First Sunday Arts Festival

From First Sunday Arts Festival Website:

First Sunday Arts Festival is a Free Annapolis arts and craft show feauturing aboout 100 local and regional artists. Plus be entertained with live music, dance, street performers, food and more. This event is on the first Sunday of each month May to October on Calvert and West Streets in Historic Annapolis, Maryland. Thousands attend, both locals and tourists buying from local and regional artists and crafters.



History Established in 2001

In 2001 the seed was planted after 2 art receptions (ARTFX gallery & 49 West Coffeehouse) on West Street held at the same time started to spill into the sidewalks between the two on the first Sunday evening of each month. In 2002 Other businesses on the first block on West Street joined in and the event start filling the sidewalks of West street and went from and evening event into an all day event known as First Sunday Arts .

In 2003 West Street was closed in front of the 2 businesses for some much need public works improvements. During this time of no car access, the event moved into the street. By the time the West street construction was finished the event was so large it required the street to be closed on all First Sundays from May to October.

In 2008 the event was maxed out and no room was left to showcase new vendors on the first block of West Street that wanted to showcase their art and craft to the thousands now attending. We also wanted an area that could host larger groups for performances, dancing etc. So we added Whitemore Park on Calvert Street to the festival.

In 2009 the area under the trees on the corner of West and Calvert Streets, across from City Gate Lane was added to the Festival to give a little bit more room and fill in the gap between the 2 larger festival areas.

In June of 2016 the festival expands again to meet the demand of artists, crafters and the public. The new area expands further into the Annapolis Arts District along West Street between Calvert Street and Layfette Ave. This adds about 30 spaces into the arts district.

For the future its celebrating Arts and Fun. We look forward to continuing to evolve and look forward to seeing you at the next First Sunday Arts festival.