One of the best parts about living in a major metropolitan area is that it’s really hard to be bored, especially in the summer. Every week, it seems, there’s a restaurant opening, a must-see art exhibit, a movie in the park. And every weekend, there’s some kind of local festival. 

I love local festivals – I love the opportunity to explore new neighborhoods, to support local businesses and artists, and to try new things. Also, local festivals are way less of a commitment than traveling for a festival – about one day of festivities is normally all I can handle! And, of course, they’re a chance to see and be seen – I get plenty of outfit inspo from peeping what other festival-goers are wearing. 

Whether it’s a posh food festival or a fun and funky art fair, festivals are a great chance to dress up a little and experiment with your look. Here are some fun outfits for local festivals to try, sure to impress no matter what your city has to offer this summer. 

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Arts & Crafts Festival

Products: Bib Dress – H&M, Blouse – Zappos, Nail Polish – Target, Slides – Nordstrom, Fanny Pack – ASOS, Bracelet – Zappos

There is huge local art scene where I live, and I love scoping out these arts and crafts festivals not just to grab some artsy prints for my gallery wall but to get some major outfit inspo. Whether they’re creatively layering prints, pairing unexpected colors, or rocking bold statement pieces, artsy people almost always have amazing style. 

To keep up with the cool kids, try pairing a few trends from this summer in unexpected but familiar ways, like a white off-the-shoulder top worn underneath a denim bib dress. The floral embroidery on the dress plays nicely with a bright floral fanny pack, which keeps you hands-free while you’re browsing booths.