ArtSplash Art Festival returns to Sioux City for 32nd year with new evening hours

SIOUX CITY (KTIV) - The Sioux City Art Center is preparing for the 32nd year of ArtSplash, an art festival presented by Empirical Foods, set for Sept. 19-20. The festival will again take place two weekends after Labor Day, a change made last year to accommodate people who travel over the holiday weekend. 'We did hear a lot last year that people hadn't been to Art Splash in years because they'd been traveling over Labor Day,' said Summer Amman, Sioux City Art Center Development Coordinator. Saturday's hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday's hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Because the festival now runs later into the evening on Saturday, all artist booths are equipped with electricity and lights. 'All the artists have electricity and lights in their booth, so the lights will come on in the evening,' Amman said. 'It's great atmosphere.' New this year, Jackson Street Brewing will serve beer and wine starting at noon both days until the festival closes. Drinks can be enjoyed throughout the festival grounds within the fencing. A small stage at the corner of 3rd and Pierce streets will feature an entertainer Saturday night and Sunday morning. New and returning artists will line Pierce and 3rd streets, presenting painting, photography, jewelry, ceramics, fiber, glass, wood, metal and mixed media work. Artists apply and are juried into the festival. Children's art activities will be held in the Gilchrist Learning Center and outside in the parking lot, free thanks to Great Southern Bank. An adult art activity will also be offered inside the learning center, along with fee-based face painting. Those activities run 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. An 'Engage the Community' area will feature nonprofit organizations highlighting their events and offering free activities for children. Inside the learning center's lecture hall, the Siouxland International Film Festival will show short films, including family-friendly titles and the 2025 Best of the Fest. On the Art Center's front lawn, live entertainment will include Paul Imholte, Omaha Street Percussion, Aly Peeler, Lemon Fresh Day, Headwind and Dane Louis. Tables, chairs and shade sails will be available. Food trucks will be located on 2nd Street. This year's featured artist is Hannah Demma of Lincoln, Nebraska, who makes paper and creates artwork with it. T-shirts featuring her artwork will be sold at the festival. Admission is free, as it has been since the festival moved downtown in 2021. Sponsors include Empirical Foods and Great Southern Bank, along with naming sponsors CF Industries, Chesterman, K&K Mobile Storage, MidAmerican Energy, Thompson and Wilson Trailer. Parking is available at the June E. Nylen Center parking lot, with additional parking throughout downtown on streets and in garages. Pets are not permitted within the festival area, aside from service animals. Bicycles, skateboards and coolers are also not allowed. The western lane of Nebraska Street will be closed between 3rd Street and the railroad tracks. 3rd Street will be closed between Pierce and Nebraska streets. Pierce Street will be closed between 3rd Street and the railroad tracks, and the eastern and central lanes of Pierce Street will be closed between 4th and 3rd streets. Street closures begin Thursday morning and remain in effect through Sunday evening at 8 p.m. Want to get the latest news and weather from Siouxland's News Source? Follow these links to download our KTIV News app and our First Alert Weather app.