Under the Tent: What I’ve Learned from Art Festivals

Until I had to put up my very first tent to sell my candle lanterns, I didn’t fully understand the effort it takes to stage a booth and present your work to the world. There’s a whole rhythm to it—hauling tables, wrestling with canvas canopies, arranging wares just so, all before the first visitor strolls by with coffee in hand.

That first experience was humbling. I was nervous, hopeful, and exhausted before noon. But it also cracked open a new appreciation in me. Behind each tent is an artist, a maker, a person whose hands and heart shaped every item on display. For many of them, this isn’t a side hustle—it’s their livelihood. Each sale means rent can be paid, groceries can be bought, studio time can be funded. Every transaction matters.

Now, whenever I visit a farmers market, craft fair, or local art festival, I make a point to buy something—however small. It’s a gesture of support, not just for the individual artist, but for the entire local economy. And there’s something deeply satisfying about bringing home a bar of handmade soap, a knitted scarf, a jar of jam, or a watercolor postcard—knowing exactly who made it, and perhaps even the story behind it.

This idea really hit home during a visit to a small Peruvian village in the Amazon basin. We stopped at a local market and bought a handful of bracelets for our kids and their friends back home. It came to 50 soles—about $15. Our guide quietly shared how meaningful that purchase was: enough to buy flour, sugar, and other essentials that would help feed several families. That moment stayed with me. What felt like a small act on our part made a real difference in someone else’s day-to-day life.

But it’s not just about sales. Art festivals have helped me build an unexpected sense of community. At a Paradise City Arts Festival, I met several artists who have since become close friends. We keep in touch throughout the year—sharing resources, advice, and encouragement. It’s a network of support that’s been just as valuable as any sale or compliment, and one I wouldn’t have found without showing up, tent poles in hand.

There’s magic in those white tents. Art festivals are more than marketplaces; they’re places of connection, community, and creativity. And now more than ever, they deserve our support.