Lewiston Art Festival 2026

Since 1966, the Lewiston Art Festival has drawn art lovers from Western New York, Southern Ontario, and beyond—including international visitors from nearby Niagara Falls, just 10 minutes away. Each year, this juried outdoor art show brings 25,000 visitors to the heart of the picturesque and historic Village of Lewiston, New York.

The festival features exceptional artists working in a wide range of fine art and craft categories. Artists can compete for cash and ribbon prizes in seven categories—painting, mixed media, graphic arts/photography, ceramics/glass/metal, jewelry, and fiber/leather/wood—plus Best Booth Display and Best of Show. There is no extra fee  to compete for prizes.

Festival Highlights:

• Free Admission & Parking

• Emerging Artists Showcase: Featuring student artwork

• Indigenous Experience: A celebration of traditional and contemporary Native American art, craft and culture 

• ArtZone: Hands-on activities for kids of all ages

IMPORTANT DATES

March 31: Last day to apply with $30 early application fee
April 1- April 24: Late application fee $50
April 24: Application deadline

May 15: Artists notified of jury decisions

June 08: Accept Invitation and Booth Purchase Deadline

July 08: Final date to withdraw without forfeiture of booth fee

• Note: Application fees are not refunded if applicant withdraws

Aug 8, Saturday 10am-6pm: Day 1 of the Festival

Aug. 9, Sunday 10am-5pm: Day 2 of the Festival


Application Categories

Works generated or created with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) will not be accepted for the Lewiston Art Festival.

• Painting: Works created in watercolor, oils and/or acrylics.
• Graphic Arts: Drawing, Printmaking, T-shirts, Computer generated art: Works created using dry media including chalk, charcoal, pastels, pencil, wax crayons, etc., or from a fluid medium of inks and washes applied by pen or brush.
• Mixed Media: Two and three-dimensional works that incorporate more than one type of physical material in their production.
• Pottery/Ceramics/Glass: Original wheel thrown, hand built clay or mosaic design work. If multiple pieces of the same design are displayed, the artist must sign each piece. No machine-made or mass-produced work is permitted.
• Jewelry: Metal, glass, clay, fiber, paper, plastic or other materials.
• Fiber: Wearable and non-wearable work crafted from natural fibers, including basketry, weaving, tapestry and paper.
• Metal: Non-jewelry works crafted from metal.
• Wood: Original works that are hand-tooled, machine-worked, turned or carved.
• Photography

• Prizes are awarded at the discretion of the Lewiston Art Festival.
• Not all prizes are guaranteed to be awarded.
• There is no additional fee to enter the competition.
• Judges will award ribbons and cash prizes.
• Judging details will be included in the Artist Information Packet provided by volunteers upon your arrival.
• Only original, human-created artwork is eligible. Works generated or created with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) will not be accepted.

• Exhibitors must have direct, hands-on involvement in the creation and execution of each piece of work to be exhibited.
• Only original, human-created artwork is eligible. Works generated or created with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) will not be accepted for entry in the Lewiston Art Festival.
• Collaborating artists, if accepted, may show only their collaborative works.
  • Collaborations are intended to be true artistic collaborations rather than business collaborations.
  • The creative contribution of each artist in the collaboration must be identified on the application.
• Artists may share a booth. However, each artist must apply independently to be accepted to the Festival.
• Artists wishing to exhibit work in more than one category must submit separate applications for each category; however, only one application fee is required.
  • Please contact artstaff2@artcouncil.org for a coupon code.
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• ARTIST STATEMENT
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• The focus of your Artist Statement should be a detailed description of materials and techniques used for your pieces. This is an opportunity to communicate with the jurors to ensure they discover what your images may not make clear. Statements are to be limited on ZAPP to 1000 or fewer CHARACTERS.
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• RULES OF SHOW
• Interaction between artists and the public is fundamental to the Lewiston Art Festival and the artist must be present on site during the Festival.
• Artists are required to remain open for business from 10:00am - 6:00pm on Saturday and 10am-5pm on Sunday.
• Artists may display only work in the media category in which they are accepted, and the work must be comparable in style and quality to work shown in submitted images. No other work may be exhibited or sold.
• Reproductions: All reproductions must be clearly and individually labeled as such.
• Buy/sell vendors, agents and dealers are strictly prohibited.
• The following items are not eligible: work made from kits, commercial molds and patterns, greenware, velvet paintings, plants, edible items, soaps, candles, commercial photography, decoupage, or mass produced or manufactured work, works generated or created with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
• Exhibitors are prohibited from selling non-original promotional items (i.e., posters, calendars, etc.) at the Festival.
• Booth numbers (provided) must be displayed on the front of your booth
• Artists must display their tax ID number at the show, and are responsible to collect and pay NY sales tax.
• It is the LCA’s exclusive right and responsibility to remove single pieces, or expel any exhibitor whose work varies widely from his/her images, or works which are deemed too commercial or not conforming to the Council’s standards for creativity and originality, or otherwise not in compliance with the rules.
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• Dogs - If you must bring a dog to have with you in your booth: Only quiet, calm, well-behaved dogs are permitted. If your dog does not meet that description, please do not bring it to the Festival.
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• Music Volume. Music played within an artist’s booth must be kept at a low volume and audible only within the booth space. Music must be turned off during scheduled performances by LCA musicians or at the request of festival staff.

ARTIST BOOTHS

• Booth Fee: $260/single, $510/double
• Refundable only until July 8
• The show is held outdoors on Center Street in the Village of Lewiston.
• There will be no rain date, nor will refunds be given due to inclement weather.
• Exhibitors will be notified of their space assignment by email approximately one month before the Festival.
• Set-up can begin at 5:00 AM on Day 1 of the festival.
• Upon arrival you may go directly to your assigned spot and set up.
• Exhibitors must set up their exhibit only in the assigned space. (10’ x 10’) A very limited number of double spaces are available.
• Exhibitors must provide their own 10’x10’ canopy, anchoring weights (no drilling into pavement allowed) and display equipment.

FOOD VENDOR BOOTHS

• Booth Fee: $310/single $610 double (be sure to select “Food Vendor Booth” at checkout)
• Refundable only until July 8
• The show is held outdoors on Center Street in the Village of Lewiston NY. Center Street will be closed to vehicular traffic.
• There will be no rain date, nor will refunds be given due to inclement weather.
• Vendors will be notified of their space assignment by email approximately one month prior to the Festival.
• Vendors must provide their own tenting and display equipment.
• Set-up can begin at 5:00 AM on Day 1 of the festival.
• Upon arrival you may go directly to your assigned spot and set up.
• Food vendors must set up their exhibit only in the assigned space.
• The LCA does not provide electric power. Plugging into street lights is prohibited.
• If you need power you must BRING YOUR OWN GENERATOR.
  • Generators must be quiet enough to not impact surrounding vendors.
• All items to be sold must be approved in advance. We try to avoid duplication of items sold for the benefit of all vendors. You may be asked to remove items which have not been approved in advance.

NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION BOOTHS

• For organizations with an annual operating budget of less than $25,000, the booth fee is $25.
• For organizations with an annual operating budget of more than $25,000, the booth fee is $50.
  • Please be sure to choose the correct category for your organization at checkout.
• The show is held outdoors on Center Street in the Village of Lewiston NY. Center Street will be closed to vehicular traffic.
• Vendors will be notified of their space assignment by email approximately one month prior to the Festival.
• Vendors must provide their own tenting, anchoring weights (no drilling into pavement allowed) and display equipment.
• Set-up can begin at 5:00 AM on Day 1 of the festival.
• Upon arrival you may go directly to your assigned spot and set up.
• Vendors must set up their exhibit only in the assigned space.
• The LCA does not provide electric power. Plugging into street lights is prohibited.
• All items to be sold must be approved in advance. You may be asked to remove items which have not been approved in advance.

   

Application fees are non-refundable.