Ready, Set, Paint Outside!

Paint Grand Traverse starts June 21

June 20, 2026

Crooked Tree Arts Center is known for many artistic endeavors between Petoskey and Traverse City, but one of the nonprofit’s crown jewels is Paint Grand Traverse, a plein air painting festival and competition that runs June 21-28, followed by an exhibition July 1-Aug. 22 at the Traverse City location. Dozens of painters from across the country come for a variety of events, including art demos and workshops, gallery visits, activities for kids, and the Fresh Paint Party on June 27 where the newest works are displayed and sold. (Tickets for the party are $75—plus, there will be half a dozen local artists to cheer on as they face the jurors!) Expect to find painters popping up all over northern Michigan, from Old Mission Peninsula to Elk Rapids to Fishtown. See the full schedule of events at crookedtree.org/events-and-exhibitions/events/paint-grand-traverse.

Pictured: Work by oil painter Kevin Barton of Petoskey.