Since 1977, St. Paul’s sprawling celebration of the arts has returned year after year in late spring for the public to enjoy. From paintings to stuffed animal art to paper cutting, artists create pieces for fun, to comment on current events, reflect on their lives and everything in between.

The St. Paul Art Crawl has run for longer than any other art crawl—a display where multiple businesses or buildings feature various pieces of art—in the United States. Growing from a simple art gallery at Union Depot to a multi-building showcase a little over a decade later, the Art Crawl has become a city-wide event where over 300 local artists have the opportunity to display their work.

Organized by the St. Paul Art Collective, the 2025 spring Art Crawl spans three weekends, with art galleries spread out across ten neighborhoods and 44 locations. Visitors can attend as many buildings as they want, following the guide provided at most locations either on a sheet of paper or a poster somewhere near the entrance.

The art doesn’t disappoint. There’s a different amount of art at each building; some have only a few pieces and some have a large number throughout the entire space, with varying numbers of featured artists.

At the G.W. Carver Cultural Center in the Payne-Phalen neighborhood, patrons were greeted by a colorful display as soon as they step inside: artist Maddison Pye’s “Fairy God Mother.” More of Pye’s photographs and paintings are featured on a nearby wall. Patrons can also order coffee, various flavors of lemonade and other beverages and pastries like muffins or danishes from the cafe inside.

Another coffee shop on the Art Crawl map was Roots Cafe, which had a pleasant vibe and plenty of places to sit and enjoy a snack or drink. Featured there was Filipino artist Judy Anne De Veyra’s artwork: three acrylic paintings titled “Ethereal Meadows,” “Lotus Veil” and “Ocean’s Whisper.”

Another location that stood out was ArT at 967 Payne. it showcased a new style of art at every turn of the two-level space. Various artists were featured with multiple pieces each, and many had booths with art for sale. There was a lot to explore, and a huge variety of art forms and styles.

Overall, the Art Crawl is a thoroughly enjoyable way to spend an open weekend, a free Saturday or just a few hours. It’s a great opportunity for local artists to showcase their work, and it’s a unique and interesting experience for all ages.
The St. Paul Art Crawl promotes not only artists, but the businesses and people involved in its organization. It teaches future generations about the importance of art and creates a city full of people who appreciate and support the artists and art around them.
The fall Art Crawl takes place Oct. 10-12.