Cape Coral Art Festival | Nationally renowned event draws thousands each year
One of the largest events in Southwest Florida returns to Cape Coral Parkway this weekend with hundreds of artists, crafters and vendors taking part.
The Cape Coral Art Festival, put on each year by the Rotary Club of Cape Coral, is set for Jan. 10 and 11, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m on Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. The event, now in its 41st year, is free to attend.
The parkway, from Coronado Parkway to Del Prado Boulevard, will be transformed into an arts paradise for two days, as the possibility of selection for every eye is endless. Numerous exhibitors with the creative touch will show off their style and chat with attendees about their process and the meaning behind their works, which are, of course, for sale.
The event is one of the largest special events in Lee County, which draws more than 140,000 attendees to appreciate art the second full weekend in January. The festival was voted the Best Outdoor Event by the readers of Gulfshore Life Magazine and the 5th Best Art Festival in the nation by Sunshine Artists.
This year’s festival promises to be even more exciting than ever before, with a diverse array of artwork, live entertainment, delicious food, and much more.
“This is our signature event,” said Festival Chair Brad Peska. “Everyone in the club is involved in one way or another throughout the entire year. We consistently get feedback from artists throughout the country that our show is one of the best run because of our volunteers and how much we care about the event and the experience that each of them have.”
When organizers say you can find anything and everything at the festival, they mean it. Vendor booths will line the South Cape for more than a half-mile and, on most occasions, more than 100,000 attendees have turned out to view the vast array of selections.
This year will feature more than 300 exhibitor booths, as well as a “Premier Artist Area.”
Sponsored by Aubuchon Homes, the Premier Artist section of the festival is dedicated to showcasing the exceptional talents of highly skilled artists from around the world.
Located in front of the Holiday Inn Express on both sides of the median along Cape Coral Parkway, from Del Prado to Southeast 15th Avenue, the Premier Artist Area offers a unique and distinguished experience for both artists and visitors.
From paintings, to sculptures made of a myriad of materials, to photography, jewelry, furniture and more, the Cape Coral Art Festival is a one-stop-shop for art-lovers.
“It’s one of Cape Coral’s best cultural events and community events,” Peska said. “The art festival brings to people a level of artistry that they may not see in their everyday life, and that’s really the signature component of it. We really work hard to make sure that we’ve got great juried artists that people can see that are unique. But at the same time, we have a good range of art available and crafts available for attendees to view.”
There will also be bragging rights and cash prizes up for grabs in many categories, including: ceramics, digital art, drawing and pastels, fiber and fiber wearables, glass, graphics/printmaking, jewelry, leather, metal, 2D and 3D mixed media, painting, photography and digital photography, sculpture, and wood.
The festival is a great way to meet artists, have meaningful conversations about their pieces, and possibly discuss custom works in the future. Not every time a piece of art is purchased, is the creator there to speak with and maybe get a little insight into why they made the choices they did for a certain piece.
“It gives the community not only a chance to instantly fall in love with art that they see, but to have a more in-depth conversation with the artists,” Peska said. “We have a lot of artists who have repeat customers that come to see the new things that they’ve done each year, and at the same time we try to bring new artists in that the public gets to see.
“The one-on-one interaction doesn’t happen online. It only happens when you’re at the event talking to the person. And in some cases, understanding why they made a choice for the art and the way that they’ve done it versus a different way.”
This year’s poster artist is Qing Wang, who has been creating art since the age of 16 and has built an international following with collectors across Russia, the Middle East, Korea, and the United States. Originally from China, she later settled in Sarasota where the coastal environment continues to inspire her work. Event organizers state Qing is known for her ability to shape light, shadow, and atmosphere using minimal color, blending elements of realism, impressionism, and abstraction into a style uniquely her own. Constantly evolving, she embraces new techniques and creative exploration as part of her artistic journey.
“We felt the overall vibe of her work really fits,” Peska said of Qing’s depiction of a van under palm trees on the beach. “We’re looking forward to people being able to meet her. She’s right in the middle of the event when people enter at the intersection of Cape Coral Parkway in Vincennes.”
Attendees shouldn’t miss a walk down Art Way on the Parkway — the heart of family fun and creativity at the Cape Coral Art Festival. This dedicated area brings together young artists, families, and creative minds of all ages, offering an interactive space full of artistic expression, hands-on activities, and vibrant artwork.
Art Way on the Parkway features an exciting showcase of youth artwork, with local kids’ creative masterpieces on display. It’s an opportunity for young artists to see their work celebrated and gain inspiration from professional artists around them.
“This is our opportunity to connect with the local school system,” Peska said. “The Lee County School District has done a great job of reaching out to the art teachers around the area. We do have prizes for the youth as well.”
This year will also feature a Business Showcase area, which provides an exclusive opportunity for local, service-based businesses to take center stage in front of thousands of residents and visitors. Attendees will have the chance to connect with local businesses, from those that specialize in pest control, lawn care, painting, home watch, real estate, insurance, pool services, handyman work, and more.
“This is where you kind of have a balance between that cultural, fine art event and something that’s a little bit more, you know, open to the community understanding services that are around them also,” Peska said. “We really tried to highlight those organizations that can have goods or services right here in the community that we need to highlight. Make a connection with a local business — in some cases — they’re meeting the owner of that business that’s there over the weekend spending their time to make sure the public has a chance to get to know them. And those kind of connections can build a lasting business for a lot of these local individuals.”
Overall, the festival is a great way to spend a day outside, perusing great art, and enjoy a free event.
“You not only get a chance to see amazing art, you get to enjoy the beautiful weather in Southwest Florida,” Peska said. “We hope that our event allows people to even see businesses in the downtown Cape Coral area that they may not have visited before. There’s a lot of great businesses, restaurants down there that are very supportive of our event also.”
Cape Coral Parkway will be closed from Coronado Parkway to Del Prado Boulevard beginning at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 9. The roadway is expected to reopen at 9 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 11.
For more information on the Cape Coral Art Festival and Marketplace, including vendor information, pieces, and map of where they will be located, visit capecoralartfestival.com.
To reach CJ HADDAD, please email cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com