The Chester County Art Association's Art in the Woods drew hundreds of visitors to its West Chester grounds Saturday, Oct. 10. The free outdoor show filled wooded trails behind the nonprofit's building with art, food and live music for its third year, the West Chester Chronicle first reported.
The event ran from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and featured dozens of artists displaying original work along a walking trail through the trees. The association's Facebook page promoted the day with over 70 artists, a live string quartet, sound baths and food vendors. A separate event listing on West Chester Native put the artist count at 80.
Organizers Bob Perna and Francisca Phillips helped run the event alongside CCAA President John Baker. Chronicle reporter Kyle Hudson spoke with the three organizers midway through the afternoon as crowds moved through the grounds.
The show is juried, meaning artists apply and are selected to participate. Attendees browsed paintings, sculpture, jewelry and other media along the trails behind the CCAA building. Event listings for both the 2025 and 2026 editions highlighted an expanded trail featuring two-dimensional and three-dimensional artworks placed throughout the landscape.
The CCAA, whose founding members in 1931 included N.C. Wyeth, has hosted the outdoor show since 2024. A CCAA Instagram post calling for 2025 applicants that August advertised 60 artists for that year's edition. This year's count climbed to at least 70, based on the association's own promotion.
The CCAA has not yet announced a date for the 2027 event.
