Hastings Main Street Fall Festival of Art

Legendary Artists, Railroad Lore, Juried Art Show….and so much more! Saturday, November 25, 2023

Hastings Main Street and the St. Augustine Art Association have combined their talents and creativity to present this fun-for-the-whole-family event guaranteed to impress art lovers, history buffs and folks who just love small town hospitality and cultural celebrations.

Centered on the historic Stanton Ford Building, 301 N. Main Street, the festival fills the surrounding streets and public spaces with art, unique vendors, live music, savory food and a kids’ zone. Founded in the late 19th century, the community served as an agricultural center supplying fresh vegetables for the luxury hotels built by Henry Flagler in nearby St. Augustine. By 1910, it had acquired the name “Hastings” after Thomas Horace Hastings – a cousin of Flagler and the man responsible for providing quality food for the wealthy guests staying at the Ponce de Leon Hotel. And yes, Hastings remains the “Potato Capital of Florida.”

The Florida Highwaymen

In the midst of 1950’s segregation, 26 African-American artists found success by creating evocative paintings of Florida landscapes. Denied access to white-owned art galleries, they often marketed their work along highways, especially A1A and U.S. 1, thus earning the name Florida Highwaymen. Although few had any formal art training, they learned from each other and created their own unique style. Inducted into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame, they were also the subject of a one-hour PBS documentary. Two of the eight surviving Highwaymen, R.L. Lewis and Curtis Arnett, will be featured during the festival where they will make guest appearances and demonstrate their artistic talents.

Railway History

Dr. Seth H. Bramson, America’s most-published author of Florida history, will be the Festival’s guest speaker. He is the foremost collector of Florida East Coast Railway memorabilia and will discuss the railroad’s profound impact on the history of Hastings. Festival attendees will be able to visit the site of the Hastings train station and see how the former line has been transformed into the 19-mile long, paved Palatka-St. Augustine State Trail for bikers and hikers.

Hastings is located on SR 207 approximately 13 miles west of I-95. Festival hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and admission is free. Visit www.hastingsfl.org/festival-of-art for more information.