Tallahassee's twenty-sixth Chain of Parks Art Festival is still months away. But the top-rated show and sale of fine and folk-art creations is already planning some new elements to enhance the event.
A big announcement each year is which local artist's work appears on the festival's program brochure. For 2026, that artist is watercolorist Curtis Whitman.
"So I did one of the largest watercolor paintings that I've ever done for this. And I pushed my technical skills a bit. I wanted to put a lot into it so I put a lot of soul and meaning into the painting," he exclaimed, referencing the giant, fanciful image of a Florida wetland and its inhabitants.
Festival Director Powell Kreis said there's more going on than ever.
"We had an overwhelming number of people apply, so people want to be a part of this festival. A lot of new, fresh artists. Linda Hall and a bunch of her friends are doing a very cool puppet parade procession on Saturday. And on Sunday, the Rickards Marching Band is going to come through to close out the weekend. So that's going to be very lively and exciting."
Kreis said that's why the local festival is ranked the third best in the nation and the number-one best in Florida by the artists taking part in it. The event typically attracts around 40,000 people during its two-day run.
The 2026 Lemoyne Chain of Parks Art Festival happens April 18th and 19th in downtown Tallahassee.
