ARTS FEST - Festival of Fine Arts and Crafts

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 7-9PM: Preview Party + Taste of Dalton | $55

PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19: ARTS FEST Open 10am-5pm | FREE ADMISSION

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20: ARTS FEST Open 11am-5pm | FREE ADMISSION

ATTEND: Tickets to ARTS FEST Preview Party + Taste of Dalton are on sale now! CLICK HERE!

VOLUNTEER: Help us make ARTS FEST happen! We have a variety of volunteer opportunities available during ARTS FEST weekend for teens & adults.

The Creative Arts Guild’s 63rd Annual Festival of Fine Arts and Crafts - now known as ARTS FEST - will be September 18-20, 2026 on the Guild’s campus at 520 West Waugh Street in Dalton.

The Creative Arts Guild is Georgia’s oldest multidisciplinary community arts organization. We celebrated our 60th anniversary in 2023! The Creative Arts Guild is located in northwest Georgia, approximately 20 miles south of Chattanooga TN and 70 miles north of Atlanta.

ARTS FEST WEEKEND INCLUDES:

ARTS FEST Preview Party - This event celebrates the opening of ARTS FEST weekend with live music, drinks, and heavy hors d'oeuvres. Preview Party guests get the first chance to view and purchase artworks from the juried Gallery Exhibit and the first chance to shop from the outdoor Artist Market vendors before ARTS FEST opens to the public for the weekend. It is also the perfect time to meet and mingle with artists, volunteers, and patrons. Guests will get to vote for their favorite piece from the Exhibit to be considered for the Patron's Choice Award. Tickets are $55; Attire is dressy-casual.

Gallery Exhibit - a juried exhibit that spans the entirety of the Creative Arts Guild's galleries (Gallery FIVE20, Gallery ONE11) and is open to artists over the age of 18 working in all mediums. This work will remain up through the end of October.

Outdoor Artist Market - featuring regional artists with booths full of artistic creations and treasures housed in our covered Spigel Pavilion underneath our building.

Live Performances by local/regional musicians, artists, and Guild students in the Music Tent (located behind the pavilion on the lawn) and the KIDS FEST area (located at the end of the pavilion in the Sculpture Garden).

KIDS FEST - Kids and adults alike can experience the arts like never before! Visit the tents in the KIDS FEST area at the end of the pavilion in and around the Sculpture Garden to engage in hands-on activities and experiences. Then, visit the Kids Art Market where kids can get the chance to purchase a piece of artwork that speaks to them - no grownups allowed! (Don't worry, grownups...the artwork is appropriately priced for kids.)

ARTS FEST is free, and all Creative Arts Guild events are open to everyone. We hope you will join us as we celebrate the power of the arts in our community!

Thank you to our FESTIVAL 2026 Sponsors + Partners

ARTS FEST SPONSORS

DIAMOND LEVEL

Engineered Floors, TRCC, Marketing Alliance Group, Ken & Myra White, Shaw Industries, Georgia Council for the Arts, City of Dalton, Alderman Family, Billie Little, Whitco Produce, Whitfield County, National Endowment for the Arts

PLATINUM LEVEL

Barrett Properties, Clark, Davies, Easley, & Pool, Material Handling Inc, Law Office of Ian Whittle

GOLD LEVEL

Geiger Legal Group, LLC, Georgia United Credit Union, Jack and Aggie Bandy Foundation, Jonas Family Properties, O.N. Jonas Foundation, Dr. Frank Patterson, Dottie & Bob Shaw

SILVER LEVEL

Paula & Greg Batts, Coldwell Banker Kinard Realty, Rob Cowan, Dalton's Mr. Real Estate, Dalton Plastic Surgery, Dalton Utilities/Optilink, Dave & Pauli's Art Emporium, Maryville Jewelers, Cindy & David McCreery, Oliver & Rufus, Mike Rizer, Cathy & Steve Snyder, George Spence, Robert Webb

BRONZE LEVEL

A Friend, Adcock Financial Group, Alliant Health Plans, Anonymous, Trisha & Jim Bethel, Dalyn Rug Company, Delyn & James Ellis, Hummingbird Company, David, Joe, & Emma McDaniel, The Mill at Crown Gardens, The Minor Firm, Myers Carpet, North Georgia Toyota, Peds Care P.C., Mary Julian & David Renz

TASTE OF DALTON

Bloom Bakery, Cafe Ostro, Cali Bowls, Casa del Cafe, Cherokee Brewing & Pizza Co, Cocina Tulum, DFood Collab, Dalton Brewing Co, Mariscos el Cuhhhmaron, La Esperanza Bakery, Sol de Mayo, Table43, Taco Roble, Talpa Supermercados, The Farm Golf Club, Trinity BBQ

LEGACY ‘63 SOCIETY MEMBERS

Anna & Zack Adamson, Anonymous, Cheryl & Tim Baucom, Amanda & Chris Brown, Donna & Greg Brown, Brown Whitworth Reynolds Foundation, Donna & Brian Hair, Cindy & Chip Howalt, IndyRisk Insurance Advisors, The Kinard Family, Jean S. Lowrey, Nancy Millet, Dr. Frank Patterson, Annalee Harlan Sams & Michael Sams, Sydney & Hutton Sellers, Cathy & Steve Snyder, Ken & Myra White, Mary Helen & William Young, Susan & Bill Young

FRIENDS OF THE GUILD

Anonymous, Rosa Cuna & Juan Azua, Ashley & Bucky Broadrick, Dalton Family Practice, Debbie & Mike Douglas, Dr. Rodger Eidson, Don Hoffmeyer, Jeane & Walter Jones, Alana & Brandon Langford, Karen Martin, Deanna & Peter Mathis, Ellissa McHenry, Erika & Tucker Mosteller, Jennifer & Wes Phinney, Pallavi Manay & Peter Pociask, Peggy Rollins, Veronica & Andy Rolling, Lindsey & Adam Sapp, Carol & Ward Satterfield, Nancy Whaley

SUSTAINING PARTNERS

Engineered Floors, Textile Rubber & Chemical Co, Marketing Alliance Group, Ken & Myra White, Dossche Family Foundation, Barrett Properties, Billie Little, Cindy Michaels, STEARNS & WEST, Robert Webb, Georgia United Credit Union, Sandra & Gregg Sims, Cindy & David McCreery, Linda & Bill Blackman, Joanne & Marvin Lewis, Robert McEntire