OKC's annual Festival of the Arts returns April 25-28

Oklahoma City’s springtime tradition returns to downtown Oklahoma City’s Bicentennial Park April 25-28. The Festival of the Arts features 144 artists from across the country, a variety of cuisines, and entertainment from local performers.

"Since 1976, Festival of the Arts has been a staple in downtown Oklahoma City, and this year's event will be bigger and better than ever," said Angela Cozby, executive director of Arts Council Oklahoma City. "We've made foundational changes to Festival of the Arts, such as updating the hours and payment systems, that will significantly improve the quality of the event for both our artists and community members who enjoy the Festival."

One significant change is the transition from a six-day to a four-day event, responding to artists' long-standing preference for a more manageable schedule. "Artists have long advocated for a shortened timeframe, and the surge in applications from artists eager to showcase their work proves it was the right decision,” said Seth Lewis, Festival of the Arts director.

For the first time in its history, thanks to Heartland, the Festival will be a fully cashless event, streamlining transactions for both patrons and vendors. All artists and food vendors will only accept cards. To accommodate this change, onsite kiosks will allow visitors to transfer cash into a card with no fees. Cards can be used anywhere Mastercard is accepted.

"As we take Festival of the Arts into the future, enhancing and simplifying the Festival experience for our guests has been a top priority," Cozby said. "Gone are the days of waiting in an Art Sales line to purchase art. Instead, every artist and food vendor will have their own payment machine, saving visitors time and energy once they decide to make a purchase."

A popular Festival favorite is International Food Row with 22 food vendors lining the streets on the north and south sides of the Civic Center Music Hall. This year’s Festival features food trucks outside of City Hall and offers a robust selection of vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free meals.

Whether it's music or dance you’re after, over 100 local artists will grace two stages throughout the festival with an array of performing arts genres, including rock, country, jazz, and creative dance.

There’s plenty for kids to do at the festival, and families can expect an expanded children's area with a host of interactive art activities. Children’s Art Field, Pottery Place, Face Painting, and more will surround City Hall, and the Youth Art Sale, on Saturday, April 27 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., will feature works by budding artists aged 8 to18.

Festival hours have been expanded for 2024, allowing guests to enjoy the event longer on the weekends. Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 a.m. Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 pm. Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday.

OKC Streetcar service will be free of charge during the festival from April 25 – 28. The library stop on the Downtown loop faces the east entrance to Festival grounds.