You will find a list of the scheduled performers on the entertainment page of our website. 

EMS is centrally located at the site or you may ask a festival staff representative with a radio for assistance with an emergency.

Our goal: Zero impact. Please recycle. ​ Event programs will be distributed at the gate. ​ Smoking is prohibited on festival grounds. ​ Pets are not allowed, with the exception of official service animals. Documentation may be required.   Please be respectful. Do not film or photograph any artist, or their work, without their consent and permission.   Everyone is subject to a security search upon entry. All purses/bags/backpacks will be subject to search before entry, for the safety of all patrons.

Please be respectful. Do not film or photograph any artist, or their work, without their consent and permission.

Online pre-purchased tickets are required to enter the festival. Physical tickets will not be sold at the gate. Purchased General Admission tickets can be used for entry on either day of the festival - Saturday or Sunday. Adult General Admission tickets are available at an "Early-Bird" discounted rate of $18 until October 1st, 2023. After this date, Adult General Admission tickets will be $20. All children aged 12 and under receive free admission into the festival as part of our Kids Free Program sponsored by Champion Energy Services. You can purchase your online tickets here.

Bayou City Art Festival is an outdoor event and encourages all patrons to practice social distancing and wash their hands often. Hand sanitizing stations will be available in all areas of the festival. Producers of the festival will follow the suggestions and safety guidelines set forth by the Mayor’s Office of the City of Houston, and the CDC. If ticket holders have been exposed to COVID-19 or its variants, or if they are feeling sick or ill, we ask that they stay home.

Yes. 24-hour security for the festival is provided by the Harris County Sheriffs Office, as well as private security officers.

To ensure the safety and convenience of our local bikers during the festival, specific bike lanes will be temporarily closed from October 9th to October 17th. We have thoughtfully planned alternate routes to minimize disruption, marked in YELLOW on the map below, while the closure areas are indicated in RED.

Bayou City Art Festival and Frost Bank are offering a limited availability VIP Hospitality Lounge, which will include a tented oasis with complimentary light bites, beer, wine, and other refreshments. The relaxing setting will feature roaming musicians, artistic décor, a phone charging station, upgraded restroom facilities and more. VIPs will receive access from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. to the VIP area, along with VIP parking. VIP tickets are available online for $75. To purchase a VIP ticket click here.

Yes! A portion of the proceeds from Bayou City Art Festival Downtown will benefit six local charities. Each nonprofit provides volunteers and has the option to host a crafting station in the Active Imagination Zone. The six nonprofit partners benefiting from the 2023 Bayou City Art Festival Downtown include ArtReach, Fresh Arts, Pink Bows Foundation, Second Servings, The Museum of Fine Arts Houston, and The Women’s Fund for Health Education and Resiliency.

Michelle McDowell Smith, a mixed media artist from Roanoke, VA is the featured artist for the 2023 Bayou City Art Festival Downtown. You can learn more about Smith here.

Ticket Holders are asked to drink responsibly. Bayou City Art Festival reserves the right to deny entry/remove patrons, without compensation or refund, who are displaying offensive, disorderly, or dangerous behavior.

For questions and general inquiries, please contact Info@bayoucityartfestival.com. 

No, Bayou City Art Festival is a cashless event.

The Bayou City Art Festival Downtown is a fun and interactive outdoor festival for people of all ages to enjoy. As one of the largest juried fine arts festivals in the U.S., the two-day festival features the works of more than 250 national and international artists. In addition to the beautiful art throughout the grounds, festival attendees can look forward to the following attractions: -Food Truck Park -Two Entertainment Stages -Craft Beer Garden & Wine Garden -Art Bar -Active Imagination Zone for Kids of All Ages -VIP Hospitality Lounge -Collegiate Art Collective -Culinary Arts Stage -And So Much More! The outdoor event offers visitors the opportunity to meet with exhibiting artists and view original works across 19 different art disciplines. World-class art, prints, jewelry, sculptures, and more will be available for purchase at prices for everyone.

Saturday and Sunday, October 14-15, 2023. Gates Open at 10:00 am and close at 6:00 pm daily. Bayou City Art Festival is a rain-or-shine event.

Pets are not allowed, with the exception of official service animals. Documentation may be required.

You can bring picnic blankets, sunscreen, mosquito spray, hats, sunglasses, and umbrellas. You are also allowed to bring strollers, wagons, and wheelchairs, but keep in mind there will be large crowds.

Yes, portable facilities are located throughout the festival grounds.

Yes, there is a large food truck park located at the west end of the festival, near the Orange Gate Entrance, and a variety of other food and beverage vendors throughout the site. Click here to view the featured food vendors for Downtown 2023. ​

For everyone to have a fun and worry-free day, please refrain from bringing the following prohibited items into the festival: -Pets (service animals only) -Outside food or beverages -Skateboards, hoverboards, scooters, rollerblades -Laser pointers -Fireworks -Weapons -Guns -Pocket knives -Drones or any flying toys.

Bayou City Art Festival will take place in Downtown Houston at Sam Houston Park along Allen Parkway at 1000 Bagby St. There are 3 entrance gates for the festival, and they have been color-coded to provide easier distinction for patrons. The Blue Gate – Located near the intersection of Bagby Street and McKinney Street The Green Gate – Located near the intersection of Bagby Street and Dallas Street The Orange Gate – Located on Allen Parkway just west of Sabine Street. On-site parking for the festival is not available. On-street meter parking, surface parking lots, and convenient garage parking are available for a fee in Downtown Houston. VIP Parking is located at 900 Bagby St. at the City Hall Annex. Consider ride-sharing! The designated ride-sharing drop-off/pick-up point is located at the corner of Bagby Street and Dallas Street. Go for a ride with Houston BCycle! Download the app, so you can bike to and from the festival. ​ Also, METRO is available for your transportation needs. For information on routes and schedules, please contact METRO at 713-635-5000 or click here.