The 53rd Annual Bartow Bloomin’ Arts Festival will be hosted by the Bartow Art Guild, City of Bartow, Greater Bartow Chamber of Commerce, and Mainstreet Bartow, Inc. on March 2 & 3, 2024. After being one of the major sponsors for well over 20 years, the Frost Law Firm, P.A. is its PRESENTER for the tenth year in a row.
Approximately $15,000 will be offered in prizes and purchase awards, with Best of Show being $2,250. There are 12 other prizes ranging from $150 to $1,500 each, and $1,100 in prizes for student artists including $300 for High School Best of Show.
In addition to the exhibits and sales by artists and fine craft persons, the show will feature a Classic Car Show and Bloomin’ Bike Ride on Saturday, Children’s Tent with complimentary balloons and hands-on art activities both days, food trucks and free entertainment.
The Bartow Bloomin’ Arts Festival is presented by Frost Law Firm, P.A. D-R Media Group is a Sponsor; Benefactors are Bartow Ford, Citizens Bank and Trust, Mosaic and SouthState Bank; Clear Springs is a Patron.
General Festival
Saturday, March 2nd and Sunday, March 3rd, 9am – 4 pm
Student Art Show
100 Block of East Davidson on the north side of the Polk County History Center
Bartow Art Guild Plein Air Quick Draw
Preregistration is $20 via https://www.bartowartguild.com/shop
Saturday, March 2nd On-site Registration $25 & Preview 8am-9am Art Guild Tent on S. Central Ave.
Painting/Drawing 9am-11am throughout Festival grounds; 11am-11:30 Artists return completed works to Art Guild tent
11:30am-12:30pm voting for Peoples’ Choice Award at Art Guild tent with Awards presented at 1:00pm
Bloomin’ Bike Ride – 62 & 35 mile road tours & 17 mile family fun ride to choose from
Saturday, March 2nd – 8 am – at Front Page Brewing – Registration opens at 7am
Bloomin’ Car Show
Saturday, March 2nd, 9 am – 3 pm
Broadway Avenue
Sponsored by Kelly Buick GMC
Bloomin’ Quilt Show
Saturday, March 2nd 10am – 4pm and Sunday, March 3rd 10am – 2pm
Indoors – NE Corner of Central Ave and Davidson
Sponsored by SouthState Bank
Bartow Garden Club Caladium Sale and FREE Children’s Nature Activity
Saturday, March 2nd 11am-3pm
Space # 85 on the East side of South Central Ave.
Caricature and Henna Artists*
Saturday March 2nd and Sunday March 3rd – ongoing, spaced throughout the show *Fee for service
Children’s Tent – ALL FREE
Saturday, March 2nd, noon – 3 pm and Sunday, March 3rd noon – 3 pm
Includes art activities led by art teacher Heidi Wineland, balloons designed by Deco-Twist Balloon Art, and face-painting by the Lakeland Arts Association!
100 Block of East Davidson on the north side of the Polk County History Center
Sponsored by Mosaic
Entertainment – Sponsored by Bartow Ford
At the Entertainment Stage on East Davidson
Saturday, March 2nd:
11:00 Union Academy Bluegrass Band
Noon Backstage Theater Production Company
1:00 Deborah Brister
2:00 Tom Mizell
3:00 Samira Belly Dancers
7:00–10:00pm Bloomin’ Saturday Night at Front Page Brewing featuringMike Monts De Oca 190 S Florida Ave.
Sunday, March 3rd
Noon Florida Southern College Chamber Jazz Ensemble
Kid’s Tag Art – Polk County Tax Collector Joe Tedder
Saturday, March 2nd and Sunday, March 3rd, 9am – 4 pm
South Central Ave., West side
Food Trucks
Saturday, March 2nd, 9 am – 4 pm and Sunday, March 3rd, 9 am – 4 pm
Wilson Ave. between Davidson and Summerlin
Sponsored by Citizens Bank and Trust
- Alston’s Chicken
- Coach Eddie’s Backyard BBQ
- Cray’s Kettle Korn
- Kona Ice
- Life’s Lemons
- SB & B Seafood
- AND MORE!!!
Student Awards Ceremony Adults Awards Ceremony
Saturday, March 2nd – 3:30 pm Sunday, March 3rd – 3 pm
South steps of Polk County History Center Entertainment Stage on 100 block of E. Davidson