Hendersonville -- April 30, 2026: The beloved Bearfootin’ Art Walk kicks off its 2026 season with the annual Bear Reveal on May 6th, one of Downtown Hendersonville’s most anticipated traditions.
Each year, a new collection of 20 uniquely designed bears, created by local artists, are unveiled to the public before taking their place along Main Street for the summer and fall.
The Bear Reveal offers a first look at these one-of-a-kind works of art and shares the stories behind each design, including the nonprofit organizations that benefit from the program.
After the reveal, the bears become part of the interactive Bearfootin’ Art Walk, inviting locals and visitors alike to explore downtown while discovering each installation. The season wraps up in the fall with a public auction, where proceeds support area nonprofits and downtown initiatives.
24nd Annual Bearfootin' Art Walk Auction
Since 2003, the Bearfootin' Art Walk has helped raise funds for Friends of Downtown Hendersonville and a variety of local nonprofits. The bears showcase the community's talented artists, as well as provide a window into the good work being done by nonprofits and community organizations in Henderson County.
Until 2020, the Bearfootin' auctions were hosted in traditional style with a live auctioneer. Then, in response to the pandemic, Friends of Downtown Hendersonville pivoted to a virtual format for the 2020 auction. The virtual bidding format allowed people to bid over the course of a month until a scheduled bidding cutoff. This turned out to be a big success, with the 2020 auction raising more than $84,000. The Friends continued the online auction format raising over $100,000 for local nonprofits every year since. This year, the auction bidding time will be shortened from a month to two weeks!
Since 2003, the Bearfootin’ Art Walk has helped raise funding for Downtown Hendersonville and a variety of local non-profits. In addition to raising funds, the bears offer a window into good work being done by community organizations in Henderson County.
The Bearfootin’ Bears arrive as blank slates before local artists transform each in a spectacular fashion, with creative themes ranging from Mona Lisa to Blue Ridge Mountain scenery. After the “Reveal” event in early May, the bears then take up residence in downtown Hendersonville for the duration of the summer and fall, up until auction. Participants bid during the auction to raise funds for local non-profits and Downtown Hendersonville. Winning bids up to $3,000 are split evenly between the downtown program and the nonprofit chosen by the sponsor, while bid amounts exceeding $3,000 are directed entirely to the non-profit.
Image: City of Hendersonville 2025