APPLICATIONS OPEN
JANUARY 1–APRIL 30, 2026
The 67th Annual Chesterton Art Fair
Chesterton Art Fair is a premier juried art festival with a deep history of providing a stellar experience for both participating artists and visitors. In its 67th year, Chesterton Art Fair draws artists and patrons from all over the Midwest and beyond. The Fair features 80+ artists, live music, family activities, food vendors and free parking for our almost four thousand visitors.
Always the first full weekend in August, this year’s dates are August 1 and 2, 2026, and fair hours are 10 AM to 5 PM on Saturday, and 10 AM to 4 PM on Sunday. Chesterton Art Fair is held in beautiful Dogwood Park, a municipal park with plenty of shade trees and amenities. The Fair is accessible to all, and handicap parking is available.
Animals are not permitted at Chesterton Art Fair unless they are service animals.
Proceeds from the fair support Chesterton Art Center (CAC), a non-profit arts organization providing high-quality educational and outreach programs that serve hundreds of students of all ages, a calendar of exhibitions that showcase local and regional artists, and various community events and partnerships that bring the arts to the Duneland community and beyond.
Artist Application Info
General Information
All applicants must be artists who create original work in 2D, 3D, fiber, glass, leather, metal, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, jewelry, or wood. Each artist must pay a non-refundable $35.00 fee for each application. There is a limit of three applications per artist. The application deadline is April 30, 2026. Accepted artists will be notified by May 8, 2026.
Venue Information
Dogwood Park is a municipal park featuring shade trees, pavilions, restroom facilities, and other amenities. It is located close to interstates I-80 (Indiana Toll Road) and I-94. The park has plenty of free parking for both vendors and visitors. Visitors pay a $5.00 entry fee to attend the fair.
Rules + Regulations
The artist listed on the application must be present at fair check-in and remain with their booth during fair operating hours for the duration of the event. Photo ID may be required at artist check-in. All work must be designed and hand made by the accepted artist. Commercially cast jewelry, molds, imported or commercially made products, or pieces done by a production studio are not eligible and will not be accepted. Artists may not display or sell DIY (do-it-yourself) kits.
Artists in the 2D categories are permitted to sell high-quality reproductions of their original work in limited amounts, and reproductions must be labeled clearly as reproductions. Reproductions may not represent the majority of work in a booth. This rule does not apply to photographers.
No artworks generated by, or whose production was aided by, AI (Artificial Intelligence) are eligible for inclusion in Chesterton Art Fair.
Artists may exhibit and sell work in more than on category if all categories/media were included on their application(s) and accepted. Artists are allowed one single or double booth regardless of the number of categories/media for which they were accepted. Only work consistent with the accepted juried images may be exhibited and sold at the fair.
Each artist is responsible for collection and payment of the 7% Indiana sales tax.
All artists must be 18 years of age or older. Any exceptions for younger emerging artists or artisans must be pre-approved by Chesterton Art Center leadership.
Artists are responsible for providing their own tents, display units, and weather protection. All Chesterton Art Fair tents will be set up on grass. Proper staking and weights are mandatory in the event of inclement weather. Any booth that is not properly staked will be asked to comply immediately. Any artist who does not comply with this safety precaution will be asked to leave the fair and will not be refunded their booth fee.
Artists are prohibited from using power generators, consuming alcohol, or smoking in their booths. No pets (except for certified therapy/service animals) are permitted at Chesterton Art Fair.
Artists must pay all fees associated with their application(s) and booth to be considered an exhibiting artist. Accepted artists will be notified by May 8, 2026. Participation confirmation and booth fees are due by May 29, 2026. Application fees are not refundable. Accepted artist booth fees are not refundable for any reason unless Chesterton Art Fair is cancelled by the organizers.
Booth Information
Artists must provide their own professional tents. Single booths are 10 ft. x 10 ft., and double booths are 20 ft. x 10 ft. Booths are set up on grass and require proper staking and weighting. No additional tent walls or tent overhangs are permitted. Tents located at the ends of rows may display artwork on the outside walls of the tent. Otherwise, all artwork must be displayed inside the tent. Artists must purchase a double booth to exhibit work outside the 10 ft. x 10 ft. space. The cost of a single booth is $250 for current CAC members and $300 for non-members. The cost of a double booth is $425 for current CAC members and $525 for non-members. There are a limited number of double booths available. To become a Chesterton Art Center member, call (219) 926-4711 or visit www.chestertonart.org/membership
Refund Policy
Participation confirmation and booth fees are due by May 29, 2026. Application fees are not refundable. Accepted artist booth fees are not refundable for any reason unless Chesterton Art Fair is cancelled by the organizers. Please contact Chesterton Art Center with any questions.
Our 2025 Sponsors
Cheryl Real Estate Services
Chesterton Feed + Garden
Ennis Builders
Family Express
Glacial Sands OMS
Luella DeWulf
South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority
Service Sanitation
Strack & Van Til
Town of Chesterton Parks Department
Val’s Famous Pizza & Grinders

