Springfield Old Capitol Art Fair

09/11/2026

🎨 Springfield, we need your vote!

The Springfield Old Capitol Art Fair is nominated for Best Festival AND Best Place to Buy Art in the Illinois Times Best of Springfield!

If you love the Art Fair as much as we do, help us bring home a win! 🗳️❤️

👉 Voting is open through September 21, support here:

Run Off Voting: Results announced: For questions: Ask readers for their support. Place a marketing message on the ballot. Click for info! Things to know about Best of Springfield Sign up for Illinois Times Newsletters!

05/17/2026

Congratulations to our 2026 Award Winners!

Best in show 1st Place - Melissa Hampton (jewelry)
Best in show 2nd Place - Penny Dobson (mixed media)
Best in show 3rd Place - Caitlin Penny (printmaking)

Category Winners
Best New Artist - Kristin McDonough (fiber)
Acrylic - April Goeke
Ceramics - Jeff Unzicker
Fiber - Anna Repke
Jewelry - Lois Neal
Mixed Media - Rachel Newell
Watercolor - Tony Rubba
Glass - Chastity Logan
Printmaking - William Cook Jr.
Photography - William Lemke
Wood - Steven Martin

Merit Awards:
Dana Cattani - Ceramics
Luciana Estep - Jewelry
Greg Jordan - Jewelry
Kelly McCleary - Fiber
Sean Miller - Oil

Children's Tent 1st Place - Courtney Farquarson (printmaking)
Children's Tent 2nd Place - Michael O'Hara (Drawing)
Children's Tent 3rd - Lindsey Ayers (ceramics)

05/16/2026

There’s something very brave about making art, loading it into a trailer at 5 a.m., setting up on a city street, and letting strangers connect with it.

The artists are the reason this weekend matters.

We’re lucky they choose Springfield.

2026 SPRINGFIELD OLD CAPITOL ART FAIR IS HERE!

05/15/2026

The Old Capitol Art Fair is HERE! 🎨✨
We open our doors tomorrow and we want to know: what are you most excited to see? Jewelry? Paintings? Sculpture? Photography?

Drop it in the comments and come find it this weekend on the plaza! 👇

05/14/2026

Art for your eyes, music for your soul. 🎨🎶

Springfield, we put together a little something special for you this weekend:

Saturday
10:00 Springfield IL Municipal Band
11:00 LowPhatt
1:00 Travis Reid Band
3:00 Avery Kern Band

Sunday
10:00 Griffin Fenoglio
10:45 Derrick Strebig
12:00 Canyon Choir
2:00 Kapital Sound

05/14/2026

A special thank you to our in-kind sponsors for donating your time, products, and services to the Old Capitol Art Fair! 🎨 Your contributions make all the difference.

Nothing Bundt Cakes
News Channel 20 ABC Fox Illinois
Woodward Community Media
Studio Bliss Photography
Capitol Blueprint
ID Signs
Horace Mann
Resource One
Arrow Trailer & Equipment
Grab A Java
Mel O Cream
The Alamo
Ben Call/The Real Estate Group
City of Springfield
Hoogland Center for the Arts
Illinois Times
Prairie House Framing
Springfield Municipal Band
Springfield Senators Baseball Team
Maldaner's Restaurant and Catering
Nelson's Catering

05/14/2026

The Old Capitol Art Fair wouldn't be possible without the generous support of our sponsors.

Thank you to our ART FAIR ADVOCATE partners! 🙌

Brickhouse Grill & Pub
BUNN Commercial
Crawford, Murphy & Tilly
Heartland Credit Union
My Heart's Downtown Springfield, IL
Obed and Isaac's Microbrewery & Eatery
Prairie Telecom Services
Sikich
TPH Strategies
Vondra Social House

05/14/2026

A huge thank you to our incredible BRONZE sponsors for making the Old Capitol Art Fair possible! 🎨

Your generosity and support help bring art, community, and creativity together — and we couldn't do it without you.

Quicksilver Mailing
Razzo's Family Pizzeria
Spavia Day Spa - Springfield
Security Bank
TROXELL

05/13/2026

🎨 The Springfield Old Capitol Art Fair is THIS WEEKEND — and we still need volunteers!

This is one of Illinois' most cherished events, and it only happens because of amazing people like you. A few hours of your time makes all the difference.

Don't miss your chance to be part of something beautiful. Sign up today! 🌟

Please review the available slots below and click on the button to sign up. Thank you!

05/13/2026

Head downtown May 16-17 for the Springfield Old Capitol Art Fair and enjoy more than 130 juried artists, live entertainment and family fun.

Link to the full guide in the comments.