Spring Arts in the Park - 51st Annual - Blue Ridge, GA 2027

For 51 years, the Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association, a non-profit arts council, has provided a unique art experience through our Arts in the Park festival series in the Downtown City Park of Blue Ridge, GA. Whether your travel plans are in the spring or in the fall, these art festivals are fun for the whole family.  Located at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, the Arts in the Park festival series draws in excess of 20,000 attendees annually and a wide array of artists and food vendors.  With over 170+ artists, exhibitors, and vendor booths, our visitors enjoy a variety of fine arts and fine crafts, demonstrations, food, and much more during the Arts in the Park festivals.  

     Listed as one of the top five Art Towns in Georgia by the Georgia Council of the Arts and recognized in the last five consecutive years as one of the top ten fine craft towns in America by American Craft Week, Blue Ridge is a top art destination and features a unique artistic experience for visitors and residents alike.   
       
  The Arts in the Park festival series supports the Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association, a 501(c)3 non-profit arts council providing opportunities in the realm of the arts for the individual and serving as a catalyst for arts and economic development in our community.
 

2027 Arts in the Park Festival:
Saturday, May 29, 2027
Sunday, May 30, 2027
10am - 5pm

Media Categories

• 2D Mixed Media
• 3D Mixed Media
• Clay
• Edibles
• Fiber/ Leather
• Furniture
• Garden Art
• Glass
• Jewelry
• Metal
• Painting
• Photography
• Sculpture
• Wood/ Woodworking
• Other (please specify on application)

Arts in the Park festival amenities include:

• Exhibitor Hospitality Booth on Saturday and Sunday providing snacks, coffee, and water (8:30am – 5pm)
• Friday load-in                       
• Booth Sitters available upon request                 
• On site security
• ATMs located near festival premises
• City vendor permits included
• (2) Festival Exhibitor admission badges (any additional badges needed must be purchased at the time of booth purchase)

Application & Festival Fees
Application Fee - $35  (non-refundable)
Artist Single Booth - $250                         Food Single Booth – $325                      
Artist Double Booth - $325                        Food Double Booth – $550                      
Additional Badge fee - $3 each additional badge                                                             
Returned check fee - $50

*Current BRMAA members will receive a discount of $35 once their application has been received and membership verified.  Please visit www.BlueRidgeArts.net for further membership level information & member benefits.

Payments for fees can be made via Paypal or mail a check directly to BRMAA.

Applications:

• All work must be original, handcrafted, created, and exhibited by the approved artist themselves
• All entries will be reviewed, juried, and screened prior to your acceptance
• All applications require 5 photos (3 of your work, 1 of you in your studio or creating your work, 1 booth photo)
• Artist Statement/ Biography is required with artist applications

Timeline:
Application deadline: Saturday, February 28, 2027, midnight EST
Notification of acceptance:: Friday, March 26, 2027
Deadline for invitation acceptance: Friday, April 23, 2027
Accepted Exhibitor Load-in: Friday, May 28, 2027 - Exhibitors will be notified via email of their placement and load-in time no later than (1) week prior to the festival start date.

All notifications will be made via Zapplication and email.  Please make sure the contact information submitted is current and correct.  Jury scores will not be released and jury decisions are final.  Failure to respond by the deadline may result in revocation of the invitation.

 

 This is a juried fine arts and handmade crafts festival. Artists may only show work in categories approved by the jury. Only products that are approved by the Arts in the Park Festivals Committee will be allowed.  Original art must occupy no less than 50% of the artist’s booth space. No "buy/ sell" or commercially mass produced items will be sold or exhibited. Reproductions must clearly be designated as such.  All items sold inside exhibitors’ booths must be the original work of the exhibitor – no buy/sell merchandise will be allowed. All jewelry must be made by the exhibitor – no manufactured or kit jewelry will be allowed. No commercially produced products will be allowed.

The Arts in the Park Festivals Committee reserves the right to limit any category to provide diversity of arts and crafts throughout the Festival and to give exhibitors a reasonable chance for successful sales. Arts in the Park Festivals Committee will make every effort to vary the type of craft by location.
 
Exhibitors must exhibit for the duration of the festival. Early breakdown will not be permitted. There is no rain date – come prepared rain or shine. Booth must always be opened and manned during festival hours.  No commercial agents may operate an artist’s booth. Exhibitors are responsible for booth set-up and break-down.
 
Booth must be set-up and ready for business by 9:00 am both days. All vehicles, trailers and debris are to be off the street and cleared from the festival area by 9:00 am. After unloading and setup, vendor vehicles and trailers must be moved to designated vendor parking area(s). Vehicles and trailers are not permitted to enter the festival grounds and area during festival hours of operation, unless otherwise approved by the Arts in the Park Festivals Committee. Exhibitors will not be allowed to park cars, trucks, or trailers at the curb surrounding the park during festival hours – NO EXCEPTIONS. Exhibitors must unload and move vehicles immediately to designated parking areas. If exhibitor carries additional stock, we suggest bringing a dolly or hand-cart to bring additional stock to booth as necessary.

Music is restricted to pre-approved Entertainment Vendors only. Exhibitors of musical equipment are not allowed to demonstrate, unless specifically pre-approved in writing by Arts in the Park Festivals Committee. No sound amplification equipment (i.e., portable radios, stereos, CD players, etc.) allowed in exhibit area for any reason. Also, while the Arts in the Park Festivals are ‘pet friendly’, exhibitors must ensure all pets are quiet and do not disturb either attendees or other exhibitors.

Food Vendors must provide an exact and complete listing of the food items and beverages you wish to serve (and corresponding prices) on Food Vendor Application. Approved menu items and pricing must be clearly posted throughout the duration of the festival. Food Vendors must sell all pre-approved menu items for the entire show. Nothing may be offered for sale that is not listed as approved at time of acceptance. Last minute changes are not allowed, and food vendors will be asked to remove unapproved items from sale. The sale of food items is restricted to pre-approved Food Vendors only. No alcoholic beverages allowed!
 
Grease/oil must be securely contained and removed from premise at end of Festival. Food Vendors are required to use the provided dumpsters for booth trash. Vendors are responsible for cleaning up booth space. Vendors cannot leave debris, boxes, etc. at booth space. Food Vendors are required to bring a 55 gallon trash can to put next to their booth for use by the public (these will be emptied by park clean-up staff).

State Tax & Regulations
Exhibitors are responsible for Georgia State Sales Tax collection and reporting (7%) and any other sales fees or other charges that may be applicable to any activity relating to this festival. Food vendors are responsible for complying with all State of Georgia health and safety regulations.
 
Cancellation Policy
Cancellations on or prior to April 18, 2025, must be made in writing via email to community@brmaa.org or by letter to the Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association, 420 West Main Street, Blue Ridge, GA 30513. Cancellations on or after April 18, 2025, must be made in writing via email or letter to the Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association, and will not receive a refund of fees submitted.  No refunds will be given for no-shows.
 
Arts in the Park Festivals Committee reserves the right to ask any exhibitor to remove any work deemed not acceptable by the Arts in the Park Festivals Committee. Arts in the Park Festivals Committee reserves the right to remove from our mailing list exhibitors who display, or have displayed in the past, unprofessional behavior.
 
Arts in the Park Festivals Committee reserves the right to remove any exhibitor from the Arts in the Park Festivals who does not adhere to all Rules & Regulations set forth by the Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association and the Arts in the Park Festivals Committee.

The Exhibitor does hereby release, discharge, and hold harmless Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association, the City of Blue Ridge, Fannin County, and any and all persons, property owners, suppliers, volunteers, and entities associated with the Arts in the Park Festivals are not liable for any damages, injury or loss to any person or goods from any cause whatsoever. All exhibitors, their heirs, administrators, and executors do hereby waive and release all of the above-named from any and all claims or damages of whatever arising out of the exhibitors’ participation in the Arts in the Park Festivals.  Exhibitors should obtain, at their own expense, insurance against loss, damage, or injury they may require.

The undersigned considers this application as a commitment upon acceptance into the show and realized that no refunds will be made for late cancellation and a $50 service charge will be assessed on all returned checks.

Non-compliance with the rules and regulations set forth may affect obtaining booth space in future Arts in the Park Festivals.
 
We look forward to seeing you at our Arts in the Park Festival!

One Exhibitor per booth space; sharing of booth space is not allowed. Exhibitors cannot sublet or apportion space to anyone else.  Set-up is allowed during allotted times only. While the Arts in the Park Festivals Committee will make every effort to accommodate specific requests, we cannot guarantee booth locations. Booths must be set-up within their designated 12’x12’ space. Booth dimensions may vary slightly, but we will give you a reasonable space approximately 12’x12’.  If your booth is located in the park, the ground may not be level so come prepared. If your booth is located in the street, bring necessary equipment for street set-up. Electricity is not available for artist’s booths. Exhibitors must provide their own tents, displays, chairs, tables, set-up equipment, change, etc. Tent weights of no less than 25lbs are required for each booth setup in case of inclement weather. NO special sale(s) signage of any kind will be accepted by Exhibitors (i.e. Buy One Get One Free, 50% off).
 
Please be aware that this is a juried arts festival and booth assignments are at the sole discretion of the Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association and Arts in the Park Festivals Committee.  We will attempt to honor specific location requests as noted on your application, but we cannot make guarantees.  All booth tents and contents must be furnished by the artist and fit within the assigned booth space. 

Food Vendor Booth space includes electricity and water. Please specify electrical and water requirements on Food Vendor Application. Vendors must provide their own heavy-duty extension cords and power strips, food grade water hoses, ice, and other supplies and materials needed to operate their booth, change, etc.