Doylestown’s biggest weekend of the year is here with two major events that draw thousands of visitors to its downtown cultural district.
The Doylestown Arts Festival, now in its 35th year, celebrates arts and culture by showcasing the creativity of more than 170 juried artists, alongside interactive art demonstrations and five stages of live music.
It takes place Sept. 12–13 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is free.
Doylestown Borough also hosts the Bucks County Classic, a premier racing event that attracts professional and amateur cyclists from across the country and around the world.
Held on Sunday, the event includes professional races, amateur races, kids races and a citizens bike parade with seven races designed to test the endurance and technical
skills of competitive cyclists along a challenging 1.2-mile circuit with eight turns and 90 feet of climbing per lap.
Parking during the Doylestown Arts Festival
Between blocked off streets and a large turnout of crowds, here’s the lowdown on how to get to and from the festival.
- Walk or Bike If you happen to live in town, consider walking or biking.
- Rideshare Another easy way to get in and out of the festival is through options like Uber and Lyft. The recommended drop-off/pick-up point is 124 E. State St.
- Parking Garages The two Bucks County parking garages — one on Union Street and the other on East Court Street — are free and your best bet.
- High School and Middle School Parking Lots There is plenty of free parking available at Central Bucks West High School and Lenape Middle School, located just three blocks away from the festival.
- Wells Fargo Bank (Sunday only) Parking here is free on Sundays, but it fills up quickly on a typical weekend.
- Shuttle Service The Doylestown Dart will be providing free shuttle services to and from select parking lots from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Shuttle service is available to and from the Union Street Garage, Central Bucks West High School, Lenape Middle School and Fanny Chapman at East State Street and Boro Hill Mill Road.
- Accessible Parking Other than Fanny Chapman, each of the lots listed above have limited accessible parking spaces and the Doylestown Dart shuttle is handicap accessible.
- Street Parking There is street parking outside the festival and bike race perimeters, but they tend to fill up quickly. Be sure to note any parking restrictions, meters and time limits to avoid being towed or ticketed.
What kind of art can be found at the Doylestown Arts Festival?
The festival features local and regional artists spanning a variety of styles and mediums, including ceramics, digital art, drawing, fiber, glass, painting, jewelry, metal, 2D and 3D mixed media, paper and printmaking, photography, sculpture and wood.
What else is there to do at the Doylestown Arts Festival?
The arts festival features plenty of food, live entertainment and activities to make it a fun, family-friendly event for all to enjoy.
- Food: A small food court will be set up on Dommel Way, featuring Beck’s Cajun Cruiser, Bonjour Creperie, Chambers 19 Bistro, Colon Family Kitchen, Dharma Bums, Matty G Dogz, Sherri’s Crab Cakes, Smoky Bandit Barbecue, Vernafern. Additonally, there are many local restaurants and bars in downtown Doylestown offering both dine-in and take-out.
- Beer garden: Hosted in partnership with Neshaminy Creek Brewing, the beer garden can be found in the Pine Street lot.
- Live music: More than 40 performances will take place throughout the weekend with music ranging from rock and jazz to pop and folk. Click here for the complete live music schedule.
- Activities: Find activities and demos both kids and adults can enjoy, including glass blowing, wheel-thrown pottery, sand art, face painting and glitter bar.
What are the best times to avoid the crowds in Doylestown?
Let’s face it, the arts festival and bike race attract between 20,000 to 30,000 each year, making it the most attended event in Doylestown, so crowds are inevitable. However, if you’re looking to make the most of your time without wading through a sea of people, here’s some advice:
- Go in the morning. Plan to attend when the festival first opens from 10am-noon. It will get busier with every passing minute though, so it’s a good idea to look over the map, decide which section has the most of what you’re hoping to enjoy and start there.
- Weather is another factor. Both events take place rain or shine, but checking the weather forecast could help you predict which day will be busier. A day with intermittent rain might clear out the crowds just enough for you to enjoy shorter food lines, more in-depth conversations with a favorite artist and a better view of the race.
What time are the Bucks County Classic races?
The Bucks County Classic features seven events all taking place on Sunday, Sept. 13.
- 9:00 a.m. Masters Race
- 9:45 a.m. Amateur Women
- 10:35 a.m. Amateur Men
- 11:10 a.m. Ride the Course
- 11:40 a.m. Doylestown Health Penn Medicine Pro Women
- 1:05 p.m. Jarrett Vaughan Builders Kids Races
- 1:55 p.m. Thompson Pro Men
What are the best spots to view the Bucks County Classic races?
There are several great spots to watch the races from depending on the type of action you hope to catch.
- The start and finish area, located on East Court Street between Pine Street and Printer’s Alley, is a great spot to catch the winners crossing the finish line and hear the play-by-play.
- A view from the corner of Pine Street and East Oakland Avenue, will help you appreciate the difficulty of the course, as you watch the cyclists speed downhill before curving around a 90-degree turn.
- East Court Street, between Clinton and Main streets, is another great stretch where cyclists often jostle for position on a subtle uphill climb.
- And for those interested in a behind-the-scenes look at racing, park yourself near the Neutral Support tent, at the corner of South Clinton Street and West Oakland Avenue, where racers who encounter mechanical issues mid-race will take their bikes to be repaired.
Safe viewing tips: Professional cyclists can reach speeds up to 30 mph along certain sections of the race and it is extremely dangerous to get in their way. Be sure to stay off the course and always pay close attention to your surroundings. Crossing the course is allowed with the help of course marshals.
Local cyclists to watch at the Bucks County Classic
Among the more than 200 cyclists competing in the Bucks County Classic, there are several elite racers representing the Bike Works p/b Fred Beans Cycling Team, including 11 in the Men’s Pro Race, six in the Men’s Amateur Race, one in the Amateur Women Race and two in the Masters 55+ Race, according to Team Director Brian Boger.
"We've raced the best across the country this season, but nothing compares to racing in front of our hometown," Boger said. "Every September, we get the chance to show our sponsors, families, friends, and neighbors what their support has made possible."
Here are a few local riders to watch closely:
Colin Fitzgerald (Orefield) in the Thompson Pro Men’s Race: As one of the best racers on the team, he is expected to finish in the Top 15. “He’s never been afraid to go out there and race the best in the country and that’s what keeps him at the top,” Boger said.
Chris Meacham (Perkasie) in the Thompson Pro Men’s Race: Racing since he was about 14 years old, Meacham is a former pro cyclist and one of the longest tenured racers on the team. He is expected to be among the select few to finish in a race that typically sees only about a quarter of its starters complete to the end. “It’s one of the most difficult races in the country, so you’re racing against some of the best in the world. He’s an amazingly strong bike racer,” Boger said.
Gunnar Eichler (Doylestown) in the Men’s Amateur Race and Thompson Pro Men’s Race: As a former professional triathlete, Eichler only recently transitioned into bike racing, and this will be his first year on the team after moving to Doylestown. “He certainly has the raw athletic ability, so this be a new challenge for him,” Boger said.
Jillian Halm (Allentown) in the Women’s Amateur Race: Halm is a newcomer to the team after racing since she was about 8 or 9 years old. Last month, she took first place in the 2026 Ardmore Rock n’ Ride Women’s 3/4 Race.
Mike Bowe (Doylestown) in the Masters 55+ Race: Known as “The Patron” of the team, Bowe has been a mainstay in the Doylestown cycling community since the early 90s.
More information about this weekend’s events in Doylestown:
For more on the Doylestown Arts Festival, visit: dtownartsfestival.com
For more on the Bucks County Classic, visit: buckscountyclassic.com
Reporter Michele Haddon covers local news, small business, food and drink, economic revitalization, art and culture for The Intelligencer and Bucks County Courier Times at PhillyBurbs.com. Please consider supporting local journalism with a subscription.
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: 2026 Doylestown Arts Festival & Bucks County Classic: A weekend guide
