One of Central Florida’s most celebrated harbingers of spring will celebrate its 64th year over the course of three days, March 17, 18 and 19. The ever-popular Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival is one of the country’s oldest, largest and most prestigious juried fine art shows. The event consistently ranks among the most highly regarded outdoor art shows in the nation, and its artists compete for one of the largest cash awards among the top shows — $76,500. New for 2023 is the Monte Livermore Celebration of Nature award in the amount of $2,000 for an outstanding work of art that features flowers, trees, plants or landscapes.
Don’t miss the chance to browse hundreds of artists’ booths as you stroll beneath the large oak trees in Central Park and enjoy Winter Park’s historic Park Avenue, with its brick streets, unique boutique shops, and inviting cafes and bistros. Attendance usually reaches 250,000 or more for the three-day festival, which is one of Central Florida’s largest outdoor events.
This year, 212 fine artists have been selected for participation, chosen from more than 1,000 national and international applications. An independent panel of three judges select the artists that will exhibit their work.
Along with these juried fine artists and four emerging artists, the festival will feature concerts in Central Park, a wide variety of food and beverages, a large display of outstanding art from local schools, and a children’s workshop area with interactive art activities for the kids guided by 12 local museums.
Don’t miss the festival’s opening jazz concert — the week before the big event — on Saturday, March 11 from 3:30 to 9:30 p.m. This year’s concert headliner will be Spyro Gyra, who will fill downtown Winter Park with their unique uplifting tones that combine jazz, Latin and R&B.
The Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival debuted in March 1960 as a community project to bring local artists and art lovers together, and is produced by an all-volunteer board of roughly 40 people who work on the event year-round. An independent, not-for-profit foundation supports Rollins and UCF scholarship funds, and foundation grants are used to support emerging artists and children’s exhibits.
For complete details, visit the festival’s website at www.wpsaf.org.
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Tips for a Great Day Out
Festival hours are from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. on Friday & Saturday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Sunday.
Ride your bike to the festival and park it at the free Bike Corral located off Morse Blvd. across from the Train Station parking lot.
No animals are allowed (except certified service animals) in Central Park or on Park Avenue between New England and Canton Avenues during festival hours (per city ordinance).
After you’re done browsing the art in the park, make sure you walk down Park Avenue to enjoy the sidewalk sales the local merchants are offering!