ArtFest Fort Myers 2027 is Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 6-7, on the downtown waterfront, with a free opening night Friday, Feb. 5. Parking and trolleys.

Last checked Oct. 8, 2026. Dates, times, parking and prices come from ArtFest Fort Myers, the nonprofit that runs the festival. This page is updated for each year’s festival at the same address.

ArtFest Fort Myers 2027 is Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 6-7, on the waterfront in historic downtown Fort Myers, with a free opening night on Friday, Feb. 5. It is the city’s big juried fine art show. The organizer says more than 90,000 people come to the riverfront on the first weekend in February, and only one in five artists who apply are invited.

Know before you go

  • Opening night: Friday, Feb. 5, 2027, 6 to 9 p.m., Edwards Drive at Hendry Street. Free general admission.
  • Free concert: Symphony on the Sound, 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 5, Caloosa Sound Amphitheater
  • Festival weekend: Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 6-7, 2027. Daily hours for 2027 are not posted yet.
  • GPS address: 1375 Monroe St., Fort Myers
  • Parking: city garages, streets and ArtFest lots, with free trolleys all weekend
  • Questions: ArtFest Fort Myers, 239-768-3602, info@artfestfortmyers.com

Opening night: Friday, Feb. 5

ArtFest starts the evening before the main weekend. The organizer’s opening night page lists it from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 5, 2027, on Edwards Drive at Hendry Street, with free general admission. About 90 of the festival’s 200 artists open their booths under specialty lighting, with food and drinks for sale.

The same night, the Gulf Coast Symphony plays Symphony on the Sound, a free pops concert at the Caloosa Sound Amphitheater across from the Luminary Hotel. It starts at 7 p.m. ArtFest says seating is limited, so bring a chair or a blanket. It also asks for no coolers and no outside food or drinks; the festival runs beverage tents and three food courts.

The festival weekend: Feb. 6-7

The festival guide describes a juried show with artists traveling from dozens of states. Beyond the artist booths:

  • Publix Art Yard: hands-on activities from local arts groups, including Florida Repertory Theatre, Gulf Coast Symphony, the Alliance for the Arts, the Fort Myers Mural Society and Char-Lee Weavers, plus a Community Stage with dancers and musicians.
  • Art Under 20: a high school art exhibit and competition with more than 300 student artists competing for $10,000 in prizes, shown in a lit tent all weekend.
  • Chalk Block: more than 40 teams from Lee County high schools and professional chalk artists painting on the pavement.
  • Art For All: an inclusive program run with LARC and Family Initiative, with an on-site sensory trailer.
  • Kids Tag Art: an exhibit of decorative license plates designed by Lee County fifth graders.
  • Publix Run to the Arts: a Sunday morning 5K run or walk, followed by breakfast. Registration is open on the ArtFest site.

Each year one festival artist’s work goes on the commemorative poster and T-shirts. ArtFest has announced its 2027 poster artist on its home page.

Parking, trolleys and getting there

ArtFest’s map and directions page says parking is spread across downtown: city parking garages, city streets and special ArtFest lots marked with colorful Event Parking signs and flags.

  • Free trolleys run between the parking lots and the festival along two routes all weekend. The LeeTran Downtown Trolley also runs on Saturday.
  • From McGregor Boulevard: the organizer suggests turning onto West First Street, where it lists six large parking lots and the free trolley.
  • From the south: take Fowler Street, or I-75 to Exit 138 (Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard) west into downtown.
  • From the north: take I-75 to Exit 141 (Palm Beach Boulevard) west, where Palm Beach becomes Bay Street, or use the Edison Bridge instead of the Caloosahatchee Bridge.
  • By bike: a free bike valet operates at Heitman and Bay streets. Bring a lock.
  • LeeTran Passport riders: ArtFest lists a drop-off and pickup point for the ADA service.

ArtFest has not published 2027 street closures. Opening night is set up on Edwards Drive at Hendry Street; check the map page in the week before the festival.

VIP Club and tickets

The festival itself is a street show, and the organizer lists no general admission ticket for the weekend. The paid option is the VIP Club. ArtFest’s VIP page says 2027 tickets go on sale in fall 2026. For reference, the 2026 VIP Club was $135 per person early and $150 from Jan. 1, 2026, and included reserved parking near the festival all three days, the Friday opening night party, VIP seating at the Friday concert, weekend brunch, drinks and private indoor restrooms.

What to know

  • Chairs: bring your own for the Friday concert; seating is limited.
  • Food: buy it on site. The concert area allows no coolers and no outside food or drinks.
  • Pets: the festival’s pages do not address dogs. Ask ArtFest at 239-768-3602 before you bring one.
  • Weather: ArtFest has not published a rain date; it is an outdoor festival on the river.
  • Volunteers work four-hour shifts and get training; sign up on the volunteer page.

Later in February, the Edison Festival of Light brings its parades downtown. See our Edison Festival of Light guide, and for the rest of the season, things to do in Fort Myers and the River District guide.

Frequently asked questions

When is ArtFest Fort Myers 2027?

Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 6-7, 2027, on the waterfront in downtown Fort Myers. Opening night is Friday, Feb. 5, from 6 to 9 p.m., according to ArtFest Fort Myers.

Is ArtFest Fort Myers free?

ArtFest says general admission to Friday’s opening night is free, and so is the Gulf Coast Symphony’s Symphony on the Sound pops concert at 7 p.m. that night. The VIP Club is a paid ticket.

Where do I park for ArtFest Fort Myers?

ArtFest lists city garages, street parking and special ArtFest lots marked with Event Parking signs, with free trolleys from the lots along two routes all weekend. The GPS address it gives is 1375 Monroe St.

How much is the ArtFest VIP Club?

ArtFest says 2027 VIP Club tickets go on sale in fall 2026. For 2026 it charged $135 per person early and $150 from Jan. 1, with reserved parking all three days.

How big is ArtFest Fort Myers?

ArtFest says more than 90,000 people come to the riverfront on the first weekend in February, and only one in five artists who apply are invited.