CAP is looking forward to bringing you Carnival of the Arts in 2026!

We’ll be sharing details as we bring our plans to life.

"North Texas Carnival of the Arts" text design with stylized script and gradient coloring.

Thank you to all the arts organizations
who made Carnival such a great day!

We hope you will all join us next year.

A person in a colorful butterfly costume posing inside a shopping mall, wearing a black dress with a ruffled skirt and a vibrant headpiece.
Child coloring at a table with papers, crayons, and a drawing activity.
An artist sitting on a stool in a public space, focused on painting with a brush on a canvas mounted on an easel. They are wearing a long-sleeved shirt and gloves, with art supplies like paintbrushes and towels around them. Another person stands behi
Art activity station at a busy mall with kids painting.
People weaving and spinning yarn at a booth inside a shopping mall, surrounded by weaving and spinning equipment, and various displays and booths in the background.
People gathered in a mall for a community music and art event. A band performs on a stage while spectators sit and watch. Nearby, artists are painting portraits, with easels and art supplies visible. Balloons and mall shops are in the background.
Woman smiling next to a 'Garage Arts Project' sign, with children in the background participating in a workshop or activity.
A group of dancers in traditional Indian attire perform on stage in front of a Neiman Marcus store. The dancers are dressed in colorful costumes, including sarees and elaborate jewelry. The performance involves intricate hand gestures and dance poses
A woman and a boy engaging in a weaving activity at a mall event, surrounded by people and art displays.
Young ballerina performing in a white tutu inside a mall setting.
Three women in traditional dance attire, wearing red skirts and white blouses, performing a dance on stage with colorful fabric backdrop.
Child coloring Texas-themed illustrations with green crayon
Group of dancers in animal print costumes and feathered headdresses performing on stage.
Group of people dressed in various costumes performing on a stage in a shopping mall.
A group of musicians playing woodwind instruments, including clarinets and bassoons, at an indoor event. They are seated on a stage, wearing black attire.

Join the North Texas Carnival of the Arts:
Showcase your creativity and connect with the community!

The Shops of Willow Bend and the Collaborative Arts of Plano will host the largest indoor arts festival for families on Saturday, September 28, 2024, at The Shops of Willow Bend. This free event is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will have art activities, performances, exhibits, and fun family activities for all ages.

The North Texas Performing Arts is this year’s event Chair sponsor and the Shops of Willow Bend has generously made available the entire mall to house this exciting new event.

Sample hands on activities include puppet and mask making, jewelry, sculpture, painting, and murals. Event goers will enjoy performances by Plano Metropolitan Ballet, Garage Arts Project, Chamberlain Ballet, North Texas Performing Arts, and Plano Civic Chorus and more. Visual arts activities include mural making by Amy Pagan Art, live modeling demonstration by the Plano Art Association and a visual arts exhibit by Plano Art Association members. Participants will have an opportunity to participate in acting, yoga, and dance classes and have fun competing in a hula hoop contest and more.

Presented by

Colored silhouette of three figures
Logo of The Shops at Willow Bend featuring green leaves.

Event Chair

North Texas Performing Arts logo with colorful arrow design