The American South has a long and complex history. To understand it, try mixing a cup of evangelicalism with some baptism, add a tablespoon of the Confederacy and the Civil Rights Movement, and then drop a pinch of the blues and country to the recipe. Next, pour a half cup of collard greens, fried tomatoes, and barbecue and allow it to bake between 85-105 degrees for 5-7 months.
And what have you created?
The American Southern Cuisine!
In this blog, I will cover the Top 11 art show and festival you should visit this spring and summer across the Southern black and bible belt of America.
2026 Magic City art Connection
Deadline: November 5. 2025
Artist size: 150
April 24-26, 10am – 6pm
Sloss Furnaces Nation Historic Landmark
1128 Glen View Road
Birmingham, AL 35222
The 2026 Magic City Art Connection will be held at the Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark in Birmingham, Alabama. Birmingham has great weather this time of year and this event have something for everyone. Admission is $15 at the gate, but free for children under 18.
2026 Orange Beach Festival of Art
Deadline: October 31, 2025
Artist size: 85
March 14-15, 9 am – 6pm
Coastal Arts Center and Waterfront Park Grounds
26389 Canal Road
Orange Beach, AL 36561
The 52nd Orange Beach Festival of Art is being held at the Coastal Arts Center in Orange Beach, Alabama. It may be hard to believe, but the state of Alabama does have some great beach venues. Just don’t compare them to Florida or California. It’s simply about the art here!
33rd Annual Spring Arts Festival
Deadline: January 30, 2026
Artist Size: 200 artists
March 28-29. 9am – 5pm
Downtown Ocean Springs
1000 Washington Avenue
Ocean Springs, MS 39564
The 33rd Annual Spring Arts Festival will be held in downtown Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Bring your family or bring a friend. This event will host local and regional artists and showcase some of the best ceramics, pottery, painting and other various forms of art & crafts in the state.
48th Peter Anderson Arts & Crafts Festival
Deadline: August 1, 2026
Artist size: 300
November 7-9, 9am – 5pm
Downtown Ocean Springs
1000 Washington Avenue
Ocean Springs, MS 39564
The 48th Peter Anderson Arts & Crafts Festival will be held in downtown Ocean Springs, Mississippi. It seems to me Ocean Spring is running a monopoly on art exhibits and craft shows in this state. This may benefit you if you are an artist because it provides you with an opportunity to network and build connections with residents in the local and surrounding neighborhoods.
2026 Buckhead Arts Festival
Deadline: August 4, 2026
Artist size: 100
September 19-20, 11 am -5 pm
Buckhead Village
3035 Peachtree Road
Atlanta, Georgia 30305
The 9th Annual Buckhead Arts Festival will be held at Buckhead Village in Atlanta, Georgia. The locals dubbed Buckhead as the ‘Beverly Hills of the East’ with their high-end restaurants, dining and shopping. The residents are also big on arts & craft, so if you are planning on participating in this event, be ready to pay off your college loan with your artwork!
Well maybe, a light bill or two.
Atlanta Dogwood Festival
Deadline: November 8, 2025
Artist Size: 250
April 10-12, Friday & Sunday 12 – 6, Saturday 10-7
Piedmont Park
1320 Monroe Drive NE
Atlanta, GA
The 90th Atlanta Dogwood festival will be held at Piedmont Park in Atlanta, Georgia. Dogwood festival is one of the longest running art festivals in America. The Atlanta’s art market is one of the biggest in the southeast, so please bring your best artwork to impress collectors and art enthusiasts alike for the weekend!
55th Annual Tennessee Craft Fair
Deadline: February 15, 2026
Artist Size: 200
May 1-3, 10 am – 6 pm
Centennial Park
2500 West End Avenue
Nashville, TN 37232
The 55th Annual Tennessee Craft Fair will be held at the Centennial Park in Nashville, Tennessee. This event is highly regarded ‘as one of best art shows in the country. It’s been around for over 50 years for a reason.
That reason?
Because people keep coming back!
So check it out.
River Arts Festival
Deadline: May 31, 2026
Artists: 160
October 17-18, 10 am – 5 pm
Downtown Memphis
Riverside Drive
Memphis, TN 38107
20th River Arts festival will be held downtown Memphis alongside the Mississippi River between Jefferson Avenue and Beale Street. Memphis can be regarded as ‘The city of Blues’. Now add some barbecue and an art gallery to the scene, and you have created a formula of real ‘Southern Hospitality.’
Crystal Bridges Museum Art Fair 2026
Deadline: June 16, 2026
Artist Size: 100
October 3 -5, 10 am – 6 pm
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
600 Museum Way
Bentonville, Arkansas 72712
The Crystal Bridges Museum Art Fair will be held at the Crystal Bridges Museum in Bentonville, Arkansas. Arkansas Is known for its extensive landscape of Mountains, rivers and national parks. It’s a goldmine for inspiration if you are a landscape artist. I recommend you attend this event for the food, live music, and of course, the art, but stay an extra day or two to feel inspired to create.
50th Annual Red River Art festival
Deadline: May 1, 2026
Artist Size: 75
October 8-11 and 15-18, 11 am – 8 pm
Festival Plaza
101 Crockett Street
Shreveport LA 71101-3781
The 50th Annual Red River Revel Art Festival will be held at the Festival Plaza in Shreveport, Louisiana. This event is so good that the city of Shreveport will host it with back-to-back weekends, but don’t take my word for it. Go see for yourself!
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
Deadline: December 2, 2025
Artist Size: 150
April 23- 26, April 30 – May 3, 11 am – 7 pm
Fair Grounds Racecourse
1751 Gentilly Boulevard
New Orleans, Louisiana 70119
The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival will be held at Fair Grounds Racecourse in New Orleans, Louisiana. New Orleans is the Staple of America Southern music, food, and art. This festival is a 2-weekend event, so there is no excuse for not participating or attending this year!
I hope you get your gas card and luggage ready because there is a lot to see this year. I understand the economy is tough on a lot people, but viewing and appreciating good art shouldn’t cost you a dime.
So go out and travel!
A Shade of Art 
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