Fairs/Festivals
Winter Park Autumn Art Festival 53rd Annual
Contact Information
Requirement Overview
- Eligible Applicant Types: Artist
- Emerging Artists: Emerging artists may apply.
- Submission Limit: 2
Media Requirements
- Images | Min: 4, Max: 4
- Total | Max: 4
Opportunity Summary
The Winter Park Autumn Art Festival is a community-oriented sidewalk show that features work from over 180 outstanding Florida artists. In addition to presenting quality visual art, the festival provides free entertainment and participatory events for the enjoyment of visitors and artists. The festival is held at beautiful Central Park located along Park Avenue in downtown Winter Park and attracts 150,000 visitors. The festival is hosted by the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce.
General Information
FESTIVAL DATES & TIMES
Saturday, November 14, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, November 15, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
RULES OF THE SHOW
Fees
Jury Fee: $50 (non-refundable)
Exhibitor Fee: $425
A limited number of corner booths will be available at a premium of $600.
Deadline
All applications must be submitted by Thursday, August 6, 2026. Notification of acceptance will be in late August.
Show Size
The Winter Park Autumn Art Festival is limited to 186 Florida artists, including the Best of Show and Award of Excellence winners from the previous year.
Space Size
Each booth is 10’ by 10’ and may not be shared. Artists may NOT have more than one booth at the festival if seleted in two categories, Artist must pick one and email the administrator. Double booths of any kind are not permitted.
Judging
Judging will be held Saturday, November 14, 2026 from 9 a.m. to completion. All awards will be presented at the Saturday Night Artists’ Party.
Awards: Total more than $20,000
Best of Show: $5,000
The Gerry Marino Award of Excellence: $2,500
Morse Museum Award: $1,000
Award of Distinction: $700 each
Award of Merit: $500 each
Award of Honor: $350 each
Judges Selection Award: $300 each
Patrons Arts Dollars: more than $6,500
Prize monies will not be awarded if the Festival is canceled for any reason.
Categories: (Limit 1 application per catergory)
Painting (all media)
Ceramics
Fine Crafts
Drawing & Graphics
Fibers
Sculpture
Jewelry
Photography
Digital Art*
Mixed Media*
DIGITAL ART*:
Original work created using a computer and printed with archival quality materials. Accepted in this category are scanned and/or imported images of the artist’s original work that have been significantly manipulated or enhanced into the final piece. Original works in this category must be artwork that could not have been created without digital technology. All digital images printed must be signed and limited to a numbered edition of no more than 250, inclusive of size or format. To enter in the category, artists are required to disclose both their creative and printing process. Browse Bin Rules apply.
Mixed Media*:
Saturday Night Artists’ Party
Saturday, November 14, 2026 beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Winter Park Farmers' Market.
Judging
In order to uphold the Festival’s longstanding reputation for accepting only superior quality work, screening is conducted by a separate panel of experienced and knowledgeable art professionals. Jurying is based solely on the quality of the work submitted.
Two judges will be selected from prominent regional art professionals. As with previous festivals, the judges will have extensive backgrounds in the fine arts, as well as past judging experience.
Screening
Entrants must maintain their principal residence in the State of Florida and prove residency upon request (e.g. a Florida driver’s license, auto registration, voter registration, etc.).
Artists may apply in more than one category. A separate online application with digital images and entry fee(s) must be submitted for each category entered, up to two.
Acceptance is a commitment to show. No refunds will be made for cancellations or inclement weather.
Artists must submit three (3) digital images of their artwork and one (1) digital image of their Festival display or booth (four images total) for each category entered. Digital images must be current and show artwork completed within the past two years.
Winners of a 2025 Autumn Art Festival Best of Show Award and Award of Excellence are exempt from jurying and may enter the same category in 2026. (Jury fee not required)
Artwork
All work must be original art created by the artist since 2024. Works that have won previous awards in this Festival are not eligible for awards in 2026 and should be labeled “Ineligible for Award.”
Only original numbered prints such as lithographs, etchings and serigraphs may be displayed in the appropriate category. Any artwork, including photographs, that is produced by any mechanical means, i.e., photo-offset, or any other reproduction technique must be labeled a “REPRODUCTION” and placed in browse bins - one per booth. This rule will be strictly enforced by the Viewing Committee.
Work that is unacceptable to show includes, but is not limited to, artwork created from works of the masters, commercial reproductions or products, copies, kits and all crafts defined as hobby work.
Browse Bin Rules
Unframed, matted original work may be shown in your browse bin. Signed and numbered limited editions will be limited to 250 or less. All reproductions must be marked as such. Your browse bin may not take up more than 15 % of your exhibit space.
Exhibits
Artists may only display work in the category(ies) in which their work has been accepted. All exhibited artwork must be accurately represented in the submitted images.
Accepted artists must be in attendance during both days of the Festival. No stand-ins or agents permitted (although assistants are permitted).
Booth spaces are 10’ x 10’ each and may not be shared. Artists are responsible for their own tents, tables and display material. Tents and displays should be strong enough to withstand crowds and poor weather conditions.
Artists will be provided with and must display a card showing name, city of Florida residence, category and space number.
Ribbons and prizes from previous shows or publicity materials may not be displayed.
All exhibitors must abide by City of Winter Park rules in the Festival area.
Artists are to collect Florida sales tax.
Artists must leave their spaces clean after packing up on Sunday evening.
The Winter Park Autumn Art Festival will make every attempt to accommodate specific booth space requests provided on the application; however, there are no guarantees.
Viewing Committee
A Viewing Committee will tour the Festival area on Saturday and Sunday to ensure that all Rules of the Show are followed. Any violation of these rules may result in expulsion from the Festival and forfeiture of all fees.
Set-Up
Further instructions will be sent with artist’s acceptance packet.
Saturday, November 14, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, November 15, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
RULES OF THE SHOW
Fees
Jury Fee: $50 (non-refundable)
Exhibitor Fee: $425
A limited number of corner booths will be available at a premium of $600.
Deadline
All applications must be submitted by Thursday, August 6, 2026. Notification of acceptance will be in late August.
Show Size
The Winter Park Autumn Art Festival is limited to 186 Florida artists, including the Best of Show and Award of Excellence winners from the previous year.
Space Size
Each booth is 10’ by 10’ and may not be shared. Artists may NOT have more than one booth at the festival if seleted in two categories, Artist must pick one and email the administrator. Double booths of any kind are not permitted.
Judging
Judging will be held Saturday, November 14, 2026 from 9 a.m. to completion. All awards will be presented at the Saturday Night Artists’ Party.
Awards: Total more than $20,000
Best of Show: $5,000
The Gerry Marino Award of Excellence: $2,500
Morse Museum Award: $1,000
Award of Distinction: $700 each
Award of Merit: $500 each
Award of Honor: $350 each
Judges Selection Award: $300 each
Patrons Arts Dollars: more than $6,500
Prize monies will not be awarded if the Festival is canceled for any reason.
Categories: (Limit 1 application per catergory)
Painting (all media)
Ceramics
Fine Crafts
Drawing & Graphics
Fibers
Sculpture
Jewelry
Photography
Digital Art*
Mixed Media*
DIGITAL ART*:
Original work created using a computer and printed with archival quality materials. Accepted in this category are scanned and/or imported images of the artist’s original work that have been significantly manipulated or enhanced into the final piece. Original works in this category must be artwork that could not have been created without digital technology. All digital images printed must be signed and limited to a numbered edition of no more than 250, inclusive of size or format. To enter in the category, artists are required to disclose both their creative and printing process. Browse Bin Rules apply.
Mixed Media*:
- MIXED MEDIA – 2D
Two-dimensional, one of a kind works created by the artist in which the primary intent is the union of two (2) or more physical materials.
- MIXED MEDIA – 3D
Three-dimensional, one of a kind works created by the artist in which the primary intent is the union of two (2) or more physical materials.
Saturday Night Artists’ Party
Saturday, November 14, 2026 beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Winter Park Farmers' Market.
Judging
In order to uphold the Festival’s longstanding reputation for accepting only superior quality work, screening is conducted by a separate panel of experienced and knowledgeable art professionals. Jurying is based solely on the quality of the work submitted.
Two judges will be selected from prominent regional art professionals. As with previous festivals, the judges will have extensive backgrounds in the fine arts, as well as past judging experience.
Screening
Entrants must maintain their principal residence in the State of Florida and prove residency upon request (e.g. a Florida driver’s license, auto registration, voter registration, etc.).
Artists may apply in more than one category. A separate online application with digital images and entry fee(s) must be submitted for each category entered, up to two.
Acceptance is a commitment to show. No refunds will be made for cancellations or inclement weather.
Artists must submit three (3) digital images of their artwork and one (1) digital image of their Festival display or booth (four images total) for each category entered. Digital images must be current and show artwork completed within the past two years.
Winners of a 2025 Autumn Art Festival Best of Show Award and Award of Excellence are exempt from jurying and may enter the same category in 2026. (Jury fee not required)
Artwork
All work must be original art created by the artist since 2024. Works that have won previous awards in this Festival are not eligible for awards in 2026 and should be labeled “Ineligible for Award.”
Only original numbered prints such as lithographs, etchings and serigraphs may be displayed in the appropriate category. Any artwork, including photographs, that is produced by any mechanical means, i.e., photo-offset, or any other reproduction technique must be labeled a “REPRODUCTION” and placed in browse bins - one per booth. This rule will be strictly enforced by the Viewing Committee.
Work that is unacceptable to show includes, but is not limited to, artwork created from works of the masters, commercial reproductions or products, copies, kits and all crafts defined as hobby work.
Browse Bin Rules
Unframed, matted original work may be shown in your browse bin. Signed and numbered limited editions will be limited to 250 or less. All reproductions must be marked as such. Your browse bin may not take up more than 15 % of your exhibit space.
Exhibits
Artists may only display work in the category(ies) in which their work has been accepted. All exhibited artwork must be accurately represented in the submitted images.
Accepted artists must be in attendance during both days of the Festival. No stand-ins or agents permitted (although assistants are permitted).
Booth spaces are 10’ x 10’ each and may not be shared. Artists are responsible for their own tents, tables and display material. Tents and displays should be strong enough to withstand crowds and poor weather conditions.
Artists will be provided with and must display a card showing name, city of Florida residence, category and space number.
Ribbons and prizes from previous shows or publicity materials may not be displayed.
All exhibitors must abide by City of Winter Park rules in the Festival area.
Artists are to collect Florida sales tax.
Artists must leave their spaces clean after packing up on Sunday evening.
The Winter Park Autumn Art Festival will make every attempt to accommodate specific booth space requests provided on the application; however, there are no guarantees.
Viewing Committee
A Viewing Committee will tour the Festival area on Saturday and Sunday to ensure that all Rules of the Show are followed. Any violation of these rules may result in expulsion from the Festival and forfeiture of all fees.
Set-Up
Further instructions will be sent with artist’s acceptance packet.
Jury Details
Average number of applications submitted each year
350
Average number of artists selected from the jury to participate in the event
180
Average number of exempt from jury artists who are invited to participate in the event
2
Refund Policy
No refunds will be issued for jurying fees or booth fees.
Acceptance is a commitment to show. No refunds will be made for cancellations or inclement weather.
Acceptance is a commitment to show. No refunds will be made for cancellations or inclement weather.
Additional Fees
Corner Booth Fee: $600
Booth Fee: $425
Terms to Apply
