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article local calendar_today Sunday, May 31, 2026

Boulder’s plein air festival unites 50 artists outdoors, painting in real time

Boulder’s Open Studios is launching the 2026 Boulder County Plein Air Festival, bringing together 50 Colorado artists to paint outdoors on location across the county. The festival includes two free public paint-outs at Chautauqua Park on June 2 and the Boulder Farmers Market on June 3, where visitors can watch artists work and ask questions. This year’s event marks a deliberate shift to a local focus, limiting participation to Colorado artists and prioritizing Open Studios members and those from Boulder County. The festival culminates in a final exhibit of works created during the week.