The 46th annual DBQFest will take place on Saturday, August 2 and Sunday, August 3, 2025, in the heart of Dubuque’s historic downtown in Washington Park. This free, 2-day arts festival welcomes all to experience the arts, music, and culture through a juried art fair, live performances, food trucks, and other family-friendly activities.

DBQFest (Dubuquefest) is Iowa’s longest running art fair and festival, celebrating art, music, and culture since 1979. From 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 2, and 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 6, 2025, DBQFest’s juried art fair will occur in Washington Park. Artists and makers working in all media and materials — jewelers, glassworkers, painters, textile artists, photographers, sculptors, potters, mixed media artists, and more – are encouraged to apply by midnight Monday, March 31, 2025. There is no application fee to apply at dbqfest.com/apply.

If accepted, visual artists are provided with a 10’x10’ outdoor booth location and are responsible for paying a $150 booth fee. Artists who are new to exhibiting and selling their work at professional art fairs can elect to apply for an emerging artist scholarship, waiving booth fees and providing an art fair tent free of charge. All juried artists are expected to be present both days of the festival.

DBQFest is also seeking applications from musical acts as well as individual or groups offering interactive or performative arts activities to perform during the festival. Selected applicants will be compensated for their time based on festival budget and applicant proposed fees. Stage performer and park activity applications are due by June 1, 2025 at dbqfest.com/apply. There is no fee to apply.

Applications are also sought from mobile food trucks to be set up throughout the festival on 6th Street between Bluff and Locust Streets. One or two-day options are available for food truck participation; one-day vendors are responsible for a $150 vendor fee with two-day vendors paying just $100 for a spot. Apply at dbqfest.com/apply by June 26, 2025 to be considered. There is no fee to apply.

DBQFest offers spaces for community booths to outreach and engage with DBQFest audiences. Community booths are reserved for non-profit organizations or community-focused groups that do not sell products but use their booth to provide information and interactive activities. Community booths are available on a first come, first-serve basis on a sliding scale of no cost up to $50 to be determined by the applicant organization. Applicant organizations are responsible for their own tent, table, chairs, etc. An application can be completed at dbqfest.com/apply.

DBQFest is a program of the Dubuque County Fine Arts Society. Volunteer and sponsorship opportunities are available. To get involved, visit dbqfest.com or contact the Festival Director at [email protected].

About the Dubuque County Fine Arts Society:

The Dubuque County Fine Arts Society (DCFAS) is a volunteer-driven 501c3 non-profit organization whose mission is to support artists and creatives by serving as a fiscal sponsor for collaborative, community-based arts experiences in Dubuque and its surrounding areas. For more information, visit www.dcfas.org.