Florida fall is in the air, and the 52nd Winter Park Autumn Art Festival will help mark the changing season this weekend, bringing back an annual community tradition.
More than 180 Florida-based artists will come together in the Park Avenue area this weekend to showcase ceramics, digital art, drawing, fiber, fine crafts, jewelry, paintings, photography, sculpture and mixed media. The festival is presented by the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce.
“Park Avenue and Central Park completely come to life. We have artists lining the historic avenue and beautiful paths scattered throughout Central Park under the oak trees,” said Addison Cursey, chief marketing officer for the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce. “We have live music that’s playing throughout the weekend, where people are dancing on the lawn, connecting with their friends or enjoying something to drink in our beer garden. We also see the businesses along Park Avenue come to life.”
More than 150,000 people wander the festival’s aisles and booths throughout the weekend. The event includes live entertainment, sponsor tents, children’s activities, food offerings and adult beverages.
While the massive Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival draws artists from around the country, this event focuses exclusively on creators based in the Sunshine State.
“We love that we’re able to spotlight exclusively Florida artists for this festival. These artists are entrepreneurs and small businesses themselves,” Cursey said. “We’re supporting our local economy and state economy by supporting these artists, food vendors and entertainers.”
For participating artists, $20,000 in prize money is up for grabs, ranging from $300 up to $5,000 for the creator selected as the Best of Show winner.
Additional monetary support for artists comes from the patrons program. The $600 package includes two patrons with access to VIP events, catered lunch, $300 in art dollars to spend and one signed festival poster.
The Winter Park Autumn Art Festival returns Oct. 11-12 with more than 180 Florida-based artists set up near Park Avenue. (Courtesy Winter Park Chamber of Commerce)
Orlando-based painter Robert Ross was selected as this year’s poster artist for his painting of sailboats near Rollins College on the Winter Park Chain of Lakes.
Aside from the art this weekend, visitors can wander the bricks of Park Avenue, which will be blocked off with options to stop in restaurants or shops along the way.
If you go
The Winter Park Autumn Art Festival is 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 11-12 at 150 W. Morse Blvd. in Winter Park. The show has free admission; VIP and Patron tickets are available for $100 and $600 (per two patrons), respectively. Parking is available on surrounding streets and in parking garages at 203 E. Lyman Ave. and 150 E. Canton Ave. in Winter Park. Pets are not allowed in Central Park due to a city ordinance. For more information, visit winterpark.org/autumn-art-festival.
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