Paint the Town Alpharetta 2026: plein air dates and events

Paint the Town, Arts Alpharetta’s plein air painting competition, runs Tuesday, Oct. 20, to Saturday, Oct. 24, with artists painting outdoors around Alpharetta all week. It ends with an awards ceremony and exhibition reception Saturday evening, and the paintings stay on show through Nov. 14.

Last checked Oct. 4, 2026.

Upcoming dates

The organizer calls this schedule tentative.

• Tue. Oct. 20 to Sat. Oct. 24: five days of plein air painting around town
• Tue. Oct. 20 to Fri. Oct. 23, 6 p.m. to sundown each evening: Art in the Dark
• Fri. Oct. 23, 9 to 11 a.m.: Quick Draw, with judging at 11:30 a.m. on the Town Green at City Center
• Sat. Oct. 24, 10:30 a.m.: deadline for artists to deliver finished work
• Sat. Oct. 24, 5 to 7 p.m.: awards ceremony and exhibition reception
• Sat. Oct. 24 to Sat. Nov. 14: exhibition of the entries

This is the sixth Paint the Town. Arts Alpharetta runs it with the City of Alpharetta and the Alpharetta Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Where it is and parking

Artists paint on location across Alpharetta, so there is no single site to visit during the week. The hub is the Alpharetta Arts Center, 238 Canton St., where artists check in, get their canvases stamped and deliver finished work. The Quick Draw judging is on the Town Green at City Center, in front of City Hall.

Arts Alpharetta does not publish parking details for the event. For downtown work zones, see our road construction and closures page.

Tickets and cost

Arts Alpharetta does not list a charge for watching the painters or for the Quick Draw judging.

For artists, the fees on the event page are:

• Late registration, Oct. 2-10: $75
• “Really late” registration, Oct. 11-20: $100
• Art in the Dark only, any evening from Oct. 20: $45
• Quick Draw only, Oct. 23: $45
• Artists’ welcome and networking dinner at Smokejack, 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20: $40, not included in any entry fee

The standard $45 registration closed Oct. 1. Entry fees are not refundable or transferable.

What to know

• For buyers: artists can put paintings up for sale. Arts Alpharetta handles all sales, collects sales tax and keeps a 30% commission, and buyers can take their paintings home after the awards ceremony on Oct. 24, according to the call for artists.
• Weather: the event goes ahead rain or shine.
• Prizes: more than $3,000 in cash awards in professional, intermediate and novice classes, plus the Quick Draw and Art in the Dark contests.
• Entry rules: artists must be 18 or older, and every competition piece must be painted on site during the event on a surface stamped at the Arts Center. Each artist may enter two paintings in the competition and two more for display and sale, no larger than 40 inches including the frame.
• Where the money goes: proceeds pay for Takeout Art, free art kits for local children, and a public art fund run with the city.
• Questions: Arts Alpharetta, 404-834-1147.

Paint the Town is one of several October events in our fall festivals roundup; more is on things to do this month.

Dates and venues as listed on the Alpharetta Convention and Visitors Bureau calendar and confirmed on the organizer’s site.

Frequently asked questions

When is Paint the Town in Alpharetta?

Tuesday, Oct. 20, to Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. Artists paint outdoors around town all five days, with Art in the Dark each evening Oct. 20-23 and the Quick Draw Friday morning, Oct. 23.

Where can I watch the Paint the Town Quick Draw?

Artists paint from 9 to 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 23, and judging follows at 11:30 a.m. on the Town Green at City Center.

How much does it cost to enter Paint the Town?

Late registration is $75 through Oct. 10 and $100 from Oct. 11 to 20. Art in the Dark only or Quick Draw only is $45 each. Artists must be 18 or older.

Can I buy the paintings from Paint the Town?

Yes. Artists may put work up for sale, and Arts Alpharetta handles the sales. The exhibition runs Oct. 24 to Nov. 14.