Delray Affair returns as award-winning art festival in downtown Delray Beach

Delray Affair 2025 in downtown Delray Beach. [Photos by MasterWing Creative Agency]

Fresh off national recognition, the Delray Affair is set to return to downtown Delray Beach this weekend. The Greater Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce recently announced that the event has been named the 2025 People’s Choice evAward winner for Best Art Show, a distinction determined by public nomination and popular vote.

Now in its 64th year, the Delray Affair, tagged the “Greatest Art Show under the Sun,” will take place April 10 and 11, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and April 12, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The free, open-air festival will stretch along seven blocks of Atlantic Avenue.

This year’s event will feature more than 400 artists, crafters and food vendors from across the country. Visitors can expect everything from painting and sculpture to photography, jewelry and mixed media, along with opportunities to meet artists, watch live demonstrations and engage directly with the creative process.

The Delray Affair’s roots date back to the 1940s and 1950s, when it began as the Delray Beach Gladiola Festival, a community celebration known for its parades and pageantry. While the event has evolved over the decades, its spirit of community and creativity remains at its core.

To accommodate the large crowds, organizers encourage visitors to take advantage of parking and transportation options, including free offsite parking with shuttle service from the Palm Beach County Administrative Complex, downtown parking garages, metered street parking via the ParkMobile app and complimentary FREEBEE golf cart rides throughout the area.

For more information, visit delrayaffair.com.