2025 Buda Arts Festival
& Plein Air Painting Competition
October 13 - 18
Live, outdoor, plein air art competitions, busking musicians, art demos, artisan markets, gallery exhibits, artist meet-ups, kids' activities, film and live theatre performances fill the week! There's something for everyone! While most of the festival is FREE, events on the Festival Schedule that require TICKETS are marked with a 🎟️.
The Buda Arts Festival, originally named the Buda Plein Air Festival, was created in 2020 by Inspired Minds Art Center to bring the community together outdoors, through art, in a mindful, healing, and celebratory way during a time of social restrictions, fear, and anxiety. Over the years, it has grown from a 1-day painting and music festival to a 6-day celebration of all-thing-arts! Learn what Plein Air art is HERE. Check out the SCHEDULE.
Congratulations
2025 Competition Winners
4-Day Plein Air Competition
1st Place
Shun Yao Xie
"Sunshine Over Main Street"
2nd Place
Leslie Smith
"Backstage Oak"
3rd Place
Jay Asp
"Hayes and Light"
Honorable Mention
Grace Lange - "Shades of Umber"
Bill Griffith - "Roxie's"
Mike Clark - "Late Night Window Shopping"
Gena Destri - "Morning by the Water"
Celeste Smith - "Agave Magic at Mark's Overlook"
Edgar Sotelo - "Bouganvilla on Main"
2-hour Quick Draw Competition
1st Place
Ken Fairlough
"Buda Gazebo"
2nd Place
Cass Grange
"Buda Breakfast"
3rd Place
Jay Asp
"Food Trucks"
Honorable Mention
Abbi Kaiser - "Come on in Ya'll"
Chris Powell - "Open for Business"
Marky Petrovich - "Donut Palace"
Emily Hohertz - "'Taste' of Plein Air"
Jasmine Abisayth - "Cigar Vault"
Festival Fine Art Show Competition
Judge's Choice
Leslie Kell
"Where We're Going"
2nd Place
Jessie Kennedy Steinberg
"Along for the Ride"
Poetry Slam
1st Place
M'Cailah O-kay
2nd Place
Jazz Davis
3rd Place
Messej
4th Place
Marzetta
What is Plein Air Art?
Plein air (pronounced plen-air) is a French term that means “open air,” and it refers to the practice of creating art outdoors, directly from real life. Rather than working from photos or imagination in a studio, artists go outside to observe and capture the world around them as it naturally unfolds.
While plein air is most commonly associated with painting, it can also include drawing, sketching, sculpting, and other visual art forms. The goal is to respond to the light, color, movement, and atmosphere of a real moment in time—whether that’s a sweeping landscape, a quiet street corner, or a lively public space.
Plein air artists often work quickly and intuitively to capture what they see and feel in the moment, making each piece a unique record of place, time, and personal perspective.
Monday, October 13
1:00pm
Festival Fine Art Show
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Fine Art Competition & Sale
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Artwork of diverse mediums
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Vote for your favorite artist!
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121 Main Street
5:00pm
Artists Welcome Reception
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5pm-7pm
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By Invitation Only
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Inspired Minds Art Center (IMAC)
Tuesday, October 14
All-day
Live Art - en plein air
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Artists set up easels and create live outside
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LOCATION: Anywhere outdoors in the 78610 zip code
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See MAP
Live Mural Painting
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Inspired Minds Art Center
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Front Yard - 121 Main Street
Festival Fine Art Show
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Fine Art Competition & Sale
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Artwork of diverse mediums
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Vote for your favorite artist!
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121 Main Street
12:00pm
Business of Art Lunch & Learn : Elevate Your Art Career w/ Ash Almonte
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12pm-2pm
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Chambers Theatre @ Inspired Minds Art Center
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FREE - sponsored by the Buda Economic Development Corporation
7:30pm
Poetry Slam
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7:30-9:30pm
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FREE - To guarantee a seat, please RSVP HERE
Wednesday, October 15
All-day
Live Art - en plein air
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Artists set up easels and create live outside
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LOCATION: Anywhere outdoors in the 78610 zip code
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See MAP
Live Mural Painting
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Inspired Minds Art Center
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Front Yard - 121 Main Street
Festival Fine Art Show
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Fine Art Competition & Sale
-
Artwork of diverse mediums
-
Vote for your favorite artist!
-
121 Main Street
12:00pm
Business of Art Workshop : TBD
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12pm-2pm
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Chambers Theatre @ Inspired Minds Art Center
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FREE - sponsored by the Buda Economic Development Corporation
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RSVP required (check back for link)
6:00pm
Artists Mixer
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6pm-8pm
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Sponsored by the City of Buda Arts Commission
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FREE - Please RSVP HERE
Thursday, October 16
All-day
Live Art - en plein air
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Artists set up easels and create live outside
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LOCATION: Anywhere outdoors in the 78610 zip code
-
See MAP
Live Mural Painting
-
Inspired Minds Art Center
-
Front Yard - 121 Main Street
Festival Fine Art Show
-
Fine Art Competition & Sale
-
Artwork of diverse mediums
-
Vote for your favorite artist!
-
121 Main Street
6:00pm
"Grit & Grace" - Documentary Film Screening
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FREE - To guarantee a seat, please RSVP
6:00pm
Artists’ Happy Hour
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6pm-8pm
Friday, October 17
All-day
Live Art - en plein air
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Artists set up easels and create live outside
-
LOCATION: Anywhere outdoors in the 78610 zip code
-
See MAP
Live Mural Painting
-
Inspired Minds Art Center
-
Front Yard - 121 Main Street
Festival Fine Art Show
-
Fine Art Competition & Sale
-
Artwork of diverse mediums
-
Vote for your favorite artist!
-
121 Main Street
Plein Air Competition Artwork DUE by 5pm
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1pm-5pm Drop-off Artwork
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Closed to public
7:00pm
🎟️Gravy Shakes Improv
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Meet the players HERE
Saturday, October 18
All-Day Events
(To see scheduled events, click HERE)
Artisan Markets
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9am-5pm
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Buda Welcome Center (Outside)
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303 Main St.
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Inspired Minds Art Center (Outside)
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121 Main St.
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Live Outdoor Music
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9:30am-4:30pm
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Busking musicians playing music in various locations from Stagecoach House to Jackson Tyler Morris Memorial Skate Park
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See Music Schedule
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See MAP
Festival Fine Art Show
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10am-5pm
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Fine Art Competition & Sale
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Artwork of diverse mediums
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Vote for the People's Choice Award! Voting ends at 4:00pm
Artist Demonstrations @ Inspired Minds Art Center:
SEE SCHEDULE HERE
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Quick Draw Outdoor Plein Air Art Competition - over 30 artists creating live on Main Street
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Potter's Wheel w/ Travis Smith & Brian Northum
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Oil Pastel & Watercolor Painting w/ Shun Y. Xie (Kai)
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Mural Painting w/ Jaz Davis
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Silk Painting w/ Gwendolyn Hustvedt
Art Activities @ Local Businesses during open hours
Saturday, October 18
Scheduled Events
9:30am
🎨Quick Draw Competition
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9:30am-11:30am
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Watch over 30 artists create artwork live, outside in various locations along Main Street from Stagecoach House to Jackson Tyler Morris Memorial Skate Park
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See MAP
10:00am & 11:00am
🎨Story Time for Kids with your Librarian
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10am & 11am
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Sponsored by the Buda Public Library
11:30am
🎨Elysian Aerial Performance
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The Chambers Theatre @ Inspired Minds Art Center
12:00pm
🎨Free Kids Arts & Crafts Activities
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12pm-5pm
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Inspired Minds Art Center
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Outside
🎨Young Entrepreneurs Market
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12pm-4pm
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Downtown Buda
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Inspired Minds Art Center's North Parking Lot
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🎨Watercolor & Oil Pastel Demonstration by Shun Y Xie
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12pm-1pm
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Inspired Minds North Studio
🎨Silk Painting Demonstration by Gwendolyn Hustvedt
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12pm-1pm
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Chambers Theatre Lobby @ Inspired Minds Art Center
1:00pm
🎟️First Look Fête
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1pm-3pm
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Be the first to view and purchase prize-winning artwork from the 2025 Buda Plein Air Competition
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Cocktails and small bites
🎨Elysian Aerial Performance
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The Chambers Theatre @ Inspired Minds Art Center
2:30pm
🎨Elysian Aerial Performance
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The Chambers Theatre @ Inspired Minds Art Center
3:00pm
🎨Plein Air Art & Quick Draw Competition Awards
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Public Viewing: 3:00pm-5:00pm
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Awards: 3:30pm
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Cheer on the artists who participated in the Buda AF Plein Air Art Competitions!
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View and purchase award-winning plein air artwork
4:00pm
🎨Festival Fine Art Show Voting ENDS
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Vote for the People's Choice Award until 4:00pm
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Awards presented at 5pm
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Fine Art Competition & Sale (10am-5pm)
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Artwork of diverse mediums
