Update June 2022.
Summer is the best time of year to meet and chat with exhibiting artists! Plan a summer getaway to stroll the streets of downtown Bloomsburg, and enjoy ArtFest, a summer outdoor festival in Bloomsburg, PA. The warm weather makes it the perfect time for outdoor festivals, with music, great food, and, of course, art! And ArtFest is Columbia County’s biggest one-day outdoor art event of the year!
Where and When the Festival Happens
This year is the 14th annual Artfest. It is on the 3rd Saturday of August, so this year it is scheduled for August 20. There will be more than fifty tents with arts and crafts vendors surrounding the fountain in Bloomsburg Town Square and up Market Street in downtown Bloomsburg. The best part — there is no admission charge for the event.
The celebration starts on Saturday at 10 am and continues until 5 pm. You can find plenty of metered parking in Downtown Bloomsburg. Either pay the meters directly or pay through the Pango app (mypango.com).
What You Will Find at the Festival
Along with more than 50 vendors of arts and crafts, you will experience live music, yummy food truck culinary delights, and children’s activities, so it is fun for the whole family. Here’s a breakdown with more information or visit The Exchange for the complete list and locations of the ArtFest exhibitors.
Arts and Crafts
The exhibits will include photography and photo images on stretched canvas, drawings, prints, mixed media artwork, and paintings in acrylic, oils, and gouache.
Numerous different jewelers will display their work featuring gemstones, sterling silver, beads, clay, and charms, along with antique and vintage buttons. Other exhibitors include yarn and fabric artists, sculptors, potters, glass artists, and woodworkers.
Some of the more unique exhibitors’ products include bonsai and carnivorous plants, powder horns, and children’s books. Look for upcycled and repurposed furniture, and aromatherapy and skin care products.
It’s a great opportunity to connect personally with these talented artists and see some of the demonstrating their craft. Strolling through these exhibits is good for the soul. As Pablo Picasso stated, “The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls.”
Children’s Activities
Art inspires children to dream and create — to claim who they are and climb their own mountains. The Exchange will provide an Art Cart packed with art activities to inspire creativity for all ages, especially the children. There are many who contribute to the Art Cart, one is the Bloomsburg Public Library.
Live Music and Food
Along with inspiring art, and food truck specialties (tacos, chicken, and waffles) enjoy live music! Every hour on the hour there will be performances by local bluegrass, blues, and Americana artists. Grab a bite, sit by the fountain and enjoy!
All About The Exchange Gallery
ArtFest was originally founded by Downtown Bloomsburg in 2009. It’s a nonprofit that is dedicated to improving the downtown commercial district. The Exchange, also a nonprofit, has produced the event since 2016. The attendance to ArtFest has grown by leaps and bounds since moving to the square in 2017.
The Exchange Gallery provides a site for local artists of all ages and abilities to display their artwork. They host themed exhibitions and juried shows. Look for monthly concerts that feature blues, bluegrass, and American performances.
Artfest, the summer outdoor festival in Bloomsburg, PA draws visitors throughout our region, so don’t wait to make your reservation for a stay at the Inn at Turkey Hill. We can help you plan your entire vacation to include all of the outdoor summer activities that you love, from hiking and kayaking to a day a Knoebel’s Amusement Park.