Art on the Square is a juried fine art show held annually the weekend after Mother's Day at the Veterans Memorial Fountain in downtown Belleville, Illinois. Since 2002, it has been ranked among the top two fine art fairs in the nation by Art Fair Source Book more than ten times, drawing over 100 artists from more than two dozen states.
Its national art-fair reputation and town-square setting make it a strong Illinois arts row.
Art on the Square has built a national reputation rarely matched by a small-city art fair, earning a top-two national ranking from Art Fair Source Book more than ten times since 2002, a credential that puts it in company with far larger metropolitan art fairs
The show draws more than 100 juried artists from over 27 states and beyond for a single mid-May weekend, giving Belleville's historic Public Square a concentration of nationally competitive fine art rarely found outside major cities
Beyond the art itself, the festival's Wine Court entertainment area, Cafe on the Square food vendors, and an extensive Children's Art Garden round the event into a three-day sensory experience built around sight, sound, and taste, not just gallery browsing
The show's defining tradition is its juried selection process
which has helped it build and sustain a top-national ranking for more than two decades rather than functioning as an open
unjuried vendor market
Its annual scheduling the weekend after Mother's Day has become a fixed point on Belleville's civic calendar
and the Children's Art Garden and Sculpture in the City program have become recurring fixtures aimed at introducing the next generation to fine art alongside the adult-focused show
Dates TBA · Usually May
MetroLink/drive options exist from St. Louis.
Comfortable spring or early-summer clothing suited to mid-May weather in southern Illinois: light layers, since evenings can be cooler than daytime hours, and comfortable walking shoes for...
Art on the Square is best approached as a guest: follow local crowd guidance and avoid blocking participants.
Belleville
Check official or local sources for ticketed areas, paid stands, and same-year access rules.
USD
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Art on the Square is listed for May · Spring. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.
The festival is listed in Belleville, United States. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.
Spring is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.
Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.
Belleville, IL
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