Tens of thousands of art lovers will flock to Mount Dora this weekend as an annual tradition returns to the historic downtown streets.
The 51st Annual Mount Dora Arts Festival brings 300 artists to Lake County for a free outdoor event from Jan. 31 through February. 1. Visitors can browse a wide selection of glass art, jewelry, paintings, photography, sculpture, wood, and more.
As a nationally well-known festival, it attracted a lot of interest from domestic and international artists this year as well.
“We had a record number of applications this year. More than 800 applications for 300 spaces,” he said. Janet Mr. Gamache is the executive director and festival event coordinator of the Mount Dora Center for the Arts. “It’s definitely very competitive.”
The final selection of artists includes creators from as far away as Arizona, California, Colorado, and Washington.
The event serves as a fundraiser for the Mount Dora Center for the Arts and draws a crowd of more than 100,000 people throughout the weekend. Creators travel long distances to connect with collectors, but top artists also have prize money at stake.
The best artist, as selected by the judges, will receive a total of $20,000 in prize money, including a $5,000 cash prize. Best 2D and best 3D will each receive $1,500, and other honorable mentions will receive $500.
In addition to the art, festival goers can enjoy live music at Donnelly Park and Sunset Park, as well as beer and cocktails while walking around the festival. Gamache urged attendees to dress appropriately as a cold front approaches this weekend.
“Historic shops and restaurants are the backdrop for the festival,” she said. “During the festival, people can definitely escape the cold, come indoors, sit and support the restaurant and business owners.”
The festival is always held the first weekend in February and usually coincides with the Super Bowl. Barring any conflict this year, Sunday crowds are expected to be even bigger.
Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel
Shoppers will fill the streets for the 2022 Mount Dora Arts Festival in downtown Mount Dora. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Since its inception in 1975, the festival has greatly expanded its reach, bringing creators from across the country and more than 200,000 visitors to Lake County. Although today’s festival has a national reputation, it still maintains a grassroots feel thanks to the dedication of countless volunteers and the support of the Mount Dora community.
“Some people say this festival is one of the reasons they moved to Mount Dora,” last year’s poster artist Gary Hopcraft said in a previous interview with the Sentinel. “If you look around, there are a lot of aging artists living in our community. There are a lot of award-winning artists around Mount Dora and throughout Lake County.”
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If you go
The Mount Dora Arts Festival will be held in downtown Mount Dora on January 31st from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and February 1 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Well-behaved pets are allowed, but please note that the festival draws a large number of people. Patrons are encouraged to park at 301 W. 13th Ave. in Mount Dora (there will be no shuttle from Mount Dora High School this year) and take the free shuttle to the festival site. More information: mountdoraart.com
