MASON CITY — The Charles H. MacNider Art Museum will host its annual MacNider Arts Festival and Outdoor Art Market on Saturday, June 13, 2026, with a full day of free family activities, live music, local and regional artists, food and community fun.
This year’s festival theme is “Sweet on Art,” a tasty-treats inspired theme designed to encourage children to use their imaginations while creating colorful take-home art projects.
The festival runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. outside the MacNider Art Museum and the adjacent Mason City Public Library at 303 2nd Street SE in Mason City. Admission is free, and everyone is welcome.
The day will begin with the Mayor and City Council’s free pancake breakfast from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., or until the pancakes are gone. The breakfast is one of the festival’s most popular traditions.
Beginning at 11 a.m., the museum will sell food for festival visitors, including hamburgers, walking tacos, root beer floats and other items. Proceeds from food sales will support the festival and museum programming.
Children’s art activities will be offered free from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with volunteers available to help kids complete their projects. Planned projects include felt fortune cookies, watermelon suncatchers, donut magnets and butterfly candy wings. Festival favorites such as easel painting and stepping stones will also return.
Live music will be featured throughout the day on the stage in front of the museum. The entertainment schedule includes:
Mason City Municipal Band, 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
NOLA Jazz Band, 10:30 a.m. to noon
Galactic Cowboy Orchestra, 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Jordan Messerole, 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Festival visitors are encouraged to bring a lawn chair, though picnic tables and bleachers will also be available.
The Outdoor Art Market will also run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., giving visitors a chance to browse and buy one-of-a-kind pottery, jewelry, sculptures, glass, fine art and other handmade items. Museum officials said purchases support artists while also helping the local and regional creative economy.
Participating artists include Andrew J Wroble – Fine Art of Harpers Ferry; Artem Mathematica of Iowa City; Art of Sweaterjon of St. Louis Park, Minnesota; B & G Fashion Ceramic of North Liberty; Back Shop Creations of Rockford; Bee Creative by Jen of Ames; Bill Mateer of Sheffield; Bohemian Kat of Austin, Minnesota; Callo Metal Art of McCallsburg; Coyote Ridge of Scarville; Demarcate Designs of Quasqueton; Foraged Curiousities of Wesley; In His Hands of Des Moines; Kara Lund Studio of Williamsburg; Lori Biwer-Stewart of Osage; Lotus Moon Ceramics of Urbandale; Maura Hosmer Pottery LLC of Clear Lake; May Clay Designs of Clive; Meeka Mouse Art of Ankeny; OhJulieann of Iowa Falls; Our Garden Gate Goods of Albert Lea, Minnesota; Ruff Cuts Rocks, Gems, & Minerals of Nora Springs; Serendipity Art of Garner; Shellae Fine Arts & Crafts of Charles City; and Three Cat Alarm Studio of Mankato, Minnesota.
Artists from Isanti, Minnesota, include Amanda Kocurek Pottery and Minnesota Summer. Waterloo artists include JJs Oasis, Lost Loon Studio and Blue Lily Creations by Candida. Mason City artists include Aesthetic Eye Art, Brushes N Bobbins, Peggy Cornick, Mountains of Whimsy and Piippo Works.
More than 200 area residents are being recruited to volunteer during the festival. Anyone interested in helping during part of the event may contact the museum at 641-421-3666.
The 2026 MacNider Arts Festival sponsors are Clear Lake Bank & Trust, CL Tel, Dental Center of North Iowa, The Electricians, Fat Hill Brewing, First Citizens Bank, First United Methodist Church, Good Shepherd Health Center, Hildebrand Real Estate, Hoover Hatchery, ITC Midwest, MetalCraft, NI Mattress Outlet, North Central Mechanical Services, North Iowa Community Credit Union, North Iowa Eye Clinic, Raymond James & Associates, Router 12, State Farm Insurance, Stellar Industries Inc., Tierney Properties, Accord Architecture, Hearing Associates, Sukup Manufacturing Co., Mason City Lumber Co., The Sugar Stash, Zilge’s and the Generous People of North Iowa.
Support is also provided by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Iowa Arts Council, which exists within the Iowa Economic Development Authority.
The MacNider Art Museum is free and open to the public Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and closed Sunday and Monday. More information about exhibits, programs and events can be found at www.macniderart.org.