Back for its second year, the Statesboro Festival of the Arts is a testament to our community’s thriving arts scene. This two-day festival brings together artists from across the nation, giving locals and visitors a creative outlet to explore new mediums, make new connections, and foster artistic appreciation.
A Place for Creativity
The idea behind this incredible festival came from local Kimberly Riner, who is a respected artist, curator, and director of visual arts at The Averitt Center for the Arts. During the winter of 2023, Kimberly began the process of planning this new community-driven event with a mission to provide accessible and enriching educational experiences and give artists a platform where their talent can be celebrated. Quickly gaining support from the local government, Visit Statesboro, Georgia Southern University, and others, the festival soon became a reality in 2025!
Kim shared with us that, “The entire planning committee of the 2026 Statesboro Festival is excited for this year. We have worked hard to make this festival even bigger and better than last year’s inaugural event. We have 72 artist booths planned, several food trucks with yummy options, two full days of live music of varying genres, and a demonstrating glass-blowing artist this year! There are so many talented artists attending, several returning from last year, and many new talents. The art varies from painting to photography to sculpture, ceramics, wood, and more. There will be local artists involved and many from across the region, even as far as New York. I hope the community will come out and support the artists and enjoy all of the festivities we have planned.”
Festival Details
The festival will be held from March 21-22 at The Market at Visit Statesboro. If you haven’t had the opportunity to visit this space before, it’s truly the perfect place to host a unique event such as this one! It features a 7500 square foot facility with roll-up garage doors, a cultivated greenspace, and a boardwalk that takes you directly into historic downtown Statesboro. There is also free parking and public restrooms on-site, so the only thing you have to focus on is having a fantastic time at the festival! As for the hours of operation, on Saturday, March 21, you can explore and check out the festivities from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., while on Sunday, March 22, you have from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
If you didn’t get the chance to attend the Statesboro Festival of the Arts last year, we’ve got you covered with what you can expect! There’s truly so much to experience from vendor booths and live demonstrations to tasty food trucks and so much more. Start off your day of fun by roaming around the grounds to see over 70 booths! These booths include artists selling their unique creations, a Youth Craft booth where kids and their families can craft something to take home with them, and live demonstrations for a fun, educational experience. These artists specialize in a variety of artistic mediums, from 2-D and 3-D mixed media and ceramics to printmaking and so much more. You can also check out a Kids Art Market that, similar to a school book fair, offers a selection of kid-friendly goods and artworks for sale. Spend some time learning more about the festival’s talented artists and take home a special handcrafted treasure to commemorate your experience!
An Exciting Lineup of Entertainment
Throughout both days, there will be a lineup of live performances hitting the stage! Jam out and enjoy the tunes as you spend the day immersed in the creative world. Another key highlight of the festival is a variety of food and drink vendors, including Eagle Creek Brewing Company, Leopold’s Ice Cream, Mi Tierra and more! Enjoy a tasty bite or brew to make the most of your festival experience! Jeff B., an artist who attended last year’s festival and won two awards, shared that, “The awards and recognition were certainly wonderful, especially for receiving two! What stood out for me was the producer’s hospitality, concern, and the overall community’s warm interest. I wish I lived closer so I could be more of an active participant in the festival!”
If you’re looking for a unique festival experience that celebrates artistic expression and fosters creativity, go ahead and add the Statesboro Festival of the Arts to your calendar for this weekend! From talented artists and live demonstrations to delicious food vendors and a thrilling entertainment lineup, this family-friendly event truly has it all.
