Community Event
Bloomin’ Arts Festival
Contact Us
Greater Bartow Chamber of Commerce
+1 (863) 533-7125
510 N. Broadway Avenue
Bartow, FL 33830, USA
2026 Bloomin’ Arts Festival
Date: March 7th and 8th, 2026
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 55th Annual Bloomin’ Arts Festival
On behalf of the all-volunteer Bloomin’ Arts Committee, our sponsors and the greater Bartow community, we welcome you to the 2026 Festival hosted by the Bartow Art Guild, City of Bartow, Greater Bartow Chamber of Commerce, and Main Street Bartow Inc. on March 7-8, 2026. We are so appreciative to have Moody Law once again 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 additional 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 over 90 artists and fine crafters from across the country, there is a Quilt Show both days where visitors will vote for their favorite to receive the People’s Choice Award. 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 each afternoon. New this year on Sunday is an 8:30AM time of inspirational music and message. Bloomin’ Air is presented on Sunday by the Lakeland Arts Association where you can watch artists of all ages painting in plein air and competing for awards.
The 55th 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 Sponsors are the Bartow Art Guild and Citizens Bank & Trust.
You can find more information here.
Michelle Githens
Co-Chair
Laura Fredericksen
Co-Chair
Katie Fincher
Co-Chairs’ Assistant
Melissa Butler of Lakeland, FL is a self-taught mixed media artist working in abstract realism. Her work blends bright bold colors with nature, abstraction, and figurative elements to create layered, textured pieces that invite both recognition and interpretation. Using a wide range of materials, including texture paste, spray paint, acrylics, inks, watercolors, gouache, and oils.
Melissa’s hummingbird was selected by the committee to represent the 55th “Emerald Anniversary” of Bloomin’ Arts.
See more of Melissa’s art-work online at Melissabutlercreative.com
Bloomin’ Arts Festival Judge
Claire Orologas
Claire Orologas is the former Executive Director and Chief Curator of the AGB Museum of Art at Florida Southern College, known as the Polk Museum of Art at Florida Southern College under her tenure. With over 45 years of experience in the arts, she is also a veteran of the Harn Museum of Art at the University of Florida and the National Museum of Asian Art at the Smithsonian Institution. She currently has her own art practice and hosts periodic wellness retreats where she prepares and serves meals rooted in the Blue Zone of Greece.
2026 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
The Bloomin’ Arts Committee is excited to announce the Annual Quilt Show is back for 2 days in 2026 thanks to the generosity of sponsor CenterState Bank and host A-C-T Environmental & Infrastructure. The show is on the 2nd floor of the historic Stuart Building that is accessible by a new elevator. The entrance is in the “drive through” on North Central Avenue across the street from the Polk County Historical Museum. You can view the quilts Saturday from 10am to 4pm and Sunday 10-2.
Each year we ask visitors at the quilt show to vote for their favorite quilt, and the crowd favorite receives a People’s Choice Award. We invite you to stop by and check out all the quilts on exhibit and share in our heritage and our future. We hope to see you there!
Schedule of Events
General Festival
Saturday, March 7 and Sunday, March 8, 9am – 4 pm
Information Central & Volunteer Hospitality
Everything you want to know about the Festival, Bartow and more, all Festival long!.
Northwest corner of Main St. and Central Ave.
Sponsored by Citizens Bank & Trust
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 https://www.lakelandartsassociation.com
Sunday only. On-site Registration $35 8 am-9 am in Fort Blount Park
Painting en Plein Air 9 am-Noon throughout Festival grounds
Noon -1 pm completed works will be judged in Fort Blount Park and exhibited from 1 pm – 3 pm
Awards totaling $575 presented at 3:00 pm at the Festival Awards Ceremony at the entertainment stage.
Bloomin’ Bike Ride –
65 & 35 mile road tours & 15 mile family fun ride to choose from
Saturday only – 8 am – at Front Page Brewing – Registration opens at 7 am
Bloomin’ Car Show
Saturday only 9 am – 3 pm
Broadway Avenue
Sponsored by Kelly Buick GMC
Bloomin’ Quilt Show
Saturday, 10 am – 4 pm and Sunday, 10 am – 2 pm
Indoors – 2nd floor of the Stuart Building on Northeast Central Ave.
Sponsored by SouthState Bank and hosted by A-C-T Environmental & Infrastructure
Bartow Garden Club Caladium Sale and FREE Children’s Bead Craft Activity
Saturday, 9 am-3 pm and Sunday 9 am-1 pm
Space # 90 on the East side of South Central Ave.
Caricature and Henna Artists*
Saturday and Sunday – ongoing, spaced throughout the show *Fee for service
Children’s Tent – ALL FREE
Saturday, noon – 3 pm and Sunday, noon – 3 pm
Includes art activities led by Rita McIntyre and team from the Lakeland Arts Association, balloons designed by Deco-Twist Balloon Art, and face-painting.
100 Block of East Davidson on the north side of the Polk County History Center
Sponsored by Mosaic and Orlando Health
Kid’s Tag Art – Polk County Tax Collector Joe Tedder
Saturday only 9 am – 4 pm
Davidson, East of the Entertainment Stage
Food Trucks
Saturday and Sunday, 9 am – 4 pm
Wilson Ave. between Davidson and Summerlin
• Alston’s Chicken
• Angel’s Heavenly Empanadas
• Coach Eddie’s Backyard BBQ
• Cousin’s Maine Lobster
• Cray’s Kettle Korn
• Glazed Up Mini-Donuts
• Kona Ice
• Life’s Lemons
• Oreo Lady
• Paradise Hotdogs and Grill
Student Awards Ceremony Adults Awards Ceremony
Saturday 3:30 pm Sunday 3 pm
South steps of Polk County History Center Entertainment Stage on 100 block of E. Davidson
ENTERTAINMENT
Coordinated by SLS Entertainment
At the Entertainment Stage on East Davidson
Saturday
10 am Tom Mizell
11 am Union Academy Bluegrass Band
Noon National Anthem Tribute – Natalie Suarez
1 pm – 3 pm Billy Floyd & the Kitchen Killaz
3 pm Inara Belly Dancers
Sunday
Noon National Anthem Tribute – Natalie Suarez
1 pm – 3 pm Staton Family Gospel Group
Worship & Words of Faith and Inspiration
Sunday 8:30 am – 9 am
Kent Kesler and Pastor Barry Gray from First Presbyterian Church
