Sanford names poster artist for 2026 St. Johns River Festival of the Arts

Historic downtown Sanford’s next big crowd draw is already taking shape, and the poster artist behind it lives in the city that will host the festival. Tom Wrenn has been named the 2026 poster artist for the St. Johns River Festival of the Arts, a signal that the April 25-26 event is moving into its high-visibility stretch with tourism and downtown business at stake.

The festival’s 2026 site identifies Wrenn as the poster artist and says he lives in Sanford. It also lists his credentials as two bachelor of fine arts degrees, one in Studio Art from the College of Charleston and another in Computer Animation from the Art Institute of Atlanta. For Sanford, the choice ties the festival’s image directly to a local creative voice at a time when organizers are trying to pull thousands of people into the historic district.

That matters because the festival is not framed as a small neighborhood gathering. Its 2026 application information says the fifteenth annual juried fine art and fine craft show expects about 60,000 visitors and more than $15,500 in award money. The top prize is Best in Show at $3,000, with additional Juror’s Choice, Awards of Excellence, Awards of Distinction and an Iris Award. Those numbers put the event in the category of a major downtown economic driver, not just a weekend arts stop.

The festival describes itself as a professionally juried art festival and says it will feature live demonstrations, food and drink, entertainment and an Art for Kids program. It also leans on the setting itself, highlighting Sanford’s historic brick streets and the shops, cafes, pubs and restaurants that line the route near First Street. That built-in downtown backdrop is part of the draw for visitors who come for the art but spend money across the district.

Organizers have long pitched the event as a civic and economic engine. In 2024, local television reported more than 55,000 anticipated visitors and over 150 exhibitors, while previews in 2025 said the festival featured more than 125 artists and about $15,000 in prizes. The festival has also said it is a nonprofit run by artists and volunteers, with proceeds and donations supporting its Art for Kids scholarship program, which provides art education and instruction to children regardless of ability to pay.

The event’s sponsor page says arts education support comes in part from the State of Florida, the Department of State’s Division of Arts and Culture, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture and the National Endowment for the Arts, with the Seminole Cultural Arts Council listed as a local partner. That backing helps explain why Sanford’s downtown Community Redevelopment Agency, which says its mission is to strengthen economic vitality and livability, has an interest in the festival’s success.