Here are some of the best festivals in the West to experience, celebrate, and shop the creative spirit.
Connect with the creative spirit of the American West at vibrant festivals where you can find unique artwork and interact with the artist who created it. All these world-class art shows are juried to ensure a high level of talent, and alongside the incredible craftsmanship you’ll encounter an atmosphere of celebration with live entertainment, culinary treats, and a friendly community vibe.
Festival of Arts
Laguna Beach, California, July and August
Peruse the creations of 140 Orange County artists at this long-running event in the gorgeous SoCal coastal enclave of Laguna Beach. The two-month festival features an abundance of art-inspired happenings (workshops, guided tours, discussions) as well as jazz concerts, cooking demos, and wine tastings. Be sure to grab tickets for the Pageant of the Masters, a unique theatrical spectacle that brings artistic masterpieces to life through tableaux vivants with spectacular stage sets, costumes, and orchestral accompaniment. You’re still in time for the August 29 event. foapom.com/
Festival of Arts in Laguna Beach includes the famed Pageant of the Masters (PHOTOGRAPHY: Courtesy of Festival of Arts).
Kimball Arts Festival
Park City, Utah, August 1 – 3
Set in a historic mining town in a scenic mountain valley, this art festival feels like a block party with late-night music, food trucks, and a “Spirit Garden,” where partiers enjoy artist demonstrations, lounge furniture, and a chance to relax with local bands. More than 200 local, emerging, and world-renowned visual artists present works in 13 types of media. Go for the VIP pass, which gives you access to an air-conditioned sky lounge overlooking the action on Main Street. kimballartsfestival.org/
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Santa Fe Indian Market
Santa Fe, August 16 – 17
The granddaddy of all Native American markets, this prestigious event is over 100 years old and draws 1,000 Indigenous artists to the beautiful Santa Fe Plaza each year. Artists are held to strict standards of production and materials, resulting in a top-quality collection of wood carvings, textiles, basketry, jewelry, pottery, painting, and sculpture. Catch myriad performances, including storytelling and comedy acts, along with an in-demand Native American fashion show and traditional Native American cuisine such as fry bread and Pueblo stews. swaia.org/
Taboo at the 2024 Santa Fe Indian Market (PHOTOGRAPHY: Tira Howard/Courtesy of SWAIA).
Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair & Market
Phoenix, March, 2026
More than 600 Native American artists display their designs, a dynamic mix of modern innovation and traditional artistry like quillwork, beadwork, and stonework. Admire diverse media from multiple generations of creators and peruse the museum’s extensive exhibits on Indigenous life and art. Dance performances, guided art tours, and an excellent courtyard café add to the elevated experience. heard.org/event/fair
The Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair & Market in Phoenix, Arizona (PHOTOGRAPHY: Courtesy of the Heard Museum).
Red Earth Festival
Oklahoma City, March 2026
Held at the National Cowboys & Western Heritage Museum, this three-day showcase of Native American art includes paintings, sculpture, pottery, basketry, beading, jewelry, and cultural attire. Outside in the museum’s intertribal “village” area, discover artist demonstrations, music and dancing, and interactive craft stations for kids among replicas of Indigenous dwellings. redearth.org/pages/festival-2025
The Red Earth Festival in Oklahoma City (PHOTOGRAPHY: Courtesy of Red Earth Festival).
Main Street Fort Worth Arts Festival
Fort Worth, Texas, April 16 – 19, 2026
Stretching in front of Fort Worth’s 1895 courthouse for half a mile, this massive art show is one of the largest in the Southwest (400,000 people attend each year). Around 200 top-tier visual artists deliver “wow” moments in a variety of media, from painting and photography to whimsical kinetic sculptures and intricate Mexican retablos. Live music lights up two main stages and local chefs dish out authentic Texas cuisine like brisket and steak fajitas. mainstreetartsfest.org/
The Main Street Fort Worth Arts Festival (PHOTOGRAPHY: Courtesy of Hannah Lacamp).
Cherry Creek Arts Festival
Denver, July 4 – 6, 2026
This sprawling celebration takes place over the Fourth of July weekend in Cherry Creek North, an upscale shopping and dining district southeast of downtown Denver. Hosted by the nonprofit CherryArts, the event helps fund art outreach programs for 40,000 students in Colorado schools. More than 250 artists exhibit their work at the open-air market, which offers VIP passes with valet parking and exclusive access to the Artist Awards Reception. cherryarts.org/
The Cherry Creek Arts Festival in Denver (PHOTOGRAPHY: Courtesy of Cherry Creek Arts Festival).
From our August/September 2025 issue.
HEADER IMAGE: Courtesy of Cherry Creek Arts Festival
