A Heartfelt Thank You for an Incredible Festival

As we reflect on the 2026 Toledo Festival of the Arts, one word comes to mind - gratitude.

Thank you to every volunteer, artist, sponsor, and visitor who helped make this year's festival such a wonderful success. Taking on this event was a big undertaking, and because of your enthusiasm, hard work, and support, it exceeded our expectations.

The comments from participating artists remind us why this effort mattered:

"Thank you for saving this festival. I am eternally grateful for your efforts. For what was essentially a 'reboot,' it was an incredible success. I am very much looking forward to how it continues to grow." - K.P.

"Well done! I loved the artist community in Toledo! And enjoyed the event!" -L.R.

"I've already recommended the venue to a few other artists I know... they may be interested in incorporating the Toledo Festival into their schedules if they know to apply!" -D.S.

"I believe the show will have a long and auspicious run at the new venue." -A. & H. J.

"Congratulations on an excellent job with such a complex event." -P. B.

The artist survey echoed these sentiments. Of those who completed the survey, 84% rated their overall experience as Excellent or Very Good, and another 8% as Good. Even more encouraging, no one rated the festival Poor. Those numbers tell us we're headed in the right direction and give us an exciting foundation on which to build. 

We're also pleased to share that, while final invoices are still being processed, the festival has generated more than $20,000 in profit for the Toledo Artists' Club. We'll report the final amount once all expenses have been finalized.

But perhaps the greatest measure of success can't be found on a balance sheet.

This festival was about far more than raising funds. It was about bringing artists and our community together, creating opportunities to exhibit, connect, and inspire. In doing so, we strengthened appreciation for local art while helping to ensure that the Toledo Artists' Club can continue to support exhibitions, educational programs, and scholarships for years to come.

Every volunteer who greeted guests, set up tents, directed traffic, staffed booths, or quietly worked behind the scenes played an important role in making this happen. A special thank you to the volunteers from Five Lakes Church without whom we couldn't have done this. Every artist who trusted us with their work, every sponsor who believed in our vision, and every visitor who came to celebrate the arts helped write this exciting new chapter.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for believing in the Toledo Festival of the Arts and in the mission of the Toledo Artists' Club. We are excited for what we've started together, and we can't wait to see where this journey takes us next.

Paul Lyon, President

Linda Shetzer, Vice President