ArtFest Fort Myers returns Feb. 6 and 7

ArtFest Fort Myers returns to the downtown Fort Myers riverfront Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 6 and 7, with 175 artists displaying unique sculpture, fine painting, jewelry, photography and decorative ceramics and more.
The 2021 art festival has new protocols including timed entry tickets and masks required to enhance safety for everyone. Time start at $5, and organizers ask attendees to buy theirs in advance to avoid lines at the gates.
Want to see all the artists? Do a little pre-shopping? You can visit the online gallery at www.ArtFestFortMyers.com, and the artists will all be there with their artwork and links to their websites. And beginning Jan. 29, you can visit and shop the artists on ArtFest@Home – right from the art festival’s main website.
The entire family will enjoy Southwest Florida’s premier art festival. Take time to enjoy the talented high school artists’ work at the Art Under 20 Exhibit and Competition and prepare to be astonished as the students create large street paintings in the Chalk Block. Check out the We Are Overflowing sculptural exhibit, featuring the recycling, reuse and upcycling message through art. Food & beverage areas will be available to provide a relaxing break.
You may be asking how ArtFest Fort Myers is stepping up to meet the challenge of being a “safe” event in this challenging COVID time. The art festival staff has attended too many best-practices trainings to count (virtually, of course). Following best practices, ArtFest Fort Myers is limiting crowd size by fencing the entire festival site and designating five entrance & exit gates; instituting timed ticket access – with advance online ticket sales to avoid the queue; installing 120 plus hand sanitizer stations; requiring masks at all times; hiring professional cleaning crews for all touch points; reducing food vendors; creating tables and chair relax locations for two or four only and most selling locations are touchless and cashless. ArtFest Fort Myers values the safety and enjoyment of everyone participating – attendees, artists and volunteers.
Not quite ready to venture to a large gathering – even outdoors? ArtFest Fort Myers has launched an all-new online virtual art festival – ArtFest@Home – as close as your computer or phone or iPad. You will find:
• A super easy shopping experience featuring all the artists who are at the art festival in person. One shopping cart with one click check out. Shop from all the artists; talk to them via Zoom video chat; watch their demo videos; listen to their round table discussions; see how to use their artwork in decorating your home.
• All the fun activities from ArtFest Fort Myers. Art Under 20, high school art show; Chalk Block street painting; Publix Art Yard with art projects and entertainment; We Are Overflowing art installation based on recycled items; Food & Entertainment for all to enjoy.
• VIP Club experiences in a virtual art gallery and more
• Festival posters and T-shirts to order shipped directly to you
Join ArtFest’s VIP Club and take advantage of reserved weekend parking; relaxing on the VIP Club Terrace with morning treats and coffee; a delightful lunch and beverages all weekend long. The VIP Club packages start at $45 per person and quantities are limited – visit www.ArtFestFortMyers.com for all the options. Your support helps ArtFest Fort Myers through this challenging time when all arts organizations are focused on getting to the other side financially intact.
Attendees often ask “How do the 175 festival artists get chosen”? These artists are the best-of-the-best as a jury panel of five professional artists spent an entire Zoom day selecting them from the 700 artists who applied.
The fest runs 9 a.m. to 5 pm. on Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.
For more information, visit www.ArtFestFortMyers.com