The Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival is one of the nation's most prestigious outdoor art festivals, consistently rated among the top shows by Sunshine Artist and American Style magazines.  Each year more than 350,000 visitors enjoy the show.  This year about 1,100 artists from around the world applied for entry and an independent panel of judges selected 225 national and international artists to attend the show.   The National Endowment for the Arts, The White House, Congress and many others have lauded the Festival for promoting art and art education in Central Florida.  An all volunteer board of directors runs the annual Festival, now celebrating its 48th year.

There is a wide variety of outstanding artwork.  Categories include: Clay, Digital Art, Drawing and Graphics, Fiber, Glass, Jewelry, Leather, Metal, Mixed Media, Painting, Photography, Sculpture, Watercolor and Wood.

Artists compete for 62 awards totaling $67,500.  Best of Show is $10,000.  The Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival Committee purchases the Best of Show art and donates it to the City of Winter Park.  (All previous Best of Show winners are on permanent display at the Winter Park Public Library.)  There are also 10 Awards of Excellence; each is $2,000.  There are 20 Awards of Distinction; each is $1,000 and there are 30 Awards of Merit; each is $500.  In addition, a $2,500 Award for a Distinguished Work of Art is presented through the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art.