Most major Northeast cities feature art festivals throughout the year, including the International Art Expo held in March at Pier 94 in New York; and Boston's Arts Festival, held in September at Christopher Columbus Park. Urban festivals like these often showcase both visual and performing arts.
Smaller towns also beckon art lovers. For example, the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts is held in July on the streets of State College and the campus of The Pennsylvania State University, in the rural heart of the state.
The Virginia Arts Festival -- which takes place over seven weeks during April and May in nine different cities -- focuses on performing arts, with dance and music from classical to folk to jazz.
Enjoy the regional flavor of bluegrass music and local crafts, such as quilting and woodwork, at the Appalachian Festival in Beckley, West Virginia, each August.
Florida offers many festivals; one of the larger ones takes place in October, when Ft. Lauderdale's Los Olas Art Fair hosts than 200 exhibitors lining Los Olas Boulevard.
The Gold Coast Art Fair at Grant Park in Chicago, Illinois, in July brings in about 350,000 visitors each year. In addition to more than 450 visual artists, the fair includes musical performances and food.
The Grand Cities Arts Fest is held in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and East Grand Forks, Minnesota, in June. The festival's Emerging Artist Program gives newbies free booth space.
For a more intimate experience, get off the beaten path and visit the Grant Wood Art Festival in Anamosa, Iowa, in June. The festival celebrates the legacy of the artist famous for the painting, "American Gothic."
In August, visit the Crested Butte Arts Festival in Crested Butte, Colorado. In addition to displays and an auction of fine art, the festival emphasizes culinary arts, with demonstrations by chefs. Learn about pairing wine with food, or enjoy some barbecue with local craft beers.
The Tempe Festival of the Arts in Tempe, Arizona, takes place twice a year, in December and March. Mill Avenue and nearby streets are lined with more than 400 artists' booths; entertainment ranges from street performers to local and nationally known jazz musicians.
Among many festival choices in California, experience the unusual Festival of Arts and Pageant of the Masters in Laguna Beach. It features "tableaux vivants," in which volunteers in costume pose in elaborate sets to duplicate famous works of art. See the show in July and August, and shop for work by local artists in the festival's outdoor gallery.
In Alaska, the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival takes place for two weeks in July under the midnight sun. Held on the University of Fairbanks campus, the festival combines study and performance opportunities in visual arts, dance, music and both healing and literary arts.