Since 1997, the Three Rivers Art Festival has bombarded the streets of downtown Covington, Louisiana, with fun, music, color, and most importantly, art, it has grown from 49 to nearly 200 exhibiting artists. The festival attracts a sophisticated buying public and a talented group of artists and fine craftsmen, with more than 55,000 visitors attending last year. 

This event has three purposes, all of which are connected to the festival’s home parish, St. Tammany, and all that this community has to offer. First, the festival serves to expand and enhance St. Tammany’s reputation as an arts-oriented community and Mecca for artists and art lovers. Columbia Street, along which the artists’ booths run and the music plays, is filled with art throughout the year, from multiple galleries to art supplies. Essentially, this one street is any art enthusiast’s heaven. The festival also adds to the many other attractions and events that make St. Tammany a wonderful tourist destination. 

The last purpose of the festival is to support art education for St. Tammany Parish school children. By hosting a student art competition that is displayed during the festival, the event inspires and encourages children of all ages to experiment with and create art. At the festival itself, the Children’s Area offers hands-on activities and the Arts Alive! program provides live demonstrations by exhibiting artists during the day, so kids can either watch or participate in artistic creation. 

The Covington Three Rivers Art Festival targets sophisticated, knowledgeable buyers in the Greater New Orleans area, South Louisiana and the Gulf Coast.