LeMoyne’s Chain of Parks Art Festival is honored to be a part of Tallahassee’s cultural identity for 27 years! (Please note: site updates are in progress for 2027 — some content may still reflect 2026).
Learn about the Chain of Parks Art Festival
Whether you’re an art aficionado or simply an admirer, LeMoyne’s Chain of Parks Art Festival has sights to behold. Ranked the #3 Fine Art Festival in the Nation (including #1 in Florida) by Sunshine Artist Magazine, the 2027 event will occur April 17–18 under the majestic live oaks of downtown Tallahassee’s Bloxham, Lewis, and Randolph “Chain of Parks.”
The Festival is free to the public and serves as a premier opportunity for visitors to experience and purchase unique works from over 170 nationally juried artists.
The festivities begin early with the “Garden Guardian” upcycled sculpture exhibit in LeMoyne’s expanded new gardens from March 16 through April 16. The exhibit will then be transferred to the Festival for a special exhibit conclusion and silent auction.
To be announced: The weekend’s programming offers an immersive experience that extends into the community. In partnership with FSU’s Opening Nights, a special presentation or concert event will kick off the weekend of festival fun.
To be announced: On Saturday at 2:30 p.m., visitors can witness a whimsical theatrical procession of larger-than-life puppets and masks envisioned by local artist Linda Hall and brought to life by musicians and community artists.
Confirmed: To close out the festivities, on Sunday at 2:30 p.m., the Rickards High School Marching Raider Band will lead a celebratory procession through the parks, showcasing the talent of local Leon County students.
Visitors can also visit LeMoyne’s Gallery for the latest exhibit (to be announced).
The Art
The Festival was established in 2001 to present an outdoor festival of high-quality original fine artwork and entertainment for the enjoyment of Tallahassee-area residents and visitors, while fostering the careers of local and regional artists.
Today, the Festival remains artist-focused — celebrating creativity, accessibility, and community! While hundreds of artists apply each year, our artists are carefully selected through a blind jury process to showcase a balanced mix of fine and heritage art across a variety of mediums and price points. With $10,000+ in awards, the Festival supports both emerging and established artists — many of whom call it one of their most important shows of the year.
While we welcome returning favorites, new artists join each year, drawn by the Festival’s reputation and the warmth of our supportive, art-loving community
Heritage & Folk Art Addition
The Heritage Art Row is a dedicated shady section of the Festival featuring self-identified folk and heritage artists showcasing traditional techniques and fine craft along Tunnicliff Lane, leading to LeMoyne’s gallery and gardens. This category includes an Award of Merit and reflects the Festival’s commitment to honoring diverse art forms.
Understanding Fine Art vs. Craft:
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While definitions of art can be subjective and continue to evolve over time, many view “Fine Art” as a creative expression that combines mastery, talent, and emotion to evoke a personal or emotional response. It typically involves classical training, mastery of traditional techniques, and use of high-quality materials. Fine art explores ideas and concepts, valued for both their aesthetic impact and deeper meaning.
Craft is a form of work that results in a tangible output, often repeatable over and over. A fine craft can be learned from considerable practice and developed into a world-class form. Patrons are inspired by the skill to create the piece rather than a reaction to the subject matter.
Understanding Folk/ Heritage Art:
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“Folk Art”/ “Heritage Art” is defined as a decorative or practical piece of artwork that showcases traditional techniques from a specific culture or region. Folk Art is usually unique to the people of a specific heritage and is viewed as an expression of society. Folk art is steeped in grassroots history and often distinguished from academic, commercial, and Western “Fine Art”. Folk Art is frequently demonstrated through fine craftsmanship, utilitarian and ornamental media, color, and texture, showcasing artistic expression from a non-classically trained artist.
Chalk Art Oasis
2027 updates will come later this fall:
Located at a prime entrance of the Festival, the Chalk Art Oasis is surrounded by food vendors, cooling stations, live music, and lush plants donated by Just Fruits & Exotics, creating a refreshing “Oasis” in this sunny area.
Immerse yourself in this vibrant section of the Festival all weekend long; there, you can observe four professional street artists create stunning “3D” anamorphic North-Florida-themed designs on the pavement, underwritten by Visit Tallahassee and generously hosted by Ron Sachs and Gay Webster Sachs.
These temporary masterpieces offer exciting, interactive photo opportunities that are perfect for fun social media posts. Attendees love to visit the street artists throughout the weekend to observe their progress and take photos.
Be sure to stop by the LeMoyne Arts Outreach tent, where you can learn about membership, summer camps, enter a raffle, and contribute to a collaborative chalkboard masterpiece! Visitors can also engage with the upcycled Garden Guardians sculpture exhibit and silent auction.
The Children’s Park
The popular and family-friendly Children’s Park, located in Randolph Park, is curated by the Retired Art Teachers of Tallahassee. The Children’s Park provides child-appropriate activities and experiences, including engaging art-making activities, chalk art, face painting, live entertainment, demonstrations, and games. Families enjoy the Jacques Le Moyne encampment and interactive Local Culture tents, which are filled with fun educational opportunities, bringing the best of the “museum” to the park. It’s FREE and FUN!
In partnership with Leon County Schools, the purpose of this area is to offer artistic experiences for children and promote organizations that support the arts and local heritage in our community. We want to get children excited about the arts and allow their families to learn about what our community has to offer.
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The Children’s Park is a highly interactive part of the Festival that provides opportunities for community connections with festival visitors. The purpose of this area is to offer artistic experiences for children and promote organizations that support the arts and local heritage in our community. We want to get children excited about the arts and allow their families to learn about what our community has to offer.
Community Corner
The Community Corner features our Community Partners (local non-profits), Brand Ambassadors (local businesses), and Host-level Sponsor Booths. These participants are located at the key entrance to the Festival on our Reid Gunn Lane (off of Monroe St. in front of Il Lusso restaurant). As part of our “Greening the Festival” effort, visitors are able to learn about environmental sustainability from organizations like Sustainable Tallahassee. We loved seeing visitors walking around with their FREE reusable tote bag from Rags2Bags full of festival goodies!
Entertainment
Our Main Stage, located in Center Court on Calhoun, features a dynamic lineup of local bands, singer-songwriters, and beloved performing arts groups. We prioritize performance slots for Leon County School student groups, giving young talent the chance to shine in a professional Festival setting. Many performers generously donate their time and talent to make the weekend unforgettable.
Pop-up performances throughout the Children’s Park and Chalk Art Oasis keep the energy flowing all weekend long — a great reason to attend both days.
Don’t miss the joyful musical processions through the parks on both Saturday AND Sunday from 2:30-3pm each day.
2026 Food Vendors:
Main Food Court
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LINK Sausages & Beer: Gourmet sausages (veg. options)
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Indian Kitchen: Traditional Indian cuisine
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Cousins Maine Lobster: Maine lobster rolls and seafood specialties
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Big Whipp’s Kitchen: Southern-style comfort food and soul food
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The Dancing Empanada: Assorted artisanal empanadas
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BJ Events Greek Food Express: Authentic Greek gyros and platters
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Hot Diggity Dog: Classic corn dogs and refreshing drinks
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Gurlie’s Lemonade & Sweets: Fresh-squeezed lemonade and fried dessert treats
Bloxham Park
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Southern Sips: “Dirty” craft soda treats
Community Corner
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Kona Ice: Shaved ice with customizable flavors (kindly donating to the Rickards High School marching band student performers)
- Sugarbox Bakeshop: Freshly baked goods and sweet treats
Lewis Park
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Argonaut Coffee & Lovers Coffee Club: Craft coffee, espresso, and caffeinated beverages (kindly donating to Friday’s setup volunteers and artists)
Children’s Park
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Tallahassee Nutty Bavarian: Roasted cinnamon-glazed nuts
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Fina Ice Company: Gourmet Italian ice and frozen treats (kindly donating to the weekend volunteer performers)
Chalk Art Oasis
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Irie Ice: Tropical Caribbean ice and refreshing flavors
- Coconut Bar: Coconut refreshers such as virgin Piña Coladas, coconut ice cream (vegan option), and Florida cold coconuts
Souvenirs
Visit the Souvenir Tent to find your favorite festival souvenirs for the 2026 festival, featuring the custom cover-art piece “Heart of the Universe” by Curtis Whitwam:
- T-shirts
- Long Sleeve Shirts & Light Hoodies
- Embroidered Festival Logo Hats
- BBQ Two-Pocket Apron
- Bandanas
- Stickers
- Handmade Festival Banner Totes
- Stainless Steel Thermal Water Bottles
- Coffee Mug
- Notecards (5 pack)
- Signed Festival Posters (limited edition)
- Vintage T-shirts (limited supply)
- 500 Piece Puzzles
- Cotton Tea Towels
- Koozies
Vintage items can be seen at LeMoyne Arts in our Gallery Shop Tuesday – Saturday from 11am – 6pm. 125 N. Gadsden St. Tallahassee, FL 32301
Did you know?
QUICK GUIDES TO THE FESTIVAL
Where to Stay: Local Hotels
Find Artists from Previous Years
2026 Festival Map
Festival Dates & Times
TOP 100 FINE ART FESTIVAL BY SUNSHINE MAGAZINE
Recognitions
The Chain of Parks Art Festival is proud to be one of the most highly acclaimed art festivals in the country. Recently ranked as the #1 Art Festival of 2024 by Sunshine Artist Magazine and #7 nationwide, the festival continues to attract art lovers and collectors from near and far. Additionally, the Tallahassee Democrat awarded the festival the title of “Best Local Event,” a testament to the strong community support and exceptional experience it brings to the area. These accolades reflect the festival’s commitment to showcasing outstanding artists and creating memorable experiences year after year.