GALLERY&GIFT SHOP HOURS:
Tuesday - Saturday 11a.m.– 3 p.m.
Sunday, Monday - Closed
LOCATION
The Toledo Artists' Club
5403 Elmer Drive
Toledo, OH 43615
(Located inside the Toledo Botanical Garden)
Back, Reimagined, and Free:
The Toledo Festival of the Arts Comeback Tour
Saturday, June 27, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Sunday, June 28, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The Toledo Festival of the Arts is making its biggest change yet—admission is free.
After six decades of bringing artists and art lovers together, one of Northwest Ohio's most beloved cultural traditions is embarking on a true comeback tour. Back with a renewed vision, a new location, expanded programming, and free admission for all, the Toledo Festival of the Arts is reintroducing itself to the community while honoring its rich history.
Since its beginnings as the Rose Garden Art Festival, the event has evolved through several names-including the Toledo Festival of the Arts and the Crosby Festival of the Arts—before returning to its original identity as the Toledo Festival of the Arts. The festival has also journeyed from its downtown Toledo roots to its longtime home at Toledo Botanical Garden, where it continues to grow and adapt for future generations.
This year marks another exciting chapter as the festival relocates within the Garden from the Elmer Drive entrance to a new site at the Bancroft Street entrance. Set among the Garden's beautiful Prairie Exhibit, the new festival location offers easier access for artists and visitors, improved drainage in the event of rain, full accessibility for guests with disabilities, and reduced impact on the Garden's grounds and landscaping.
Presented by the Toledo Artist Club, the 2026 Toledo Festival of the Arts will feature more than 130 artists exhibiting original works in a wide variety of mediums. Visitors will also enjoy food trucks, beer and wine, soft drinks, live artist demonstrations, and family-friendly activities throughout the weekend.
The comeback extends beyond the festival grounds. At the Elmer Drive entrance, the Toledo Artist Club will open its doors to visitors, showcasing its classrooms and featuring its current exhibit, "Birds, Bugs and Blooms," in its art gallery.

For the first time during the festival, the Artist Village guilds will also be open to the public. Visitors can explore pottery, glassblowing, photography, and other artistic disciplines while visiting the Unruly Arts Studio, which showcases the creativity and talents of artists with disabilities.
Throughout Toledo Botanical Garden, plein air painters will capture the beauty of the landscape, while guests are encouraged to explore the Garden's many attractions, including the Rose Garden, Herb Garden, Hosta Garden, and numerous specialty collections.
The biggest headline of all is that admission is now free, opening the festival to more families, more visitors, and more opportunities to experience art, creativity, and community.
Visitors to the festival are encouraged to take advantage of convenient shuttle service provided by TARTA from the Meijer store on Central Avenue. The shuttle operates throughout festival hours, with rides available for $3 as part of TARTA's all-day pass program.
To help ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all attendees, security throughout the festival grounds will be provided by the Rangers of the Metroparks Toledo, who are certified Ohio peace officers.
After 60 years, the Toledo Festival of the Arts is proving that great traditions can evolve while staying true to their roots. Back with a new look, a new location, and free admission for everyone, this year's festival is more than an event—it's a comeback tour for one of Toledo's most cherished cultural celebrations.
For more information contact the Toledo Artist Club at 419-531-4079 or email to info@toledoartistclub.com.
Art Festival Tradition To continue
at Toledo Botanical Garden, June 27-28, 2026
The Toledo Artist Club and Gallery is proud to announce it will be continuing the tradition of a Fine Arts Festival at Toledo Botanical Garden, located at 5403 Elmer Drive, Toledo, Ohio. The club, also located in the garden, will present “The Toledo Festival Of The Arts,” to be held at Toledo Botanical Garden on June 27 through June 28, 2026. The club will host over 175 artists in what will be the 60th year such an event has been held.
“The club is really returning to its roots,” said Paul Lyon, President of the Toledo Artists Club and Gallery. He continued, “The club is over 80 years old with a rich history of promoting outdoor shows. We held the first in 1941, which was known as The Outdoor Art Jubilee, and this show continued into the 1990’s. The Club also started a large outdoor show called the Rose Garden Art Festival in 1966 in downtown Toledo in conjunction with the Toledo Department of Forestry. The Rose Garden Arts Festival, which ran from 1966 to 1970 in the downtown area and later in the 1970’s moved to Crosby Park and became known as the Toledo Festival of the Arts. As Crosby Park evolved into Toledo Botanical Garden in the
1980’s, so too did the show, which evolved into the Crosby Festival of the Arts.”
Lyon stated, “The Club wants this year’s show to focus on local and regional artists, and this is why we are returning its original name, The Toledo Festival of the Arts. We will also be hosting a historical retrospective of the works of great Toledo Artists in our gallery during the festival.” The club will offer free admission to the show in the hopes of promoting the arts to a wider audience in the greater Toledo area. Registration is currently open for artists seeking to enter the festival on the website, zapplication.org. Artists should search for “The Toledo Festival of the Arts,” Toledo, Ohio, on the website. The juried entry fee for the festival is $35, and all artists in various mediums are encouraged to apply. More updates will be forthcoming from the club as preparations begin for the 2026 Art Festival. For more information, contact the Toledo Artist Club at 419-531-4079 or
email info@toledoartistclub.com.

What is gouache?
Gouache (pronounced “gwash”) is a type of paint that’s similar to watercolor but thicker and more opaque.
What makes gouache special
- Opaque finish – Unlike watercolor, which is transparent, gouache covers what’s underneath, so you can paint light colors over dark ones.
- Matte look – It dries to a flat, non-shiny surface.
- Water-based – You can thin it with water and clean it up easily.
- Reactivates with water – Even after drying, you can re-wet and adjust it.
What it’s made of
Gouache is basically:
- pigment (color)
- water
- a binder (usually gum arabic, like watercolor)
- sometimes chalk or white pigment to increase opacity
How it compares
- vs. watercolor: thicker, more solid coverage
- vs. acrylic: dries matte and can be reworked with water (acrylic cannot)
Elaine's Little Picassos Summer Art Camp 2026
ages 7-12
July 6-10, 9:30 am - 12:30 pm

fee $85
Registration required
contact Elaine to register
Kick off
creativity and connection.
join one of our artist groups!
Monday Morning Painters
Thursday Morning Painters
CLASSES AND
WORKSHOPS
The Toledo Artists’ Club has made it a priority to offer classes and workshops for both children and adults.
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Toledo Artists’ Club members' work consistently wins recognition for creativity and craftsmanship in galleries, exhibitions, and shows. Our In the Limelight page showcases their work and their artistic journey.
EXHIBITIONS
AFFILIATES and SPONSORS
Made possible in part with support and funding from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds administered by The Arts Commission of Greater Toledo.