New Horizons for Overlea ArtsFest in 2026

The beloved community arts festival that started as a 1-day event has evolved over the past 10 years. It quickly grew into a 3-day multi-media festival, then branched out into the Youth Art Show showcasing kids and teens. This year the Short Films Festival breaks off into its own event in partnership with CCBC Essex, which will host it in Spring of 2026.

As we pass our 10-year milestone and look ahead to the future, we are exploring fresh ideas and perspectives. The next Overlea ArtsFest events will move to the Fall with a narrower focus on specific genres. The 2026 ArtsFest will showcase Sculpture and 3D mixed media work and will return to Holt Park & Center for the Arts. We also hope to assist with plans for a permanent sculpture garden installation project at Holt Park in the near future. We are looking for volunteers to help with event planning, fundraising, grant writing, social media, accounting and day-of support work. If you’ve ever considered joining a grassroots team of community members for a good cause, we invite you to reach out. Come meet with our board to learn how you can share your talents and be a part of something fun! Contact Carol Stover at president@overleaartsfest.org. And check us out at https://OverleaArtsFest.org and @overleaartsfest on social media.