Paradise City Arts Festival Marlborough 2026: Your Guide to the Pre-Thanksgiving Art and Craft Show
The Paradise City Arts Festival in Marlborough is the organizer's winter show, held the weekend before Thanksgiving. For three days, about 175 artists and makers from across the country set up gallery-style booths at the Royal Plaza Trade Center, selling jewelry, fashion, home decor and original art. The festival pitches it as a way to kick off the holiday shopping season.
Here's what you need to know before you go.
The essentials
- Dates: Friday, November 20 through Sunday, November 22, 2026
- Hours: Friday 10 am–5 pm, Saturday 10 am–5 pm, Sunday 11 am–5 pm
- Where: Best Western Royal Plaza Trade Center, Marlborough, MA. The festival lists the address as 181 Royal Plaza Dr West, Marlborough, MA 01752.
- Admission: early bird $14, general $16, students $10 with ID at the box office, three-day pass $24. Ages 15 and under are free.
- Parking: free on site
- Pets: not allowed
What you'll find
The festival describes the show as a curated collection of about 175 artists and makers, with bespoke fashion, one-of-a-kind jewelry and home decor among the highlights. Exhibitors listed for the show so far work in jewelry, decorative fiber, glass, metal and painting. You're buying directly from the people who made the work, so it's a good place to ask about materials, process or custom orders.
Beyond the booths, the festival lists live demonstrations (it mentions weaving on a loom, working raw clay and hand-painted silk), a special exhibition, live music and two cafes. A detailed schedule hadn't been posted as of late September; the festival says it will be published closer to the show.
Plan your visit
- Give it time. The organizer suggests allowing at least three to four hours to see all the booths and the demonstrations.
- Pick your ticket. If you want to come back on another day to compare before you buy, the three-day pass is $24.
- Bringing kids or students? Visitors 15 and under get in free, and students pay $10 at the box office with an ID.
- Plan for big purchases. Parking is on site and free, and the festival notes easy access for loading larger art or furniture.
- Get the show guide. The festival mails a free show guide that previews the exhibitors. You can sign up on its website.
Q: When is the Paradise City Arts Festival in Marlborough in 2026?
The winter show runs Friday, November 20 through Sunday, November 22, 2026. Hours are 10 am to 5 pm on Friday and Saturday and 11 am to 5 pm on Sunday.
Q: How much are tickets to Paradise City Arts Festival in Marlborough?
Early bird tickets are $14 and general admission is $16. Students pay $10 with ID at the box office, a three-day pass is $24, and visitors 15 and under get in free.
Q: Is parking free at the Paradise City Arts Festival in Marlborough?
Yes. The festival says ample on-site parking is free.
Q: Can I bring my dog to Paradise City Arts Festival?
No. The festival says no pets are allowed.
More holiday shopping in Massachusetts
These holiday events are also on the calendar:
- Christmas by Candlelight at Old Sturbridge Village — Sturbridge, weekends November 27 – December 27
- Worcester Holiday Festival of Crafts — Worcester, November 27–29
- SoWa Christmas Market — Boston, November 20 – December 27
- New England Holiday Market — Marlborough, December 12–13
Check each listing for hours and admission before you go.
Related reading
- Holiday Craft Fairs & Christmas Markets in Massachusetts 2026
- Paradise City Arts Festival: Vendor's & Visitor's Guide — our overview of the organizer and its Northampton shows
- Christmas by Candlelight at Old Sturbridge Village 2026: Dates, Tickets and What to Expect
- Craft Fairs in Massachusetts 2026: A Vendor's and Visitor's Guide
- Massachusetts Fairs and Festivals in 2026: Your Complete Guide
- Snowport Holiday Market 2026: What to Know Before You Visit Boston Seaport's Holiday Market
Details in this guide come from Paradise City Arts' website as of late September 2026. Confirm hours and prices on the official site before you go.
Last updated: September 2026
