Art in the Park Ottawa 2025 & What’s Ahead for 2026

After attending this festival for several years and covering Ottawa’s arts scene, we can confidently say what makes this Ottawa art festival special isn’t just the high-quality work on display. It’s the atmosphere. Dogs on leashes explore alongside their owners, children run between booths, and artists chat directly with visitors about their creative process. The park setting creates something we rarely see in the art world – a place where serious artistic talent meets genuine community warmth.

The festival runs rain or shine, charges no admission, and takes no commission from artist sales. This approach has made it a favourite for both art collectors and casual browsers looking for an authentic art experience.

Before It Was Art in the Park Again

The story begins in 1992 when Ottawa artist Bhat Boy founded the event to support emerging artists. Originally known as Art in the Park, it started as a grassroots gathering where local creators would set up under a massive maple tree in the lower section of Central Park.

In 2009, director Chandler Swain transformed the event into The New Art Festival, focusing on original, handmade artwork and introducing professional jury selection. This change raised the artistic standards while keeping the community spirit alive.

By 2024, organizers felt ready to go back to their roots. The festival returned to its original name while keeping the professional standards they’d built over 15 years. As one organizer noted,

“We needed something that was grassroots,”

– showing their desire to honour the original vision while celebrating how far the event had come.

Art Festival Over the Years

Year	Key Milestone	Artist Count	Notable Changes
2016	Established professional standards	200+	Full jury process implementation
2017	25th anniversary celebration	200+	Major sponsor partnerships solidified
2018	Digital application system launch	200+	Online portfolio submission introduced
2019	Record attendance year	200+	Enhanced park layout design
2020-2021	Pandemic cancellations	–	Virtual artist support programs
2022	Post-pandemic return	180+	Health protocols implemented
2023	Full recovery achieved	185+	Award categories expanded
2024	Name change announcement	190+	Return to “Art in the Park” branding
2025	First year as Art in the Park (again)	183+	New website and application system

Between 2016 and 2024, the festival saw steady growth in both attendance and artist participation. Over the years, the festival included a wider range of styles and mediums, from oil painting and ceramics to mixed media, encaustic painting, and fibre arts.

Award categories grew as well, including Best Jewellery, Best Work in Clay, and Best Photo-Based Work, often supported by local sponsors like art supply stores and community members. Each year, thousands attended, many returning annually.

In 2020 and 2021, the event paused due to the pandemic. It returned in 2022 with increased safety measures and a strong focus on reconnecting with the public through outdoor space.

Art in the Park Ottawa 2025: What We Loved

This year’s event took place on June 7–8, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. The weather cooperated, with mostly sunny skies and comfortable temperatures, helping bring out a strong crowd. As always, the event was held rain or shine.

The layout of booths across Central Park made the flow feel natural. Many people brought picnics or enjoyed local food vendors, including coffee stalls and lunch options near Clemow Avenue and Patterson Street.

Live acoustic performances and a few informal demos added to the energy. One returning visitor said,

“Every time I come, I discover something totally different. It’s like a walk-through gallery with real conversations.”

A City That Blends Art and Play

Ottawa isn’t just known for visual arts and festivals – it offers a blend of outdoor creativity and digital culture. After a day exploring Glebe’s galleries or Art in the Park, many residents wind down online with low-key pastimes like streaming indie films, listening to local music, or playing at licensed online casinos.

What About Online Gambling in Ottawa?

Online casinos are fully legal and regulated in Ontario, which gives Ottawa residents access to secure platforms offering slots, live dealer tables, and poker. These digital spaces appeal to players who enjoy high-quality visuals, themed environments, and strategic play.

Tip: If you’re curious, stick to sites approved by iGaming Ontario. They’re secure and have built-in tools for responsible play like deposit limits and time tracking. And if you’re comparing options for the best online casino for Canada, this look at the top choices across the country makes things simpler. The list highlights trusted platforms that combine security with a good player experience, making it easier to see where Canadians feel most confident playing. Most of these platforms also run smoothly on mobile, so a quick game can fit easily into your evening routine.

That’s why, whether you’re taking a creative break or just relaxing after a long day at the park, online casinos can be part of Ottawa’s evolving digital entertainment scene.

This Year’s Artists & Directory

The 2025 artist directory featured 183 participants working across all kinds of art forms. Oil painters displayed right next to jewelry makers, ceramic artists shared space with photographers, and textile creators showcased beside glass artists.

The directory does more than just help you find your way around. Published online about a week before the event, it includes how to contact the artists, letting people connect well beyond the weekend. This has become really important for collectors and artists alike, building year-round relationships within our Ottawa art community.

What’s Coming in 2026

• Dates: June 6-7, 2026
• Location: Central Park, Ottawa (Glebe neighbourhood)
• Artist Applications: Open early winter 2026, deadline March 15
• Expected Artists: 150-200 participants
• Admission: Free

You’ll want to save the weekend of June 6–7, 2026. The festival will return to Central Park for its 34th year, continuing the tradition that has made it a cornerstone of the Ottawa cultural calendar.

Artist applications usually open in early winter, with a March 15 deadline. The jury selection runs through spring, with notifications sent in April. This gives selected artists plenty of time to prepare for the summer event.

Festival organizers expect to keep the current size of about 150-200 artists while continuing to make the visitor experience even better. Plans include better accessibility features and continued partnerships with local food vendors.

The festival website will launch its updated artist application portal in late January 2026, with detailed information about booth options, fees, and what you need to submit.

How to Apply as an Artist

Art in the Park is open to all artists working in handmade, original media. Applicants must submit:

• An online application form
• 5–10 digital images of their work
• An artist statement or CV
• Payment for the booth size selected

There are three booth sizes available: large, small, and student (for full-time students under 30). Artists must bring their own tents, display equipment, and materials. Reproductions, such as mass-produced posters or T-shirts, are not allowed unless they are limited edition prints in small runs (max 100).

Artists are selected by a rotating jury of professionals in the local art community. The festival does not take any percentage of sales.

Tips for Visitors

Getting to Central Park is easy. The park is located between Clemow Avenue, Patterson Street, and Bank Street. It’s best to come by OC Transpo bus (Routes 6 or 7), bike, or walk.

If you’re driving, keep in mind that parking in Glebe can be limited. Visitors often park near Loblaws Pretoria, or in nearby lots, and walk the short distance. The city enforces parking rules, especially around driveways.

Facilities:

• Portable washrooms and handwashing stations are available.
• A water station is provided, bring your own bottle.
• The park is dog-friendly (on leash), and most areas are accessible for strollers and wheelchairs.

Similar Events in Ottawa

As regular festival goers, we’ve seen how events like Art in the Park Ottawa and other local art festivals are part of a growing tent art and handmade market scene that defines summer in Ottawa. If you loved this year’s show, it’s worth discovering some of the other creative fairs happening across the city.