Downtown Clayton turns into an open-air gallery this weekend as the 33rd annual Saint Louis Art Fair sets up shop with 233 artists selling paintings, sculptures, photography, mixed media and wearable art along the streets surrounding the city's commercial core. The free three-day festival opens Friday at 5 p.m. and runs through Sunday evening, drawing artists from across the country to compete for cash prizes and sell directly to the crowds that pack Clayton every fall.
Of this year's 233 exhibitors, artists were chosen through a juried application process that fielded more than 1,000 submissions nationwide, according to HEC Media. That selectivity has helped build the event's reputation among working artists — the fair itself is known to draw more than 130,000 visitors a year and award up to $15,000 in cash prizes to participating artists.
As FOX 2 reports, the fair opens Friday at 5 p.m., continues Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and wraps up Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., all in downtown Clayton. Beyond the artist booths, the weekend includes live music and dance performances across three stages, plus a Restaurant Row featuring Casa Don Alfonso, The Capital Grille, Steve's Hot Dogs, La Colombianita and Na Siam. Food Truck Alley rounds things out with Doughboy's Wood Fired Pizza, Go Gyro Go!, Mr. Papas Loaded Baked Potatoes and The Moobile, per the same report.
Kids' Activities and Hands-On Demonstrations
Families headed downtown this weekend will find Creative Castle offering hands-on children's activities, open Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The fair's Makerspace area adds pottery demonstrations from Amy Joy Pottery and glass flameworking courtesy of Third Degree Glass Factory, according to the outlet's coverage. Full performance schedules and additional event details are posted at saintlouisartfair.com.
This year's official commemorative print, titled “It is Written in the Stars,” was created by artist Amy Koch, who will be exhibiting in Booth 312, according to the Saint Louis Art Fair.
Street Closures and Getting There
Getting downtown will require some planning. Attendees can park for free at the Caleres lot on Maryland Avenue or the Centene garage on Forsyth Boulevard.
Pet owners should also take note of the festival's ground rules. Rules aside, the fair attracts artists from across the country.
A Nonprofit Tradition More Than Three Decades in the Making
The Saint Louis Art Fair traces back more than three decades. What began as a modest gathering of street tents has grown into a major regional arts institution. Admission remains free for the crowds expected to pack Clayton's streets this weekend.
