Festival of the Arts returns to the metro

Arts Council Oklahoma City’s Festival of the Arts, presented by Inasmuch Foundation and MidFirst Bank, returns to Bicentennial Park April 25 –30, 2023. Considered Oklahoma City's beloved rite of spring, Festival will feature six days of incredible art, delicious food, and entertainment from outstanding local performing artists.

“Since 1967, Festival of the Arts has been a tradition in downtown Oklahoma City, attracting more than 650,000 visitors from around the world each year and helping us achieve Arts Council Oklahoma City’s mission of bringing the arts and community together,” said Arts Council OKC Executive Director Angela Cozby. “Festival grows and changes each year, and we can’t wait for you to see the incredible event that staff and volunteers have spent countless hours planning for the community.”

Festival of the Arts will feature 144 talented visual artists from around the country, represented in 12 mediums, including watercolor, photography, jewelry, glass, oil, wood, fiber, ceramics, sculpture, drawing digital printmaking, 2D mixed-media, and 3D mixed-media. Artists were selected through a jury process from a pool of over 400 applications.

“At its core, Festival of the Arts is a fine-arts Festival featuring the work of some of the most talented artists in America,” said Festival of the Arts CoChair Farooq Karim. “This year’s event features many returning Festival artists showcasing their latest works of art, as well as several artists ready to make a stunning first impression in their Festival debut.”

A popular Festival favorite is International Food Row, which will feature 22 food vendors lining the streets on the north and south sides of the Civic Center Music Hall, as well as 8 food carts located around Festival grounds. This year’s Festival features 9 food vendors making their Festival debut and has the most robust vegetarian selection in the event’s history, with 20 of the 30 vendors offering a vegetarian option.

“Festival of the Arts is an event for the community, and it’s important for our menu to match the diverse food preferences of our over 650,000 visitors,” said Festival of the Arts CoChair Susie White.” Whether you’re looking for a hearty dinner or a sweet treat, an Oklahoma classic or a dish with an international flair, we’re certain Festival will have the perfect option for you.”