Best Art Fairs

                 Editor’s Picks for the Best Art Fairs in the Country

                        

Looking for a great destination? The following shows are the best art fairs in the nation. These top shows take great pride in their selection of artists and they are all competitively juried.  Some of them even fly in curators, art professors and museum personnel to sit on their artist selection panels. For example, at the Cherry Creek Arts Festival in Denver this year, there were over 2000 applicants for the 200 spaces.

The art and craft work exhibited will delight you in its variety, quality and vision. In these days of strip malls and cookie cutter chain stores, art fairs are undeniably the most interesting shopping venues left in the country.

Most of these festivals also have children’s activity areas, wonderful food courts, and music especially chosen to enhance your attendance. You can easily spend a whole day at these great art fairs meeting interesting people, finding wonderful treasures and resting up at one of the performance stages before your next foray into the wonderful world of fine arts and crafts.

Visit their websites that showcase the artists and crafts people who will be in their events this. You can go online and preshop! We invite you to find a new festival this year and get back to us with your comments.

 

1.  The Ann Arbor Art Fairs, Ann Arbor, MI – July 15-18, 2009* 
                            always Wednesday through Saturday

We have to start out the list with this event because it is the granddaddy of all the other successful art festivals in the country. It is now four official fairs but it all began in 1959 on South University, the original Street Fair. Its’ success, proving that artists could find a new marketplace, has since spawned three more concurrent festivals.

The four shows are a confederation, sharing city services and keeping the same dates and hours. Over 1200 exhibitors show up ready to meet you. Ann Arbor turns into Art Fair City every July for four days. They include:

• Ann Arbor Street Fair: www.artfair.org
• State Street Area Art Fair
• Summer Art Fair
• Ann Arbor’s South University Art Fair

2.  St. Louis Art Fair, Clayton, MO – September  11-13, 2009*

This event is held in the central business district of Clayton, an upscale suburban community of St. Louis. A small event, only 165 exhibitors, competition is fierce to be one of the chosen exhibitors. Only the very best artists will be found at this event.

3.  Cherry Creek Arts Festival, Denver, CO – July 3-5, 2009*

This is a true destination show, fabulous art, intriguing auxiliary activities for kids and adults, and an online auction, all in a great urban neighborhood.

4.  Coconut Grove Arts Festival, Miami, FL – Feb. 14-16, 2009*

Always held on President’s Day weekend, this is a destination for Floridians as well as plenty of snowbirds. Also the same weekend as the Miami Boat Show there is a good deal of customer crossover. Held on the shores of Biscayne Bay under the palm trees, you will see a good deal of contemporary art plus many artists who don’t leave Florida to show their work in your neighborhood.

5.  Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show, Philadelphia, PA - Nov. 12-15,2009*

The best show of only fine crafts in the country includes 195 of the finest and most dynamic craft artists in the U.S., selected from 1500 applicants. A benefit for the Museum of Art, you will find outstanding work by craftspeople who prefer not to show their artwork outdoors. Everything is beautiful.

6.  Lakefront Festival of Arts, Milwaukee, WI – June 19-21, 2009*

Sponsored by the Milwaukee Museum of Art and held on its’ grounds in front of the museum’s architecturally exciting new building, great artists show up on the lakefront every June. Many of them will have been in Chicago at Old Town the previous weekend. This confluence of two great shows encourages many artists to travel long distances to be there, providing you with another excellent event.

7. Sausalito Art Festival, Sausalito, CA – September 4-7, 2009*

The internationally famous beauty of Sausalito, with its’ historic waterfront and unique galleries and shops has always attracted art collectors. On Labor Day weekend the stars of the contemporary art scene are showcased in this great setting. Plan for a great time, with excellent food and music extending the pleasure.

8. Des Moines Arts Festival, Des Moines, IA – June 26-28, 2009*

The people in Des Moines go all out to make this festival great for everyone. Very creative kids activities, emerging artist programs, fireworks, and some of the best artists in the country who make a stop in Des Moines on their way to Cherry Creek the following weekend. Who knew Des Moines was so cool? Worth the drive. You won’t be sorry.

9.  Washington Craft Show, Washington, D. C. - November 20-22, 2009*

An exquisite event featuring 190 of the nation's most talented artists, featuring one-of-a-kind and limited editions work. This juried event features recognized masters and talented newcomers exhibiting the latest trends in finely crafted art pieces for the discerning buyer. In addition, two days of expert seminars in decorating, finding collectible art, art to wear and much more. A great weekend destination for the art aficionado.

10.  Old Town Art Fair, Chicago, IL – June 13 & 14, 2009*

Held in the Old Town Triangle neighborhood, everyone turns out for this one that is Chicago’s favorite. Most of the artists have been chosen years ago, so your favorites will usually be back, with a few new ones added in each year.
For more info:  www.oldtowntriangle.com

11. Plaza Art Fair, Kansas City, MO – Sept. 25-27, 2009*

The streets of the Country Club Plaza become an outdoor art gallery each September as art enthusiasts flock to the Plaza to see displays of magnificent works of art from the nation’s top visual artists. Expect 230 artists from 30 states, a very competitive event…everyone is good! Beyond the art this beautiful shopping area also hosts delicious food from nearby restaurants, great music and interactive art experiences for all ages.

12. Long’s Park Art & Craft Festival, Lancaster, PA – Sept. 4-7, 2009* 

Come and unwind at one of America’s top fine art and craft shows featuring original work from 200 of the best artists in the country. Free entertainment and great food all presented in a lovely park. This is a great place to spend Labor Day weekend.

13. Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival, Reston, VA – May 16 & 17, 2009*

This festival brings the finest contemporary arts and crafts to the Greater Reston area in a festive celebration of art, life and culture. A beautiful event with top artists who travel a long way to present their work to a sophisticated clientele. If you are going to be in the area put this event on your calendar.

14. Cain Park Arts Festival, Cleveland Heights, OH – July  10-12, 2009*

A great place to spend a summer day in Cleveland, this event brings you more fine artists in a beautiful ravine park in the heart of the city---urban living at its’ best. The local restaurants vie to be present, there is a wide variety of excellent entertainment, lawns to stretch out on and beautiful works of art, what’s missing here? Nothing.

15. Winter Park Sidewalk Arts Festival, Winter Park, FL – March 20-22, 2009*

All the artists want to be in Florida in the winter, consequently this beautiful show receives record numbers of applicants. This ensures that you will have an amazing number of excellent choices when it is time to purchase artwork. First timers viewing the show wonder where all this talent came from…and you thought central Florida didn’t have culture. You’ll love this show.

        Editor’s Top Show Picks: HONORABLE MENTIONS

American Craft Council Craft Fair, Baltimore, MD - February 27-March 1, 2009*

Scottsdale Arts Festival, Scottsdale, AZ - March 20-22, 2009*

LaQuinta Arts Festival, near Palm Springs, CA - March 12-14, 2009*

Bayou City Art Festival, Houston, TX - March 27-29, 2009*

CraftBoston, Boston, MA – March 27-29, 2009*

Smithsonian Craft Show, Washington, D.C. – April 23-25, 2009*

Main Street, Fort Worth Arts Festival, Ft. Worth, TX – April  16-19, 2009*

Oklahoma City Festival of the Arts, Oklahoma City, OK - April 21-26, 2009*

New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival - two weekends: April 24-26 & April 30-May 3, 2009*

Brookside Art Annual, Kansas City, MO – May 1-3, 2009*                  

57th Street Art Fair, Chicago, IL - June 6 & 7, 2009*

Frederick Festival of the Arts, Frederick, MD - June 6 & 7, 2009
    For more info:  www.frederickarts.org

Columbus Arts Festival, Columbus, OH – June 5-7, 2009*

Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, State College, PA – July 9-12, 2009* 
    For more info:  www.arts-festival.com

Krasl Art Fair, St. Joseph, MI – July 11 & 12, 2009*

Bellevue Arts & Crafts Fair, Bellevue, WA - July 24-26, 2009*

Uptown Art Fair, Minneapolis, MN – August  7-9, 2009* 

Park City Art Festival, Park City, UT – August  1-2, 2009* 

Charlevoix Waterfront Art Fair, Charlevoix, MI – August 8, 2009*

Arts, Beats & Eats, Pontiac, MI – September 4-7, 2009*
     For more info:  www.artsbeatseats.com

Atlanta Arts Festival, Atlanta, GA - September 12 & 13, 2009*

Paradise City Arts Festival, Northampton, MA - October 10-12, 2009*   

Bruce Museum Outdoor Arts Festival, Greenwich, CT - October 10 & 11, 2009*

      

Do you agree with this list? Do you know an art fair that should be listed here?
Please let me know by commenting below.

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Comments

[alicia]

St. James Court Art Fair in Louisville, KY isn't listed. I've been to several of the top tens listed here and they aren't even close to this one. Makes me wonder where they get their info.

[Ginny Herzog]

I don't think that Coconut Grove Arts Festival deserves to be on the list of the top shows any longer. The fact that they went through their entire wait list and called up rejected artists to fill the show seems to indicate that the artists are not placing this show very high on their list, either. Their fees are too high and they no longer attract the wonderful collectors. IMHO