Albert Einstein once said, "Creativity is contagious — pass it on." 

The annual ArtsFest event in Statesboro has done just that for 42 years, and the 2025 event is set for 10 a.m.–3 p.m. on Saturday, April 26. The theme for 2025 is from artist Henri Matisse, who said: "Creativity takes courage."

ArtsFest began as a community outreach effort for the Georgia Southern University Art Department to engage talented faculty members and students with the youth of the community — and to have fun doing it.

After Georgia Southern announced in 2016 it would no longer host the event, the Bulloch Recreation and Parks Department, along with the help of the university and other community sponsors and organizations, decided to continue ArtsFest with the recreation department as the host. 

The event, held in its traditional spot on Sweetheart Circle on the Georgia Southern campus, typically sees more than 4,000 youth and their families. The 2025 ArtsFest will once again return to Sweetheart Circle this Saturday, April 26, with no admission fees and no parking fees.

ArtsFest is a day filled with art stops, an artist market, and a community stage with local entertainment. The event celebrates the arts and arts education through performances, exhibiting and demonstrating artists, and hands-on activities and games.

Festival-goers can create their own artwork at more than 35 art stops in Sweetheart Circle. Art stops allow participants to explore types, techniques and mediums of art while learning about various subject matters not always pertaining to fine art. 

Patrons can mold creations at the clay factory, create a paint-a-pet rendition of their own furry friends, make their own super hero mask, use a rainbow of watercolors to create one-of-a-kind pieces, get their faces painted and much more. You can even tie dye your own souvenir T-shirt that will be available for $5. 

The artists market will be filled with unique creations available for purchase. Many artists from around the region will be on-site creating their one-of-a-kind pieces. 

Some Georgia Southern student artists will be showing off their artwork for sale, as well.

The community stage will offer a variety of local acts, including dance teams, solo vocalist, a magic show and ballet academy.

There will be inflatables for children along with bubble pools and a paint place filled with easels and paint just waiting for a personal masterpiece.

There will be the traditional festival foods, such as cotton candy, funnel cakes, hamburgers, hotdogs, ice treats and more.

ArtsFest is sponsored by Dabbs, Hickman, Hill and Cannon CPAs and the Kiwanis Club of Statesboro. Many other sponsors and community organizations are also supporting the event through monetary donations, in kind donations, and donations of time and talent. 

For a detailed schedule, click here.