The 2025 MacNider Arts Festival will be on Saturday, June 14!

The MacNider Arts Festival is a rain or shine event! We will adjust the day’s activities as the weather changes and move crafts/music/pancakes inside/outside if needed!

The MacNider Outdoor Art Market will still be located outside and still need your support! Grab your umbrella OR sunglasses and give them a visit between 9 am – 4 pm.

The Charles H. MacNider Art Museum is pleased to announce the theme of the annual MacNider Arts Festival and Outdoor Art Market.  This year’s “Super MacNider Art Party” video game theme will encourage children to use their imaginations while creating exciting projects on Sat., June 8 from 9 am – 5 pm. Arts activities for children, an Art Market of talented artists, and musical entertainment will all be part of the fun. The FREE Pancake Breakfast is from 9-10 am or until gone. All events are located on the lawns of the Museum and the adjacent Mason City Public Library at 303 2nd Street SE in Mason City. Admission is free and everyone is welcome.

More than 200 area citizens are being recruited to volunteer during the Festival. If you are interested in volunteering during part of this event, contact the Museum at 641-421-3666 or email Jackie at jmbohl@masoncity.net.

The day begins with the Mayor and City Council’s Free Pancake Breakfast at 9 am.  This free breakfast is one of the most popular parts of the festival! Starting at 11 am the Museum will sell food for festival goers to purchase, including hamburgers, walking tacos, root beer floats, etc.  Proceeds of the food sales benefit the Festival and Museum programming.

Children’s activities, including art crafts, face painting, and the Imagination Playground will be offered from 9 am to 5 pm. Tickets for activities or food are $1 each.

There will be live musical entertainment on the stage in front of Museum throughout the day, including the Mason City Municipal Band (9-10 am), The Swampland Jewels (10:30-12:30), Lee Engele with the Donovan Johnson Trio (1-3 pm), and Jordan Messerole (3:30-5 pm). Bring a lawn chair or use the provided picnic tables and bleachers!

The MacNider Outdoor Art Market will be open from 9 am – 4 pm with many fine artists and crafts persons.  This is your opportunity to purchase one-of-a-kind pottery, jewelry, sculptures, glass, and more.  By purchasing work from these artists you are not only supporting the local economy and their work, you are purchasing quality unique art.

2024 Sponsors:

Bushel Boy Farms,
Tierney Development & Construction,
Burgmeier Dental, Central Park Dentistry,
Clear Lake Bank & Trust, Dental Center of North Iowa, The Electricians, First Citizens Bank, Hank’s Plumbing, Hosmer Toyota, Krisy Marquis Insurance,
North Iowa Community Credit Union, North Iowa Eye Clinic PC,
NSB Bank, Raymond James, Router 12, Schupick & Associates,
Accord Architecture, and the Generous People of North Iowa!

Support is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Iowa Arts Council, which exists within the Iowa Economic Development Authority