2025 Wetumpka Wildlife Arts Festival features unique opportunity to see artists at work

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September 30, 2025

The 2025 Wetumpka Wildlife Arts Festival will include vendors, music, demonstrations and workshops in downtown Wetumpka on Saturday, Oct. 25. (Photo by Rob Lewis | Wetumpka Wildlife Arts Festival)

The fourth annual Wetumpka Wildlife Arts Festival (WEWA) features a unique way for arts enthusiasts to enjoy the work of notable wildlife artists.

Five artists – Dirk Walker, Jared Knox, Vaughan Spanjer, Sue Key and Bucky Bowles – will participate in live painting during the free festival, set for Saturday, Oct. 25, in downtown Wetumpka. The festival is presented by the Kelly Fitzpatrick Center for the Arts, known to locals as “The Kelly.”

Jared Knox will be one of the artist who be painting during the fourth annual Wetumpka Wildlife Arts Festival (WEWA), which set for Saturday, Oct. 25, in downtown Wetumpka. The festival features a variety of activities and workshops for the entire family. (Photo by Rob Lewis | Wetumpka Wildlife Arts Festival)

“This is an amazing way for people to see how artists work and immerse themselves in the artistic process,” said Jennier Eifert, director of The Kelly. “These are world-class artists who will be giving everyone an intimate look at how they do what they do. We’re so appreciative of their willingness to take part in this unique presentation.”

The live painting demonstration provides one of the many fascinating experiences and activities available to WEWA visitors.

The festival features a number of workshops, including one led by Gee’s Bend Quilters, the Wilcox County residents who have garnered international fame for their unique quilt-making. “This workshop will give WEWA visitors the chance to meet legendary Gee’s Bend quilters and learn about their incredible cultural, artistic and historic significance,” said Kim V. Kelly, executive director of the Freedom Quilting Bee Legacy.

In addition, there will be a demonstration by Raptor’s Ridge Wildlife Education showcasing birds of prey, “Animal Encounters” by the Alabama Wildlife Federation and a bow-making presentation by Skip Plumlee.

Four different groups will have sporting dog demonstrations – Covey Flush, Madison and Co. Dog Trainers, Artemis Runs Kennel and Golbeck Gundogs. “Anyone who loves dogs, this is your year to come to the festival,” Eifert said.

Other workshops include a basket making workshop and a fall gardening presentation. Musical entertainment will be on two separate stages, headlined by River Dan and Joe Hare.

Visitors to the Kelly can also enjoy the “Art Gone Wild” art exhibition, which began Sept. 16 and runs through Nov. 8, and the juried art show, which carries a $12,000 best of show prize.

DockDogs features action on Friday, Oct. 24 and Saturday, Oct. 25, at Gold Star Park in Wetumpka and includes three separate events:

Big Air– the first sport of DockDogs, this is the long jump of canine aquatics.
Extreme Vertical – considered the high jump of canine aquatics.
Speed Retrieve – a timed discipline involving the combination of run, jump, swim and retrieve.
The DockDogs Big Air final in the pro, semi pro, contender and amateur divisions, is scheduled for Oct. 25, at 3 p.m.

A number of downtown businesses will also be offering festival specials, Eifert said.

“It’s clear that WEWA has quickly become known as Alabama’s very best wildlife arts festival and one of the state’s premiere events,” said Alabama Black Belt Adventures director Pam Swanner, whose organization supports WEWA. “It has grown every year, and I encourage families to stop by our booth and take part in learning how to cast from the four-time championship fishing team of the University of Montevallo’s President’s Outdoor Scholars Program. Make a cast and walk away with a rod and reel! It’s an honor to play a small part in the event’s success and help shine the spotlight on outdoors recreation and tourism.”