Festival of the Arts takes place in downtown Oklahoma City. The actual event area stretches from Walker Ave east to Robinson, and from Reno north to Sheridan. Activities occur in the Festival Plaza, the Myriad Botanical Gardens, and on Hudson Avenue.
Festival hours are Tuesday-Saturday 11 a.m.-9 p.m., and Sunday 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Pets are not allowed.
Traveling to the Festival
Getting to the Festival is easy. To see a Google map, click HERE. To see a list of downtown parking options, click HERE. From I-40, take the Downtown/Shields exit. The Festival is located in the Festival Plaza, on Hudson between Sheridan and Reno, and in the Myriad Gardens. When traveling to the festival please note that Hudson will be closed between Sheridan and Reno.
Parking
The Mid-Town Renaissance lots just South of Reno between Walker and Harvey are an easy walk to Festival.
Paid parking is available in lots and garages located throughout downtown Oklahoma City. There is also limited street parking located around the perimeter of the event. Please visit www.parkingokc.com to see a list of available lots.
Trolley Service
Take a look at the OKC Trolley schedule here.
Pets
For the safety of all Festival guests, pets are not allowed.
Plan Your Visit
There is a lot to see and do at the Festival of the Arts. Free programs are available around the event that list schedules and all the activities. All the information is also available right here on the website. Please use the menu on the right to find schedules, menus, maps and more.
Restrooms
Festival Plaza: east of Walker Avenue, on Stage Center Drive
Myriad Botanical Gardens: south of Crystal Bridge; at the
corner of Hudson and Sheridan.
Headquarters and Lost People
Festival Headquarters is located east of the International Food Row, off Hudson. You may go here for event information. Should you lose any members of your party or need directions, you may also go to Lost People tent, located on the plaza, north of the International Food Row.
Police/First Aid
Police, first aid, and emergency personnel are on the grounds at all times. Emergency services are located in the Myriad Botanical Gardens on the 2nd floor Conference Room.
ATM
MidFirst Bank, the official bank of the Festival, has ATM locations on the north side of the tower in the International Food Row, and in the T-Shirt tent on the plaza.
Weather
The Festival is open rain or shine. When it's raining is one of the best times to be at the Festival, as it's easier to get up close to the art.
Road Closings
Hudson Avenue will close 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 16. It will remain closed through 4 p.m. Friday, May 3.
Artists, performers and menus are subject to change.
Festival at a Glance
Artful Experience
Artful Experience, located in the south east corner of the Myriad Gardens, wants visitors to get excited about the creative process behind the art. Several artistic media will be demonstrated from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. each day. Come see artists at work on wood turning, sculpting, painting, print making and other various media. You are welcome to ask questions about how they make the work and see the materials close up. Art demonstrations from: Central Oklahoma Woodturners Association, Paseo Arts Association, Pinot's Palette, and other selected artists from Oklahoma. Mural project: Dr. Bob Palmer and University of Oklahoma students.
Artist Market
The Artist Market offers reproductions, posters and note cards of original works by Festival artists affordably priced at $100 or less.
Artists
More than 550 artists applied and submitted work for the Festival jury process. The 144 chosen artists are some of the nation’s finest. Media includes oils, water, sculpture and two and three-dimensional works. For a complete list please click HERE.
Children’s Art Field
Children can complete three art projects – Popsicle Puppets, Get Inked, and Yarn Art – for a $2 fee at the Children’s Art Field. This tent is located in the Youth Plaza on the west side of the Myriad Botanical Gardens.
Creation Station
Children and adults may participate for free in a larger-than-life works of art in Creation Station, located at the southeast corner of the Myriad Botanical Gardens. Add to this giant collaborative sculpture that grows and changes throughout the week.
Face Painting
Festival would not be complete without this popular attraction. Face Painting is located at the southeast corner of the Myriad Gardens. The cost is $1 for a simple design.
Family Food on a Budget
Mustard’s Last Stand offers hot dogs, chili pies, nachos, iced tea and Ozarka bottled water and coffee for $3 or less.
Festival Idol Talent Showcase
The annual youth talent show will showcase the talents of children, grades K-12, on the Great Lawn Stage at 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. Local talents will judge; top performers will move to the finals Saturday at 6 p.m. to be named the ultimate Festival Idol. Performers have already been preselected by the Performing Arts Committee.
International Food Row
From snacks to entrees to desserts, the Festival is a celebration of the culinary arts! Twenty-one vendors in International Food Row and eight carts throughout the grounds bring their delectable specialties to the International Food Row. To see the menu, click HERE.
Sculpture Park
Sculpture Park is an area on the east lawn of Stage Center devoted entirely to showing medium and large size sculpture pieces. This curated exhibit allows only invited artists and Plaza Artists to exhibit. The 2013 curator, Joe Slack, focused this year’s exhibit on showcasing exceptional Oklahoma talent.
6-Day Wine Cellars
This special wine area, located in the Myriad Gardens, offers festival-goers a place to rest inside while enjoying a variety of high quality red and white wines. Six varieties of wine from around the world and Coop Ale Works Beer will be offered. Patrons must be 21 to enter; children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Performing Artists
Entertainers of all ages donate their performances on four stages at the Festival. To see a complete schedule, click HERE.
Pottery Place
Collin Rosebrook and the artisans of Paseo Pottery assist children and adults in selecting, creating, and firing a pot or vase using the ancient Oriental technique of RAKU. Prices range from $5 to $50.
South Hudson Gallery
The 2013 Festival of the Arts Co-chairs, Linda Whittington and Daniel Adams, and the South Hudson Gallery Committee proudly presents the 2013 South Hudson Gallery Pro-Am Exhibit. Each piece of artwork displayed and offered for sale is a collaboration between a “pro”, a previous Festival of the Arts artist, and an “am”, a community leader participating as an amateur artist. This year the amateur artists are past Festival Chairmen. South Hudson Gallery is located at the intersection of Reno and Hudson Avenues. All pieces will be available for purchase.
Street Performers
A combination of clown, mime, dance, and Chinese pole are what international street performer Derek McAlister brings to his performance, The Twin Tango. Derek performs his nerdy counterpart and with the help of a few strange men, he is able to dance his awkward little body to the top of a 10-foot Chinese pole only to fall back to the bottom. All the while trying to impress any and all who watch. This nerdy clown will fill your laughter bucket. With a surprise at the end, Derek's variety show has left audiences worldwide in 'awe'.
Young-at-Art Mart
At the Young-at-Art Mart Festival artists sell original works of art priced from $.50 to $5. This unique area is open to children 12 and under, and is located in the Youth Plaza in the southwest corner of the Myriad Botanical Gardens.
