Doylestown Arts Festival 2024: Here's What You Need To Know

DOYLESTOWN BOROUGH, PA — The biggest weekend of the year is coming to Doylestown on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 7 and 8 with a double-header of arts and professional cycling.

The Doylestown Arts Festival returns to the streets of the borough for its 33rd year on both days from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. And the Bucks County Classic rides into town for its 20th time on Sunday, Sept. 8, speeding its way around the arts festival grounds.

Both events are free and open to the public.

Discover Doylestown will kick off the weekend on Saturday by bringing more than 160 independent artists to the streets of the town, in addition to dozens of local and regional bands and entertainment acts that will perform across five outdoor stages as part of the two-day festival.

Fine artist Sandra Eliot works en plein air capturing a scene on West State Street during last year's festival. (Jeff Werner)

Live activities and interactive demonstrations will take place throughout the weekend, including wheel-thrown pottery, rock cairn balancing, glass blowing, and plein air art, where visitors can watch as an artist creates a piece of art right before their eyes

As one of the largest free-to-attend arts festivals in southeastern Pennsylvania, the Doylestown Arts Festival is all about making the arts more accessible to the public by bringing art, music, and a variety of the region's cultural destinations and organizations onto the street for all to experience and enjoy, said organizers.

In addition, it serves as an introduction to visitors from near and far to Discover Doylestown, including the town's well-known cultural scene and its many shops, services, and restaurants.

On Sunday, the festival returns to the streets for a second full day of showcasing the arts along with the Bucks County Classic, with professional bike riders whipping through the streets of town around the festival area.

This year, organizers recommend that festival attendees bring their own reusable bags for shopping. Last summer the Borough of Doylestown banned single-use plastic bags to reduce plastic waste in town. Discover Doylestown will offer a limited number of its blue reusable Arts Fest bags, but they go quickly.

Here are some things to know before planning your Arts Festival visit:

• Independent Artists - More than 160 artists will line the streets of Doylestown with works that range from fine art, photography, and jewelry to glass, woodcraft, digital art, metal, and ceramics. Click here to view the artist lineup and where you will find one-of-a-kind works.
• 5 Stages of Live Music - The streets will be filled with music from more than 30 local, regional, and nationally-acclaimed acts that span a wide array of genres. Check the schedules for each stage - acts vary between Saturday and Sunday. Check out the music schedule as you plan your visit.
• Food Court & Local Dining - The festival's food court returns this year in a limited capacity. The food court will feature Bonjour Creperie, Chambers 19, Dharma Bums, Wild Bill's Craft Beverage Co., and Smokey Bandit BBQ. In addition, Discover Doylestown encourages locals and visitors to support the local restaurants in town. For adults 21+ there is also a wide variety of bars and taprooms to experience and enjoy.
• Parking at the Festival - During the festival a large portion of downtown Doylestown will be closed to traffic and parking can be limited. Organizers recommend that locals walk or bike to the event when possible. For those coming from out of town, click the following link for parking recommendations. The festival is also accessible via the Doylestown Dart, Uber/Lyft, and SEPTA Regional Rail.
• Explore & Shop Doylestown - Doylestown offers a rich history and a vibrant downtown full 0f shops, restaurants, museums, and independently-owned businesses. While in town for the Doylestown Arts Festival, event organizers encourage everyone to explore what makes Doylestown a great place to live, work, and visit all year round.

The Randy Lippincott Band & Alabama Sam rock State and Main at last year's festival.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the festival free to attend?

Yes, the festival is 100 percent free to attend; some booths may have paid activities.

Are there restrooms available?

Yes, portable restrooms will be available in two locations for the public: Dommel Way (Behind Starbucks) and in the Pine Street Parking Lot (at State and Pine). View the festival map for reference.

Is handicap parking available?

Yes, handicap-accessible parking is available in conjunction with the Doylestown Dart System Shuttle Service. See the event's parking page for more information.

What else is there to see and do?

Doylestown is one of the best small towns in America. Be sure to check out the vast array of local businesses, restaurants and bars, and museums that make the town special. In addition, enjoy a series of demonstrations and activities throughout the festival. See Discover Doylestown's Weekend Guide for more information.

How is this event supported?

The Doylestown Arts Festival is made possible by a small volunteer committee of Discover Doylestown and made possible by the event's generous sponsors.

How do I get involved?

The festival is managed and operated by an all-volunteer committee. In addition, it takes over 100 volunteers to make the weekend run smoothly. The event always need more volunteers.

How does this event relate to the Bucks County Classic?

The Bucks County Classic joins the festival on Sunday, surrounding the town with high-speed cycling. To learn more about this event, visit buckscountyclassic.com.