Practice the Art of Watching Paint Come to Life — A Warm-Up to the NC Plein Air Art Festival New Bern Historic Society Heritage Homes Tour May 1 & 2, 2026 | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM Daily A self-guided […]
Locate artists in the field with the En Plein Air Artists locator app - Free download in both Google Play Store and Apple Apps. Grab your hat, sunscreen, (or umbrella) along with a lawn chair and watch in real […]
Watch Art Happen — Live! Durre Waseem creates an original work of art live and in full view. Bring a hat, sunscreen, and a lawn chair, and enjoy a front-row seat as the artwork comes to life from start to […]
Festival Headquarters and Main Exhibition GalleryHistoric New Bern Farmers Market 421 S Front Street, New Bern, NC(Less than two blocks from Tryon Palace) The NC Plein Air Art Festival Exhibition and Sales Gallery is centrally located at Historic New Bern’s […]
Guest speaker TBA Soon This is your chance to ask questions to last year's top award winners and jurors: • How are artists chosen? • What criteria are considered by the selection jurors in reviewing applications? • What award selection […]
Dueling Brushes Monday, May 11, 2026 | 5:30–8:00 PMNew Bern Farmers Market Get ready for one of the most exciting nights of the week—Dueling Brushes, a fast-paced, live painting competition where creativity meets strategy and teamwork. Featured artists, grouped into […]
Watch Art Happen — Live! Jill Banks creates an original work of art live and in full view. Bring a hat, sunscreen, and a lawn chair, and enjoy a front-row seat as the artwork comes to life from start to […]
Watch Art Happen — Live! Rajendra KC creates an original work of art live and in full view. Bring a hat, sunscreen, and a lawn chair, and enjoy a front-row seat as the artwork comes to life from start to […]
Locate artists in the field with the En Plein Air Artists locator app - Free download in both Google Play Store and Apple Apps. Grab your hat, sunscreen, (or umbrella) along with a lawn chair and watch in real […]
Paint alongside. Learn deeply. See differently. May 12, 13 & 14, 2026 With decades of experience as a professional artist and a distinguished history in plein air painting, award-winning painter John T. Eiseman offers a rare opportunity to engage in […]
Festival Headquarters and Main Exhibition GalleryHistoric New Bern Farmers Market 421 S Front Street, New Bern, NC(Less than two blocks from Tryon Palace) The NC Plein Air Art Festival Exhibition and Sales Gallery is centrally located at Historic New Bern’s […]
Guest speaker TBA Soon This is your chance to ask questions to last year's top award winners and jurors: • How are artists chosen? • What criteria are considered by the selection jurors in reviewing applications? • What award selection […]
Watch Art Happen — Live! Natalia Andreeva creates an original work of art live and in full view. Bring a hat, sunscreen, and a lawn chair, and enjoy a front-row seat as the artwork comes to life from start to […]
So you can't draw a stick figure? That's OK. There are no stick figures on the list of things to draw. Whether you are a beginner or more advanced, come with paper and pen/pencil in hand and get some tips […]
Watch Art Happen — Live! Karen Lee Crenshaw creates an original work of art live and in full view. Bring a hat, sunscreen, and a lawn chair, and enjoy a front-row seat as the artwork comes to life from start […]
Watch Art Happen — Live! Rokhaya Waring creates an original work of art live and in full view. Bring a hat, sunscreen, and a lawn chair, and enjoy a front-row seat as the artwork comes to life from start to […]
Watch Art Happen — Live! Sarah Baskin creates an original work of art live and in full view. Bring a hat, sunscreen, and a lawn chair, and enjoy a front-row seat as the artwork comes to life from start to […]
Festival Headquarters and Main Exhibition GalleryHistoric New Bern Farmers Market 421 S Front Street, New Bern, NC(Less than two blocks from Tryon Palace) The NC Plein Air Art Festival Exhibition and Sales Gallery is centrally located at Historic New Bern’s […]
Watch Art Happen — Live! creates an original work of art live and in full view. Bring a hat, sunscreen, and a lawn chair, and enjoy a front-row seat as the artwork comes to life from start to finish. Meet […]
Watch Art Happen — Live! Katie Dobson-Cundiff creates an original work of art live and in full view. Bring a hat, sunscreen, and a lawn chair, and enjoy a front-row seat as the artwork comes to life from start to […]
Guest speaker TBA Soon This is your chance to ask questions to last year's top award winners and jurors: • How are artists chosen? • What criteria are considered by the selection jurors in reviewing applications? • What award selection […]
Watch Art Happen — Live! M.T. McClanahan creates an original work of art live and in full view. Bring a hat, sunscreen, and a lawn chair, and enjoy a front-row seat as the artwork comes to life from start to […]
Watch Art Happen — Live! Karl Bostwick creates an original work of art live and in full view. Bring a hat, sunscreen, and a lawn chair, and enjoy a front-row seat as the artwork comes to life from start to […]
Watch Art Happen — Live! Cory Wright creates an original work of art live and in full view. Bring a hat, sunscreen, and a lawn chair, and enjoy a front-row seat as the artwork comes to life from start to […]
North Carolina Plein Air Art Festival Comes to Beaufort Live Outdoor Painting, Gallery Sales & Reception | May 14–15, 2026 Beaufort, North Carolina — As part of the North Carolina Plein Air Art Festival, Beaufort will host two vibrant days […]
Locate artists in the field with the En Plein Air Artists locator app - Free download in both Google Play Store and Apple Apps. Grab your hat, sunscreen, (or umbrella) along with a lawn chair and watch in real […]
Festival Headquarters and Main Exhibition GalleryHistoric New Bern Farmers Market 421 S Front Street, New Bern, NC(Less than two blocks from Tryon Palace) The NC Plein Air Art Festival Exhibition and Sales Gallery is centrally located at Historic New Bern’s […]
Watch Art Happen — Live! Jeff Steiner creates an original work of art live and in full view. Bring a hat, sunscreen, and a lawn chair, and enjoy a front-row seat as the artwork comes to life from start to […]
Guest speaker TBA Soon This is your chance to ask questions to last year's top award winners and jurors: • How are artists chosen? • What criteria are considered by the selection jurors in reviewing applications? • What award selection […]
Watch Art Happen — Live! Armand Cabrera creates an original work of art live and in full view. Bring a hat, sunscreen, and a lawn chair, and enjoy a front-row seat as the artwork comes to life from start to […]
Watch Art Happen — Live! Lori Keith Robinson creates an original work of art live and in full view. Bring a hat, sunscreen, and a lawn chair, and enjoy a front-row seat as the artwork comes to life from start […]
So you can't draw a stick figure? That's OK. There are no stick figures on the list of things to draw. Whether you are a beginner or more advanced, come with paper and pen/pencil in hand and get some tips […]
Our roster of artists will split up for May 14 & 15, with half of the roster remaining in New Bern - Craven County and the other half in Beaufort....attending each day ensures you have a chance to see all […]
Festival Headquarters and Main Exhibition GalleryHistoric New Bern Farmers Market 421 S Front Street, New Bern, NC(Less than two blocks from Tryon Palace) The NC Plein Air Art Festival Exhibition and Sales Gallery is centrally located at Historic New Bern’s […]
Watch Art Happen — Live! Oleg Shvets creates an original work of art live and in full view. Bring a hat, sunscreen, and a lawn chair, and enjoy a front-row seat as the artwork comes to life from start to […]
Watch Art Happen — Live! Adam Houston creates an original work of art live and in full view. Bring a hat, sunscreen, and a lawn chair, and enjoy a front-row seat as the artwork comes to life from start to […]
Guest speaker TBA Soon This is your chance to ask questions to last year's top award winners and jurors: • How are artists chosen? • What criteria are considered by the selection jurors in reviewing applications? • What award selection […]
Watch Art Happen — Live! Jim Rehak creates an original work of art live and in full view. Bring a hat, sunscreen, and a lawn chair, and enjoy a front-row seat as the artwork comes to life from start to […]
Watch Art Happen — Live! Pearl Horng creates an original work of art live and in full view. Bring a hat, sunscreen, and a lawn chair, and enjoy a front-row seat as the artwork comes to life from start to […]
Youth Plein Air Workshop In partnership with Art House Art Studio Sponsored by Seeds of Art nonprofit The NC Plein Air Art Festival is proud to present the Annual Youth Plein Air Workshop, a hands-on creative experience introducing young […]
GALLERY CLOSED FOR JUDGING- 3:00 PM-6:00 PM (Ticketed Reception 5 PM-6:00 PM - -REOPENS TO PUBLIC 6:00 PM Festival headquarters, and the NC Plein Air Art Festival Exhibition and Sales Gallery will be based at Historic New Bern’s Farmers Market, […]
🎨 VIP Passport Competition Preview An Exclusive First Look at 40+ Newly Revealed Works Saturday, May 16 • 5:00–6:00 PM The anticipation builds all week — and on Saturday afternoon, everything changes. Just hours before the preview begins, the artists […]
Saturday, May 16 • 6:00–8:00 PMOpen to the Public At 6:00 PM, the doors open wide — and the decisive moment arrives. Just hours earlier, artists stood in the gallery making final adjustments — refining placements, reconsidering sightlines, and preparing […]
Seeing Light Before You Paint May 17, 18, 19, 2026 This watercolor workshop is designed to give participants more than technical instruction—it provides multiple ways of thinking, seeing, and problem-solving that can be directly applied to capturing light in watercolor […]
Online Pre-registration will open January 20, 2026 $15.00 Open Adult (18+) FREE Youth Category (ages 10-17) 2026 Plein Air New Bern Quick Paint Event Agenda The North Carolina Plein Air Art Festival is pleased to host its 2025 Quick Paint […]
Festival Headquarters and Main Exhibition GalleryHistoric New Bern Farmers Market 421 S Front Street, New Bern, NC(Less than two blocks from Tryon Palace) The NC Plein Air Art Festival Exhibition and Sales Gallery is centrally located at Historic New Bern’s […]
Locate artists in the field with the En Plein Air Artists locator app - Free download in both Google Play Store and Apple Apps. Grab your hat, sunscreen, (or umbrella) along with a lawn chair, and join us in […]