Mount Dora Arts Festival
Eperience the excellence of the nationally ranked Mount Dora Arts Festival. Held each year on the first weekend in February, 300 juried, fine artists set up to exhibit and sell their unique, exquisite artwork on the streets of downtown Mount Dora, Florida.
The 2025 Presenting Sponsor is G3 Development. Thanks to their generosity, this event remains open and free to attend.
FAQ to ATTEND
WHEN is the Mount Dora Arts Festival?
The Mount Dora Arts Festival is held annually on the 1st weekend of February. The next event will be held on Saturday February 1, 2025 from 9am to 5pm and Sunday February 2, 2025 from 9am to 4pm.
WHERE is the festival held?
The festival is held on the streets of the historic walking district of downtown Mount Dora, Florida. You can GPS 510 N. Baker St, Mount Dora, FL to get close to the event. Once you see the barricades and tents, you know you have arrived.
FIND us
Is there an ENTRY FEE?
No, the event is FREE to attend. The Mount Dora Arts Festival is hosted by Mount Dora Center For the Arts, a non profit 501(c)3. There are DONATION boxes around the event area. PLEASE DONATE to help support the event while you are there.
NOW through April 30, your donations designated to MOUNT DORA CENTER FOR THE ARTS will be matched with 15% from United Arts of Central Florida.
THANK YOU for supporting Art in our community!
Is it PET Friendly?
Well behaved pets are allowed at the event but you are encouraged to leave Fido at home. The streets can get crowded and your dog may become uncomfortable. Some visitors are intimidated by dogs so be considerate of how your dog might be perceived by others. We want everyone to have a good experience at the event.
Is the event HC accessible?
Yes. The event is held on the streets of downtown Mount Dora, FL. HC parking is available behind City Hall at 510 N.Baker St. Spaces are limited. TIP: Your chances are better on Sundays or late in the day. The festival can be heavily attended during mid afternoon.
Do you have wheelchair/stroller rentals?
Sorry, wheelchairs, scooters and strollers are not available to rent at the event.
What else will there be besides Artist & Crafter booths?
There will be live music on Sat and Sun in Donnelly Park where you will find great festival food. Beer, wine and cocktails can be purchased at kiosks around the event area and carried around while you enjoy the beautiful art. Local shops will be open during the festival so take some time to explore the sidewalks too!
PARKING & Shuttles
Parking can be a challenge in historic downtown Mount Dora. Take the Shuttle offered at the empty lot located at 900 LINCOLN AVE Mount Dora, FL. (There are NO Shuttles from Mount Dora High School) You can also look around for residents parking cars in their yards. They typically charge a fee but its worth it to get close to the event.
TOUR BUS Parking
Tour Buses have a dedicated route to drop off/pick up guests and a remote lot location to stage and wait. Click HERE to get the bus route map.
Is there an ATM?
Yes there will be ATM’s set up in various locations inside of the event. Many exhibitors accept credit cards but with limited internet availability, having cash on hand is a good idea!
Is there a Kid Zone?
Face painters, henna artists, entertainment buskers and balloon artists may participate in the event but there is no designated kid zone.
2025 Poster Artist
Gary Hopcraft
Gary Hopcraft is a local artist who was born and raised in Mount Dora, Florida. Gary was one of the founding members of the Mount Dora Center for the Arts and helped to organize the very first Mount Dora Arts Festival in 1975. Festival poster images were introduced in 1980, and it was Gary who created the very first poster. Unfortunately, the poster images were not preserved until around 1985 and there is no record of the original artwork.
To celebrate the festival’s 50th year, Mount Dora Center for the Arts felt it befitting to ask Gary to come up with a poster image for the iconic event.
Gary’s inspiration for this year’s poster is “reflection” as we look back over 50 years of supporting thousands of artists through this now nationally recognized event.
Today, Gary continues to support the Art community by teaching classes, volunteering, and sitting on the board of Mount Dora Center for the Arts as an emeritus board member and advisor.
2025 Judges
Kimberly Watters
Kimberly Watters is a highly accomplished glass artist and educator based in Mount Dora, Florida. With a deep connection to her community, she has served as a board member for The Mount Dora Center for the Arts and has judged numerous local and national art events. She recently appeared on PBS as an expert on neurodiversity and the arts and is honored to be a judge for the 50th Annual Mount Dora Arts Festival.
Watters holds a BFA in Glass and a BS in Art Education from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, and an MFA in Glass Sculpture from Alfred University. She has studied internationally, including in Murano, Italy, and at Penland School of Crafts in North Carolina. Her artwork has been exhibited widely, including at Urban Glass in Brooklyn, Scope Art in Miami, and the Prague Czech Gallery of Glass.
As a Professor of Art at Beacon College in Leesburg, Florida, Watters has taught for over a decade, working with neurodivergent students. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes individual expression and the transformative power of art. As an artist, she creates sculptural works in glass that explore perception, light, and memory, inviting personal reflection from the viewer. Through both her art and her teaching, Watters is dedicated to helping others express themselves, find connection, and realize their creative potential.
Jennifer Coolidge
Jennifer Coolidge is an arts and non-profit consultant and curator who has spent her career working with artists and non-profit arts and social service organizations, most recently serving as the Director of Philanthropy for the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra and the Lead Curator for Mills Gallery in Winter Park.
During her 30 years of experience as an arts administrator, Ms. McInnes Coolidge has served as Director of Development for the University of Florida, College of the Arts, raising more than $9.5 million during her tenure; Executive Director for the Museum of Florida Art in DeLand; Executive Director of the Florida Alliance for Art Education; and in arts education and curatorial positions for ACA, Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art, and The Arts Council in Winston-Salem, N.C., among others. She has served on the Board of Directors for the Florida House in Washington, DC; and is past president of the Florida Alliance for Arts Education and the Volusia County Cultural Alliance. She currently serves on the FAAE Advisory Board and is a member of the Board of Directors for the Florida Cultural Alliance and the Florida, USA, Wakayama, Japan Cultural Association.
TOUR BUS ROUTE & STAGING MAP
