Sandy Springs Artsapalooza Spring:(15th Annual) 2026

EVENT INFORMATION

The Atlanta Foundation for Public Spaces will bring art to the streets of Sandy Springs during this two-day celebration of self-taught art and crafts. In addition to approximately 125 artists will be a children’s area, local musicians, gourmet foods, and, interactive art activities for all ages. The festival location is in the heart of Sandy Springs, near interstate access and all things Atlanta. Free to attend.

(Limited to): 125 artists will participate in this annual event. 

Festival Hours: Saturday 10:00 am-5:00 pm, Sunday 11:00 am – 5:00 pm 

GENERAL INFORMATION

IMPORTANT DATES & DEADLINES:

Accept applications: October 01, 2025

Application Deadline: March 25, 2026

Accept invitation & purchase deadline: March 20, 2026 

Wait List Released: March 24, 2026 (or as deemed necessary by the show)

Event Dates: April 04-05, 2026

Load-IN: Friday: April 03rd, 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Saturday, April 04, (Saturday morning 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM)

The Event Location will be determined by the City, and we are awaiting final approval.

6100 Lake Forrest Dr. Sandy Springs, GA 30328 (Corner of Hammond and Lake Forrest Drive)

Late applications may be accepted at the discretion of the Director and included on the Wait List.

CATEGORIES

2-D Mixed Media: Includes more than one type of physical material such as collage, papermaking, encaustic, pen and ink, paint, pencil, watercolor, or photography. The finished art is suitable for wall mounting. 

3-D Mixed Media: Includes more than one type of physical material such as mosaic, papier mache, clay, fiber, glass, metal, wood, or, any other 3-dimensional objects.

Ceramics: Original shaped and fired clay including earthenware, porcelain, and raku.

Digital Art: Two-dimensional works from which the original image is manipulated by the artist using a computer using programs such as Drawing, Illustrator, Paint, or, other software applications. 

Drawing & Printmaking: Original drawings made with pen, pencil, charcoal, pastels, or chalk. The printmaking process may include pulled plates, linoleum prints, etching, engraving, silkscreen, or lithography. All prints must be signed and numbered by the artist. Photocopies are not permitted.

Fiber: Works created from fibers including basketry, batik, weaving, papermaking, knitting, and quilting. An embellishment of manufactured materials is not permitted.  

Glass: An object made of glass including blown, fused, stained, cast, and molded. An embellishment of manufactured materials is not permitted.

Handicraft: Handmade items made by the artist from manufactured, recycled, or repurposed materials transforming the combined materials into a unique product into a cohesive collection. A complete description of the items is required.

Jewelry: All Jewelry is crafted from metal, glass, stone, clay, or other materials. Commercial molds or casts are not permitted. At least 50% of the organic materials in the finished product used must be produced by the artist.

Metal: Functional and non-sculptural works incorporating metal.

Painting: The use of oils, acrylics, watercolors, and tempera suitable for hanging.

Photography: Prints, transparencies, or digital images made from the artist’s original negative or taken with a digital camera that has been processed by the artist.

Sculpture: Three-dimensional work is done in any individual medium.

Wood & Furniture: Original works in wood that are built, turned, carved, or tooled. Embellished manufactured wood items are not permitted.

PROHIBITED ITEMS

-    T-shirts and commercial clothing

-    Posters

-    Manufactured toys

-    Commercially manufactured or reproduced items (resale)

-    Jewelry is made from more than 50% manufactured components

-    Any item that employs the use of commercially available molds or patterns

     We do not allow Buy-Sell items (items not made by the artists directly)

AMENITIES

- Free Parking Nearby

- Designated Festival Hotline available during event hours regarding assistance, emergencies, questions, concerns, etc.

- Friday load-in

- 24 Hour on-site Security

ADVERTISING & PROMOTION

- AFFPS is among the top award-winning art festival organizations in the southeast. 

- Voted Best Festivals by local media

- A holder of the only Guinness World Record by any arts festival organization in the U.S. 

- AFFPS employs professional marketing strategies including:

      - PR and online media platforms

      - Print and online media ads

      - Radio and TV

      - Billboards, banners, posters, and yard signs

      - Extensive business partner collaboration

      - Social media

      - Dedicated interactive website

      - Direct mail

      - 300+ online calendar entries

PARKING

Free parking will be available at the event venue for artists and festival guests.  

WAITLIST

A waitlist will be maintained. Selected wait-listed artists may be contacted when the "Wait List" is released prior to the event date.

NO SHOW POLICY

Artists who have not checked in and/or called the Festival Emergency Number ( the number will be available in confirmation materials) by Saturday at 8:00 a.m. will be considered a “no-show.” No Show artists are not eligible for refunds. Assigned space(s) will be forfeited to a wait-list artist.

RAIN OR SHINE

There will be no “rain date” and fees will not be refunded in the case of inclement weather. The event will take place rain or shine.

SALES TAX

Artists are responsible for collecting and reporting Sales Taxes. A Sales Tax reporting document is provided to participating artists at check-in at the event. The current Sales Tax rate for this event is 8% (Georgia 4%, Fulton County 8%).

HOW THE FEES ARE USED

All AFFPS Festivals support the Georgia Foundation for Public Spaces, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to building a stronger arts community. The GFPS provides scholarships for artists to help them with their artistic career

RULES/REGULATIONS

To view the AFFPS Event Policies for Artists:

1. The Festival provides only the ground space for exhibits. Each Exhibitor must provide and prepare his/her own displays. We require Exhibitors to use white top tents of EZ UP quality or higher. All tents must be weighted. CLICK HERE for Tent & Weight Compliance. 

2. Prior to the Festival, Exhibitors will be notified of their site location and detailed setup information. Plan to set up your booth on Friday before the Festival. (Please do not call for booth assignments, they will be posted on Zapp once they are completed.) 

3. After unloading Exhibitor vehicles must be moved to designated parking. Vehicles will not be permitted to remain in the exhibition space during the Festival, nor may they enter the Festival grounds until approved by the Festival Committee.

4. Exhibitors shall be responsible for obtaining any required licenses, permits o,r approvals under state laws applicable to his/their activity at the Festival and for paying any taxes, sales taxes, fees, or, other charges that may be applicable to any Exhibitor's activity at the Festival.

5. The Festival is a rain or shine event. Cancellations must be made and submitted in written form by mail or email. By mail: send to P.O. Box 422571, Atlanta GA 30342. By email: to [email protected]. No refunds will be given for cancellations less than after the jury date / prior to the event date or for no-shows. All refunds will receive a $50 administration fee. 

6. In the occurrence that the event has to be canceled, postponed, suspend, or as a result of a pandemic such as the COVID Pandemic of 2020. Credit for the upcoming show will be given and a Zapp code will be generated.

7. Submission by credit card is an acceptance of these terms and as such in the event that any dispute related to credit card charges, will be binding under the terms of this agreement, additionally, the artist agrees to defend (accept) said charges and associated fees.

7. The Festival reserves the right to cancel an Exhibitor's contract. The Festival may require the Exhibitor to leave the Festival at any time if the Exhibitor is in violation of any rules and/or regulations stated herein.

8. Neither AFFPS nor its agents or representatives will be responsible for any injury, damage, or loss that may occur to the Exhibitor, the Exhibitor's agents or representatives, or, his/her property from any cause whatsoever. Exhibitors should obtain, at their own expense, insurance against any loss, damage, or injury they may require.

9. All Artist Market merchandise must be original, handmade, and created by the Exhibitor. Reproductions must be clearly identified as such. Original art must occupy at least 50% of the artist's space. Browse bins may occupy only minimal space and must be aesthetically pleasing and not obstruct patron flow. All artwork on display must be for sale. We do not permit Buy-Sell items.

10. Artists may only show work in categories approved by the Jury.

11. Artists must be present and operational with their work for the duration of the Festival. No commercial agents, dealers, or, salespeople may operate an artist's booth. The maximum number of occupants per booth may not exceed two.

12. Only individual artists or two-person collaborative artists are permitted to submit an application. Applications received from artist groups will be returned or rejected.

13. Booth sharing among non-collaborating artists is not permitted

IDENTIFICATION: All Participating Artists are required to present Identification during check-in. Please have your driver's license on hand.

WEIGHTS REQUIRED:

AFFPS requires professional weights, min. 45 lbs. - 50 lbs per/each on all tent legs. 

Because, we set up on City streets settings - NO ONE is permitted to stake, tie to a tree, lamp post, etc.

As such we require that anyone participating come equipped with the minimum standards of weights for their tent.

Any Artist that arrives without weights will not be permitted to set up and as such will forfeit their participation fee.

ALLOWED Tube weights min. 45 lbs. each tent leg. 

Sand-bag weights min. 45 lbs. each tent leg. (Must be contained in cloth bags) - IE: Gravity Tubes

Concrete-filled buckets min. 45 lbs. each tent leg. 

Stabilizer bars with sandbags. 

Weight plates or dumbells min. 45 lbs. each tent leg. 

NOT Permitted: 

Grid panels only (no weights) weights are still required.

Stabilizer bars only (no weights) 

Raw concrete blocks or bricks

Water containers (one-gallon water bottles)

Sand Bags (in plastic bags)

A Parking Pass must be displayed on your dash and visible at all times while at the event.

This allows us the opportunity to communicate with you during the festival in the event we need to.

Please ensure that you have access to this email address as load-in, and load-out instructions will be sent here as well as any special updates.

All communications are sent via the Zapp system communication tool.

Please ensure that you have access to this email address as load-in, and load-out instructions will be sent here as well as any special updates - before, during, and after the show.

All information is contained on the website and/or will be sent via email using the Zapp communication tool.

No Packets will be mailed.

Load-In will be sent via email prior to the event.

Load-Out Instructions will be sent via email (During the event)

JURY DETAILS

Average number of applications submitted each year:

250

Average number of artists selected from the jury to participate in the event:

135

Average number of exempt from jury artists who are invited to participate in the event:

2

How returning artists are selected:

Selected by show director or board

Comments for "How are the returning artists selected?"

Directors Choice

Vendors that are excluded/ineligible:

BUY SELL RE-SELL Items purchased for to be sold

How images are viewed by jurors:

Computer monitor

Within a medium category, applications are sorted and viewed by:

Random Order

Jurors score applications using the following scale:

1 - 10

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Host or Publisher Radiant Events Group