57th Wickford Art Festival

Each summer artists and art lovers gather for New England’s #1 outdoor fine arts festival set on the streets of historic seaside Wickford Village in North Kingstown, Rhode Island. Admission to the festival is free and open to the public (rain or shine). Sunshine Magazine ranks the Wickford Art Festival as the #7 Fine Art Festival in the USA. Wickford Art Association (WAA) has produced the Wickford Art Festival since 1962.

Eclectic shops and classic homes line the quaint streets as visitors stroll through this seaside village, meeting the artists and seeking out exceptional artwork to admire and purchase. This year, over 200 juried national and international artists are participating. Exhibiting fine art media includes oil, acrylic, watercolor, pastel, mixed media, etching, encaustic, alcohol ink, pen and ink, sculpture (clay, wood, glass, metal etc.), photography and fiber. A complete list of exhibiting artists is available on our Festival website.

Wickford is a "walking-friendly" village that makes it easy for families, the elderly and handicapped persons to enjoy the festival. In addition to art, there is plenty of local food to savor at Wickford’s several restaurants, the First Baptist Church and food trucks and vendors on the town’s waterfront. Festival Programs provide the locations of artist booths, restaurants, restrooms, shuttle stops and parking.

A popular feature is a Raffle of Fine Art which funds the Festival’s Scholarship Program. This year, art donated by local artists and valued at over $10,000, will be displayed at the Scholarship Program tent. Stop by, browse, purchase tickets and help support next year’s college-bound scholarship winners! Also, be sure to visit the 2019 Scholarship winners, who will be exhibiting their work as part of their prize.

Wickford Village is 10 minutes from Newport, 30 minutes from Providence and Westerly, RI and 1 hour from MA and CT. It is also accessible by boat via Narragansett Bay (transient docking available at local marinas within an easy 5-minute walk). Parking is available at Wilson Park on West Main Street and the former Wickford Elementary School on Phillips Street with a free shuttle (handy if you buy a big piece of artwork). Handicapped parking is available in the town parking lot.

Although Wickford is a dog-friendly community, festival organizers strongly advise leaving dogs at home. If you do bring Spot along, please consider the day’s temperature, humidity, hot sidewalks, and large crowds. Wickford loves dogs but safety and courtesy first!

For more information about the 57th Wickford Art Festival, please visit www.wickfordart.org or call Wickford Art Association at 401-294-6840.

Proceeds from the 57th Wickford Art Festival support WAA’s art programs and services including art exhibits, art classes, poetry readings, open studios, business gatherings and professional development, community events including the Wickford Art Festival, scholarship awards and more. Wickford Art Association is a 501c3 non-profit organization and was founded in 1962 to educate and promote the arts to its membership, the local community and general public.