About the Cottontown Art Crawl

The Cottontown Art Crawl, founded in 2019, had humble beginnings. It was the vision of one Cottontown resident who invited a handful of her artist friends to bring their art and set up displays on a few front porches. With a few social media posts and handmade signs, the event attracted 300 people on a Saturday morning, and the Cottontown Art Crawl was born.

The festival transforms the Cottontown neighborhood into a bustling open-air gallery of creativity and culture with live music, food trucks and approximately 200 local and regional artists lining the streets with unique art that utilizes many different mediums such as ceramics, sculpture, photography, jewelry, fiber and more.

The Cottontown Art Crawl is dedicated to promoting local artists, fostering community and showcasing the historic Cottontown neighborhood and its merchants. The crawl is organized by a passionate committee that believes in the power of art to unify a community.

Economic Impact

The Cottontown Art Crawl welcomes approximately 7,000 visitors from around the region that range in age from young adults to senior citizens. In 2026, 14% of attendees traveled more than 50 miles to Columbia for the festival and attracts visitors from all over the state and the southeast. More than 82% of attendees visit local restaurants and shops in the vicinity of the Cottontown neighborhood during the event.

The crawl is a significant event–not only for the Cottontown/Bellevue Historic neighborhood’s residents and merchants–but also for the nearly 230 artists that participate. The 2026 participating artists recorded approximately $230,000 in sales during the 2026 event. Additionally, many of the neighborhood’s merchants have their best day of the year during the crawl.

Funds from sponsorships help cover the cost of the festival and ensures a professionally-produced event with high-quality print and digital materials, signage, marketing and entertainment – resulting in a unique and memorable experience for all attendees. While not a fundraiser per se, any funds left over help the Cottontown neighborhood with beautification and historic preservation projects, as well as neighborhood activities that help build a strong community.

Voted 2023 Best Festival in Columbia by Readers of COLAToday & Free Times Writer’s Pick!