Arts Alive Festival | Art Market in the Park 2026

The Arts Alive festival is celebrated in historic downtown Florence, Alabama during the third weekend in May. Presented by the Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts Volunteers, Arts Alive features two juried venues: a gallery exhibition and an art market in the park. On May 16th and 17th, Wilson Park will transform into one of the largest art markets in the southeastern US as up to 100 juried artists utilizing various mediums sell their work from colorful booths. The purpose of Arts Alive is to raise money for the sponsorship of workshops and scholarships for art teachers and students in northwest Alabama.

Open to all artists 18 years of age and older residing in the United States, Mexico, and Canada who are working in painting, sculpture, drawing, printmaking, textiles, mixed media, metal, clay, glass, jewelry, photography, and wood. Artists are selected based on the quality, creativity, and originality of their work. The jury fee is $40.00 (nonrefundable) and booth fee is $225.00. Application deadline is February 13, 2026, with artists notified of acceptance the first weekend of March.

Booth spaces are 12 feet x 12 feet, with additional adjoining booth space available for $200.00. Artists are responsible for their own displays and must securely anchor tents and materials according to manufacturer recommendations. Selected artists may sell artworks commission-free and will be judged for awards, which will be announced and presented on Saturday, May 16th at the garden party honoring artists at the Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts.