130 whimsical and fun artisans from around the country.
North Carolina
October 2, 9, 16
Asheville Arts in the Park, Asehville, North Carolina
http://www.ashevilleartinthepark.com
Asheville Art in the Park will once again be providing access to some of the finest artists in the region with it’s market series now in its second decade. The event takes place on three consecutive Saturdays each June and October. Nationally known artists exhibit at this event and the best part is- they are local.
Blowing Rock Art in the Park, Blowing Rock, North Carolina
October 2
https://blowingrock.com/artinthepark/
Artists are jury-selected and each show features a different set of artists, curated to present a wide variety of mediums. Find gifts and works for personal collections, functional beauties like furniture and cutlery, and wearable art like handcrafted jewelry and textiles. Artists’ tents line Park Avenue right in downtown Blowing Rock so attendees can enjoy proximity to other shopping, as well as dining options and local parks. Make a weekend of it, and stay for the outdoor Concert in the Park that follows each Art in the Park on Sundays!
Festifall Arts Market, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- October 15th Henderson Street
- October 23 140 West Plaza
- October 30 West Franklin Parking Lot
https://www.chapelhillarts.org/festifall-arts-market-more/
Festifall is an annual celebration that brings the community together around a diverse array of arts experiences.
11th Annual Kings Drive Art Walk, Charlotte, North Carolina
October 30-31 (Rescheduled from July)
https://festivalinthepark.org/kings-drive-art-walk/
Since the fall of 1964, Festival in the Park has brought Charlotteans from all walks of life together to enjoy arts, crafts, music and family entertainment. With the mission of bringing the community together by celebrating the arts.
We invite you to participate in our event which will be held along the Little Sugar Creek Greenway, a reclaimed natural waterway between East Morehead Street and Pearle Park Way Bridge along Kings Drive. With a focus on fine and emerging artists, our festival on this beautiful and easily accessible venue is an annual fine arts outing!
South Carolina
October 13-24
South Carolina State Fair, Columbia, SC
https://www.scstatefair.org
October 15-17
Greenville Antiques, Fine Art & Design Weekend, Greenville, South Carolina
https://gcma.org/antiques
Admission is $10, good for all three days of the event. Fun and inspiring, AFAD weekend features 18 dealers from across the country exhibiting the best antiques, fine art, and design in the Southeast.
October 17
Historic Bluffton Arts & Seafood Festival–Art on the Street
Bluffton, South Carolina
http://blufftonchamberofcommerce.org/events/details/historic-bluffton-arts-seafood-festival-10-16-2021-6256
Part of a weeklong festival. Stroll Old Town Bluffton and see our state designated cultural district come alive! POP UP ART on gallery lawns on gallery porches and in Martin Family Park – temporary art displays join the many galleries to highlight the artistic and cultural side of Bluffton. A celebration of exceptional handmade, original local art including oil and acrylic paintings, pottery and much, much more.
Tennessee
October 23-24
River Arts Festival, Renasant Convention Center, Memphis, TN
https://riverartsmemphis.org/festival-artists
The RiverArtsFest Artist Market is dedicated to providing a vibrant marketplace for original handcrafted works of fine art produced by local, regional, and nationally recognized artisans. Last year, we received more than 450 applications from artisans across the nation and here in Memphis.
Texas
October 16-17
Artoberfest, Galveston, Texas
https://www.visitgalveston.com/events/annual-events/artoberfest/
Artful, interesting and activity-oriented — that’s Galveston’s ARToberFEST. It’s our premier juried art festival, showcasing the works of over 120 U.S. artists and presented by The Grand 1894 Opera House.
Virginia
October 3rd
MPArtfest, McLean Park, McLean, Virginia
http://mpaart.org/mpaartfest/
MPAartfest transforms McLean Park into an outdoor art studio and community-wide celebration of the visual arts. The festival features contemporary art plus music, food, children’s activities, and more. Free admission; 10:00 – 4:00.
October 22–24
VIRGINIA BEACH BOARDWALK ART SHOW
https://virginiamoca.org/boardwalk-art-show/
One of the only outdoor art shows produced by an accredited museum. The Boardwalk Art Show strives to have the highest caliber fine art in the relaxing setting of the Virginia Beach Boardwalk. Ranked as a top 15 Fine Art Show of the Decade by Sunshine Artist Magazine, this three-day festival welcomes nearly 200 artists from around the country featuring fine art across several mediums including ceramics, photography, sculpture, and glassworks.
