Florida’s February Art Festivals

It’s time to pull out your calendar and plan for Florida art festivals. 

The prime time to visit the sunshine state runs from fall to spring. It also happens to be when Florida experiences the coolest temperatures. 

With so much to do in Florida, it’s easy to overlook the state’s thriving art scene. But being the art lovers we are, we’re here to share the knowledge of some festivals to check out.

Let’s explore!

Why Attend a Florida Art Festival?

An art festival is a celebration of both art and artists. Often held in aesthetically pleasing locations, they are an opportunity to meet the experts and even buy their work. 

Festivals are a unique way to get to know the community and what they value. How the local artists express themselves can reveal so much about the area. The events can also connect you to other local attractions to enrich your visit. 

Florida art festivals make for a great road trip. In fact, they fall during the coolest time of the year. Additionally, driving the backroads is an opportunity to experience the nuances of the state. 

Florida’s beaches along the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico are some of the best in the country. In addition, the state’s islands and prairies, campgrounds, trails, and historic sites offer exciting additions to your trip. 

We’ve picked five Florida art festivals in February. Each has something to get you out of the wintry doldrums.    

ArtFest Fort Myers 

Start February off right at the ArtFest in Fort Myers. This free event offers exceptional art by more than 200 selected artists, lively entertainment, delicious food, and fun children’s art activities. 

Stroll along the inspiring Chalk Block. High school students and professional artists create chalk art right on the pavement. 

View the showcase for Art Under 20, where local students compete for cash awards. They work in digital, drawing, painting, photography, 3D, mixed media, and recycled materials. You’ll be impressed with what the future holds. 

If you’d like a nice 5K to start your day, sign up for the Run to the Arts timed race held on Sunday during the festival. People come together to run, walk, roll, or stroll along the Fort Myers waterfront. In addition to the traditional race food and swag, participants are first into this Florida art festival. 

From the Muse: Check out the festival website for hotel information on local accommodations. In addition, they’ll help attendees create special weekend getaway packages. 

Mount Dora Arts Festival 

The Mount Dora Arts Festival is held in the city of the same name in central Florida. Located about 35 miles northwest of Orlando, the annual event is held annually in early February in the historic downtown area. 

The free event offers a kid zone, beer, wine, cocktails, live music, and festival food. You can shuttle in to make parking easier. The area is handicap accessible though you’ll need to bring your own wheelchair. 

You can expect to stroll past about 250 art booths. In addition, there are usually five featured artists showing their unique artwork.

After a day in Mount Dora, drive south to Disney World in Orlando. Or, for a more natural escape, visit one of the many lake parks or Seminole State Forest, a mere twenty minutes away. 

Coconut Grove Arts Festival

Florida’s annual Coconut Grove Arts Festival takes place in mid-February. Located south of Miami, the upscale community is on the shores of Biscayne Bay. This event is also one of the largest outdoor arts festivals in the country. 

The South Florida community presents visual, performing, and culinary arts experiences. More than 280 internationally-recognized artists attend each year. In addition, the event includes live performances. 

This festival is sure to entice your appetite. You can attend celebrity chef-led cooking demonstrations and tastings. And more than 50 restaurants and gourmet vendors offer new creations for you to savor.

Your kids will also enjoy the educational, Inner Artist Zone. There’s a little something for everyone at this festival. With exhibits showcasing traditional art to science experiments, no one will be bored. 

Proceeds help fund year-round arts programs. So while you’ll have to pay $20 for a one-day ticket to experience the festival, we think it’s worth it. 

ArtiGras Fine Arts Festival

Located in Palm Beach Gardens, just north of Boca Raton, the ArtiGras Fine Arts Festival is held annually on Presidents Day weekend. Over 200 artists represent a wide range of artistic representation. 

The festival features wearables, glass, jewelry, mixed media, painting, photography, sculpture, wood, ceramics, digital art, drawing and printmaking. There’s even a special area dedicated to emerging artists in their first art show, including a youth art competition.

More than 800 volunteers come together to make this special event happen. You can even volunteer if you plan in advance. Volunteers get free entrance, food, drink, and a swag t-shirt.

A one-day adult ticket costs $15, while children twelve and under get in free. But if you plan to attend both days, a two-day pass costs $25.

This Florida art festival is a little over an hour’s drive from the event in Coconut Grove. Or an hour and a half if you take a detour to the Everglades. You could easily make a great weekend out of attending both events. 

Naples National Art Festival

The Naples Art Institute hosts the Naples National Art Festival, held annually at the end of February. The event runs along Fifth Avenue South in downtown Naples and the scenic Cambier Park.  

The fair features work from approximately 220 professional artists from 32 states in nearly every fine art medium. In addition, admission is free, and parking is easy to find.

The Naples Art Institute is committed to encouraging emerging artists and arts leaders. They believe artistic expression should be accessible to everyone and inclusive of everyone. Accordingly, the thirteen staff members involve themselves in rich educational programs, community outreach, and regular exhibitions and art fairs. 

In addition to the art festival, take in the Institute’s gallery and current exhibit. It’s open on weekends, so it’s a perfect accompaniment to the festival. 

After attending the art festival, you can take a short one-block walk to Naples’ premier shopping and dining district. There seems to be plenty to see and do around this Florida city.

Florida in February is Perfect for Fans of Art

Go ahead and tell your friends you’re busy every weekend in February. Or, ask them to come along. It’s a month full of activities for art lovers. A well-planned trip could take you to some of Florida’s best art festivals and well-known tourist destinations. 

What’s your favorite Florida art festival? Tell us about it in the comments below.