Meet Me On Market: 3rd Fridays, May - September 2025
Meet Me on Market is a new series of downtown events happening on the third Friday of each month from May through September 2025 along Market Street in downtown Parkersburg. Each event is designed to bring the community downtown with live music, special promotions, themed activities, and extended business hours.
What to Expect Each Month
- Downtown businesses, nonprofits, and restaurants open late
- Live music, sidewalk activities, art demos, and gallery openings
- Special themed promotions and pop-ups
- Restaurant specials + PODA in effect (designated cups for outdoor beverages)
- Monthly BINGO game encouraging visitors to explore Market Street. Completed cards are dropped at that month’s designated business for a chance to win a prize bundle.
Visit our Meet Me on Market’s Facebook page for more details about the upcoming events.
CALL FOR ENTRIES: REGIONAL 2025
Cherry Blossom Lovers by Pat Cross
The Art Center and United Bank welcome WVU Medicine Camden Clark as the prize sponsor for this biennial exhibit, open to all artists who live within 100 miles of Parkersburg. WVU Medicine Camden Clark’s mission and vision are led by the standards of behavior called the “4 Cs:” COMPASSION, COMMUNICATION, COMMITMENT and COMPETENCE. They seek to share these four “Cs” with our creative community. COMPASSION is the select theme for this year. The theme for Regional 2025 is R.E.S.P.E.C.T.
Opening Reception & Awards: Friday, July 18, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Reception is free for artists and ONE guest. Additional guests, $10 per person. Children under 12, no charge.
Click on our REGIONAL 2025 PAGE to learn more about how to enter.
Tastes & Tunes: Saturday, July 12, 7-10 pm
Tastes and Tunes is back for another unforgettable night under the Edison lights on the 700 block of Market Street! This festive fundraiser for the Parkersburg Art Center takes place Saturday, July 12, from 7 to 10 p.m., and will happen rain or shine—if the weather doesn’t cooperate, we’ll move the entire celebration indoors.
Your $40 ticket includes ALL of this:
Live music from local favorites OYO and Sour Mash String Band
A full catered meal from Valley Catering, featuring:
A gourmet grazing table with favorite meats, cheeses, savories, fruits, dips, and crackers
Build-your-own baked potato bar
A carving station with brisket, turkey, ham, and vegetarian BBQ jackfruit.
Savor Mexican-inspired bites like shrimp tacos, Spanish rice, Southwest Salad, and a selection of salsas
Plus a sweet station with cookies and cheesecake cups. Coffee, tea, and lemonade included.
Yard games and games of chance, including:
The ever-popular Wine Wheel
Prize Plinko and more
Access to two bars offering curated wine and beer selections (available for purchase)
The chance to stroll through the PAC’s Regional Gallery Exhibit
Shopping for fresh, local items in The Market, open during the event
Now in its fifth year, Tastes & Tunes brings together everything we love about summer—great food, great music, and great people—all to support the Art Center’s exhibits, public art projects, and community outreach programs.
Thanks to our sponsors: Jan Dils Attorneys at Law, Hughes Properties, Premier Productions Entertainment LLC, Waters Fanta Insurance, ONE. Skin Care Studio, Wine & Beverage Merchants of WV, Holl’s Chocolate, Wine Down on Market, WVU CCMC, United Bank, and Dan Marshall.
Parkersburg Art Center Dino Raffle: Jun 13 - Aug 22, 5pm
Join The Parkersburg Art Center's raffle for a chance to win one of these super-cute-little-big-things! Your participation is not only a chance to win prizes, but also plays a vital role in ensuring that art education doesn't go extinct.
DINO Raffle Tickets are available at our front desk or by clicking the green link below!
Tickets are one for $5 or five for $20.
Every contribution, big or small, makes a significant difference.
Click the green button below to purchase raffle tickets for a chance to win one of these awesome ceramic dinosaurs by Brett Kern. To learn more about the artist behind these pieces visit the Red Lodge Clay Center page.
Parkersburg Piccalilli: Friday, September 19th, 2025
Registration is now open for Parkersburg Piccalilli: An Artists’ Takeover, happening Friday, September 19, 2025, at the Parkersburg Art Center. Early Bird pricing is available through the month of July, so now’s the time to reserve your spot and save.
This year’s conference will feature one full day of workshops, panels, presentations, and discussion—all on Friday, September 19th from 8am-5pm with additional nightly activities. On Thursday, September 18, we will offer a variety of optional, longer-format artmaking classes and opportunities to explore the Parkersburg area (additional fees will be charged).
The 2025 Piccalilli Conference will include two tracks—one centered on the business and entrepreneurial side of being a working artist, and the other focused on hands-on creative practice led by regional artists.
Registration includes breakfast, a catered lunch, and access to all Friday programming. That evening, participants are invited to a networking event that coincides with downtown Parkersburg’s Third Friday Meet Me on Market—a lively night of art, music, food, and community.
Our keynote speaker this year is Academy Award Winning producer and artist, Pamela Tanner Boll.
Early Bird Pricing (available through August 3rd): $45 for all
A full list of Thursday workshop add-ons will be available soon.
The Marriot hotel has been secured at a special conference rate of $109 per night and is just two blocks from the PAC.
Spread the word and register early—we can’t wait to see you there.
ArtOberfest 2025: Saturday, October 11, 5-9 p.m.
ArtOberfest and Chalk the Block are coming to the Parkersburg Art Center on Saturday, October 11th, offering a day full of art, music, and activities. The events are centered on the 700 and 800 blocks of Market Street. The day kicks off with Chalk the Block, from 1-5 p.m., where artists will create temporary chalk artwork on the sidewalks. Attendees can walk through the block, watch the artists at work, and vote for their favorite pieces, with prizes awarded for the top creations.
From 5-9 p.m. that day the 700 block will come to life with local artists demonstrating their craft and selling their work. Come prepared to shop!
The evening also features live music with performances from several local musician. Food and drinks will be available from local favorites. Have your dinner under the Edison Lights!
The Parkersburg Art Center and PAC713 Market will be open throughout the event, allowing visitors to explore the Holly Cole exhibit and shop in the gift store. A Lego building station and a Discovery World-sponsored kids activity will also be available from 5-7 p.m.
If it rains, the event will move indoors to the Parkersburg Art Center because our building is big and designed for parties!
Private Painting and Pottery Parties
The Parkersburg Art Center offers private painting or pottery parties. These are perfect for team building, a staff retreat, gatherings with friends, celebratory events, and birthdays. With a minimum of five participants, we can bring your creative event to life—just email info@parkersburgartcenter.org with your request. Please start making those plans AT LEAST three weeks in advance so we can schedule an instructor!