Green Lake Plein Air Festival

Thursday, May 14, 2026

Downtown Green Lake & Local Parks
Green Lake, Wisconsin

The Green Lake Plein Air Festival invites artists to spend the day painting outdoors throughout downtown Green Lake and its scenic parks. From historic buildings and charming storefronts to gardens, restaurants, and stunning lake views, this event celebrates the beauty and character of our community through art created on location.

Hosted as part of the 2026 Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities (CEC) Conference, the festival will bring visitors from across the region to Green Lake. Conference attendees and community members alike are encouraged to watch artists at work and enjoy an evening exhibition and public sale of completed paintings.

About the Festival

Plein air painting—meaning “in the open air”—is the practice of creating artwork outdoors, directly inspired by the landscape and natural light. Artists will spend the day painting throughout designated areas of Green Lake, capturing the energy, color, and spirit of the town in real time.

This is a non-juried event open to artists of all skill levels and media, including oils, acrylics, watercolors, pastels, casein, and gouache.

Event Highlights

• All-day plein air painting throughout Green Lake

• Public exhibition and sale of artwork

• No commission on artist sales

• Four cash awards, including Best of Show ($500)

• Off the easel sales opportunities with visitors and conference attendees

• Artist raffle

Schedule at a Glance

• Check-in & Canvas Stamping:
  9:00 am – 12:00 pm
  Town Square Community Center Lobby

• Painting Time:
  9:00 am – 4:00 pm (within designated boundaries)

• Exhibition & Public Sale:
  5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
  Heidel House Hotel Lobby (653 Illinois Ave, Green Lake, WI 54941)

• Awards Announced:
  5:45 pm

• Artwork Removal:
  By 6:30 pm

Registration

• Registration Fee: $30

• Late Registration (after April 1): $40

• Registration is online only and includes participation in all festival activities.

• All fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.

Presented By

Art MidWisconsin, Community Economic Development Associates, Town Square Community Center, and the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Division of Extension.

Artists are encouraged to read the full prospectus before registering.

Register to Participate