CONNECTING . COMMUNITY . CREATIVELY
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2026 Buda Arts Festival
& Plein Air Painting Competition
October 12 - 17
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.
Monday, October 12
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 13
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
11:30am
Business of Art Lunch & Learn :
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The Art of A.I. Delegation w/ Andres Urrego, Founder & CEO of Moil
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11:30am-1pm
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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 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
-
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
11:30am
Business of Art Lunch & Learn:
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From Passion to Profit w/ Tonya Carlson-Pruitt of Bluebonnet Bookkeeping
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11:30am-1pm
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Chambers Theatre @ Inspired Minds Art Center
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FREE - sponsored by the Buda Economic Development Corporation
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
6:00pm
The Frame Up Film Fest
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Storytelling in Moving & Still Images - an evening of evocative imagery exploring a wide range of mediums from local filmmakers
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FREE - To guarantee a seat, please RSVP HERE
Thursday, 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
-
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
11:30am
Business of Art Lunch & Learn:
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Hidden Power of Networking w/ Renee Barnes
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11:30am-1pm
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Chambers Theatre @ Inspired Minds Art Center
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FREE - sponsored by the Buda Economic Development Corporation
6:00pm
Artists’ Happy Hour
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5pm-7pm
Friday, 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
Plein Air Competition Artwork DUE by 5pm
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1pm-5pm Drop-off Artwork
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Closed to public
7:30pm
🎟️Gravy Shakes Improv
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Meet the players HERE
Saturday, October 17
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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Stained Glass w/ Kim Fry
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Abstract Acrylic Painting w/ Robert Davis
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Blind Contour Drawing w/ Maggie Brookshire (hands-on!)
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Oil Portrait Painting w/ Shun Y. Xie
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Collage w/ Misty Drubert
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Portrait Painting w/ Franklin Mendez
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Painting & Printmaking w/ Kai Aguirre
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Pet Portrait Painting w/ Stacy Najim
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Henna Art w/ Khyati Patel
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Muraling w/ Jaz Davis
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Potter's Wheel w/ Travis Smith
Art @ Local Businesses during open hours
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Inspired Minds Art Center - art activities, exhibit, demos, performances
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Ellipsis Boutique - showcasing a local artist @ 306 S. Main St. #105
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Salon One 12 - art activity @ 302 S Main St. #102
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Southern Sky - art activity @ 310 N Main St.
Saturday, October 17
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
🎨Artist Demos: Stained Glass, Abstract Acrylic Painting & Blind Contour Drawing (hands-on!)
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10am-12pm
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Inspired Minds Art Center
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See full demo schedule HERE
🎨Live Muraling & Potter's Wheel
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All day (10am-4pm)
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Inspired Minds Art Center
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See full demo schedule HERE
11:30am
🎨Elysian Aerial Performance
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The Chambers Theatre @ Inspired Minds Art Center
🎨Artist Demo: Oil Portrait Painting
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11:30am-1:30pm
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Inspired Minds Art Center
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See full demo schedule HERE
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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🎨Artist Demo: Collage
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12pm-2pm
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Inspired Minds Art Center
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See full demo schedule HERE
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 2026 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
2:00pm
🎨Artist Demos: Portrait Painting, Painting & Printmaking, Pet Portrait Painting & Henna Art
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2pm-4pm
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Inspired Minds Art Center
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See full demo schedule HERE
3:00pm
🎨Plein Air Art & Quick Draw Competition Awards
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Public Viewing: 3:00pm-5:00pm
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Awards: 3:00pm
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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
2026 Buda Arts Festival
BUSINESS SPONSORS
Now in its 7th year, the festival draws over 3,000 people to Historic Downtown Buda for six days of arts, music, competition, and community, October 12-17, 2026. As the official arts event of the City of Buda, presented by award-winning Inspired Minds Art Center, the Buda Arts Festival is a destination event that families and arts lovers from across Central Texas look forward to year after year. This is a prime opportunity to put your business in front of an engaged, community-oriented audience that values culture, creativity, and quality of life.
PRESENTING SPONSOR
HEADLINING SPONSOR
DIAMOND SPONSOR
PLATINUM SPONSOR
YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS MARKET SPONSOR
BUSINESS OF ART LUNCH & LEARN SPONSOR
BUDA FILM FEST SPONSOR
FIRST LOOK FÊTE SPONSOR
FESTIVAL MUSICIANS SPONSOR
SILVER SPONSOR
BRONZE SPONSOR
SUPPORTER
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.
