Join us for the inaugural Emmet Park Fall Arts Festival, September 25–26, 2027, in Savannah's beautiful Historic Waterfront District. Nestled beneath majestic live oaks draped in Spanish moss and overlooking the Savannah River, historic Emmet Park provides a stunning setting for this two-day celebration of fine art and fine craftsmanship. The festival offers artists an exceptional opportunity to connect with Savannah residents, art enthusiasts, collectors, and visitors from around the world.
Key Dates & Deadlines
Submission deadline: July 7, 2027
Accept applications: November 4, 2026
Wait List Released: August 15, 2027 (or as deemed necessary by the event Director)
Load In Dates: September 24, 2027 (Friday morning)
Event Dates: September 25–26, 2027 (Saturday/Sunday)
Artist Selection & Artwork Guidelines
Artists are selected through a jury process emphasizing originality, craftsmanship, artistic merit, and professional presentation. All artwork must be original and created by the exhibiting artist. Commercially manufactured merchandise, imported goods, and mass-produced items are not permitted. Prohibited items include T-shirts and commercial clothing, posters, manufactured toys, commercially manufactured or reproduced items (resale), jewelry made from more than 50% manufactured components, and any item that employs the use of commercially available molds or patterns.
Categories
2-D Mixed Media: Includes more than one type of physical material such as collage, papermaking, encaustic, pen and ink, paint, pencil, watercolor, or photography. The finished art is suitable for wall mounting.
3-D Mixed Media: Includes more than one type of physical material such as mosaic, papier mache, clay, fiber, glass, metal, wood, or any other 3-dimensional objects.
Ceramics: Original shaped and fired clay including earthenware, porcelain, and raku.
Digital Art: Two-dimensional works from which the original image is manipulated by the artist using a computer using programs such as Drawing, Illustrator, Paint, or other software applications.
Drawing & Printmaking: Original drawings made with pen, pencil, charcoal, pastels, or chalk. The printmaking process may include pulled plates, linoleum prints, etching, engraving, silkscreen, or lithography. All prints must be signed and numbered by the artist. Photocopies are not permitted.
Every listing links to the organizer's official page. Always confirm deadlines, fees, and entry rules there before you apply.
Edibles: Handmade items such as jam, sauce, baked goods, etc. that are pre-packaged and not prepared on-site.
Fiber: Works created from fibers including basketry, batik, weaving, papermaking, knitting, and quilting. An embellishment of manufactured materials is not permitted.
Glass: An object made of glass including blown, fused, stained, cast, and molded. An embellishment of manufactured materials is not permitted.
Handcraft: Handmade items made by the artist from manufactured, recycled, or repurposed materials transforming the combined materials into a unique product into a cohesive collection. A complete description of items is required.
Jewelry: All Jewelry is crafted from metal, glass, stone, clay, or other materials. Commercial molds or casts are not permitted. At least 50% of the organic materials in the finished product used must be produced by the artist.
Metal: Functional and non-sculptural works incorporating metal.
Painting: The use of oils, acrylics, watercolors, and tempera suitable for hanging.
Photography: Prints, transparencies, or digital images made from the artist's original negative or taken with a digital camera that has been processed by the artist.
Sculpture: Three-dimensional work is done in any individual medium.
Wood & Furniture: Original works in wood that are built, turned, carved, or tooled. Embellished manufactured wood items are not permitted.
Licenses
First-time attendees require a City of Savannah Business License ($85, good for 1 calendar year). Artists living in a county that immediately surrounds Chatham county are exempt. Artists should list the event address as their business address.
Festival Logistics
Designated 10' x 10' artist spaces.
Organized booth layout and on-site festival management.
Load-in is a dolly/wagon event; parking is close by.
Water will be provided for artists on Saturday and Sunday.
Booth Sitters are available during event hours upon request (limited basis).
Designated Festival Hotline available during event hours.
Friday load-in (Friday only load-in).
24-hour on-site security.
Food Booth Requirements
This venue cannot accommodate food trucks. All food booths must register successfully with Savannah DPH and submit their business license and all required DPH paperwork. This process should start no later than 6 weeks prior to our event and/or immediately upon acceptance. Honey booths are not accepted as they are outside the department of agriculture and certification to sell at our events cannot be completed.
Parking
Parking is $2.50 per hour from 8am-8pm in city-owned spaces in a nearby lot. $5 daily parking is available at the Savannah Convention Center, accessible by the Savannah Belles Ferry, which runs approximately every 15 minutes from 7am-10pm and drops off directly at the venue at the Hyatt on River Street.
Policies
Waitlist: A waitlist will be maintained. Selected wait-listed artists may be contacted when the Wait List is released one day prior to the event date. Late applications may be accepted at the discretion of the Director and included on the Wait List.
No Show Policy: Artists who have not checked in and/or called the Festival Emergency Number by Friday at 8:00 a.m. will be considered a 'no-show'. No Show artists are not eligible for refunds. Assigned space(s) will be forfeited to a wait-list artist.
Rain or Shine: There will be no 'rain date' and fees will not be refunded in the case of inclement weather. The event will take place rain or shine.
Sales Tax: Artists are responsible for collecting and reporting Sales Tax. Sales Tax reporting documents are provided to participating artists at check-in at the event.