Arts Fest at Cecil College
Event Information
Saturday, May 30, 2026
10:00 am to 5:00 pm
North East Campus
One Seahawk Drive
North East, MD 21901
Welcome to ArtsFest Cecil College: A celebration of creativity, innovation, and artistic expression! Join us for a vibrant, immersive experience that highlights the diverse voices and perspectives of emerging and professional artists. Our festival showcases the extraordinary talent of artists across all disciplines, from visual arts and theater to music, and beyond. Enjoy exhibiting artists in a wide range of styles and mediums, art for sale, live performances, artist demonstrations, student displays, children's activities, hands-on arts workshops, and local food vendors. ArtsFest is a place to inspire, create, and ignite the imagination!
This event is free, open to the public, and will take place rain or shine.
Visit our event map to download and print full details, activities, and workshops.
Learn more about Cecil College Learn more about the arts at Cecil CollegeFood & Beverage Vendors
To inquire or apply, please email events@cecil.edu.
Participating Vendors
(Coming Soon!)
Artists
To inquire or apply, please email cecilcollegeart@cecil.edu.
Meet & Greet with Conor Mulligan: Reclamation 1987
Milburn Stone Theatre Gallery
10AM–5PM / Artist Talk 11:30AM–12:30PM
Join us from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm for an inspiring meet and greet with artist Conor Mulligan, creator of Reclamation 1987—a deeply personal series exploring healing, identity, and artistic renewal. Created after a major life transition, these paintings mark a return to self through color, emotion, and presence. Each piece serves as an emotional landscape, capturing the process of rediscovery and the courage it takes to begin again. Meet the artist, hear the story behind the work, and experience art as a powerful act of reclamation. The gallery will be open 10:00 am to 5:00 pm throughout the day to view the exhibition.
Performances & Screenings
Live Music
The Quad
10am–5pm
Experience the perfect harmony of sound and creativity at this year’s Arts Festival! Our live music stage celebrates artistic expression in every note and features local musicians who bring color and emotion to the air. Each performance complements the visual art and creative spirit surrounding you. Find a spot to listen, let the melodies inspire your imagination, and enjoy the soundtrack to a day filled with art, community, and culture.
Film Fest
Milburn Stone Theatre
11am–1pm / 2–4pm
Now in its sixth season, the Cecil County Independent Film Festival has showcased works from around the world. Established in 2019, the festival features a diverse selection of long-form and short-form projects, including narratives, documentaries, and music videos spanning a wide range of genres and disciplines. For a complete list of films being presented during the 2026 festival, please visit milburnstone.com/filmfestival.
Activities & Workshops
Art & Design Program Table and Student Spotlight
The Quad
10am–5pm
Meet current Art & Design students and learn firsthand what it’s like to study art at Cecil College! Discover our Arts program while watching emerging artists create and showcase their work. Support our talented student artists and purchase a one-of-a-kind, original piece of art to take home. Live block carving/printing demonstration by Chloe Mahala from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. Live clay sculpting demonstration by Angie Teague from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm. Live painting demonstration by Mya Pedone from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Discover the arts at Cecil College. Inspire. Create. Achieve!
Build Your Own Tin-Can Man
The Quad
10am–5pm
Build your own Tin-Can Man at ArtsFest! In this fun, hands-on recycled art workshop with local artist Maggie Creshkoff, kids will transform everyday discarded materials into imaginative works of art. All materials provided—just bring your creativity!
Pottery Wheel Demonstrations
The Quad
10am–5pm
Experience the joy of clay at our Pottery Demonstrations with Professor Lauren Vanni and the Cecil College ceramics staff! Watch live demonstrations, then take a turn at the wheel yourself. Free and fun for all ages—come play with clay and let your creativity flow!
Plein Air Painting
The Quad
10am–3:30pm
Step outside and let nature inspire your creativity at ArtsFest! Whether you're an experienced artist or just picking up a brush for the first time, this is your chance to capture the beauty of the outdoors. Our talented Arts Faculty will guide beginners in painting landscapes from life, while seasoned artists can find their perfect vista on our scenic campus and create a masterpiece all their own. All day for intermediate and advanced artists painting on their own (meet at 9:00 am to 9:30 am), if possible, to set guidelines. For morning beginners, report to the table for a morning session, 10:30 am to 12:30 pm. For afternoon beginners, report to the table for an afternoon session, 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm. All artists report back to either the plein air table or an exhibition location at 3:30 pm.
Little Artists' Corner
The Quad
10am–5pm
Bring your little artists to our Kids’ Arts & Crafts Table! A fun-filled space for hands-on creativity! Children of all ages can explore their imagination, experiment with materials, and create their very own masterpieces to take home.
3D Scanning
Arts & Sciences (Bldg. C), Room C113
10am–12pm / 1pm–3pm
Bring any object you'd like (including yourself) to have it scanned into the computer as a 3D printing, 3D modeling and rendering.
Drone Flight Challenge
Location TBA
10am–12pm / 1–3pm
Test your skills in our outdoor drone zone! Fly small drones through checkpoint gates to see how many you can clear in five minutes. We'll also run timed races on a marked course, with prizes awarded for the most checkpoints completed and the fastest run. Hosted by the Digital Arts and Media Design department.
Parent & Me Art Time
Location TBA
10:30–11:30am
Bring your little ones for a fun, hands-on art activity at ArtsFest! Explore colors, shapes, and textures together as you create special masterpieces side by side. Perfect for toddlers and young children—come make memories and art at the same time! All ages welcome—fun for kids and adults alike! Seats are limited—first come, first served!
Slate Painting
Arts & Sciences (Bldg. C), Room C231
11am–12pm
Get creative at ArtsFest! Join our Slate Painting Workshop and design your own one-of-a-kind piece to take home. All materials are provided—just bring your imagination! Fun for kids and adults alike. All ages welcome. Seats are limited—first come, first served!
Family Portrait Sessions
Arts & Sciences (Bldg. C), Room C224
11am–1pm / 2–4pm
Celebrate your family with a professional portrait session. Enjoy a relaxed, art-inspired experience and take home a beautiful keepsake that captures the spirit of the day.
Block Printing Workshop with John Werner
Arts & Sciences (Bldg. C), Room C231
1–2pm
Join local artist and printmaker John Werner for a hands-on block printing workshop! Learn traditional block printing techniques—plus clever ways to print using common household items. Whether you're a seasoned artist or just curious, this is your chance to create an original work of art to take home. All ages welcome—fun for kids and adults alike! Print on paper or mini tote bags (materials provided). Seats are limited—first come, first served!
Creative Connections
Arts & Sciences (Bldg. C), Room C231
2:30–3:30pm
Grab a friend, partner, or family member and join us for a fun, hands-on art activity at ArtsFest! Explore colors, shapes, and textures together as you create unique masterpieces side by side. Perfect for all ages—come connect and create! All ages welcome—fun for kids and adults alike! Seats are limited—first come, first served!
Sponsors
Sponsorship opportunities available!
For more information, please contact Wyatt Dylan Thompson at (410) 287-1071 or email wthompson@cecil.edu.
Visit our digital campus map, which includes an accessibility filter, at cecil.edu/ne-map.
To arrange for accessibility accommodations, contact accessibilityservices@cecil.edu or contact Public Safety at (410) 287-1601.
When visiting the campus for Arts Fest, please adhere to the following:
- This is a tobacco-free campus, so there is no tobacco use allowed.
- No alcohol allowed on premises.
- No pets/animals allowed.
- No external food or drink allowed on premises. Visitors may bring bottled water. No food, picnics, or snacks allowed. Please enjoy our on-site food and beverage vendors.
About Cecil College
If you're interested in the arts, there's no better place to explore your creativity than Cecil College. Our vision for the arts is to present opportunities to inspire, create and achieve. Students may declare multiple concentrations, creating an artistic portfolio of work for initial employment, career advancement, or transfer to a four-year university. A diversified curriculum stresses the development of artistic technique and critical thinking. Students develop creative and technical skills using state-of-the-art studios and laboratories and learn from faculty who are practicing artists and experts in their fields. Exhibition and internship opportunities are available for students looking to gain experience in the arts and industry. A key participant in the Elkton Arts and Entertainment District, the Elkton Station Gallery and Performing Arts Hall feature art exhibits, performances, and special events. The Milburn Stone Gallery features art exhibits in conjunction with Milburn Stone Theatre performances.
Cecil College's Art and Design Program offers an Associate of Fine Arts degree in Art and Design with concentration areas in art history, ceramics and sculpture, drawing and painting, graphic design, interactive and motion arts, photography and digital arts, and studio arts. The Program also offers an Associate of Arts degree in ceramics, drawing/painting, and graphic design. The Digital Arts & Media Design Program at Cecil College offers an optimal learning environment for student education in photography, digital imaging, graphic design, web design, video production, animation, gaming and multimedia. The Performing Arts Program offers Associate degrees in Music, Voice, Music Ed, and Audio. These programs prepare students for transfer to four-year colleges, universities, and art schools as well as initial employment and career advancement.
