The Rosewood Art & Music Festival is coming back to Columbia after a years-long absence, with organizers setting a return date of April 10, 2027, at Rosewood Park on South Holly Street. Organizers hope to expand the lineup to 60 artists, along with the return of a juried art show offering cash prizes judged by experienced panelists.
The festival's comeback marks its first appearance since 2023, when it was last held at the same Rosewood Park location, according to the Post and Courier. That 2023 edition drew roughly 55 artists, so organizers' hoped-for 2027 target would represent a modest but notable step up in scale. The outlet also reports that the festival typically runs in the fall, making next spring's April 10 date a shift from its usual rhythm.
Funding Setback Led to the Pause
The gap between festivals wasn't by design. The Post and Courier reports the event lost county funding following its 2023 run, a blow that appears to have driven the long hiatus. Organizers have since secured additional funding through the City of Columbia's hospitality tax program, the outlet notes, a financial lifeline that helped make the 2027 return possible.
David Britt, described as the festival's event organizer, local promoter and musician, said the event is meant to elevate Columbia's art scene by giving artists exposure and a platform. Per the same account, Britt also called the festival a viable way for artists to sell work and connect with collectors, pointing to one past example of an artist who sold a piece for $5,000 at the festival.
Applications Open for Musicians, Visual Artists Next
Musicians can already apply to perform at the 2027 festival, the Post and Courier reports, while visual artists will have their turn starting in January, when the festival opens its application window for the juried show. The juried competition is set to return with experienced judges selecting winners for cash prizes, continuing a format organizers have used in past years.
Britt is already looking past 2027. He said he hopes the festival performs well enough to return again in 2028, though no event has been confirmed for that year beyond his stated hope, according to the same report.
A Festival Rooted in Rosewood's Identity
The Rosewood Art & Music Festival dates back to 2010, when it was founded to celebrate a mix of art forms and give Columbia artists a platform, according to One Columbia. Over the years it has featured a wide range of acts and attractions, from orchestras and authors to a blacksmith, per the Post and Courier. Before settling into Rosewood Park, the festival was held in the parking lot of the Rockaway Athletic Club, now Bang Back Bar & Grill, hosting about 40 to 50 artists in that earlier iteration.
Rosewood Park itself has been described as an underutilized space with trees and easy access that people loved, according to the Post and Courier's reporting. Earlier coverage from ABC Columbia noted that the 2023 event was free and family-friendly during its second year at that same Holly Street location. A separate Jasper Project account of a past edition described the festival as a one-day, micro-urban event conceived to showcase emerging South Carolina artists, and recalled a year when the festival hosted its first poetry competition with cash prizes and readings woven between band sets.
Organizers plan to post updates on the 2027 festival at rosewoodfestival.com as details on musicians, visual artist jurying and the broader schedule come together in the months ahead.
