Show Review of the Month Loring Park Art Festival

March 2025, by Angie Landsverk

July 29-30, 2023; Loring Park Art Festival, Minneapolis, MN. Contact: Artists for Artists, Pat Parnow, 4305 Elliot Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55407; Phone: 612-203-9911; Email: info@loringparkartfestival.com; Website: www.loringparkartfestival.com; Application fee: $35; Space fees: $300 to $600; Space sizes: 12x12 to 12x24; 100% outdoors; Exhibitors: 140; Attendance estimate: 25,000. 

Compiled from FastAudit reviews 

The Loring Park Art Festival ranked FA32 in 2023’s 200 Best list. Of the artists who reviewed 2023’s festival, 92% said they would exhibit in it again. 

An artist who did not list a medium reported sales of $2,000 and said, “The organizers are extremely nice and helpful. The setup and teardown were easy. You could park right up to your placement. The weather was great, just in time. There were tons of people. My art starts at $350, so I didn't expect to sell out, but I did expect more sales. With that said, you can never tell who is going to walk in and buy.” 

A mixed media artist who made $1,600 has done the show since it started in 2000 and so has a wonderful following. “The staff is wonderful and very helpful,” the artist said. “It’s my favorite show of the summer season.” The artist said the show’s setting and staff are incredible, and it has people from throughout the world. 

An artist whose mediums are fine art and mixed media would participate again. The artist made $4,000 at this year’s festival. 

One sculpture artist had sales of $1,800 and said the show has a beautiful setting and steady crowd. “This is a well-run show. The promoters do a great job getting the word out,” the artist said. “I have found that the sales vary a lot on this show so this year was a little down but, I am hopeful it would be up another year.” 

An artist whose medium was drawing said the venue’s location is perfect. This artist made $2,500. 

“It is one of my favorite art shows! Beautiful park, great show organized by amazing people!” said an artist whose medium was painting. “I love the atmosphere and all the coordinators of the show.” This artist had $3,000 in sales. 

A jewelry artist who made $5,000 wants to be invited back. 

However, a different jewelry artist was disappointed in sales and will not participate again. “This show has a great committee. I didn't see any buyers,” said the artist who made about $415. 

An artist whose medium was drawing reported close to $900 in sales and would return due to the show’s great crowd and location. 

“This is a great show!” said a jewelry artist whose sales totaled $2,000. The artist said sales could have been better, but there was a lot of jewelry — as always. 

The sales total for another jewelry artist was $3,000, and this artist would also participate again. 

An artist whose mediums are drawing and jewelry did not report a sales total and would do the show again due to its “excellent venue, show organizer, and attendees.” 

Promoter’s Self‑Review 

An estimated 25,000 to 30,000 people attended the Loring Park Art Festival. “The weather was about as perfect as can be for the end of July in Minnesota — reasonable temperatures, comfortable humidity, with a brief, heavy rain shower during setup late Friday afternoon,” said Cindy Jacobson, the event’s assistant director. 

She said, “Our staff is absolutely our ‘dream team,’ five hardworking, competent, and enthusiastic young people who have been with us for three years. There was excellent TV and radio coverage before and during the fair, no medical emergencies or lost kiddos during the weekend — all in all, an ideal festival.” 

Jacobson shared some of the feedback received from artists. “Phenomenal” was what one artist said. It was “another stellar year” for a different artist. 

Another artist said, “Thank you so much for running a fun show in a beautiful setting. I only wish I had applied years ago!” 

Jacobson said many artists commented on how helpful the booth sitters and staff were, feeling they were well taken care of during the two days. 

She said something learned at the show that will improve future shows was the need for more handicap-accessible parking. “We continue to listen to artists’ suggestions and implement what is feasible,” Jacobson said. “Having a variety of food options in two to three places helps the artists that are farther away from the main picnic area. We need to have our free water refill station more visible — maybe a couple of stations in the park.” 

The best improvement they made this year others might learn from was having a variety of activities for families and children. “Some were free, and a quality face painter was a huge hit. A wide range of music that works to add to the ambiance, strolling sax, guitar duo, etc., on a park bench — keeping the volume reasonable for artists to carry on conversations with their customers,” Jacobson said. 

Her message to those considering this show in the future is, “Loring Park in Minneapolis is a gorgeous location for an art fair. It’s a vibrant downtown park, and the general public is very enthusiastic about supporting the festival. We’ve been in the top 100 fine art festivals in the nation since 2004, thanks to Sunshine Artist magazine.”