37th Prairie Arts Festival

37th PRAIRIE ARTS FESTIVAL
FINE ART & FINE CRAFT EXHIBITION AND SALE
Sponsored by the Village of Schaumburg
Saturday, May 23 and Sunday, May 24, 2026
10 a.m. - 5 p.m. each day on the grounds of the Al Larson Prairie Center for the Arts
A maximum of 120 artist spaces, 7 food trucks, 4 food vendors, 3 areas of entertainment, and 5-10,000 patrons attend.

IMPORTANT: Due to the ongoing Municipal Center construction project, the show layout was modified in 2025 and will remain in a similar configuration through 2026.

The Village of Schaumburg cordially invites you to display your fine work at our 37th annual Prairie Arts Festival Memorial Day weekend, May 23 and 24. It’s a juried art fair, both for entry and prizes. The site is beautiful, with clusters of display areas bordering a picturesque pond guarded by a pair of graceful mute swans named Louis and Serena. And possibly a knot of newly hatched cygnets. This is an electronic agreement and by selecting the booths, you are validating and approving this agreement electronically.

Also featuring live entertainment, food truck vendors, and children’s activities on the grounds of the Al Larson Prairie Center for the Arts in Schaumburg.

ATTENDANCE

The Memorial Day weekend celebration historically draws 5-10,000 patrons with most festival attendees from Schaumburg and the surrounding communities. Our Memorial Day weekend celebration is rooted in strong support and patronage from residents of Schaumburg and the surrounding suburbs. We're delighted to also welcome attendees from across the greater Chicagoland area and beyond state lines, making the Prairie Arts Festival the destination to be for Memorial Day weekend.

IMPORTANT DATES & DEADLINES

• Application Deadline: Sunday, March 1, 2026
  
  
• Notification of Acceptance: Friday, March 6, 2026 
  Booth fee charged upon acceptance; your booth space will not be reserved without payment.
  
  
• Set-up Information Emailed to Paid Participants: Friday, May 8, 2026

ENTRY FEE

• $130 for the two-day event for a 15’ x 10’ space
• $235 for the two-day event for a 30' x 10' space ($260 value)

There is no jury fee and no commission will be charged for work sold. Payment charged upon acceptance. Your booth space will not be reserved without payment by the deadline. All payments are deemed final, and no
refunds will be issued with the exception of the complete and total cancellation of the event.

AWARDS

The winners will be posted on the Al Larson Prairie Center for the Arts website at prairiecenter.org and the winning images may be used in advertising for future Prairie Ars Festival events. I hereby grant usage rights to the photographs made of my artwork to the Village of Schaumburg, and hereby authorize their use to promote the Prairie Arts Festival in programs, advertisements, brochures, posters, local cable channels, website, and in the press media.

A panel of judges will award the following cash prizes:

• First Place: $500
• Second Place: $300
• Third Place: $200
• Eight Merit Awards: $100 each
• John F. Latko Award of Excellence: $250

AMENITIES

A complimentary continental breakfast with invited art patrons will be available to all artists both mornings in the Prairie Center lobby and convenient parking.

MEDIA CATEGORIES

Clay/Pottery: Original clay and porcelain work, functional or sculptural.

Digital: Digital art refers to art made using software, computers, or other electronic devices.

Drawing: A picture or diagram made with a pencil, pen, or crayon rather than paint.

Fiber: Includes wearable and non-wearable. No machine-tooled, machine-screen printing, or other forms of mass production are accepted.

Furniture: Handmade objects such as tables, chairs, chests, and desks used in a home or business.

Glass: Functional and sculptural work is accepted. Kiln forming, blowing, molding, or casting, as well as all cold working processes are permitted.

Jewelry: Only those artists accepted in the jewelry category may display or sell jewelry. 

Leather: Sculptural or decorative work made from leather.

Metal: Sculptural or decorative work made from metal.

Mixed Media: Work which combines materials from two or more mediums in one piece (e.g. drawing, painting, digital works, etc.).

Musical Instruments: Handmade instruments.

Natural Materials: This includes basket weaving, chair caning, brooms, gourds, and other works made from materials found in nature.

Painting: Including acrylic, gouache, oil, pastel, and watercolor.

Paper: Sculptural or decorative work made from paper.

Photography: Includes traditional film photography, hand-colored images, emulsion transfers, and digital photography. Only artist’s original source material is acceptable.

Printmaking: Hand-pulled original prints. Prints should be in limited editions, signed, and numbered.

Sculpture: Three-dimensional work using additive or subtractive processes in a single medium.

Wood: Original works that are hand tooled, machine-worked, turned or carved.

Please note edible packaged food/beverage items are not allowed in this fine art show.

37th PRAIRIE ARTS FESTIVAL

FINE ART & FINE CRAFT EXHIBITION AND SALE
Sponsored by the Village of Schaumburg
Saturday, May 23 and Sunday, May 24, 2026
10 a.m. - 5 p.m. each day on the grounds of the Al Larson Prairie Center for the Arts
A maximum of 120 artist spaces, 7 food trucks, 4 food vendors, 3 areas of entertainment, and 5-10,000 patrons attend.

IMPORTANT: Due to the ongoing Municipal Center construction project, the show layout was modified in 2025 and will remain in a similar configuration through 2026. Food vendors will be located in the parking lot east of the Prairie Center building again this year.

Also featuring artists, live entertainment, and children’s activities on the grounds of the Al Larson Prairie Center for the Arts in Schaumburg.

ATTENDANCE

The Memorial Day weekend celebration historically draws 5-10,000 patrons with most festival attendees from Schaumburg and the surrounding communities. Our Memorial Day weekend celebration is rooted in strong support and patronage from residents of Schaumburg and the surrounding suburbs. We're delighted to also welcome attendees from across the greater Chicagoland area and beyond state lines, making the Prairie Arts Festival the destination to be for Memorial Day weekend.

IMPORTANT DATES & DEADLINES

• Application Deadline: Sunday, March 1, 2026
  
  
• Notification of Acceptance: Friday, March 13, 2026 
  Booth fee charged upon acceptance; your booth space will not be reserved without payment.
  
  
• Set-up Information Emailed to Paid Participants: Friday, May 8, 2026
  
  

                                                                        ENTRY FEE
  
  

  $300 entry fee for a food truck, $200 fee for a 10’ x 10’ food vendor space (food cart or tent). Payment due upon acceptance. Your space will not be reserved without payment. All payments are deemed final, and no refunds will be issued with the exception of the complete and total cancellation of the event.