Festival of the Arts – Oct 24, 2026 - 30A

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Festival of the Arts

When

Saturday, October 24    
9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Where

Mattie Kelly Cultural Arts Village
4323 Commons Dr W, Destin, FL, 32541

Description

Festival of the Arts
October 24 & 25, 2026
Saturday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. | Sunday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Mattie Kelly Dugas Pavilion Green | Destin, Florida
Admission and parking are free.

Celebrating its 31st year, the Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation (MKAF) Festival of the Arts is one of Northwest Florida’s premier juried fine arts festivals, bringing together more than 100 acclaimed artists from across the country for a colorful weekend of art, music, food and family fun.

Stroll the Festival grounds and discover an exceptional collection of original artwork in a variety of mediums. Meet the artists, watch live demonstrations and find one-of-a-kind pieces to take home. Throughout the weekend, enjoy continuous live entertainment, hands-on children’s activities, an art raffle, local food vendors, a beer and wine garden, and more. On Saturday, festivalgoers can also cast their votes for the coveted People’s Choice Award.

Festival attendees will have the opportunity to meet 2026 Featured Poster Artist Jamie Babula of Panama City Beach and view her hyperrealistic colored-pencil artwork, Drawn to Paint, created especially for this year’s Festival. The original artwork will be offered in a Silent Auction benefiting MKAF.

Calling All Artists

For exhibiting artists, the MKAF Festival of the Arts offers the opportunity to showcase and sell work to an engaged audience of art lovers in a welcoming, professionally produced festival environment. Hospitality is a priority, with MKAF staff and volunteers working year-round to create an exceptional experience for participating artists and patrons alike.

Artists compete in 18 categories for more than $10,000 in cash awards, including Best in Show, People’s Choice Award, Awards of Excellence, Awards of Merit, and Judges’ Recognition Awards. A panel of three art industry professionals evaluates each artist’s body of work as displayed in their booth.

Whether you come to exhibit, collect, discover a new favorite artist, or simply spend a beautiful fall weekend immersed in creativity, the MKAF Festival of the Arts celebrates the power of art to bring a community together.

Best of all, enjoying the Festival supports a greater purpose. Proceeds benefit MKAF’s ArtsReach education initiatives, providing arts programming for K-12 students, individuals with special needs, and members of the military community along the Emerald Coast.

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