The Stillwater Arts Festival is a free, annual event held at the Prairie Arts Center in downtown Stillwater, Oklahoma. Celebrating its fourth decade, the festival will run April 17–18, with events scheduled from noon to 8 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday. Find up to 60 juried regional artists alongside live demonstrations, hands-on activities, and food trucks.
What to Experience at the Festival
Art from Regional Artists & a Featured Exhibition
Booths span oil and watercolor painting, jewelry, pottery, glass, photography, fibers, and metalwork. There's enough variety to suit collectors and casual browsers equally, and the juried format keeps the quality consistent.
This year's featured exhibition is Artist Telephone: each regional artist creates a new work in direct response to the piece before it, forming a visual chain.
Hands-On Activities, Farmers Market & Family Fun
Free artmaking stations inside the Prairie Arts Center are open throughout the festival so kids and adults alike can enjoy getting creative, with no registration required. Live demonstrations run alongside the booths, giving you a chance to watch the work come together and talk with the artist.
Saturday morning also brings the Stillwater Farmers Market to the festival grounds. It's a good reason to arrive early; the market wraps up before the afternoon crowd peaks.
Food Trucks & Local Dining
On-site food trucks cover lunch and snacks. For a sit-down meal, local options range from coffee shops to dinner spots. If you're curious about reliable pre- or post-festival options: Eskimo Joe's has been a lively beer-and-burger institution since 1975. A quieter alternative, Hideaway Pizza, has made its signature thin-crust pies since 1957.
Programming Across the Cultural District
The festival extends beyond Prairie Arts Center, with programming at the OSU Museum of Art, Block 34, Stonecloud Taproom, the Stillwater Public Library, and the Stillwater History Museum. Most sites are walkable from the main grounds.
Once you're done at the Arts Festival, stick around the Cultural District for the Public Library Used Books Sale (April 16-19) and the International Red Dirt Film Festival (April 17-19). Both are easy additions to your weekend, and just a short walk away.
Know Before You Go
Parking: Street parking is available near the Prairie Arts Center. Saturday is busier, arriving by 9 or 10 a.m. improves your chances of a close spot. Municipal overflow lots are nearby if street parking fills up.
Weather: Mid-April typically runs mid-60s to low 70s. Afternoons warm up and evenings cool quickly, so bring a light layer.
Accessibility: The Prairie Arts Center is ADA accessible. Contact the center ahead of the festival for specific accommodation needs.
Getting around: Cultural District venues are all within a short walk of Prairie Arts Center.
Make it a Full Weekend: OSU Orange Power
April 18 is also Orange Power Weekend at Oklahoma State University (OSU), with events including the Remember the Ten Run (8 a.m.), a free kids' football camp (noon), OSU softball, the Cowgirls Soccer game (3 p.m.), the spring football game at Boone Pickens Stadium (4 p.m.), and OSU baseball (6 p.m.) followed by a fireworks show. Combined with the arts festival, there's enough going on to justify staying the weekend.
If you're planning to stay overnight, a range of lodging options makes it easy to enjoy events, head out for dinner, and settle in for the night. To round out your weekend plans, you'll find plenty of things to do across Stillwater.
FAQs
Is the Stillwater Arts Festival free?
Yes — free for all visitors, both days.
Where is the festival located?
Prairie Arts Center, 1001 S. Duck Street, Stillwater, OK 74074.
Is it family friendly?
Yes. Free artmaking stations, live demos, the Farmers Market, and food trucks make it an easy day out with kids.
Where can I park?
Street parking surrounds the Prairie Arts Center. Arrive early on Saturday for the best spots.
Plan your visit and experience the Stillwater Arts Festival, from art booths to food trucks and live activities.
