2026 Art & Soul Fest

The City of Thomaston Main Street announces the the 4th Annual Plein Air Competition, as part of the 5th Annual Thomaston Art & Soul Festival.  Festival Theme: "Our Town. Our Art. Our Soul." 

Artists are to check in at Thomaston-Upson Arts Council (TUAC) between 12:20-2pm. 
201 S. Center St, Thomaston, GA 30286

Prior to the event you may choose one(1) image from a collection of historic photographs of Downtown Thomaston or you may use a current scene around the square. This will be used as a point of reference for your painting. You will locate the building in its current form and paint it between 2pm and 6pm. PLEASE TURN IN YOUR PAINTING BY 6:15PM.Judging will commence at 6:30pm at the stage (Southside of Square)

Artists can choose to paint the historical image, current image, or artist interpretation of the images.

Prizes: 1st: $300, 2nd: $200, 3rd: $100

Any questions, please email 

Clara Reinagal @ clara.reinagal@gmail.com

The City of Thomaston will be hosting the 3rd Art & Soul Fest Photography Contest, as part of the 5th Annual Thomaston Art & Soul Festival.  

Photographs must communicate the contest theme; "Moments that Matter."  In small towns, life is made up of meaningful moments - quiet routines, share laughter, community traditions, and everyday connections.  This theme invites photographers to capture the simple, powerful moments that tell the story of small-town life and the people who make it special. 

Prints should be either matted with a black mat or in a black frame to be hung for display. The back of your photo must contain your name, phone number, category (listed below) & name of photo. Pieces must be brought to the City of Downtown Courthouse 11AM - 3PM, Friday, April 17th. Photographs will be displayed & open to the public for viewing until 8PM on the bottom floor of the Downtown Courthouse. Judging will take place at 4:00pm, any entries afterward will not be considered for placement

Catergories - 

-Black & White

-Downtown

-Small Town Living

-Water

-Sunset / Sunrise

Prizes: 1st: $100, 2nd: $75, 3rd: $50  

For more information, please contact...

Bridgette Turner - b.asmith616@gmail.com or

Brian Peterson - brianpetersonphotographyllc@gmail.com

Smokin' Souls BBQ Competition 
Part of the Art & Soul Fest 2026

Get ready to fire up the pits and bring the flavor to the heart of downtown Thomaston! The Smokin' Souls BBQ Competition is a backyard-style barbecue competition celebrating the rich tradition, creativity, and soul of Southern cooking.

Held during the annual Art & Soul Fest, this two-day event invites pitmasters of all skill levels to compete for cash prizes, trophies, and bragging rights as the best in Thomaston.

Competition Categories:
• Ribs
• Pulled Pork
• Pork Loin
(Teams may compete in one, two, or all three categories.)

Awards Include:
• Best of Thomaston Grand Prize $300

• Cash prizes and awards for each category

1st Place $200

2nd Place $150

3rd Place $100

Location: Thomaston Exchange, 108 Gordon Street, Thomaston, GA 30286
Dates: April 16–17, 2026

Team Setup:
• Begins Thursday at 4:00 PM
• Must be completed by Friday at 4:00 PM

This event will follow official guidelines from the Georgia Barbecue Association (GBA), ensuring a fair and exciting competition for all participants.

Whether you're a seasoned pitmaster or just love to cook low and slow, this is your chance to showcase your skills, connect with the community, and be part of one of Thomaston’s most soulful celebrations of food, art, and culture.

 Bring the smoke. Bring the soul.