The annual Downtown Stuart Art & Craft Festival draws hundreds or more each year. TCPalm reporter Keith Burbank was one this year.
Stuart has amazing beaches, places to fish and regional parks
Stuart has tons of things to do from fishing and sailing to hiking at Halpatiokee Regional Park to tanning at Bathtub Beach.
- and 23, 2025.
- The festival was born from interest and success in the annual Downtown Stuart Art Festival, which will hold its 36th consecutive show in 2026.
- The arts-and-crafts festival also came to Stuart because the show’s founders, Howard and Debbie Alan, fell in love with the city.
Martin County watchdog reporter Keith Burbank returned to the Treasure Coast following a 20-year hiatus, and these days he enjoys art festivals such as the annual Downtown Stuart Art & Craft Festival.
Q: Why do you enjoy art festivals?
Art festivals are inspiring because of the craftmanship and beauty expressed in the arts. Artwork is inspirational. I went with my mother Rosary on that sunny and cool Saturday for two or three hours to enjoy the art, crafts and weather.
Q: Where is it held; when is the next one?
The Stuart Art & Craft Festival held its 28th annual event March 22 and 23 along Osceola Street. The 2026 event has yet to be scheduled.
Q: Describe this event or festival. What would patrons see if they attended?
Artists and crafts persons displayed and sold paintings, jewelry and clothing among other items. Food was available from street vendors as well as the shops along Osceola Street.
Osceola Street is part of historic downtown Stuart, which may soon be on the National Register of Historic Places.
The festival is one of the spring’s most anticipated events in Martin County each year, according to Howard Alan Events, which puts on the show and has since its inception.
This year Stuart Main Street, which advocates for a vibrant downtown and the Downtown Business Association provided support, helping draw thousands of people on Saturday.
People were jockeying at times for a view of the art and crafts. It’s a festival small enough to walk through but large enough to make it worth the visit.
Attendees looking to buy art or crafts could find a plethora of opportunities from artists and crafters from across the U.S.
Q: What’s the history of this nearly 30-year-old event.
The art-and-crafts festival sprung from the success Howard Alan Events had with the Downtown Stuart Art Festival 35 years ago, said Elizabeth Dashiell, spokesperson for the company.
The art show was such a success, people wanted more, Dashiell said.
Before its shows in Stuart, Howard Alan Events first put on shows in Boca Raton and Fort Lauderdale.
Boca Fest was the first show by Howard Alan Events, founded by Howard and Debbie Alan. The following year the Alans started a show in Fort Lauderdale, and at some point, fell in love with Northern Palm Beach County, particularly Jupiter and Juno Beach, Dashiell said.
They also fell in love with Stuart, she said.
Stuart and Martin County, Dashiell said, was just “wild and scenic and beautiful.”
Artists working in Stuart, she said, were inspired by the area’s “natural beauty, which was relatively untouched.”
Martin County’s arts scene fosters artists, and the shows provide them with a place to show the public what they’ve worked on all year, she added.
Q: Who attends, or what demographic is the festival geared toward?
The festival is geared toward adults and families. If you bring young children, you’ll probably want to keep a close eye on them.
Q: The Downtown Stuart Art & Craft Festival is free.
Keith Burbank is TCPalm’s watchdog reporter covering Martin County. He can be reached at keith.burbank@tcpalm.com and at 720-288-6882.
