City of Lakes Art Fair 2026

The City of Lakes Art Fair takes place along Bde Maka Ska, one of Minneapolis’ most iconic and scenic urban lakes surrounded by trails, beaches, and sweeping skyline views.

This juried art fair is produced by Homespun Events, the team behind the Minnehaha Falls Art Fair and Minneapolis Sculpture Garden Art Fair, ranked the #1 Art Fair in the Nation by Sunshine Artist Magazine in 2025.

The 2026 City of Lakes Art Fair will feature approximately 200 artist booths showcasing a diverse mix of fine art and handmade goods.

We are open to all types of work, from traditional fine art to contemporary craft, as long as it meets the following criteria:

• High quality and made by the applicant
• Well curated and professionally presented
• Shoppable and engaging for a wide audience

Artist setup will take place Friday, with assigned load-in times to ensure smooth traffic flow. Overnight security will be provided Friday and Saturday nights.

This is a ZERO WASTE event. All vendors must use recyclable or compostable materials. Plastic bags and other non-recyclable packaging are not allowed. (Your artwork does not need to be recyclable, but sustainable practices are encouraged.)

CITY OF LAKES ART FAIR OVERVIEW
October 10-11, 2026
Saturday: 10am-5pm | Sunday: 10am-5pm

Location:
Northwest side of Bde Maka Ska 
Minneapolis, MN

Venue Information:
Bde Maka Ska is the largest of Minneapolis’ Chain of Lakes and a beloved gathering place for walking, biking, paddling, and relaxing with skyline views. The art fair will be located on the northwest side of the lake between Lake and 32nd, offering a scenic, breezy lakeside experience with easy access to trails and neighborhood amenities.

Email:
hello@homespunevents.com

Fees:
Application Fee: $25
Standard Lakeside Booth Fee: $350
Standard Plaza Booth Fee: $300
Some premium and/or corner booths will be offered at a higher cost. Additional details will be provided upon acceptance.

Important Dates
Application Opens - December 1, 2025
Application Deadline - July 12, 2026
Jury in Progress - July 13-17, 2026
Jury Results Sent - July 24, 2026
Deadline for Booth Fees + ST-19s - August 14, 2026
Deadline for Artist Cancellation - August 21, 2026 with full refund. 50% refund for artist cancellations between August 22, 2026 and September 11, 2026. No refunds after September 11, 2026.
Booth Assignments + Artist Packets Sent - September 18, 2026

Booth Set Up: October 9, 2026
Art Fair Day 1: October 10, 2026
Art Fair Day 2: October 11, 2026
Booth Tear Down: October 11, 2026

AWARDS

• Best in Show: Highest average jury score based on originality, difficulty, process, and design.

• Best Booth Presentation: Most visually appealing and professional booth setup.

• Most Engaging: Artist with the most engaging customer interaction.

Award winners will receive automatic entry and 50% off their booth fee for the 2026 City of Lakes Art Fair.

JURY PROCESS
Approximately 200 artists will be selected through a competitive jury process. Artists are evaluated by category based on craftsmanship, originality, presentation, and consistency. Two or more invitation rounds are typical.

Each artist must submit five (5) images: four of recent work and one booth image. All work must reflect what will be exhibited. A $25 non-refundable jury fee per media is required.

Collaborating artists must apply jointly and exhibit only collaborative work. Both names must be included in all materials, and both artists must attend the event.

• All artists must be onsite during the festival, though we are flexible to other staff/family/friends working the booth at times too. 
• No AI Art
• No sell through items. (Buy/Sell not allowed)
• Artists may only sell items represented in their application and only sell items within the media category they were juried into. 
• Artists are responsible for proper insurance and protection of work and setup. City of Lakes Art Fair and Homespun Events are not responsible for loss or damages. 
• All work must be for sale. Artists retain 100% of their sales and are responsible for the collection and reporting of applicable sales tax.
• Artist booths must be open all hours of the festival. No late arrivals or early exits. 
• Artists must provide a tent and setup that all withstand wind and rain. 40 pounds per tent leg is the safety standard. We can not allow artists to use a tent that seems unsafe for neighboring artists or attendees. Shade tents are typically not acceptable. If you have any questions or doubts about the tent you plan to use, please ask in advance.
• As a zero waste event, artists will not be allowed to use items that are not compostable or recyclable. IE-artists are not allowed to put their art in plastic bags to send with customers. (The art itself does not need to be recyclable or compostable, but sustainable art practices are encouraged.)

Accepted artists will have the option to purchase a single booth or double booth.  Single booths will be at least 10x10 feet. Double booths will be at least 10x20 feet.  

Standard Lakeside Booth Fee: $350
Standard Plaza Booth Fee: $300
Some premium and/or corner booths will be offered at a higher cost. Additional details will be provided upon acceptance.

Lakeside Booths will be set up on paved area of the Bde Maka Ska Parkway, which will be closed during the event. These booths will face the lake. Plaza Booths will be in the adjacent parking lot and/or grassy field. Due to the nature of roadways and parking lots, we do not guarantee that booths will be on perfectly level ground.  Please plan accordingly.

Homespun Events will assign vendors their booth space. However, after purchasing your booth, we will send a request form where you can detail certain requests (ADA needs, location preferences, booth neighbor requests, etc).