Bayou City Art Festival will transform Downtown Houston into a lively outdoor gallery and interactive art event with more art, entertainment, and an intimate culinary art and tasting experience with some of Houston’s top chefs.

Houston’s iconic art festival returns to showcase the works of 250 artists in 19 different categories in Downtown Houston Saturday and Sunday, October 14-15, 2023, from 10a.m. to 6 p.m. The Bayou City Art Festival Downtown featured artist is Michelle McDowell Smith, a mixed media artist from Roanoke, VA.

Located in Sam Houston Park and along Allen Parkway, Bayou City Art Festival Downtown provides unique art experiences and education for the greater Houston area, while supporting local organizations and promoting the impact that art has on the Houston community.

As one of the top art festivals in the country, the outdoor gallery provides patrons with the opportunity to meet artists, view original works, and purchase one-of-a-kind art, world-class paintings, prints, jewelry, sculptures, functional art and more.

The festival features two entertainment stages, a food truck park, beverage stations throughout the festival, and art installations. Guests will enjoy Houston’s skyline views while visiting the festival’s wine garden, craft beer garden, and Art Bar. In the Active Imagination Zone, the festival’s nonprofit partners will host hands-on art activities for all ages.

In addition, the Bayou City Art Festival is showcasing the Collegiate Art Collective, a collection of art composed of five Houston-area college art students. Collegiate Art Collective artists will represent their school’s art program, meet with potential art collectors and buyers, and participate in one of the top juried art festivals in the country.

For the ultimate art lover, Bayou City Art Festival will offer a limited availability VIP ticket experience, which will include a tented oasis with light bites, and complimentary beer, wine, and other beverages. The relaxing setting under a canopy of trees will feature roaming musicians, artistic décor, a phone charging station, and more. VIPs will receive all-day access to the VIP area, along with VIP parking.

A portion of the proceeds from Bayou City Art Festival Downtown will benefit the festival’s six nonprofit partners: ArtReach, Fresh Arts, Orange Show for Visionary Art, Second Servings, The Museum of Fine Arts Houston, and The Women’s Fund for Health Education and Resiliency.

Online early bird tickets are now available at www.bayoucityartfestival.com for $18 for adults. All children under the age of 12 are free thanks to the Kids Free Program sponsored by Champion Energy Services. Adult tickets purchased after October 1, 2023, are $20. VIP Hospitality Lounge tickets are $75 and include admission to the festival. Online pre-purchased tickets are required to enter the festival. Physical tickets will not be sold at the gate and can only be purchased online.

Since the founding of the Westheimer Art Festival, now known as Bayou City Art Festival, the Art Colony Association, Inc. has raised more than $3.6 million for local nonprofit programs from the proceeds of its festivals. Bayou City Art Festival Memorial Park in the spring and Bayou City Art Festival Downtown in the fall has provided a venue for more than 20,000 artists to showcase their work to thousands of art lovers from all over the world. The festivals are funded in part by grants from the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance, corporate sponsorships, private contributions, in kind support and volunteer assistance.

For more information, please visit www.artcolonyassociation.org. For the most recent updates, follow the official event hashtags #HouArtFest and #BCAF, like the Facebook page or follow on Instagram. Also, subscribe to our newsletter here.