Smithfield Arts Festival

Name: Smithfield Arts Festival
Start: 2025-05-17 09:00:00
End: 2025-05-17 16:00:00
Location: venue_name

319 Main Street
Smithfield, VA 23430

Saturday, May 17, 2025
09:00am - 04:00pm

319 Main Street
Smithfield, VA 23430
17 May, 2025
09:00am - 04:00pm
Category: Festivals/Parades - Arts & Culture - Concerts/Live Performances - Family/Children - Outdoors or Recreation
Social: Facebook Facebook Twitter Instagram
Saturday, 10 May | Smithfield, VA

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The Smithfield Arts Festival returns to historic Smithfield, VA along 3 blocks of Main Street on May 17, 2025.

The event celebrates visual, performing, culinary, and literary arts and is held from 9 am to 4 pm with free admission. Artists, fine crafters, authors, performances and food will make this a fun and exciting event for all ages.

Be sure to stop by our interactive "Collaborative Art" stations to participate in our community art banners. Art supplies will be provided, all ages are invited to participate.

A free shuttle will be offered for guests parking in the former Littles Grocery lot at 518 Main St. (across from Main St. Baptist) and the commuter lot at Route 10 and Main Street (next to Powerhouse Equipment). Parking and shuttle are both free. Shuttle offered 9 am to 4 pm.

In conjunction with the annual Smithfield Arts Festival which celebrates visual, performing, culinary and literary arts, the VA250 Mobile Museum will visit Smithfield. Titled Out of Many, One, this hands-on, interactive and immersive museum on wheels will be parked next to the Isle of Wight County Museum for five days before traveling to its next destination with key stories of Virginia’s rich history. Do not miss this free museum experience!

MOVED - This will now occur on May 31.....Don't miss the live "Court Days" performance at the 1750 Isle of Wight Courthouse. This is a ticketed event and an annual fundraiser for the upkeep and maintenance of the 1750 structure. Visit their website at https://1750courthouse.com/

Also, check out our downtown merchants! Quaint, unique shops and restaurants are plentiful in downtown! Visit authors and check out their book sale and signing at Christ Episcopal Church. Be sure to see more art at the Arts Cennter @319, Colorscapes Gallery, Mansion House Art & Antiques and the Nelms House.

Also. stop in the Visitor Center at 319 Main Street for a map of the Porcine Parade (lifesize painted hog statues) and the George Luneen Bronze statues around downtown. (Smithfield holds the largest collection in the US).

Performing Artists:

JAMn CEC Band & Joint Effort..........................Main Street Stage....9 am - 12 noon

Phil Casey.....................................................Food Court at BSV....9 am - 12 noon

Warren Jones................................................Arts Center @319....12 pm to 3:30 pm

Vendor Applications available under the Files, menus, applications tab.

DETAILS

• Art Festival Vendors are encouraged to apply (only through us) to avoid scammers, as a Fine Craft Vendor, Food Vendor, or for the Juried Art Show. You may also call us at 757.357.5182 for additional information.

• Submission requirements for juried art show include completed application, 4 photo images representative of work to be exhibited, and a full photo of tent set-up.

• Jury Fee A $35 non-refundable check or money order payable to Isle of Wight Arts League must accompany your application. *For the Juried Art Division only.

• Jury Selection Artists will be notified regarding acceptance into the juried art show. Space Fees: Once accepted, you agree to submit the $125 space fee by check or money order payable to Isle of Wight Arts League and dropped off or mailed to: Arts Center @319, Attn: Sheila, 319 Main Street, Smithfield, VA 23430. If accepted, you are eligible for cash prizes.

• Artist Agreement Participating Artists agree to abide by the rules and regulations of the Smithfield Arts Festival.

• Fees are non-refundable unless we cancel due to unsafe weather.

• Original Artwork Regulations

1. All art must be original, handcrafted work.
2. No commercial, mass-produced or manufactured work will be accepted.
3. The artist, upon submission of images, guarantees the accuracy of the description of artwork presented and the authenticity of the artwork as original and created by his/her own hands.
4. Reproductions: A reproduction is defined as any existing work of art that is copied by digital or photographic means and printed on an offset press, a serigraph press or through a computer by means of a giclée process, and reproductions with additional enhancements by the artist.
5. 2-dimensional reproductions are allowed under the following provisions: Prints are labeled as such and prints are signed and offered in a limited quantity. Prints may make up 20% or less of the artwork exhibited in each booth (Photography, Printmaking and Digital Arts categories are exempt).

• Space and Other Information

1. Participating Artist must provide their own white 10x10 tent, adequately weighted and secured
2. Electricity is not available
3. Early breakdowns are not permitted. Breakdown begins at 4:00 p.m. and must be complete by 6:00 p.m.
4. Off-site parking is required for artists and shuttles will be provided
5. All state and local taxes are the responsibility of the artist. www.tax.virginia.gov, 804.440.2541

• Awards

Best in Show and other awards to be determined.
Awards will be selected by a qualified jury. The Best in Show winner will have the 2026 application jury fee waived. All awardees will have guaranteed acceptance into the 2026 Smithfield Arts Festival in the media category in which they were awarded.

ELIGIBLE MEDIA CATEGORIES FOR THE JURIED SHOW

• Photography/Digital

Photography: photographic prints made from the artist’s original image, which have been processed by that artist, or under his or her direct supervision. Photographers are required to disclose both their creative and printing processes.

Digital Art: includes any original work for which the original image, or the manipulation of other source material, was executed by the artist using a computer. Entries in this category must be in limited editions, signed, and numbered on archival quality materials. Traditional photographs taken through a digital media apply in the photography category.

• Painting/2-D

Drawing: works created using dry media; chalk, charcoal, pastels, pencil, wax crayon, etc. or from the fluid medium of inks and washes applied by pen or brush.

Painting: works in oils, acrylics, watercolor, mixed media or similar fine art mediums.

Printmaking: works in which the artist’s hand manipulated the plates, stones or screens and which have been properly signed and numbered as a limited edition may be entered. All photogravure, photocopy and/or offset reproductions will be rejected. Printmakers are required to disclose both their creative and printmaking processes.

• 3-D

Ceramics: all original clay and porcelain work other than jewelry is accepted in this category. Machine-made or mass-produced work is not permitted. If multiple pieces of the same design are displayed each piece must be signed.

Fiber: works crafted from fibers including basketry, embroidery, weaving, leatherwork, tapestry and papermaking. This can be wearable or non-wearable. No machine tooling, machine-screened patterns or other forms of mass production are permitted. No factory produced wearable items, regardless of additional modification or enhancement by the artist, may be exhibited.

Glass: functional or decorative pieces which are kiln formed, or crafted by glass blowing, molding, or casting. Works may be etched or engraved. No forms of mass production or alterations of pre-fabricated objects, i.e. pressed wine bottles, are permitted. This category excludes jewelry made from glass.

Jewelry: work produced from metal, glass, clay, fiber, paper, plastic or other materials are included. No commercial casts, molds or production studio work is allowed.

Sculpture: three-dimensional original work done in any medium, regardless of size.

For more details on the divisions of Fine Craft, Food, or Literary Arts contact Connie Chapman, Smithfield & Isle of Wight Tourism cchapman@isleofwightus.net

or for info. on the Juried Art Show contact Sheila Gwaltney, Arts Center @319, info@smithfieldarts.org, Office 757.357.7707.

Participating Artists, Authors, Fine Crafters and Culinary Vendors as of 4/14

Just Gorgeous Custom Wreaths

Darlene's Glass Café

Fairwinds Mobile Boutique

Angel Quilters

Whimsical Treasures

The Greek Market

Sandpiper designs by Michele

Auroras Bakery

57 Blues of Virginia

Rusted Rabbit Living Designs