The Emerald Coast Arts Festival 2027

About This Call

The Emerald Coast Arts Festival is a juried outdoor fine arts festival presented by the Arts & Design Society of Fort Walton Beach (ADSO), a nonprofit organization supporting artists and promoting the visual arts throughout Northwest Florida since 1956.

Summary

The Emerald Coast Arts Festival is a juried outdoor fine arts festival presented by the Arts & Design Society of Fort Walton Beach (ADSO), a nonprofit organization supporting artists and promoting the visual arts throughout Northwest Florida since 1956.

The festival will be held April 10–11, 2027, on the beautifully landscaped four-acre grounds of the Freedom Tech Center in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. Conveniently located on Beal Parkway (SR 189), the venue is adjacent to two hotels, a public golf course, two RV parks, restaurants, shopping, and is just minutes from the white-sand beaches of the Emerald Coast.

Artist check-in and booth assignment and setup will be Friday, April 9, 12pm until 6pm followed by a casual Welcome Reception for a Meet & Greet from 7pm until 8pm.

• Saturday, April 10: 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
• Sunday, April 11: 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Admission is free to the public.

There will be $5,000 in juried awards presented at the Saturday evening Awards Dinner. Artist amenities include volunteer booth sitters, food trucks, live acoustic music, convenient restrooms, 24-hour onsite security, and lodging within walking distance.

ADSO's mission is to facilitate fine art exhibitions, conduct art classes that enhance the appreciation of the visal arts, and further educate both emerging and established artists. ADSO remains dedicated to fostering creativity through our childrens programs while strengthening Fort Walton Beach's art community.

General Information

We are accepting many mediums, including watercolor, acrylic, oil, mixed media and pastel painting, ceramics, pottery, jewelry, drawing, accessories/clothing, fiber, photography, metalwork, sculpture, and wood.

Awards totaling $5,000 will be given during the awards dinner at the Saturday, April 10, dinner party.

• $1500 Best in Show
• $1000 First Place
• $800 Second Place
• $600 Third Place
• $500 Peoples Choice
• $100 There will be (6) Honorable Mentions

Rules and Regulations

• Application for jurying will be open Aug 1, 2026, through Sept 30, 2026, for an early bird application fee of $35.00.
• Continued jurying/application is accepted from Oct 1, 2026, through Nov 15, 2026, for an application fee of $50.00.
• All admission submissions will be nonrefundable.
• The show is open to artists 18 years old and older.
• Artists will submit high-quality digital images of three of their current finished pieces and preferably a booth photo. There will be three qualified judges for the jury process.
• Artist work must be original and solely the artists creation.
• Notification of selection into the show will be via email on Dec 1, 2026.
• Artist acceptance or denial of invitation must be received by December 8th. Booth payment must be received by December 11th.

Booth Information and Fees

Artists that are invited and have accepted to partipate in the festival will go online to register for their booth after December 1st.

• Booth Fee: $200 for one 10' x 10' exhibit space.
• Double Booth: Two adjacent 10' x 10' spaces are available for $350.
• Booth/space assignment will be provided at check in.
• VENDORS must provide their own white display tent, tables, chairs, and display equipment. For the safety of all participants, tents must be securely anchored with appropriate weights (stakes not acceptable) throughout the festival.

Electricity is available at no additional charge; however, artists are responsible for providing their own outdoor-rated extension cords.

During check-in and setup, artists will be permitted to temporarily park near their assigned booth space for unloading. Some volunteer help will be available to assist with unloading as available.

For your security, the festival grounds will be monitored by the Fort Walton Beach Police Department with 24-hour security beginning Friday evening through the close of the festival on Sunday however, ADSO/Emerald Coast Arts Festival will not assume responsibility for lost, damaged or stolen items.

Convenient artist parking is available in the adjacent parking area, with complimentary shuttle service provided throughout the weekend.

Festival amenities include food trucks and concession and convenient restroom facilities.

The Emerald Coast Arts Festival is a family-friendly event that welcomes visitors of all ages. Artists are asked to display artwork appropriate for a general audience while maintaining the integrity of their artistic expression.

Refund and Cancellation Policy

There are no rain dates and there will be no refunds or credits if the show is cancelled due to rain, high winds, floods, or any other forces of nature. There will be no refunds for artist cancellations.

Jury Details

Average number of applications submitted each year: 150

Average number of artists selected from the jury to participate in the event: 100

Vendors that are excluded/ineligible: No "craft" or production vendors

How images are viewed by jurors: Computer monitor, photos of artwork and booths should be high quality and 1920x1920 pixels

Jurors score applications using the following scale: Yes, No, or Maybe

The show organizes a single jury panel that scores applications for all medium categories, scored separately from various locations. The jury process is closed.