Stockley Gardens Fall Arts Festival 2026

Hope House Foundation is hosting the 41st annual Stockley Gardens Arts Festival, a juried festival located in Stockley Gardens Park in historic Ghent, Norfolk. The festival draws thousands of visitors and features fine art alongside foods, music, and children's activities. It has been called Hampton Roads' best arts festival and was named one of the top outdoor art events in Eastern Virginia by Virginia Living Magazine.

Accepted mediums include Drawing, Glass, Jewelry, Leather, Metal, Mixed Media, Painting, Photography, Pottery, Printmaking, Sculpture, and Wood. Body care items, food items, and clothing are not accepted. Artists must provide their own display units. Standard booth spaces are 10'x10' ($275), with 10'x15' ($415) and 10'x20' ($550) options also available. Electricity is not provided. The application fee is $40 per medium, payable by credit card or PayPal. Booth fees are non-refundable if accepted and must be paid by check to Hope House Foundation at 801 Boush Street, Suite 302, Norfolk, VA 23510 by August 18th, 2025.

Selection is based on creativity, technical ability, and use of medium, evaluated solely on submitted images. Artists may only display work in mediums for which they have been juried. Work must be original, created by the artist's own hand, and of professional quality. Digital images, including photography, must be displayed respectfully alongside hand-created work. Photomechanical reproductions are limited to a small quantity in a spin tower, portfolio, or on one wall side. Artists will be notified the week of August 11th, 2025. The festival takes place October 18-19, 2025, with setup on October 17th. Awards include Best in Show ($3,500), 1st Place ($2,000), 2nd Place ($1,500), 3rd Place ($1,000), Award of Merit ($150), and other prizes. An artists' reception with live music takes place Saturday evening from 5-7 pm, with award announcements at the midpoint.