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Table of Contents​

Festival Location. 1

On Site Contact Information. 2

Festival Eligibility and Rules 3

Booth Placement 3

Tent Specifications. 3

Jury Process. 4

Artist Check-In. 5

Parking. 5

Load-In Instructions. 6

Helpful Hints for a Smoother Load-In. 6

Security. 6

Festival Hours. 7

Load-Out Instructions. 7.

Booth Signs. 7

Artist Hospitality. 7

Sales Tax Information. 7

Artist Survey. 8

Amenities. 8.

Hotel Information 8 & 9

RV Park Information. 10

Helpful Information. 11

Restaurants. 12.

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Festival Location

• Address: Postoffice Street,  between 21ST  & 23rd Streets Galveston, Texas 77550

• Google Maps link: https://www.google.com/maps/@29.3051196,-94.7912,17z?hl=en

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On Site Contact Information ​

• Artist Support Hotline: 409-457-9780 contact Sarah Piel.

• Address Issues/ Requests in Person: Artist Check-In for booths will be located at the corner of 22nd Street and Postoffice Street in front of the McCrory Building starting Friday October 17, 2025 at 2:00pm and on Saturday October 18th, starting at 7:30 am. You will receive exhibitor badge, car window tag and parking tags at this time. There will be temporary parking available at each festival entrance while you are registering and unloading. Parking not provided on Friday. Your packet will include a site map indicating parking locations that are available for Saturday and Sunday.

 

 

Festival Eligibility and Rules

By paying for your booth and participating in ARToberFEST, you are agreeing to abide by the following rules:

 

Eligibility

• ARToberFEST is open to individual fine artists and craftsmen, displaying their own original work. Artists must be present at the festival.

• No kits, molds, or edible art may be submitted.

• Artist representatives and agents, or gallery owners, will not be eligible.

• Participation is limited to a maximum 125 juried artists.

• Only artists accepted in the jewelry category may display or sell jewelry.

• Prints exhibited by artists accepted in the graphics/printmaking category must be limited editions and properly signed and numbered. Reproductions of other 2-D work must be clearly labeled “Reproduction”.

• Ceramic works must be handmade by the artist. If multiple pieces of the same design are displayed, each must be signed.

• Participating exhibitors are responsible for collecting and paying current city and state sales tax for all sales made during the show.

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Booth Placement

• Returning artists may request previously assigned space but, specific space not guaranteed. Ultimately location is at the discretion of the festival organizer. New location requests must be on the application. Please do not send additional emails.

• Booth assignments for new artists are at the discretion of the festival organizers.

• Though we can’t guarantee all artists will receive their booth location choice, we make every effort to place the artist in the general location that is requested.

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Tent Specifications

• Each artist must supply their own 10’ x 10’ clean white tent. Exhibit space is approximately 10’ x 10’.

• Each artist’s tent will have at least 5’ of space on sides of tent to provide up to

3-sided customer access; the configuration is up to you.

• As the festival takes place on concrete streets, you must provide 50lbs weights for your booth for each leg of tent. October is a windy month, please be prepared. If your tent turns over in the middle of the night the event coordinator will call to let you know.

• In 2023 the Festival will provide and require some areas to have additional weights.​

 

Jury Process​

Each artist must provide four images of their work and one booth image.  Images are to be submitted through ZAPPlication . These images may be used to advertise the festival.  In the event that a booth is shared, each artist must register and submit images, and will be juried separately. Entries are juried in June and acceptance emails and letter will be sent out June. The jury process is for acceptance into the festival. Best of Show ribbons are awarded to artists that make a perfect score of 15. These artists will be exempt from the jury process for the following year but will have to pay for booth space. Artists who work in more than one medium must choose their "primary" work, with the option to submit additional images.

• The Fine Art Festival Industry at large does not allow galleries or artist’s representatives to show at juried art festivals, nor do we.

• Festival Hours: 10 am - 6 pm Saturday and 10 am to 5 pm on Sunday. Artists must be present in booth.

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Jury Information and Policies​

• Our panel consists of 3 jurors. All jurors are selected from local Community Arts Organizations based on their specific interests, professional knowledge and/or background.

• Jurors change with each event.

• Work is scored on a scale 1 to 5 with total score of 15. We require a score of 13 and above to participate.

• All images of work are viewed at the same time. Jurors are not shown the artists’ name or any other identifying information.

• Jurors are asked to review all applications.

• Applicants will be notified of event acceptance or decline status by email by date noted on application.

• The jurors’ decisions are conducted as a personal critique and as such, individual responses are not recorded.

• Best of Show ribbons will be given out to artists that scored a perfect 15 at artist check in.

 

 

Artist Check-In​

• Artist’s Presence Required: Artists must check-in for the event in person per festival rules; all Artists must be present on site during the entire festival.

• Contact Information

       At check-in, you will be required to provide mobile phone number in the event            of an emergency.

 

Times & Location to pick up artist packet and check-in:

TIMES:   Friday, October 17, 2025 from 2:00 pm to 9 pm or

   Saturday October 18, 2025, from 7:30am to 9:30 am

LOCATION: at the corner of 22nd and Postoffice in front of the McCrory Building.

Load in will NOT begin until all booth spaces are marked.

• Limited late arrivals Friday night: If you do not check-in and pick up your packet before 9 p.m. Friday night and plan to load-in before artist check-in opens Saturday morning, you will be considered a late arrival.

• We reserve the right to limit the number of late arrivals.

• In order to check in after 9pm on Friday, October 17, you will need to make advance arrangements with festival staff.  Galveston Police Department officers will be on site for security purposes. If arrangements for late set-up are not made in advance, Police Officers will not allow you to enter the festival area to set up. Officers will have a list, and they will be checking identification before allowing anyone into the festival area after hours to load in.

• If you are a late arrival, you will need to pick-up your artist packet with your required booth sign and badges from the check in desk at the corner of 22nd and Postoffice Street in front of the McCrory building on Saturday morning between 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

• Late check-in is discouraged. Festival staff will not be available to help you in case you have questions.

• Check In Friday, October 17, 2025 from 2:00 pm - 9:00 pm.  At the Information booth located on the corner of 22nd Street and Postoffice Street. In front of giant mural.

• Check In Saturday, October 18, 2025 from 7:30 am - 9:30 am.  At the Information booth located on the corner of 22nd Street and Postoffice Street. In front of giant mural.

• NO SET-UP IS ALLOWED AFTER 9:00 am OPENING DAY, Saturday October 18, 2025 All vehicles MUST be out of festival site no later than 9 am

 

Parking (Saturday, October 18 and Sunday October 19, 2025)​

• Festival Provided Parking

Reserved parking for artists will be located in parking lots located on map in your packet. You will be given one parking pass for each day and only one per paid booth space.  Parking tickets are provided with your welcome packet. Please keep track of your parking tickets as we cannot provide replacements. If you need additional parking for a trailer you must pay for that on your own. You may purchase at the information booth. The cost is $10 per space. Parking lots are in close proximity to the Festival. A parking map will be included in your packet.​

 

Load-In Instructions

General Rules & Procedures

Traffic is ONE-WAY on Postoffice Street

Please park as close as possible to your booth space; we realize this can be difficult sometimes. Please unload your stuff on sidewalk close to your booth and move your vehicle.

You have ONE hour to unload your vehicle. You will have a large name tag for your car dash board in your artist packet. Please put it in the window of your car. This will be monitored by festival staff and volunteers. Please unload your vehicle in a timely manner, move your vehicle as soon as you have unloaded your booth on the sidewalk and come back to finish set-up. Do not unload into someone else’s booth space or park on top of another artist booth.

PLEASE BE PATIENT AND CONSIDERATE OF YOUR FELLOW ARTISTS. With such a high volume of exhibiting artists arriving at one time, we need to work together to make load-in as smooth as possible.

All vehicles must be off site by 9pm Friday, October 17th No cars will be permitted after 9am on Saturday, October 19th, and no set-up is allowed after 9 am opening day.

• EVENING LOAD-IN on Friday October 17th, begins at 2:00pm or as soon as all booth spaces are marked. We will send an email if we are able to allow artist to set up earlier than 2:00pm.

You may not set up until all booth spaces are marked.

Vehicles are allowed to enter the festival for load-in through the main gate located at 23rd and Postoffice Street. Postoffice is a one-way street heading East.

You will also be able to enter the venue on 22nd and Church and 22nd  Market. All traffic on Postoffice Street moves East.

 

Helpful Hints for a Smoother Load-In

• Place large name tag on car dash. So we may be able to identify that you are with the Festival and who’s car it is.

• Once you have unloaded your vehicle, please move your vehicle out of the festival area as soon as possible. This will ease congestion.

• Do not unload your vehicle into someone else’s booth space. It’s Murphy’s Law that they will show up when you have your stuff piled in their booth area.

• Find your booth before you drive into the festival area for load-in and please drive slowly. Since the festival is on a one-way street, if you inadvertently pass your booth space, you will need to circle through the area again.

 

Security​

• 24-hour security will be provided by Galveston Police Department officers beginning Friday at load-in through the Festival and load-out on Sunday evening. All entrances and exits will be monitored.

• While every effort is made to ensure the safety of you and your artwork, we encourage vigilance while on site and request you do not leave your artwork, cash machines, credit card slips, receipts, etc. unattended. In the event of a theft or lost item, please text or call 409-457-9780.

 

 

Festival Hours​

• Hours:  Saturday, October 18, 2025 – 10am to 5pm.  (NOTE NEW HOURS)

                    Sunday, October 19, 2025 - 10 am to 4 pm.​

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Load-Out Instructions

• Break down will begin no earlier than 4:00 pm on Sunday, October 19, 2025

• Prior to vehicle access in your area, each artist must break down artwork and tent and put artwork and tent on the sidewalk. Festival staff must give you approval before you may enter site.

• Vehicles may enter the site for load-out through Gate located at 22nd Street and Church Street.  If your booth is located on Postoffice street you may enter venue at 23rd Street and Postoffice Street ( this is a one way street)

• Your vehicle will only be allowed in the festival for one hour for loading. This will be monitored by staff and volunteers.

• Please be courteous to and patient with your fellow artists. We are all in the same situation, and we need to work together.

• Please pull in as close as you can to your booth.

• Traffic is ONE-WAY down Postoffice Street going East. If you are on 22nd please drive through straight across don’t turn down Postoffice if possible.

• Streets must be cleared by 8 p.m. on Sunday, October 19, 2025.

• Our security coverage ends once the streets are reopened.

 

Booth Signs

• A booth sign will be provided in your packet and must be posted visibly in your booth.         

                             

Artist Hospitality Breakfast

• We will provide complimentary coffee and pastries from 8:00am to 10:00am on Saturday and Sunday at the corner of 22nd and Postoffice Street next to the check-in table.

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Sales Tax Information

• You will be responsible for collecting and paying sales tax of 8.25% on all items that you sell. Galveston has a city sales tax of 2%, and Texas state sales tax is 6.25%. Galveston Island sales tax and Texas state sales tax are not filed separately. All sales taxes are filed through the Texas Comptroller’s Office.

• All Artists must have a valid Texas Sales Tax Permit, which can be obtained through the Texas Comptroller’s Office. You can obtain one online by following this link: http://www.window.state.tx.us and clicking on the “Apply for a sales tax permit” link located towards the bottom of the list in the middle of the page.

• Artists are responsible for collecting and paying State Sales Tax. You can contact the Texas Comptroller’s Office with questions at (800) 252-5555 or check their website at http://www.window.state.tx.us. Under the “I Want To…” section of the Comptroller’s Office website, the first link on the list, File/pay sales and other taxes with WebFile, allows you to file/pay your State Sales Tax online.

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Artist Survey

• In an effort to improve our event we will be sending an artist survey via email. You will receive it the week after the festival. Please take time to fill it out. It will be short but will help us make our event better. You will also receive a sunshine magazine review card. Please take time to fill this out as well.  Thank you for doing this as we ranked 16th out of 200 Shows!!!

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Amenities

• Galveston Police Department officers provide 24-hour security starting at load-in through complete load-out

• Booth-sitting provided you must text 409-457-9780 to request sitter

• Artist Hospitality table will provide complimentary coffee and pastries which will be served Saturday 7:30am to 9:00am and Sunday 9am to 11am

• Admission: adults $5, children 12 and under are FREE

• Festival features Hands on art activities for kids

• Live Music

• Free booth space to high school / college programs for emerging artist

• Booth Fees: $200 for single and $400 for double  ​​

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Hotel Information

(Please note that this is a sample list of properties, and does not constitute an endorsement of any property by ARToberFEST)

 

Comfort Suites

3606 89th Street

Galveston, Texas 77554

Local: (409) 741-9977

Reservations: (888)939-8680
Website: www.comfortsuites.com/hotel-galveston-texas-TX885     

 

 

Courtyard by Marriott

9550 Seawall Blvd

Galveston, Texas 77554

Book via Phone:

Local: (409) 497-2850
Website: www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/glscy-courtyard-galveston-island-gulf-front               

 

Double Tree

1702 Seawall Blvd.

Galveston, Texas 77550

Local: (409) 762-4141
Website: www.galvestonbeachhotel.com         

 

 

Clarion Pointe Galveston Seawall 

2300 Seawall Blvd.

Galveston, Texas 77551

Book via Phone:

Local:  (409) 356-9853
Website: www.choicehotels.com/texas/galveston/clarion-hotels/tx296    

 

 

Inn At The Water Park

2525 Jones Drive

Galveston, Texas 77554

Book via Phone:

Local: (409) 740-1155
Website: www.innatthewaterpark.com                               

 

 

Townplace Suites

9450 Seawall Blvd

Galveston, Texas 77551

Book via Phone:

Local: (409) 497-2840
Website: www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/glsts-towneplace-suites-galveston-island-gulf-front                 

 

 

Moody Gardens Hotel

7 Hope Blvd

Galveston, Texas 77554

Book via Phone:

Local: (409) 741-8484

Reservations: 1-888-388-8484
Website: www.moodygardens.com

 

Tremont House

2300 Mechanic St.

Galveston, TX 77550

Book via phone:

Local:(409) 763-0300

www.thetremonthouse.com

 

San Luis Hotel and Resort

5222 Seawall Blvd.

Galveston, TX 77551

Book via phone:

Local:(409) 744-1500

www.sanluisresort.com         

 

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RV Park Information

(Please note that this is a sample list of properties, and does not constitute an endorsement of any property by ARToberFEST)

 

Please check with individual properties for pricing and availability. RV park reviews can be found online at sites such as: http://www.rvparkreviews.com/regions/Texas/Galveston.html

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Bayou Shores RV Resort
6310 Heards Ln.
Galveston, TX 77551
888-744-2837
http://www.bayoushoresrvresort.com/

 

 

Dellanera RV Park

10901 San Luis Pass Rd.

Galveston, TX  77554
409- 797-5102

http://www.galveston.com/dellanera/

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Galveston Island State RV Park

14901 FM 3005 
Galveston, TX 77554

409-737-1222

http://www.galvestonislandstatepark.org/              

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Sandpiper RV Resort

Seawall @ Ferry Rd.
Galveston, Texas
409-765-9431 

http://sandpiperrvresort.com/          

 

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Galveston Island KOA Holiday

23700 Termini-San Luis Pass Rd,

Galveston, TX 77554

(409) 200-2745

https://koa.com/campgrounds/galveston/              

 

Additional lodging information

an be found at www.galveston.com

 

Helpful Information

 

Home Depot                                                                        West Isle Urgent Care Clinic
702 65th Street                                                                   2027 61st St.

Galveston, Texas                                                                 Galveston, TX 77551

409-744-4895                                                                      409-744-9800

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Wal-Mart                                                                               Mod Coffee House
6702 Seawall Blvd.                                                              2126 Postoffice Street

Galveston Texas                                                                  Galveston, Texas

409-744-8677                                                                      409-765-5659

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Target                                                                                   Galveston Pack and Ship
6128 Broadway Blvd.                                                           527 21st Street

Galveston, Texas                                                                 Galveston, Texas

409-740-0102                                                                      409-765-6165

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Kroger Grocery Store                                                          Hospitality ER

5730 Seawall Blvd.                                                              4222 Seawall Blvd

Galveston, Texas 77551                                                       Galveston, Texas 77551

409-741-8580                                                                       409-766-1212

 

Randall’s Grocery Store

2931 Central City Blvd.

Galveston, Texas

409-744-0413

 

Walgreen’s with a 24 hour pharmacy
308 Seawall Blvd.

Galveston, Texas

409-763-3588

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Taxi Service
Yellow Cab Services

409-763-3333
 

Texaco

1928 Broadway St

Galveston, TX 77555

409-765-9720

 

UTMB Hospital ER

901 Harborside Dr
Galveston, TX 77550
409- 772-1191
 

 

Restaurants

Some staff favorites near the festival:

Prices range from $ Inexpensive to $$$$ More Expensive

 

The Spot $$                                                              Little Daddy’s Gumbo bar $

3204 Seawall Blvd.                                                   2107 Postoffice St

409-621-5237                                                            409- 744-8626

 

Mosquito Café $$                                                    Yaga’s Restaurant $

628 14th Street                                                           2314 Strand     

409-763-1010                                                            409-762-7299                                                          

Trattoria La Vigna$$                                               Queen’s BBQ $$

412 20th St                                                                5428 Ave S

409-497-4927                                                         409-762-3151

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Lolo Kai Smoothies and Wraps$                             Sunflower Bakery  and Cafe$$

528 23rd St.                                                               5121 14th Street

409-539-5664                                                            409-763-5500

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Float Patio Bar $                                                     Scholtzsky’s $

2828 Sewall Blvd.                                                     500 Seawall Blvd.

409-765-7946                                                            409-763-6173

 

Saltwater Grill $$                                                   Shy KatZ Deli  & Bakery $$

2117 Postoffice Street                                             1528 Ave L

409-762-3474                                                         409-770-0500

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Rudy & Pacos $$                                                     Coastal Grill $$
2028 Post Office Street                                           1827 Strand St
409-762-3696                                                          Phone: 409-765-5386

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Sky Bar (Sushi Bar) $$                                          Pho20 Vietnamese Restaurant $$

2105 Post Office Street                                         2101 Broadway

409-621-4759                                                        409-750-9200

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Leeland House$                                                      Mario’s $$

2711 Market Street                                                  628 Seawall Blvd.
409-497-2069                                                        409-763-2825

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Taquilos $$                                                              La Mixteca $

2101 Post Office Street                                           1818 Mechanic

409-497-4279                                                         409-762-2255

 

The Black Pearl $$                                                

327 23rd Street                                                         

409-762-6676