Moody Law, PA Bartow Bloomin’ Arts Festival

Community Event

Bloomin’ Arts Festival

2025 Bloomin’ Arts Festival

Date: March 1st and 2nd, 2025
Where: Downtown Bartow
Time: Saturday 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., Sunday 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Admission Price: Free Community Event

Welcome to the 54th Annual Bloomin’ Arts Festival

On behalf of the Bloomin’ Arts Committee, sponsors and the Bartow Community, we welcome you to this year’s festival. We are proud to host more than 90 of the best artists from around the United States.

The Bloomin’ Arts Festival is hosted by the Bartow Art Guild, City of Bartow, Greater Bartow Chamber of Commerce, and Mainstreet Bartow, Inc. on March 1st and 2nd, 2025. New this year is Moody Law as the Presenting Sponsor.

Approximately $15,000 will be offered in prizes and purchase awards, with Best of Show being $2,250. There are 12 other prizes ranging from $150 to $1,500 each, and $1,100 in prizes for student artists including $300 for High School Best of Show.

In addition to the magnificent works by artists and fine crafters there is a Quilt Show both days in a new location. The Festival features a Classic Car Show and Bloomin’ Bike Ride both on Saturday only; The Children’s Tent is full of free art activities and complimentary balloon sculptures both days right next to the entertainment stage where you’ll encounter free local entertainment both afternoons.
New this year is Bloomin’ Air presented on Sunday by the Lakeland Arts Association where you can watch artists painting in plein air and competing for awards.

The 54th Annual Bloomin’ Arts Festival is presented by Moody Law. Additional sponsors include D-R Media Group, Watson Clinic and Orlando Health. Benefactors are Citizens Bank and Trust, SouthState Bank and Mosaic. Patrons are Clear Springs and the Lakeland Arts Association. Hospitality Sponsor is the Bartow Art Guild.

Sincerely,

Michell Githens, Co-Chair Lara Fredericksen, Co-Chair

Bloomin’ Arts Festival Artist

Is Sherry Ross

An award-winning artist and community arts advocate, Ms. Ross serves as the president of the Lakeland Arts Association (LAA), one of Central Florida’s largest artist organizations.

Recently named Arts Volunteer of the Year by the Polk Arts and Cultural Alliance, she is dedicated to fostering engagement and growth opportunities for area artists. Under her leadership, LAA has expanded its community impact by creating destination art workshops, such as Art Escapes, enhancing arts interaction and hospitality at local festivals, funding student art show sponsorships in collaboration with the AGB Museum and PCSB, and launching a new community event, Bloomin’ Air at the Bloomin’ Arts Festival.

Ms. Ross specializes in painting and photography, but humorously describes herself as having “Art ADD,” as she enjoys exploring and experimenting with a variety of media. With over thirty years of experience as an art teacher, she also serves as an AP Art and Design Reader and consultant for the College Board, training art educators worldwide to support student success. She lives in Central Florida with her family, a flock of chickens, and a few affectionate cats.

2025 Bloomin’ Arts Show Judge: Allison McCarthy

Allison McCarthy is a curator, arts administrator, and exhibition designer with over 20 years of experience in the arts, working at the
Salvador Dalí Museum in St. Petersburg since 2015. A native Floridian, she graduated magna cum laude with a BFA from Savannah College of Art & Design and studied Art History in graduate school at Florida State University. Prior to joining The Dalí, Allison served
as Executive Director of the Clearwater Arts Alliance, Visual Arts Director at the Center for Contemporary Art in Santa Fe NM, Director of Operations for art4business, Inc in London UK, Executive Director of the LeMoyne Center for the Visual Arts in Tallahassee, and as Arts Administrator for the Florida Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture. Allison has served on the Steering Committee for St. Petersburg’s annual SHINE Mural Festival since 2019. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her twin daughters, traveling,
enjoying the area’s beaches and practicing yoga.

2025 Bloomin’ Arts Festival Presenting Sponsor: Moody Law, P.A.

Moody Law, P.A. Bloomin’ Arts Festival is a juried Fine Arts festival and is Bartow’s premier event of the year. It is held on the first full weekend each March. Originally called the Spring Art Festival, it has evolved into one of the top festivals in Central Florida and features artists from all across the country.

The festival is a collaboration of the Bartow Art Guild, City of Bartow, Greater Bartow Chamber of Commerce, and Main Street Bartow. Event Co-Chairs, Michell Githens and Lara Fredericksen, coordinate an all volunteer staff and workers consisting of members from all areas of the community. These are dedicated, hard working volunteers and truly the backbone of the event.

The festival takes place along several blocks of beautiful, historic downtown Bartow and local businesses and restaurants are open to welcome festival goers.

FOLLOW THE BARTOW ART GUILD ON FACEBOOK FOR INFO AND PHOTOS!

Bloomin’ Arts Festival Quilt Show

2025 Quilt Show Application

Schedule of Events

GENERAL FESTIVAL
Saturday, March 1st and Sunday, March 2nd, 9am to 4 pm

STUDENT ART SHOW
100 Block of East Davidson on the north side of the Polk County History Center. Sponsored by Watson Clinic

LAKELAND ARTS ASSOCIATION BLOOMIN’ AIR
Preregistration is $30 via www.lakelandartsassociation.com
Sunday, March 2nd On-site Registration
$35 8am-9am in Fort Blount Park
Painting en Plein Air 9 am to Noon throughout Festival grounds
Noon -1 pm completed works will be judged in Fort Blount Park and exhibited from 1 pm to 3 pm
Awards totaling $575 presented at 3:00 pm at the Festival Awards Ceremony at the entertainment stage

BLOOMIN’ BIKE RIDE
62 & 35 mile road tours & 17 mile family fun ride to choose from Saturday, March 1st at 8 am at Front Page Brewing. Registration opens at 7am

BLOOMIN’ CAR SHOW
Saturday, March 1st, 9 am to 3 pm Broadway Avenue
Sponsored by Kelly Buick GMC

BLOOMIN’ QUILT SHOW
Saturday, March 1st 10am to 4pm and Sunday, March 3rd 10am to 2pm
Indoors, 2nd floor of the Stuart Building on North East Central Ave. Sponsored by SouthState Bank and hosted by ACT Environmental & Infrastructure

BARTOW GARDEN CLUB CALADIUM SALE AND FREE CHILDREN’S SEED-STARTER ACTIVITY
Saturday, March 1st 9 am to 4 pm
Space # 90 on the East side of South Central Ave.

CARICATURE AND HENNA ARTISTS*
Saturday March 1st and Sunday March 2nd – ongoing, spaced throughout the show. *Fee for service

CHILDREN’S TENT – ALL FREE
Saturday, March 1st, noon to 3 pm and Sunday, March 2nd noon to 3 pm
Includes art activities led by art teachers and artists, balloons designed by Deco-Twist Balloon Art, and face-painting by the Lakeland Arts Association!
100 Block of East Davidson on the north side of the Polk County History Center Sponsored by Mosaic and Orlando Health

ENTERTAINMENT

Sponsored by Citizens Bank & Trust

At the Entertainment Stage on East Davidson

SATURDAY, MAR. 1
11:00 Union Academy Bluegrass Band
Noon Backstage Theater Production Co.
1:00 Tom Mizell
2:00 Deborah Brister
3:00 Samira Belly Dancers

SUNDAY, MAR. 2
Noon Classical Music provided by SLS Entertainment
1:00 Kitchen Killaz featuring Billy Floyd
2:00 Deborah Brister

KID’S TAG ART at Polk County Tax Collector Joe Tedder
Saturday, March 1st 9 am to 4 pm
Davidson, East of the Entertainment Stage

FOOD TRUCKS
Saturday, March 1st, 9 am to 4 pm and
Sunday, March 2nd, 9 am to 4 pm
Wilson Ave. between Davidson and Summerlin
Sponsored by Citizens Bank and Trust
• Angel’s Heavenly Empanadas
• Coach Eddie’s Backyard BBQ
• Cray’s Kettle Korn
• Kona Ice
• Life’s Lemons
• Oreo Lady
• Paradise Hotdogs and Grill
• SB & B Seafood
• Tips Soul Food

STUDENT AWARDS CEREMONY
Saturday, March 1st — 3:30 pm
South steps of Polk County History Center

ADULTS AWARDS CEREMONY
Sunday, March 2nd — 3 pm
Entertainment Stage on 100 block of E. Davidson

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