For 50+ years, the Bayou City Art Festival (BCAF) has been a beloved Houston tradition that brings together 20,000 annual visitors and 1,500 regional artists from 32 states to celebrate art. From paintings to photography and drawings to sculptures – over 300 booths will be filled with handmade creations for both sale and demonstration purposes. Make sure you join us at BCAF this year for an unforgettable experience!
The Bayou City Art Festival offers even more than just a plethora of art- it also hosts a beer garden, wine garden, entertainment stage, and kids’ focused Champion Energy Active Imagination Zone. BCAF guarantees a robust array of food truck options, so you can fill your belly with the perfect meal and never have to worry about hunger pangs. You won’t have time for hangry!
Bayou City Art Festival is so popular that it’s held twice a year during Houston’s best months to be outside. In March, it’s at Memorial Park and in October, it’s at downtown at Sam Houston Park.
The festival is run by a nonprofit, the Art Colony Association, to benefit 6 local Houston nonprofits: Pink Bows Foundation, The Museum of Fine Arts Houston, FreshArts, ARTreach, Second Servings, and The Women’s Fund.
Bayou City Art Festival’s Memorial Park event is March 23-24, 2024.
No on-site parking is available at the Memorial Park event. Nevertheless, ticket holders can access free and safe parking options at Northwest Mall (555 NW Mall). Alternatively, individuals may purchase a $5 roundtrip shuttle pass to get transported from their cars to the festival site. Additionally, children 12 and under are eligible for complimentary rides. Ride-sharing apps like Uber and Lyft always have a strong presence at BCAF.
The downtown edition of the Bayou City Art Festival is one of the most anticipated art events in Houston, held downtown every October in Sam Houston Park, along Allen Parkway. If you’re staying at Lodgeur at Mid Main Lofts in Midtown and want to attend this fantastic event, there’s no need to worry about how to get there! The METRORail provides quick and easy transportation from Midtown directly downtown, so all you have to do is hop on board and enjoy the ride.
The fall Bayou City Art Festival dates have not yet been released, but it is usually held in October.
You will take the METRORail from the Ensemble Station at Mid Main Lofts northbound to the Market Street Square Station, directly on the Red Line. With just four stops along the way, you can be sure that your journey will be comfortable and stress-free. Check out our guide to using the METRORail.
Tickets are available on the Bayou City Art Festival website, and usually cost $20 for an adult one-day ticket. Children 12 and under are free. The $80 VIP ticket gets you access to a VIP lounge with complimentary beer, wine and light bites. Tickets may not be sold at the gate, so be sure to order in advance.
For more art destinations in Houston open year round, check out our post on hidden art stops in Houston or visiting Houston’s museums for free
