Crosby Festival of the Arts Enters a New Era

Daily Dose  |  10/15/2025 10:00 am

One of the region’s most beloved summer traditions is entering a new chapter. The Crosby Festival of the Arts will celebrate its 60th year in 2026 with exciting changes that honor its legacy while embracing new opportunities.

Toledo GROWs, host of the festival since 2018, is pleased to announce that beginning in 2026, the Crosby Festival of the Arts will be held at the Schedel Arboretum and Gardens in Elmore, Ohio on the first weekend in October each year. In addition to serving as the new location, Schedel Gardens will assume management of the event moving forward.

As Ohio’s oldest outdoor juried art show, Crosby Festival of the Arts has spent nearly six decades showcasing original artwork by thousands of artists from across the country. It began as the first major fine arts festival in the Toledo area, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors to the picturesque grounds of Toledo Botanical Garden.

“The natural beauty of the gardens has always been part of the festival’s unique charm,” said Sarah Ryley, Executive Director of Toledo GROWs. “We are thrilled that this tradition will continue at the Schedel Arboretum and Gardens, whose stunning landscape offers the perfect setting to inspire both artists and patrons.”

This evolution represents more than just a change in location - it’s an expansion of vision. By integrating the Crosby Festival of the Arts into its programming, Schedel furthers its mission to offer life-enhancing experiences by providing unique opportunities for the study and appreciation of nature and the arts. Schedel Gardens’ commitment to the arts is evidenced by its acquisition and exhibition in the last 5 five years of the Blair Collection of Lithophanes, the largest such collection in the world, and the Toledo Federation of Art Societies’ Permanent Collection, consisting of nearly 200 pieces of fine art. 

“When we learned of the opportunity to take over and move the CFA to Schedel Gardens we couldn’t believe our good fortune to be able to expand the reach of our mission in this way. To help continue this popular and respected festival is a great honor for us. Sarah and all of the folks at Toledo GROWs are so committed to seeing this thing carry on and have been incredibly helpful ,” stated Rod Noble, Executive Director of the Schedel Foundation.

Schedel Gardens is also home to more than two dozen large format sculptures in various mediums that are displayed throughout the 17-acre landscape, as well as rotating exhibits by artists from the area and internationally in its McAlear Gallery. Noble added that the plan is to maintain the longstanding structure of the CFA which has proved to be successful over many years. “If it’s not broken, don’t fix it is our attitude about the CFA. We plan to continue the CFA framework for everything from the jury, judging, standards, awards and family fun activities that patrons and artists alike have come to expect of the festival.” Noble also stated that the move to an early October date is to avoid the heat and more uncertain weather the festival has experienced over the years in June.

Meanwhile, the transition allows Toledo GROWs to focus more fully on its core mission: nurturing the joy of growing and educating the community about the value of locally grown, nutritious food. Through its active urban farm and support for community gardens, Toledo GROWs empowers individuals and families - especially those facing food insecurity - to grow fresh, healthy food for themselves and their neighbors.

“On behalf of the Toledo GROWs staff and board of directors, I want to thank the community that has supported this wonderful festival over the years,” added Ryley. “We are deeply grateful to Metroparks Toledo and the staff at Toledo Botanical Garden, as well as to the hundreds of volunteers who have contributed their time and energy. Most importantly, we thank the artists - local and national - who have made this event a treasured community tradition. We are looking forward to working with Schedel Garden to ensure a seamless transition so the Crosby Festival of the Arts can continue to thrive.” 

More information about the 2026 Crosby Festival of the Arts will be available in the coming weeks at schedel-gardens.org