The 73rd-annual Fairhope Arts and Crafts Festival will take place this weekend and starting today, March 14-16, in the heart of downtown Fairhope.
This highly anticipated event will showcase …
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The 73rd-annual Fairhope Arts and Crafts Festival will take place this weekend and starting today, March 14-16, in the heart of downtown Fairhope.
This highly anticipated event will showcase over 200 artists from across the United States and Canada, offering a vibrant selection of art, live entertainment and family-friendly activities. Admission to the festival is free, and it will run daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
This year's festival will feature local artist Hannah Legg as the 2025 Featured Artist. Legg, a Fairhope-based muralist, illustrator and designer, began work this week on a mural that will be a lasting tribute to the festival's rich history. The mural, located adjacent to the Fairhope Welcome Center on Section Street, will celebrate the festival's 70-plus year tradition and the creative spirit of the Fairhope community.
Festivalgoers will have the rare opportunity to watch Legg work on the mural live during the event.
"I'm honored to be this year's featured artist," Legg said in a news release from the festival. "Creating a piece that reflects the heart of Fairhope and its artistic community is incredibly special."
The festival will once again feature a Children's Art Tent sponsored by Coastal Alabama Real Estate on Church Street, offering a packed schedule of hands-on activities that are fun for all ages.
Children will have the opportunity to express their creativity through painting, mosaic-making, and more.
Highlights of the Children's Art Tent include:
• Painting with Ricky Trione — Beloved local blind artist Ricky Trione will lead interactive painting sessions, inspiring children to explore art through touch and imagination.
• Mosaic Making with Little Shrimp Mosaics — Kids can create their own colorful mosaics under the guidance of the talented team from Little Shrimp Mosaics.
• Daily Craft Stations — A rotating lineup of arts and crafts activities will keep children engaged and entertained throughout the festival. A full schedule of Children's Art Tent activities will be available on the festival website and at the information booth during the event.
The festival's entertainment stage will be located at the corner of Section Street and Magnolia Avenue, next to the Regions Bank.
Attendees can enjoy performances from local and regional talent, including:
• Fairhope West Elementary Ukuleles
• Gypsy Chick Belly Dancers
• Local favorite NoonDay Drivers
• Additional performances from Mobile Symphony Strings, Jane Hannah Band, Gabriel Willis and more.
The full entertainment schedule is available at the festival's website and in the official program, created by Gulf Coast Media in partnership with the festival and handed out at the event.
To make attending the festival more convenient, a shuttle service will run daily from the Piggly Wiggly parking lot in Fairhope from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The cost is $5 for a round-trip ticket.
The festival's theme this year, "Paint the Town," will be highlighted on official festival merchandise, including posters, t-shirts, and notecards.
Limited edition, signed prints of Legg's "Paint the Town" mural will also be available exclusively at the festival merchandise tent on Johnson Street.
"We're thrilled to feature Hannah's work and offer visitors a chance to experience art in action," Festival Chairman Marissa Fleming Thetford said. "The Fairhope Arts and Crafts Festival is more than an art show — it's a celebration of creativity, community and tradition. We can't wait to see all of our artists, locals and visitors this weekend!"
