Ocala Arts Festival 2025

2025 marks the 58th annual Ocala Arts Festival in Ocala, Florida. A supportive, art-loving community, beautiful setting, notable on-site artist amenities and hospitality make this two-day festival an enjoyable experience for exhibiting artists and the public alike. The festival draws over 30,000 visitors - both local residents and art-buying tourists - to Ocala's engaging downtown. Fine Arts For Ocala commits to invite at least 150 artists and promises to promote the festival heavily throughout Central Florida.

Renowned artist amenities include complimentary daily breakfast, snacks & beverages; Saturday artist dinner; convenient Friday set-up; artist parking; security; and booth sitters. Categories include Clay, Digital Art, Drawing and Graphics, Fiber, Glass, Jewelry, Metal, Mixed Media (2D), Mixed Media (3D), Painting, Photography, Printmaking, Watercolor and Wood. The Emerging Artist Program supports new artists with waived booth fees, a travel stipend and other benefits, limited to six participants.

The festival offers $27,000 in awards, including a $5,000 Best In Show. Judging is based on originality, creativity and booth presentation. Application requirements include four photographs including one booth photo, with a $50 application fee. Standard booth fees are $300, corner booths $400. Artists must be 18 or older, present for the entire festival duration, and all work must be original and handcrafted. Blind jurying concludes by July 31, with acceptance notifications by August 15 and booth fees due by September 15.