The Woodlands
Waterway Arts Festival
APRIL 10-12, 2026
Named the #1 fine arts festival in Texas and #6 in the nation, The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival features artwork from nearly 200 juried artists from across the country. Shop for fine art and enjoy live music, local food, beer and wine, and children's art activities for a fun family experience. Set in Town Green Park and along the scenic banks of The Woodlands Waterway, it continues to be one of the most highly anticipated events of its kind. Book your hotel in advance and enjoy an awe-inspiring, stress-free weekend in The Woodlands!
ARTOPOLY
ARTopoly will be located along The Woodlands Waterway just behind the Montgomery County Library Building. This fun activity for the kiddos is presented in partnership with The Woodlands Children's Museum.
EARLY INSPIRATION GALLERY
Encourage kids to start their art collections early! Browse and purchase local artwork donated by local CISD students and teachers, available to kids 12 and under for $5.
BOOKS ON THE GREEN
Books on the Green is a celebration of the art of writing! Local bookstore, Village Books, has partnered with Fidelity Investments The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival to feature a special area that showcases local, regional, and national authors. Stop by for book sales, author readings and signings, and immersive activities and games.
Photo courtesy of The Woodlands Arts Council
ART DASH PARTY
Kick-off The Woodlands Arts Festival weekend by attending one of the most anticipated art events of the year! The Art Dash Party includes a night of art and fundraising for The Woodlands Arts Council's Student Art Scholarship program. Reserve your space for this one-of-a-kind art experience by purchasing tickets for Art Dash Party Admission and the 60-Second Dash, which offers guests the opportunity to run through a maze of art and claim a piece to take home. Let the fun begin!
FEATURED ARTIST
The 2025 featured artist is Thomas Wargin, a sculptor who stretches the bounds of imagination. His hand-crafted designs are abstract, often depicting male figures wrestling with nature, technology, creative thought, or even the figure himself. Each model begins with an idea that slowly takes physical form. Piece by piece--starting with a torso or an arm--he builds molds that he then fills with heated metal. When the metal hardens, he hammers and welds the pieces together before grinding them smooth. After sandblasting, layering dyes to create the desired patina, and coating it in a protective wax, the sculpture is ready for display.
The work in its entirety represents who I am, my interests, abilities, and what lies beneath my sub-conscious mind. My goal is to engage the viewer and stimulate the mind as well as their visual senses. I want the viewer to go to a place that they can only dream of or hope to be part of. I sometimes am intrigued by childhood stories and interpret these stories in a fashion that captures my viewer and stirs them into a new way of looking at the story.
ABOUT THE WOODLANDS ARTS COUNCIL
The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival is presented by The Woodlands Arts Council, Inc., a non-profit organization with a Board of Directors, an Advisory Committee, and more than 500 community volunteers. The mission of The Woodlands Waterway Arts Council, Inc. is to provide regional cultural enrichment opportunities that encourage, support, and promote the performing and visual arts.
Proceeds from the festival directly fund the year-round community and education outreach programs of Because Art Matters produced by The Woodlands Arts Council.
