North Carolina Plein Air Art Festival

For eight days, the 6th Annual North Carolina Plein Air Art Festival showcases 35 nationally and globally acclaimed plein air artists, including newly juried painters, joining award winners and top performers from the previous year's Festival. Painting venues include historic New Bern, the first capital of North Carolina; Beaufort, the home of the North Carolina Maritime Museum; and Oriental, the sailing capital of North Carolina. In addition, artists will choose more sites and landscapes in Craven, Carteret and Pamlico Counties.

Festival headquarters, including demonstrations, workshops, art displays, and sales, will be based at Historic New Bern’s Farmers Market, less than two blocks from Tryon Palace. In addition, pop-up exhibits and art sales will happen in Beaufort and Oriental, with location details, dates, and times on the NC Plein Air New Bern website. All activities are free except the workshops, Saturday’s awards celebration, and a modest fee for artists to enter the Quick Paint competition (no charge for spectators).