Sugar Creek Arts Festival 43rd annual year
Written by Natalie Boyd on October 1, 2026
NORMAL, Ill. — The Sugar Creek Arts Festival will return to Uptown Normal Oct. 3-4 for its 43rd annual event, bringing more than 100 artists, live music and art activities for the entire family to enjoy.
Organized by the McLean County Arts Center, the free, juried arts festival will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Artists from local, regional and national areas will display and sell art and fine crafts, including paintings, photography, ceramics, jewelry, woodworking and sculpture.
The festival will also feature live music, art-making demonstrations and activities for children and families. Visitors can participate in hands-on activities such as printmaking, self-portrait drawing, fall-themed crafts and community sketching.
The Sugar Creek Arts Festival began in 1983 with 16 artists selling their work from the trunks of their cars. Since then, the festival has grown into a community tradition that brings about 100 artists and more than 15,000 visitors together each year to celebrate art, creativity and the local community.
Kick off the fall season by making new memories at one of Uptown Normal’s long-standing traditions. Whether stopping by for a few hours or spending the day exploring, the Sugar Creek Arts Festival offers a chance to come together and enjoy the start of the season.
