This is a place holder with the words Arts Fest at Cecil College. The background features wavy yellow lines that resemble the rays of the sun.

Cecil College announces Inaugural Arts Festival

Published on March 13, 2026

NORTH EAST, Md: Cecil College will celebrate creativity as it comes to life through art, imagination, music, and shared experiences this spring with the launch of its inaugural ArtsFest Cecil College, a daylong festival highlighting artistic expression across disciplines. The event will be held Saturday, May 30, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the College’s North East Campus, located at One Seahawk Drive in North East, Maryland.

Free and open to the public, ArtsFest will be held rain or shine and promises a vibrant, immersive experience that inspires artists and art lovers of all ages. Throughout the day, attendees can explore a wide range of artistic styles and mediums, browse and purchase original artwork, watch live demonstrations, enjoy student exhibitions, and participate in interactive workshops. Local food vendors will be on site, adding to the festive atmosphere.

At the heart of the celebration is a commitment to creativity, innovation, and artistic expression, with organizers describing ArtsFest as a place to inspire, create, and ignite the imagination with activities scheduled across campus. There will be live musical performances in the heart of the campus throughout the festival by local musicians, including current students, recent graduates, and faculty, who will provide a dynamic soundtrack to the day’s activities.

Film enthusiasts can attend screenings of the Sixth Annual Cecil County Independent Film Festival at the Milburn Stone Theatre with showings at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. The film festival has showcased works from around the world since 2019, featuring a diverse selection of long- and short-form projects including narratives, documentaries, and music videos. These two shows are free to attend, while additional shows will have a fee.

There will also be a Student Film Exhibition running continuously, spotlighting the next generation of filmmakers through curated short films, animations, and video projects created by Cecil College students.

Families can visit the Little Artists’ Corner for hands-on arts and crafts or participate in the Build Your Own Tin-Can Man workshop with local artist Maggie Creshkoff, where children transform recycled materials into imaginative sculptures. Parent & Me Art Time invites toddlers, young children, and caregivers to explore colors and textures together, while Creative Connections offers friends and family members a chance to create side-by-side in a collaborative art experience. Also occurring are slate painting workshops and block printing sessions with local artist John Werner, and pottery wheel demonstrations with Cecil College Professor Lauren Vanni and the Cecil College ceramics staff.

Visitors will have the opportunity to meet current Art & Design students with demonstrations of block carving and printing, clay sculpting, and painting by these young artists. Original student artwork will be available for purchase.

Technology-driven creativity will also be featured prominently. Guests can experiment with digital painting tools during hands-on workshops in the Arts & Sciences Building, watch live 3D scanning demonstrations that show how real-world objects are transformed into digital models for gaming and virtual reality applications, or test their skills in a drone flight challenge on a mini obstacle course. The Video Green Screen experience will allow participants to step into imaginative digital environments using professional chroma key technology, while Family Portrait Sessions in a professional-style studio setting will provide attendees with a polished digital keepsake of their day at ArtsFest.

Visitors are encouraged to consult the digital campus map, which includes an accessibility filter, for details on activity locations. To arrange accessibility accommodations, attendees may contact accessibilityservices@nullcecil.edu or Public Safety at (410) 287-1601.

Cecil College is a tobacco-free campus, and alcohol, pets, and outside food or beverages are not permitted. Guests are invited to enjoy offerings from on-site food and beverage vendors. Learn more about the festival and visitor guidelines at www.cecil.edu/fest.