USA Today declares Upstate NY art event as best new festival in America

Finding colorful street art is like an urban treasure hunt and one Upstate New York city has turned those public paintings into America’s best new festival.

The USA Today’s 10Best Reader’s Choice award for best new festival was awarded to Troy Art Block in the city of Troy, a suburb of Albany. The festival had their inaugural event in October 2023.

During a block party style festival complete with food and music, 27 temporary murals were painted within two blocks of Church Street between State St. and Ferry St. The event is just blocks away from popular eatery Dinosaur BBQ and a short drive to views of the Hudson River.

As the first open-air art gallery in the Capital Region, the organizers had a goal of creating a unique experience for art lovers as well as bring foot traffic to local businesses, according to their website.

“I think it all came down to Capital Region, and Troy, pride,” said Judie Gilmore, the Troy art center’s director of public art and placemaking, the Times Union reported. “People were motivated to support a regional project that was getting national attention. The idea of putting Troy on the map was really motivating.”

Troy Art Block plans to host a festival every other year, alternating with Troy Glow, a winter walking exhibition of light installations.

Street art has been popping up all over Upstate NY in cities like Syracuse, Rochester, and Buffalo.

Among the other events on the list, another New York festival came in at spot number nine – Long Island’s Black Authors Festival in Sag Harbor.