Evanston Plein Air Festival Finale

Join us for an afternoon of art, awards, a plein air cafe and an Outdoor Art Market where artists will sell their work “off the easel”.

Rotary’s Café International will have delicious food and wine for sale, with outdoor seating to relax and enjoy the festival.

Meet competing plein air painters and shop original art inspired by Evanston at the Plein Air Art Market: 12-4p.

Vote Festival Favorite

• Plein Air Festival competing artists will submit one work for judging by 11:30a
• Enter Rotary International’s lobby to view submitted art and vote Festival Favorite, 12-3p
• Festival Award Ceremony: 3:30p

Hosted at Rotary International, Downtown Evanston, 1560 Sherman Ave.

EVANSTON PLEIN AIR FESTIVAL

Evanston Made presents the 4th Annual Evanston Plein Air Festival: July 16-20, 2025. This citywide summer arts festival invites the community to plein air art events and competitions hosted in every neighborhood, accessible and free for all!

Watch competing artists paint in the Plein Air style, capturing the beauty of Evanston.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

July 1-20, Plein Air Festival Exhibit at Saw Room Gallery. The exhibit includes examples of plein air and studio work from competitors and judges who helped this festival become an annual event in Evanston. Gallery address: 1712 Sherman Ave. Evanston, IL 60201. Gallery hours: Monday – Saturday 10 AM–5 PM.

July 12, Artist Check In. Registered artists begin signing in and canvas stamping at Blick Evanston on Maple Ave. and can scout locations and begin “free paint” beginning Saturday, 7/12. Scheduled events begin 7/16.

July 15, Artist Plein Air Painting Workshop. Join us for a group class at Lee Street Beach with our guest judge, Cory Wright. Class time: 9am-1:30pm. Fee $125. Click here to register

July 16 – 19, Paint Outs. Paint Outs are “quick paint” competitions for competing plein air painters! Watch painters work during the painting time and join us for award ceremonies. Click here for event details.

• July 16 – NOYES STREET. Awards at 6:30p. Artists turn in by 6p. Studio 215, 927 Noyes St. Click here to RSVP
• July 17 – DOWNTOWN EVANSTON. Awards at 6:30p. Artists turn in art by 6p. LeTour, 625 Davis St. Click here to RSVP
• July 18 – MAIN DEMPSTER MILE  Awards at 6:30p. Artists turn in art by 6p. Block party, 514 Main St. Click here to RSVP
• July 19 – FARMERS MARKET Awards at 12:30p. Artists turn in art by 12p. EM Tent, 1800 Maple Ave. Click here to RSVP

Friday, July 18 – Plein Air Festival Block Party. Hosted by the Main Dempster Mile, everyone is invited to meet the competing artists, view the Paint Out competition, shop the plein air art market, enjoy live music and delicious drinks and bites! Main Street, between Hinman and Chicago Avenues. 5:30-7:30p. INFO.

EVENT HOSTS

•Evanston Made is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit arts organization with the mission to connect Evanston creatives to the public through programming and events. Learn more at evanstonmade.org

•Rotary unites a global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to tackling the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges and creating lasting change. Rotary connects 1.4 million people of action from more than 46,000 Rotary clubs in almost every country in the world. Their service improves lives both locally and internationally, from helping those in need in their own communities to working toward a polio-free world. For more information, visit Rotary.org.

•Chicago’s North Shore Convention & Visitors Bureau is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit corporation that provides marketing, special event, placemaking, and management services to the downtown Evanston business district. Learn more at visitchicagonorthshore.com

Sponsorship Opportunities

If you wish to support Evanston Made with our general operating expenses in addition to sponsoring specific event(s), please consider sponsoring our work.

Your sponsorship not only will help Evanston Made produce quality programming, activities, and art events for our community, it will also provide the seeds for Evanston Made to become a more scalable and sustainable organization.

Evanston Made is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit art organization. Contributions to Evanston Made are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law, and our tax identification number/EIN is 84-3971750.

Click here to become a sponsor today and thank you for supporting Evanston Made.