The annual Downtown Festival & Art Show helps make Gainesville a great place to live, work, and play, by transforming the streets of historic downtown Gainesville into a weekend-long celebration of art and creativity complete with 200+ artists, live music, performing arts, and delicious culinary art experiences. Presented by the City of Gainesville Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs, the festival celebrates its 44th anniversary in 2025. 

The Downtown Festival & Art Show was established for and by Gainesville-based artists in 1981 and expanded over the decades to cover several city blocks at the heart of historic downtown. City events coordinator, Linda Piper is credited with the expansion of the festival in the 1990s-2000s. Since 1996, the Downtown Festival & Art Show has ranked among the top festivals in the nation. 

​The Downtown Festival & Art Show festival has consistently been ranked among the 200 Best shows by Sunshine Artist, a publication that evaluates art and craft festivals across the nation! Join us Saturday, November 15th, and Sunday, November 16th, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. to meet the exhibiting artists, enjoy live music, and sample international cuisine.