Wheaton Arts Parade & Festival 2026

Registration will open on August 29, 2026

MAA is partnering with the Wheaton Arts Parade & Festival on Sunday, September 27, 2026.  Two tents will be available for up to 15 member artists to display and sell prints, flat originals, and greeting cards.  MAA will also be walking in the Wheaton Arts Parade - participant member artists are encouraged to join the MAA group in the parade.  The FAQ is here. 

Below are the details:

• Where: The festival will be in Fryer Town Plaza in Wheaton and nearby streets. See map
• Cost to participate: Free; MAA membership is required.
• What you may sell: Member artists may bring one print bin, one card rack, and 2 or 3 small framed original works (no larger than 14” in any dimension) with supporting easels. All prints and cards must be in plastic sleeves/bags. All items must have labels that shows price, artist name, and contact info.
•  Volunteering/staffing: Artists must be present to process sales and volunteer.  Participants must bring in their own items at drop off (8:00-8:30am) and be present to collect them promptly at the start of take down at 5:00pm. Participants must sign up to volunteer in 2-hour shifts during the festival day – from 8:00 am to 5:30 pm; providing tent oversight and help with set up or take down as needed. Once we know all the participating artists, we will connect you with one another, in case you wish to pair up and self-organize shifts in the tents to process sales of artwork. 
• Join MAA in Walking in the Parade!  MAA member artists are encouraged to walk in the parade - you can walk, pull, carry, or wear your art.  Parade marchers will gather by 9:30am. The parade will start at 10 and last for about an hour (the route is about a half-mile).  Please carry a small or light piece of your artwork or an empty open frame (to show your face!).   (Members are welcome to both walk in the parade and staff the MAA tent - just check "yes" when asked if you would like to walk in the parade while you are registering for your space in the MAA tent.  Please note that if you are staffing the tent you are not required to walk in the parade; additionally, you can only display your art at the tent if you are registered to staff the tent.)  If you would like to walk in the parade with the MAA group, please contact Mark Adler at adlermark@comcast.net before September 19.
• Sales: Participants will process their own sales and receive 100% of sales; MAA is not taking a commission. We recommend you have electronic methods for accepting payments via credit card, PayPal/Venmo, as well as a cash sales. 

Disclaimer: Reasonable care and security will be provided by the MAA volunteer artists. Neither MAA nor the Wheaton Arts Festival and Parade organizations will be held responsible for loss or damage to artwork after dropping off, during the festival, and until picking up afterwards. Artists are advised to have their own insurance.

Key dates:
Registration: August 29-September 26, 2026
Event: September 27
--Setup: 8-10 am
--Open to the public: 10 am-5 pm
--Break down: 5-6 pm

Contacts: MAA event manager Mark Adler