The Bluff Park Art Show is held the first Saturday of October at Bluff Park Community Park. The 2026 show was canceled for storms; 2027 date not set.
Last checked Oct. 17, 2026. Facts come from the Bluff Park Art Association’s show day details, about the show and association history pages, and from the City of Hoover. This page is updated for each year’s show at the same address.
The Bluff Park Art Show, which began before Hoover was a city, is held on the first Saturday of October at Bluff Park Community Park. The 2027 date has not been announced. This year’s 63rd show, set for Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., was canceled because of the threat of thunderstorms, the City of Hoover reported; organizers cited the safety of artists, patrons, vendors and volunteers. It would have featured 124 artists from 10 states.
Know before you go
- When: the first Saturday of October; 2027 date not yet announced. Hours in 2026 were 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Where: Bluff Park Community Park, 517 Cloudland Drive, Hoover
- Getting in: park at a shuttle lot and ride the free buses and shuttles
- Dogs: welcome
- Organizer: Bluff Park Art Association; show day details
Recent shows
| Year | Show | Date | What happened |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 61st | Saturday, Oct. 5 | About 120 artists; held in sunshine |
| 2025 | 62nd | Saturday, Oct. 4 | Best in Show to metal artist Robert Taylor |
| 2026 | 63rd | Saturday, Oct. 3 | Canceled for the threat of thunderstorms |
| 2027 | 64th | Not announced |
The 2024 details are from the association’s report on that year’s show; the 2025 date is from its artist in residence post and the winner from its show day page. If the show keeps to the first Saturday of October, the 2027 show would fall on Oct. 2; we will confirm the date here when the association posts it.
What you’ll find
Artists from across the South sell handmade work in painting, glass, clay, digital imaging, jewelry, metalwork, photography, woodworking, fiber, sculpture, printmaking and mixed media, the association says. There are hands-on art activities for children, live music from Alabama musicians all day and a street of food trucks. Visitors come and go as they please.
The 2026 lineup listed Food Truck Alley vendors G.R.’s Smokehouse, Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee, Kona Ice, Nettie B’s Grill, Domi Empanadas, Sweet Claire’s Caboose, Alabama Peanut, Cookie Fix, South Fizz Soda and The Park Nutrition, with music from Dan Cater and Remi & the Biscuit Burners. A juried show, it names a judge each year; the 2026 judge was ceramic and furniture artist Minkyu Lee.
Parking, buses and shuttles
The show runs free transportation from four lots, all ADA compliant, according to the association’s show day page. Lots have show signs posted.
| Lot | Address | Ride |
|---|---|---|
| Shades Mountain Plaza | 2400 Mountain Drive | Hoover school buses; pick up and drop off at the far end of the lot |
| Bluff Park United Methodist Church | 733 Valley St. | Hoover school buses; lower lot on Valley Street closest to Tyler Road |
| Shades Mountain Community Church | 2281 Old Tyler Road | Hoover school buses; front lot furthest from the church |
| Shades Crest Baptist Church | 452 Park Ave. | City of Hoover shuttles; front lot off Park Avenue |
The buses and shuttles run on a continuous loop to and from the show. Hoover Board of Education buses serve three of the lots and City of Hoover shuttles serve Shades Crest Baptist.
What to know
- Dogs are welcome, the association says.
- Rain: the show is outdoors, and in 2026 it was called off for the threat of storms. Check the association’s site on the morning of the show.
- Kids: hands-on art activities for children are part of the day.
- Artists: applications are taken only through ZAPP, the association’s apply page says.
How it started
In the early 1960s, Bluff Park Elementary School parents were raising money to expand the school library. In 1964 they held an art auction of donated paintings and crafts that raised about $850. The next year many of the same people formed the nonprofit Bluff Park Art Association, and its 1965 show had 65 artists, the city says. The show is older than the City of Hoover itself. On Sept. 28, 2026, the Hoover Historical Society unveiled a historical marker honoring the show at Bluff Park Community Park. The association also gives a $2,500 scholarship each year to a Hoover or Spain Park high school senior heading into the visual arts, and keeps a permanent collection of more than 120 works.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Bluff Park Art Show? The Bluff Park Art Association holds the show on the first Saturday of October. The 2027 date has not been announced; the 2026 show, set for Saturday, Oct. 3, was canceled because of the threat of thunderstorms.
Where is the Bluff Park Art Show held? At Bluff Park Community Park, 517 Cloudland Drive, in Hoover’s Bluff Park neighborhood. Visitors park at nearby churches and Shades Mountain Plaza and ride free buses and shuttles in.
Where do you park for the Bluff Park Art Show? In 2026 the lots were Shades Mountain Plaza, Bluff Park United Methodist Church, Shades Mountain Community Church and Shades Crest Baptist Church, with Hoover school buses and city shuttles on a continuous loop to the show.
Can I bring my dog to the Bluff Park Art Show? Yes. The Bluff Park Art Association says dogs are welcome.
How old is the Bluff Park Art Show? It began as a 1964 art auction to raise money for the Bluff Park Elementary School library. The Bluff Park Art Association formed in 1965 and held a show with 65 artists; 2026 would have been the 63rd annual show.
What this means for you
- Save the first Saturday of October 2027 and check back for the confirmed date.
- Park at a shuttle lot and ride the free bus to the park.
- Dogs are welcome, and lunch is in Food Truck Alley.
Related: history and landmarks, fall festivals and pumpkin patches and Moss Rock Festival.
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