Bonita Springs National Art Festival

The Bonita Springs National Art Festival is presented by the Centers for the Arts Bonita Springs and will be held February 11-12, 2023 at Riverside Park. Rated one of the top Fine Art Festivals in the USA Juried events; artists are selected by a panel of experts. Festival proceeds support community art activities. This festival has the largest attendance of any event in the area and admission is free.  The event is held “Rain or Shine” and Bonita Springs usually has wonderful weather. There is a large selection of food and beverages for sale at the Festivals. There is a “food court” with tables and chairs for your convenience. You can enjoy a snack or a complete lunch with water, soda, beer or wine. Then enjoy a nice dessert.

On street parking spaces are plentiful. Additionally, there are several large designated parking areas a short walk to a Festival entrance.
Click here for Area Parking, Festival Site and Area Maps

Riverside Park and the immediate area is a pleasant place to enjoy great artworks. Bathrooms are available. The parking is free and convenient. There are pavilions and benches throughout the park. The City of Bonita Springs made major improvements to the downtown area recently. You will be walking on streets and grass surfaces. Comfortable footwear and hats are recommended.

The 2023 Festival Dates are as follows:

January 14-15, 2023 – Show 1
February 11-12, 2023 – Show 2
March 4-5, 2023 – Show 3

Hours: Saturday & Sunday (10 am-5 pm)

PET POLICY:

City of Bonita Springs Ordinances take precedence. Be kind to your pets – leave them at home when you visit the Arts Festival.
For the safety of your pet and other festival patrons, please consider allowing your dog to stay at home during the festival.
Service animals or guide dogs which are specially trained to perform tasks for an individual with a disability are permitted.

Is Fido Festival Ready?
Before you decide to bring your dog along for the fun of the Festival, there are a few things that you need to think about to help keep your pooch healthy and safe at this year’s festival.
Does your dog have a suitable temperament for Festival? Patrons love the art, food and, yes, the crowds. But, it’s important to think about how your dog will handle these types of stimuli and stress in this environment. Ask yourself these questions:

• • Does your dog get stressed out by large crowds, music, or loud noises? Is he aggressive or anxious in unfamiliar situations with people in costume or small children?

• • Does he have behavior issues with unfamiliar dogs or small exotic species that festival-goers tend to bring, including ferrets, birds, cats and lizards?

• • If you answered ‘Yes’ to any of these questions, it’s probably a good idea to leave your pooch at home until you’ve had a chance to work through some of these issues with a trainer.

Is your dog “sized for safety”?

• • Even large breed dogs can get underfoot at times, while some smaller and medium breeds like shih-tzu’s, beagles, and terriers can go unseen in large crowds of people. If you plan to bring a smaller dog with you, you may need to take some additional precautions to keep them from being injured in the crowds. There are a variety of puppy purses, wearable pet carriers, and pet strollers made for smaller animals available at most major pet stores to help keep them safe.

• • Is your pet healthy enough to attend a festival?

• • Are your pet’s vaccines up to date?
• Is your pet wearing up-to-date ID?

Items of interest

• History of 54 successful Festivals in Bonita Springs
• Rated one of the top Fine Art Festivals in the USA
• Juried events; artists selected by a panel of experts
• Quality artworks by 200+ National and International artists
• 16 categories of artwork will be shown
• Beautiful park setting with amenities
• Festival proceeds support community art activities
• Largest attendance of any event in the areaWebsite: www.artcenterbonita.org/artfest
  Contact Yoram Gal for more info on his booth number and location.