2026 Finster Fest

Summerville, GA – Finster Fest returns to Howard Finster’s Paradise Garden September 19-20, 2026, bringing more than 70 folk, contemporary and crafts artists, 17 live music performances, artist demonstrations, movement performances, talks, special exhibitions and family activities to the 4-acre art environment in Summerville, Georgia.

Paradise Garden Foundation’s signature annual festival celebrates the life and creative legacy of visionary artist Howard Finster while bringing together artists, musicians and visitors from across the Southeast and beyond. Finster Fest began in 1991 and has grown into one of northwest Georgia’s most distinctive cultural events, drawing thousands of visitors to experience art and music throughout the unique site listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

This year’s invited artist roster includes longtime Finster Fest favorites and artists returning to the festival after several years, as well as first time participants. Among the participating artists are Black Cat Tips, Eric Legge & Michele Humphrey, Jim Kopp, Jim Shores, Bob McGill, Charlie Dingler, Kimberly Crowder, Lala Abaddon, Abe Partridge, Feliciano & Lala Abaurre, Ricky Boscarino, Mavis Stevens, Tex Crawford, Kip Ramey, Randy Tobias, and many more.

Music is woven throughout Paradise Garden during the weekend, with 17 performances taking place in four unique settings: the Meditation Chapel, Mosaic Garden, World’s Folk Art Church and Big Top stage. The 2026 lineup spans singer-songwriters, Americana, bluegrass, gospel, Cajun, alt-country, rock, ambient music and more.

Saturday performances include the Goodwins, Will Stewart, Oh Me Oh My, Rolling Nowhere, Jim White, Mark Ross & the Contraptions and Ben Hackett. Sunday’s lineup features Abe Partridge, Tyler Key, Jean Bertrand & Amy Scher, Seventeen Wheeler, Julia Barfield, T. Hardy Morris, Jeneal Johnson & Jackie Hammond, Marlin Brackett and Brownlow & Sims.

On Sunday, Atlanta-based Beacon Dance will bring movement into the Mosaic Garden, joining Seventeen Wheeler for a performance that blends live music and contemporary dance within Finster’s colorful artist-built environment.

Finster Fest also gives visitors opportunities to meet artists and learn more about their creative processes. New York-Texas artist Lala Abaddon will demonstrate her distinctive process of weaving photographs at her festival booth beneath the rear awning of the World’s Folk Art Church.

Black Cat Tips will give a gallery talk about his exhibition, Birds of a Feather: Black Cat Tips in Paradise Garden. The exhibition, on view during Finster Fest, brings the Atlanta artist’s exuberant imagery and storytelling into conversation with the creative environment of Paradise Garden.

Other talks include Pepper Raper of Rock City discussing the history of See Rock City barns and the connection between Rock City and Paradise Garden as old-time Southern roadside attractions. And folk artist Mavis Stevens will talk and perform stories from her children’s book, Last Chance Trailer Park.