Art Spectacular - Thomas Rees Memorial Carillon - Springfield Illinois 2026

The 21st-annual Art Spectacular at the Carillon is held outdoors on the lawn of the beautiful Botanical Garden at Washington Park in Springfield, IL, an art-loving, art-buying community, and features up to 60 professional artists.  Each Artist has original and limited edition artwork in a variety of media.  Art Spectacular also has  patron bucks, demos, kids’ art sale, kids' activities, music, silent auction, gift basket raffle, and food vendors.  Artist Awards total $1,300.  Hours are Sat. 10-5 & Sun. 10-4.  Art Spectacular is a fundraiser for the Thomas Rees Memorial Carillon, one of the largest & finest instruments in the world.

The Carillon
The Rees Carillon boasts 67 cast bronze bells covering a range of 5 1/2 chromatic octaves. The total weight of the bells is 82,753 pounds; the largest (bourdon) bell, a G-flat, weighs 7 1/2 tons, while the smallest weighs 22 pounds. The carillon was cast by the 300-year-old bell foundry of Petit & Fritsen, Ltd., in Aarle-Rixtel, The Netherlands. All of the bells are played manually by means of the keyboard located in the carillonist’s cabin.

SILENT AUCTION:  A silent auction is held at Art Spectacular.   Artists are welcome to donate artwork for this fundraiser benefiting the Carillon, but not required.    A blank receipt for your tax purposes will be in your Welcome folder. 

KIDS' ART SALE:  Participating artists are required to donate original, kid-age appropriate (3-11) artwork for the Kids' Art Sale, tagged with the artist's name.  No 'seconds'.  Items will be priced at $5 - $15, providing kids 3 - 11 with the opportunity to select and own original art.  In lieu of art work, a $30 cash donation is required.  A blank receipt for your tax purposes will be in your Welcome folder. 

ATM MACHINE:  There is an ATM at Fairhills Mall, Chatham & Monroe (north on Chatham to the 2nd light  - turn right).   

BOOTH ASSIGNMENTS:  Booth assignments will be available at check-in.  In response to artist and customer requests, all tents will be 3’ off of the sidewalk to reduce congestion on the walkways. 

FEES:
Application Fee $35
12 x 12 Booth $250
12 x 12 Corner/End Booth $325
24 x 12 Booth $575
Late Fee after April 15th : Application Fee ($35) + Late Fee ($50) = $85
Booths are spaced 3 feet apart for your comfort and enjoyment.
Electricity is not provided and generators are forbidden.  

Mailing of Application AND Booth Fee - by 4/15/2026 to avoid Late Fee
Art Spectacular
Rees Carillon
P. O. Box 9468
Springfield, IL 62791
NOTE:  If mailing instead of paying through ZAPP, the booth fee check will be held until the Jury.  If accepted the booth fee check will be deposited; if not accepted you will be notified and the booth fee check will be shredded.

PERMIT & SALES TAX:  We will secure the Springfield Peddler’s Permit for you (included in your fee).  You are responsible for collecting, reporting and paying IL Sales Tax.  A card with the current sales tax rate will be in your Artist folder.

ARTISTS WHO WIN AWARDS at Art Spectacular are exempt from jury the following year, but MUST submit complete application and booth fee check by April 15th ,2026.

CANCELLATION POLICY:  Due to small size of Art Spectacular, after jury acceptance, cancellation by May 30th, will receive a 50% booth fee refund.  All fees are non-refundable May 31st and after.

PHOTOGRAPHY of your artwork is only allowed with your permission.

HOSPITALITY & VOLUNTEERS - The Artist/VIP Tent with free time-of-day appropriate refreshments will be available all day on Saturday and Sunday.  Additionally, “refreshments on wheels” (water & soda) will be available periodically throughout the fair.   Food vendors will be available on site.  Volunteers can assist with your food order by picking it up and delivering to you.

Booth Sitters are available upon request at the Information Booth.  Volunteers are not permitted to sell.

AWARDS PRESENTATION & ARTISTS’ DINNER:  Saturday evening a full dinner will be served in the Exhibit Room of the Botanical Garden beginning at 6:00 p.m.  Awards will be presented at approximately 6:30 p.m.  We hope you will join us!   Two free Dinner tickets are provided in your packet at check-in -  a fee of $10 for each additional ticket will be required.

AWARDS – Cash awards totaling $1,300 will be presented.  Judging will take place on Saturday morning starting at 9:00 a.m. and will be based on originality, technical execution, overall quality and booth presentation.  Every booth will be visited by a panel of judges.  

BOOTH INSPECTION by a qualified/professional artist will be done on Saturday morning starting at 9:00, and spot checked throughout the event

ENTERTAINMENT - Musical entertainment is presented by the Carillon and by local musicians.


POPULAR PATRON BUCKS DRAWINGS:
Patrons who purchase $100 or more from a single artist on Saturday between 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. should bring their receipt to the Information Tent to enter the drawing for a $50 Patron Bucks Certificate to spend on Sunday.  Patron entry forms will be at the Information Tent.  We request you to direct the patron to the information tent to fill out the drawing form.
The $50 Patron Bucks Certificate may be used as cash until 3:00 p.m. on Sunday.
Action:   For reimbursement, artists with a redeemed certificate on Sunday, should bring the redeemed certificate to the Information Tent for reimbursement.  Patron Bucks cannot be redeemed for cash at your booth!
 
HOTEL INFORMATION:  
  Southwest:  I-72 & Rt. 4-Veterans Pkwy - 10 minutes from the park:  Comfort Inn, Courtyard, Fairfield, 
    and Sleep Inn - all on Freedom (N of I-72 just off Veterans); and S of I-72 behind Meijer just off Veterans -
    Hampton Inn & Suites on Chuckwagon.
  Downtown – 10 minutes from the park:  President Abraham Lincoln Hotel on East Adams; Mansion View Inn is on 4th St.
  Southeast-  I-55 & I-72 about 20 minutes from the park:  Comfort Suites, Crown Plaza, Hampton Inn,
    Hilton Garden Inn, Holiday Inn Express, and Microtel Inn are all on Dirksen Pkwy; and Baymont Inn &
    Suites is at I-55 exit 90 East. 
RESTAURANT INFORMATION:  See Springfield map in your Welcome Packet at Check-in
   Southwest:  Rt. 4-Veterans Pkwy:  Arby’s, Burger King, Longhorn Steakhouse, Olive
       Garden, Outback Steakhouse,Texas Road House
   Southwest – Wabash West of Rt. 4-Veterans:   Culver’s, McDonalds, IHOP, 
   Downtown:  Mauldaner’s
   Southeast - Dirksen Pkwy:  Applebees, Arby’s, IHOP, Red Lobster, Smokey Bones,
      Steak ‘n Shake
   Southeast - I-72/I-55 on 6th St.:  Golden Coral
                       I-55 Toronto Rd. exit 90 East:  Cracker Barrel, McDonald’s

BIG BOX STORES:
   Southeast – near I-72/I-55 & 6th St – Super Wal-Mart
   Southwest – near I-72 & Rt. 4-Veterans:  Meijer, Lowes, Menard’s, Sam’s.



 

PARTICIPATION POLICIES:  All fine art & fine craft will be accepted for jury.  Only original work in design and concept by the artist signing this agreement is allowed, and must be for sale.  Artists may only occupy booth space assigned to them, one artist per booth (or 2 collaborating artists in the same business). No subletting or selling of space is permitted. Artists exhibiting more than one medium in a tent must submit separate applications and fees.   Reproductions (including giclées) of an artist’s original work displayed on walls or panels must not comprise more than 40% of exhibited work; must be clearly & individually appropriately labeled, signed, numbered & part of a limited-edition series; and the original must be for sale. No more than 30% unnumbered, clearly labeled, matted “prints or reproductions” must be in browse bins.  Photography:  75% must be signed and numbered in series of no more than 250, & preferably processed by the artist.  Jewelers must be the designers & hands-on makers of original work.  Only artists accepted in the “jewelry” category may display or sell jewelry.  Beads must be made by the artist. 
Prohibited:  agents, dealers, imports, works created from kits, velvet paintings, manufactured or kit jewelry, art supplies, decoupage, commercially manufactured parts or cast products, buy/sell items, molds, patterns, plans, stencils, embellished commercial products, pre-fabricated forms, mass-produced work, & consignment work from another artist. Artists must display ‘family-friendly’ images.  Final interpretation of acceptable work will be made by the committee, which reserves the right to remove work deemed unsuitable for display or misrepresented by the application; or expel an exhibitor without refund who breaks these rules.

Artists are to exhibit rain or shine.  There is no rain date.  Name(s) of the artist(s) on this application is/are required to attend the booth & be present for all of the advertised hours.  An assistant is welcome, but may not replace the artist.  All proceeds from sales belong to the artist, along with the responsibility to set-up, break down, and collect/report sales tax to the State of Illinois.  Demos are encouraged.  Pets are not allowed, except for service animals,
Alcoholic beverages, fence and limb cutting, sound systems & tent walls laying on grass are all prohibited. 

BOOTH SPACE:  Artists are required to attend their booth and be present for the duration of the advertised hours - Saturday 10-5 and Sunday 10-4.  The spaces will be 12’w x 12’d with approximately 3’ between booths. Artists may occupy only the booth space assigned to them with the required white tent that closes up at night.  A booth is for 1 artist or shared by 2 persons collaborating on the same media.  Each artist must supply his/her own setup … tent, frames, tables, chairs, weights, etc.  For the safety of everyone and your artwork, you are required & responsible to adequately secure your tent (stakes & weights) and displays against wind gusts.  

FEES:  Application Fee through 5/11/2026 - $35   
             Late Application Fee - Postmark 5/12/2026 or Later - $85 ($35+late fee $50)
             12x12 Booth - $250
             12x12 Booth Corner/End - $325
             24x12 Booth - $575
 

SET-UP & DISMANTLING OF BOOTHS:  Setup of booths is between Noon and 7:00 p.m. on Friday – gates will be closed at 7 pm – NO EXCEPTIONS; and checked in on Saturday by 8:00 a.m. or space and fees may be forfeited.  Set up must be completed by 9:00 a.m. on Saturday or risk missing the judges.  Tents must be set up 3’ back from the sidewalk.  Tent awnings must not overhang the sidewalk.  Booths may not be dismantled until 4:00 p.m. Sunday, and must be completed by 7:00 p.m.  No vehicles will be allowed on the grass for setup/dismantling. Fair hours are Saturday 10 to 5 and Sunday 10-4.   All vehicles must be moved from designated Unloading spaces immediately (before set-up), and reverse for breakdown on Sunday.  During the event, your vehicle MUST be in its assigned parking space and the parking pass must be visible in front window/dashboard at all times, or risk being towed.

IN CASE OF RAIN:   If you provide a tarp/plastic for your tent entrance/floor, we will provide the hay for it.  However, at breakdown, the hay, etc. must be rolled up in the tarp/plastic and disposed of in the dumpster by the Botanical Garden garage.  Hay, etc., must NOT be left on the ground.  Tarps may be purchased at Lowe’s (south on Chatham to Wabash; west on Wabash past Veterans, to Lowe’s on the right).

ARTIST PARKING:  In response to Artists’ requests to facilitate more Patron parking, some Artists’ parking will be off-site across the street.  Free on-demand Shuttle service will be provided to or from your vehicle whenever needed throughout the weekend – come to the Information Tent.    

Free PATRON PARKING:  In and around the park. 

SECURITY:  Overnight security will be provided on Friday and Saturday.  However, Art Spectacular, its sponsors, and volunteers are not responsible for any loss, damage, or theft of artwork or personal property, etc., for any reason.