Art Fair on the Square 2026 - Lake Forest

The Deer Path Art League's 71st Annual Art Fair on the Square is held in Market Square in Lake Forest, Illinois. This fine arts fair is a long-standing tradition and the organization's signature event. Proceeds from booth fees and sponsorships support the Deer Path Art League's mission to bring visual arts to the community.

Artists must submit four images: three showcasing their work and one displaying their booth (new artists without a booth image may submit a photo of their work collection). Identifying information must be hidden to maintain the double-blind jury process. Artists are responsible for their own 10' x 10' or 10' x 20' white canopy tent. Displays must remain within the booth space, and all browse bins must be aesthetically pleasing. Electricity and generators are not permitted. Artists must be 18 years old or older, present during the festival, and display an Artist Statement prominently in their booth. All artwork must be created by the exhibiting artist; no commercially made items, kits, molds, or mass-produced products are allowed. The artwork exhibited must match the images submitted in the application.

Available categories include Ceramics, Digital, Drawing/Pastels, Fiber, Glass, Jewelry Precious, Jewelry Semi-Precious, Mixed Media, Painting Oil, Painting Acrylic, Painting Watercolor/Gouache, Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture, and Wood. A panel of three independent jurors will select artists through a double-blind jury process. Accepted artists will be notified by May 10, 2026. Booth fees are due by June 19, 2026. The fair takes place September 6-7, 2026. Application fee is $35 (non-refundable). Booth fees are $450 (non-refundable), with additional fees for corner booths ($100) or double booths ($900). Artists retain all proceeds from sales and must collect and report Lake County sales tax (8%). Monetary awards will be presented to artists in various categories, with Best in Show and category winners selected by independent judges. Award-winning artists receive an automatic invitation to return the following year, exempt from the jury process. Amenities include complimentary artist lunch, booth sitters, bottled water, convenient parking, night security patrols, and volunteer staff for setup and tear-down.