Oglebayfest 2026

Oglebayfest is the largest arts festival in the greater Wheeling area. Our goal is to attract the best artists, craftspeople and specialty foods in the tri-state area and beyond for our Artists’ and Gourmet Markets! 

This festival is carefully curated and coordinated by Oglebay Institute's Stifel Fine Arts Center. The booths are juried to ensure that the quality of the festival is upheld.

The Phil Maxwell Artists’ and Gourmet Markets open the Oglebayfest at noon on Friday, October 2nd. Saturday, October 3rd begins with the Oglebayfest parade and ends with fireworks that evening. The fun continues through Sunday, October 4th until 5 p.m.

The Markets are located behind the Oglebay Institute Mansion Museum in scenic Oglebay Resort.

Important Dates:

Deadline for entry:  May 31, 2026

Jury result notifications emailed: June 26th

Payment in full of all booth space fees: August 1st

Last day to receive a refund if cancelling: September 1st

Booth Set up:  10 a.m. – 7 p.m. Thursday, October 1st

                          8 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Friday, October 2nd

All booths must be completely set up and ready for customers by noon, Friday, October 2nd.

Festival dates and times: Noon – 7 pm Friday, October 2nd

                                         10 a.m.– 7 pm Saturday, October 3rd

                                         10 a.m. – 5 pm. Sunday, October 4th

How to Enter:

Submit 5 good quality photos of individual artworks/products and 2 good quality photos of your booth setup. The booth set up images are required in order to be considered for acceptance. Submitted photos may be used for advertising and promotional materials.

Include the name of your company, your name, your email, phone number, mailing address, and your website or social media (if you have one).

Costs and fees:

Application fee: $30  (nonrefundable)

Booth space costs:

                   Provide your own tent 10x10 = $175

                   Provide your own tent 10x20 = $325

                   Let us provide space in our tent 10x10 = $300

                   Let us provide space in our tent 10x20 = $535

                   Electricity = $15

                   8ft or 6ft table = $15

                   Chair = $5

If your booth is accepted, this is what you can expect/Booth space cost includes:

• No commission on sales
• Artist’s dinner and Cash awards for Best of Show in Fine Arts, Crafts, and Gourmet Market
• Overnight Security (Thursday- Saturday)
• Booth side loading and unloading
• Booth sitters for meal and bathroom breaks
• Complimentary coffee and water throughout the festival

Up &Coming Artist Program: This program offers artists with little to no experience in exhibiting at festivals free booth space. (Answer Up & Coming Artists questions on application to be considered.)

Eligibility:

For the Artists’ Market: This juried market is open to all artists or crafters who exhibit and sell work of original concept and design, and all work must be handmade. We encourage artists and crafters to demonstrate their craft at their booth space during the festival. No manufacturer representatives will be accepted to the Artists’ Market.

For the Gourmet Market:  Items sold must be specialty food products or wine that are not widely commercially available. The applicant must be the company owner or principal producer of the products sold.

Festival requirements:

All booths must be completely set up and ready for customers by noon, Friday, October 2nd.

Exhibitors must set up and dismantle their own displays and be present during festival hours.

Failure to setup and/or staff your booth during the festival hours will make you ineligible for participating in the future.

West Virginia Consumer Sales Tax must be collected on all sales and remitted to the state. If accepted you must register your business with the WV Tax Department. 

Exhibitors who cancel after September 1st will not be refunded their booth fee.