The Venice Art Fest

An Outdoor Display of Creativity and Talent
in Downtown Venice Florida

November 4 - 5, 2023

The Annual Venice Art Fest traditionally takes place on the first Saturday and Sunday of November just a few blocks east of Venice Beach.

Early November is a gorgeous time of year for an outdoor, open air art festival in Historic Downtown Venice, Florida.

The combination of being outdoors and having all the great work of artists to view in such a historic old downtown area like Venice, Florida really adds "atmosphere" to this annual weekend event.

While the crowds are usually large it is manageable and the number of artists is usually around 150, so there are plenty of galleries, tents or booths to peruse while you’re looking for that one piece of art decor for your home that makes the "statement" you’re looking for. You never know what you'll find.

This Suncoast area Art Fest was started in 1987 and artists and artisans who participate bring with them works and displays ranging from paintings and sculptures to jewelry, ceramics and glass, mixed media including photography and more.

There's usually more than $15 million worth of artwork will be on display.

The Venice Art Festival is known as a "juried" show, which will feature the crème de le crème.

This means the artists participating in the show have submitted their applications to this show in advance. Then a committee goes through a screening out process, thereby insuring that the show features (in the opinion of those on the committee) only outstanding artists with something special to offer those who attend the show.

The other unique facet of the Venice Art Fest is that all artists must be on hand for the entire show, both Saturday and Sunday.

This means that as an art lover, you, yourself, may speak directly with the artist and listen to him/her explain their work, what meaning it may have and how it was created. Right on down to the nitty-gritty of it!

And of course with so many talented artists on hand, whom you can actually meet, you may want to commission a piece of artwork by your favorite artist, if, at the Venice Art Fest, you just can’t find a work that meets your needs.

In case looking at all that art makes you hungry there are food vendors on the festival streets adding delicious aromas to the air as they cook their specialties right there for all to see and savor.

Plus there are numerous Venice Restaurants on Venice Avenue including T.J. Carney’s from which to grab a bite to eat.

During the fall of each year it's one of the more creative things to do in and around the Sarasota and sun coast area.

You may find yourself thinking "where do these artists come up with some of these ideas?" It's amazing to see such, sometimes subtle and sometimes "over-the-top," creativity all in the same area!

The Annual Venice Art Festival is a fun event to take in on the first Saturday and Sunday of November. Plus, by this time of year it's just 7 weeks or so until the holidays, so it's also a great time to do some gift buying.

Admission is free and there’s a free parking lot in the center of downtown Venice between Tampa and Venice Avenues, just off Centennial Park.

Directions: Take I-75 to exit 193 (Jacaranda Blvd), turn right on east Venice Avenue, cross U.S. Rt. 41 to west Venice Avenue. Or Take U.S. Rt. 41 into Business Rt. 41 into Historic Downtown Venice.

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