Paint The Foothills 2026
September 25 @ 10:00 am - September 26 @ 4:00 pm
Welcome to Paint The Foothills, Leighton Art Centre’s signature fall event where artists and community come together in a celebration of art and nature. We can’t wait to see you there!
Back by popular demand, we will be hosting a two-day plein air painting competition for LAC members on September 25 & 26, 2026. Judging will take place on Saturday, September 26 and visitors are welcome to vote in their favourite works in the People’s Choice category! We will be open late on Friday, September 25 for artists and visitors to enjoy the sunset.
Event Hours: September 25 (10 am – 9 pm) and September 26 (10 am to 4 pm)
Not a competitive painter? There’s still lots for you to enjoy! Bring the family and come out and picnic, go for a walk along our nature trails and take in some truly spectacular views, and be inspired by dozens of talented artists creating on the land, under our big Alberta skies! After the competition, you can check out the completed plein air works in our Wet Paint Sale on Saturday! It’ll be a great day of art fun for the whole family.
Youth Make-and-Take Activity
We’re thrilled to offer a youth tye-dye T-shirt activity on Saturday, September 26 from 11 am to 2:30 pm. Available on a first come, first served basis, we have a range of youth sizes and colours to create a one-of-a-kind shirt. Participation is $15 each, which includes a t-shirt and all necessary supplies.
Prairie Pop Co will also be joining us on Saturday, serving up some delicious soda combinations!
Paint the Foothills is part of a southern Alberta plein air paint out circuit called Come Paint Alberta. The circuit is a collaborative effort between Leighton Art Centre, Red Deer Arts Council, Listen Studios, Lacombe Arts Guild, Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies, Rosebud Art Collective, Route 22 Artist Collective Gallery, and Coutts Centre for Western Canadian Heritage.
Interested in participating in the plein air competition? Learn more and register here!
