Thank you, Decatur. The 11th annual River Clay Fine Arts Festival brought an estimated 4,000 attendees downtown to meet artists, discover original work, and celebrate the arts together.
The 2026 artist market welcomed 69 juried artists: 34 from Alabama and 35 from out of state. Forty artists were participating in River Clay for the first time, adding new work and perspectives to a weekend rooted in community.
A new tradition: The Art of Recycling
Five North Alabama high schools turned recycled plastic into large-scale artwork for River Clay’s first student competition, presented by PRSEI. Congratulations to the winning schools:
- Decatur High School
- Priceville High School
- Hartselle High School
Thank you to all five participating schools, their students, and the teachers who helped bring these works to life.
Art, made in the moment
Chandler Hayes painted a live spray-paint mural of The Last Supper on site, giving visitors a chance to watch the work take shape throughout the weekend.
A Friday night to remember
River Clay Rendezvous opened the weekend with food, drinks, and a first look at the artist market. Thank you to the patrons, artists, sponsors, volunteers, and local partners who made the arts patron preview party possible.
It takes a whole community
More than 80 volunteers, together with our board and steering committee, helped run River Clay from setup to teardown. We are grateful for every hour they shared.
Thank you to our presenting sponsor, PRSEI, and to every sponsor, patron, and donor who invested in River Clay this year. We also thank Mayor Kent Lawrence, Council President Kyle Pike, and City of Decatur staff for hosting the festival on the City Hall campus.
Our gratitude extends to the Alabama Center for the Arts, participating schools and art teachers, food trucks and vendors, and everyone who came downtown to support original art.
See all of our 2026 sponsors and meet the 2026 artists.
Missed the festival shirt?
The 2026 River Clay festival T-shirt sold out onsite, and online orders are back open through Apparel Lab. Inspired by Confluence, a work by Alabama artist Jamey Grimes, it is the first River Clay shirt designed around an artist’s work.
Order Your Shirt | Read the story behind the design
Keep the momentum going
A gift to the River Clay Fine Arts Foundation supports art education in Decatur city schools and arts events in our community. If you are interested in sponsoring River Clay in 2027, our team would love to hear from you.
Make a Donation | Secure Your Spot
See you next October
River Clay returns the fourth weekend in October 2027. Dates and details will be announced as plans develop.