St. Johns River Festival of the Arts Inc. 2027

The St. Johns River Festival of the Arts invites artists to apply for the Fifteenth Annual Juried Fine Art and Fine Craft Festival in Historic Downtown Sanford, Florida, on April 24–25, 2027.

The festival takes place along charming brick streets lined with galleries, boutiques, cafés, pubs, and restaurants in one of Central Florida's most vibrant downtown districts.

The event offers $15,500 in artist awards and attracts approximately 60,000 visitors throughout the weekend. A comprehensive marketing campaign promotes the festival throughout Central Florida using television, radio, print, billboards, digital advertising, event calendars, and social media.

Booth fees are $275 for First Street and $235 for Side Street, plus a $25 application fee. First Street spaces are limited and typically fill early.

New for 2027, the festival will introduce an Emerging Artist Program. Six emerging fine artists or fine craft artists who successfully complete the jury process will be selected to exhibit on Side Street at a reduced booth fee, providing an opportunity to gain experience exhibiting in a professionally juried festival environment.

Artists enjoy convenient load-in and load-out, setup on Friday afternoon/evening or early Saturday morning, complimentary breakfasts and lunches in the Artist Retreat, booth sitters, and water service during festival hours.

Join us for an outstanding weekend of fine art and warm hospitality in beautiful Historic Downtown Sanford.

Awards: Over $15,500 in Cash Awards

• Best in Show — $3,000
• (2) Juror's Choice Awards — $900 each
• (8) Awards of Excellence — $800 each
• (8) Awards of Distinction — $500 each
• Iris Award — $300

Categories include, but are not limited to: Painting, Watercolor, Photography, Wood, Clay, Digital Art, Drawing and Graphics, Fiber, Glass, Jewelry, Leather, Metal, Mixed Media, and Sculpture. Our jurors are experienced and knowledgeable in evaluating both fine art and fine craft across all categories.

Art Festival Information

The St. Johns River Festival of the Arts, Inc. is a non-profit organization created and operated by artists and volunteers. Festival proceeds and donations support our Art for Kids scholarship program, providing art education and instruction to children regardless of their ability to pay.

Public art education is important to us. The Festival encourages all artists to demonstrate during the event and will provide additional space when available. Artists with larger or more complex demonstrations, such as glass blowing, pottery, blacksmithing, and similar disciplines, may apply for the Artist Demonstration Scholarship Program. If accepted, booth fees may be waived in exchange for a weekend commitment to demonstrate their medium.

• Festival limited to approximately 150 artists
• Nearby artist parking
• Extra-large booth spaces available for side exposure
• Jury fee: $25
• Booth fees: $275 First Street, $235 Side Street (subject to change)
• New for 2027: Emerging Artist Program offering six reduced-fee Side Street spaces for emerging artists who successfully complete the jury process
• Artists who apply early may be featured in media promotions
• Booth numbers and artist information included in the festival program
• 24-hour security
• Convenient drive-in registration, load-in, and load-out
• Complimentary light breakfast and lunch provided Saturday and Sunday in the Artist Retreat
• Booth sitters and water service available during festival hours
• Easy access from I-4 and SR 417
• Special hotel rates available from participating area hotels
• Patron of the Arts purchase program
• Extensive marketing and advertising campaign throughout Central Florida
• Anticipated attendance of approximately 60,000 visitors with favorable weather

Mission

The mission of The St. Johns River Festival of the Arts in Historic Sanford, Florida, is to enrich the quality of life in our community by cultivating an Arts and Cultural environment that offers venues to educate and stimulate the appreciation and advancement of both.

Application and Jury Requirements

All entries are juried. Applicants must submit three images representative of the work to be exhibited and one image of a fully assembled outdoor booth display. Submitted artwork must be current and representative of the body of work to be exhibited at the Festival.

Artists must exhibit within a single medium category. No booth sharing or additional media categories are permitted. No violent, pornographic, or offensive artwork will be accepted, and all work must be appropriate for family viewing.

The St. Johns River Festival of the Arts maintains a strict no buy/sell policy. No manufactured items, commercial products, kits, commercial molds, commercial patterns, art supplies, picture frames, or mass-produced items may be displayed or sold. Artists found exhibiting prohibited items will be removed from the Festival without refund.

Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis, and artists will typically be notified of acceptance or non-acceptance through ZAPP within three weeks of application receipt. Accepted artists must accept their invitation and remit booth fees promptly. Booth space is not reserved until payment has been received in full.

Booth assignments are made on a first-paid, first-served basis. Artists requesting specific locations are encouraged to apply early. Applications received after January 5 may be limited to Side Street locations only.

No refunds will be issued following acceptance of an invitation and payment of booth fees.

Applicants must be at least 18 years of age.

Booth Requirements

Exhibit spaces measure approximately 12' x 12', accommodating a 10' x 10' display tent. Artists are responsible for providing their own WHITE commercial-grade tent or approved display structure in clean, safe condition.

Due to Florida weather conditions, all tents are required to have a minimum of 50 pounds of weight per tent leg. Artists not meeting this requirement will not be permitted to set up.

Displays must remain within the assigned space. No tarps extending beyond booth boundaries are permitted. Electricity, water, and generators are not permitted unless approved in advance. Stakes are prohibited.

Load-In and Load-Out

Artist check-in is mandatory prior to setup to receive booth credentials, festival information, and sign the required hold harmless agreement.

Setup hours are:
• Friday: 3:00 PM – 9:00 PM
• Saturday: 7:00 AM – 9:00 AM

Artists should unload promptly, move vehicles to artist parking, and then complete setup. Artist vehicles are not permitted within the festival footprint after 9:00 AM Saturday without exception.

All exhibits must be fully set up by 9:30 AM Saturday and Sunday.

Breakdown begins Sunday at 5:00 PM. Vehicles may enter the festival beginning at 5:30 PM after booths have been dismantled. Early breakdown is prohibited and may result in disqualification from future festivals and forfeiture of awards.

Twenty-four-hour security will be provided by the Sanford Police Department from Friday through Sunday evening.

Festival Rules

The exhibiting artist must be present for the duration of the festival. No stand-in exhibitors, dealers, agents, or wholesalers are permitted. All work displayed must be created solely by the exhibiting artist and must be available for sale or commission.

The Festival reserves the right to remove any work or display that violates Festival policies. Violations may result in immediate removal from the Festival without refund.

Artists are responsible for collecting and remitting all applicable Florida sales tax.

No pets are permitted within the festival grounds.

First Street and Side Street Booth Options

A limited number of premium First Street (Main Street) booth spaces are available in each fine art and fine craft category.

First Street Booth Fees

• 10' x 10' booth: $275
• 10' x 20' booth: $550

Side Street Booth Fees (Palmetto Avenue locations only)

• 10' x 10' booth: $235
• 10' x 20' booth: $450

Emerging Artist Program
New for 2027, six reduced-fee Side Street spaces will be available for emerging fine artists and fine craft artists who successfully complete the jury process. Selected Emerging Artists will receive a discounted 10' x 10' Side Street booth for $185. The program is designed to help developing artists gain experience exhibiting in a professionally juried festival environment while exhibiting alongside established artists.

Artists interested in securing a First Street location are strongly encouraged to apply early, preferably before January 1, as these spaces are limited and assigned on a first-paid, first-served basis.

 

Refund Policy

Once an artist has been accepted into the Festival and booth fees have been paid, no refunds will be issued for cancellations by the artist.