The Carnegie Art Spree is truly one of my favorite events of the year. The organizers do a fabulous job of bringing together a great variety of artists. The juried outdoor arts festival returns for its fourth year on Saturday, August 15, and Sunday, August 16, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Canal Street in the City of Tonawanda. It is free, family-friendly, and set against the charming and historic Erie Canal.
Being a juried festival, there are no resellers or AI-generated work. Every vendor is a working artist presenting authentic, original work. Be prepared to spend. I get gifts for friends and family for the entire year at this one event.
This year’s lineup includes over 35 juried artists and makers in ceramics, photography, painting, watercolor, jewelry, textiles, glasswork, and more.
Live music runs from 12:30 to 3 p.m. at the Canal Street Bandshell, with Silver Lining Jazz performing both days. A family-friendly scavenger hunt runs throughout the festival with prizes for both adult and children categories. Stop by the Carnegie Art Center booth for a chance to spin the wheel and win tickets to Art Off the Wall, original artwork, and more.
Nonprofit partners on site include Carnegie Art Center, Stitch Buffalo, Buffalo Opera Unlimited, Matt’s Music (Saturday only), and Fine Arts League of Buffalo (Saturday only).
Food trucks are on Canal Street from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Edgy Vegy (vegan and GF options, Saturday only), Lumos and Nox, Fat Daddy’s 716 (vegan and GF options, Sunday only), and Fat Bob’s. Bring your water bottle and refill at the Mr. Mister water station, free of charge, as part of the festival’s sustainability efforts.
On Saturday evening, the Albany Symphony performs beginning at 5:45 p.m. on Sweeney Street in North Tonawanda, preceded by performances from Matt’s Music Jazz Band Camp and Buffalo Suzuki Strings, and concluding around 9:30 p.m. with a drone light show best viewed from the north side of the Canal.
The CAS is located on the Empire State Trail, with bike parking and free parking in nearby public lots. NFTA bus routes also serve the area. And if you want to extend the experience, both downtown North Tonawanda and downtown City of Tonawanda have a strong lineup of restaurants, bars, shops, and attractions within easy walking distance of the festival. Webster Street in NT and Main and Broad Streets in Tonawanda are both worth exploring. A full local dining and shopping guide is available at carnegieartspree.org.
2026 Artist Vendors
This year’s juried vendors include:
- Black and Tan Custom Ceramics
- Neil Ferguson Photography
- Celluloid Kitten Art
- Fine Art by Elizabeth
- Snazzy Gal Jewelry
- Gary C. Van Houten
- ShaSha Beads
- Nickel City Makers
- Nate Phillips
- Yona Adventure Captures
- AEROGLASSART
- Christopher Freiburger
- Mary Guzik Studios
- The Savvy Bracelet Co.
- Jeremiah Kirby Art LLC
- Reflectives by Ra
- Little Fang Crafts
- By the Fire Pottery
- Bog Witch Studios
- Tom Burns Photography
- Stacked By Emma
- East Coast Watercolors
- Ashtronomical Art (Sunday only)
- Fresh Off the Brush Studio
- Isaan Creations
- Vintage Soul Designs
- Sarrey Lynn Photography
- Word Nerd Jewelry
- At 88 Textile Designs
- Copper Creations
- Lynn’s Watercolors
- Sonnenbloom Boutique
- Cheeky Creations 716
- Tai’s Sweet Shop
- Mike Donohue
- Charmed Boutique
- Jennifer Giamberdino
For the full schedule, vendor list, and downloadable map, visit carnegieartspree.org. Follow on Facebook and Instagram at @carnegieartspree. Mark your calendar; see you there next weekend!