ARToberFEST , Galveston's 11th Annual Juried Fine Art Festival, takes place on October 25th & 26th on Postoffice and 22nd Streets amid the historic charm of downtown Galveston. The Island's hospitality and the relaxed atmosphere provide a beautiful outdoor setting in which to enjoy a weekend of art, music, and fun!

ARToberFEST has grown to include over 125 fine artists and master craftsmen and is visited by thousands of appreciative guests who enjoy and purchase fine art and contemporary crafts.

ARToberFEST partners with the Galveston Humane Society and the AIDS Coalition of Coastal Texas, which provide volunteers during the festival. ARToberFEST also donates free booth space to local high school and college art students, to enable them to obtain valuable experience in the real world of creating, marketing, and selling their artwork.

Schedule of Events...

About Postoffice Street...

Nestled within The Strand Historical Landmark District is the Postoffice Street Arts & Entertainment District. Once notorious for its bordellos, Postoffice Street was the bustling core of retail commerce in the Southwest's most important Cotton and Oil port. It survived the 1900 Storm and the depression of the 30s only to fall prey to the suburban shift of the 60s and the building of the Houston Ship Channel.

The Postoffice Street restoration of the 90s created a revitalized arts, entertainment, and residential district including more than 25 historic buildings, among them the Southwest's first totally dedicated Telephone Building (now restored with residential lofts), The Grand 1894 Opera House, featuring top current shows and entertainment, and the U.S. Customs House, now home of the Galveston Historical Foundation.

Besides the growing number of residential lofts, the area includes Gallery Row with over 20 galleries of sculpture, photography, and fine arts. The street is a must for shopping, unrivaled for the number and quality of antique and collectible Stores. Many boutiques and services complete the wide offerings available to you on Postoffice Street.

Postoffice Street boasts many unique restaurants and features delicious seafood, Greek and Latin American cuisine, and many casual pizza, burger, sandwich, or coffee shops from which to choose. The wide array of taverns include an authentic beer hall, an acoustic cafe, several pubs, a sports bar, a martini bar, and more. Several of these clubs feature live bands at night.

Postoffice Street is the center of many special events throughout the year, including ArtWalk (an evening of the Visual Arts with openings and receptions in area galleries and shops, held every 6 weeks), ARToberfest (a festival of fine arts every October), The Downtown Lofts Tour (showing many of our unique residential loft apartments), and in April the very special Grand Kids Festival, fun for children and parents alike!

Journey downtown to Postoffice Street during your stay in Galveston, and enjoy shopping and nightlife amidst the lively, restored charm of the Island's Arts and Entertainment District.