Agora Art Fair

Each year in Fitchburg, the third Saturday in August opens with an aerial dance of elaborate kites billowing in the sky, signaling the Agora Art Fair’s return. Follow the strings to the Agora Complex, where music, conversation, and laughter surround visitors as they move between local food vendors, performances, and hands-on activities for kids.

Even before the gates open, a crowd forms for first dibs on pieces from their favorite Wisconsin artists. Some are returning to artisans and vendors they’ve followed for years; others are discovering them for the first time. Thanks to this devoted base, the Art Fair has grown into something that brings people together from across Fitchburg and beyond.

“It’s a true community gathering,” says Steven Leverentz, event coordinator for the Agora Art Fair. “There’s amazing art in the street, in the piazza, and tucked into little nooks around the grounds. But it’s more than that. We have Cycropia doing their aerial performance under the pavilion. We added music with the Madison Flute Club, so as people are walking in, they see the kites, they see the banners, they hear a little music, and it just creates the setting for folks as they’re coming in. It just reinforces the whole day.”

The deeper you venture into the Art Fair, the more it becomes something of a festival, complete with stilt-walkers moving about the crowd. Artist tents and their visual works anchor the event, while music and performance create a shifting soundscape that includes Madison Flute Club, the Red Hot Horn Dawgs, and Reverend Raven & the CSAB (with special guest West Side Andy). And Mosaic—A Celebration of Latin Culture brings its own rhythm with Bembé Percussion, Tony Castaneda Latin Jazz Band, and flamenco and Spanish dance by Tania Tandias.

Even without the entertainment, the food alone can tempt a detour. Fried cheese curds, roasted coffee, sugary donuts, yeasty naan, and grilled meats wet the palates of patrons, artists, and performers alike. After landing on a flavor or two, head over to the craft brew and wine garden, featuring Fitchburg’s own Hop Haus Brewing, to find the perfect pairing.

All this is happening under the same umbrella because of the works of more than 100 juried Wisconsin Artists selected each year. This year, the plan is to lean more into the Art Fair’s roots, with Steven noting a renewed emphasis on the fair’s sense of place. “These are local artists, local performers, local foods, local charities. Everything is very much focused on Wisconsin.

“We started in 2008. That was a humble beginning. It started with a quick conversation with a graphic artist here at Promega. We had just completed the Agora building project. I had been involved with the Fitchburg Center Farmers Market, another local endeavor. It was just kind of a passing conversation that when the building was done we had all these great outdoor areas, and the building was so beautiful as far as the architecture and the setting with the native prairie around it and everything. I just happened to say to him this would be such a great place for an art fair. He goes, ‘Yeah, I might know somebody.’ And he introduced me to Niki Russo, who became the artistic director.”

Niki has been as instrumental as Steven over the years, and it all started with that first Art Fair, which only had 50 artists and a fairly basic setup. Still, people showed up by the thousands. Steven estimates that first fair at between 3,000 and 5,000 visitors. Each year brought incremental improvements and additions, enhancing those immersive qualities that make the event so beloved.

The Art Fair’s growth has also been supported by Promega Corporation’s commitment to creativity and community. “From day one, the Art Fair has been supported by Promega Corporation,” says Steven. “As a Fitchburg-based company, Promega continues to play a vital role—providing both financial support and dedicated staff time that help sustain and grow the fair each year.”

Moving between tents, visitors are quickly reminded just how many phenomenal artists call Wisconsin home. From wooden furniture to scrollwork, large outdoor sculpture to handcrafted jewelry, and ceramics to canvas, nearly every medium is represented by artists who’ve built a life around creative pursuits. Pieces that capture the natural world sit alongside interpretations of the State Capitol, while other pieces celebrate the range of ideas and cultures that define the state. Even the most esoteric work resonates when it comes from a neighbor you’ve yet to meet.

“That’s one of the great things about the art fair,” says Steven. “Not only do you get to see great art, you get to meet the artist behind it and find out what makes them tick. Why do they do what they do? What inspires them? It’s really enriching when you talk to the artist and connect with the piece.”

Those conversations make it clear that art is for anyone and everyone—further pronounced by MMOCA’s art cart, where children have the opportunity to create their own work or contribute to a larger mural. Sure, an original piece will run at a higher price point, but mugs, prints, and smaller representations of larger works are often very affordable and can add a nice touch of color or inspiration to any home. And while accessibility is part of the experience, the fair still offers plenty for serious collectors.

As the Art Fair has grown in popularity, there’s been pressure to expand in size and scope. “I think we’ve been pretty deliberate about measuring that appropriately,” says Steven. “We want the variety. We want the diversity. We want to be inclusive. But there’s a value in having a one-day event. It’s one and done. If you see something you want, you probably better buy it.”

Thanks to Steven and Niki, the draw of the Agora Art Fair is stronger than ever. With between 12,000 and 15,000 visitors in recent years, it’s become one of Fitchburg’s signature events. Fitchburg itself has built a reputation for celebrating its diverse neighborhoods, innovative business community, and idyllic green spaces. The Art Fair puts all of that front and center for one day a year, giving visitors a chance to experience Fitchburg across one beautiful campus.

Agora Art Fair
August 15, 2026
5500 E. Cheryl Parkway

Fitchburg, WI
agoraartfair.com