East by Southeast Festival of the Arts Brings Three Days of Creativity, Culture and Community to Clarkston
The 2026 East by Southeast Festival of the Arts returns October 16th–18th in partnership with the Clarkston Community Center, featuring Asian-descended artists from Atlanta and the Southeast, bringing three days of arts, culture, and creative connection. Experience how Arts & the Community come together to celebrate and empower us all! This year's festival expands that mission into a multidisciplinary weekend where audiences can experience a variety of artistic work and performances, engage with creatives and community organizations, explore local food and craft vendors, and participate in workshops and conversations. All communities are welcome!
Three Days of Arts and Creative Connection
Each day of the festival explores a different relationship between artists, their work and the communities around them.
Friday, October 16: Arts & The Community
The festival begins Friday with an opening mixer from 5–7 p.m., featuring community organizations, food and craft vendors, and opportunities for attendees to connect before the evening's performances.
Friday programming will also include the announcement and viewing of winning entries from Georgia AAPI Hub's Keep It Reel contest, a nonpartisan creative initiative encouraging civic participation.
The evening continues with Comedy + Conversation followed by Tiger Bomb Comedy, bringing together humor and community-centered conversation.
Saturday, October 17: Arts & The Individual Craft
Saturday expands into a full afternoon and evening of workshops, visual art, vendors, dance and music.
Daytime programming includes experiences spanning traditional karate and centering, acting, political poster design, "Know Your Rights" information, introductory "waacking," and live visual art.
The festival's Saturday vendor market will run from 2–8 p.m.
Saturday evening will feature a mix of traditional and contemporary dance and music. Current featured performers include Waacklanta, Mirai Kanai Eisa Taiko, Atlanta Chinese Dance Company, Angie Acedera and Josh Zilberman, and Ruby Velle with Scott Clayton.
Sunday, October 18: Arts & Getting Produced
Sunday turns the focus toward developing, producing and sustaining creative work.
Daytime programming includes sessions related to film production, dramaturgy, world building and techno-orientalism, creative wellness, makeup artistry and portraiture, along with family-friendly programming.
The Sunday vendor market will also run from 2–8 p.m.
Evening programming will bring together films and theatre, including short film screenings, Improv-Is-Asian with Phong Le, and cabaret programming featuring Kathleen McManus.
Family-friendly programming is also planned as part of Sunday's schedule, giving families and younger audiences another way to experience the festival, including storytelling and Chinese folklore/theater programming.
More Than a Performance Festival
ExSE is designed to be more than a collection of performances.
Throughout the weekend, attendees will be able to move between performances, workshops, artist experiences, community organizations, vendors and professional-development programming.
The festival creates opportunities for audiences to discover new artists while giving creatives opportunities to build relationships, strengthen their craft and learn about different parts of the creative industries.
Vendor markets will also provide opportunities to support local artists, makers, food businesses and creative entrepreneurs.
A Regional Arts Festival in Clarkston
Hosting ExSE at Clarkston Community Center creates a natural connection between the festival's emphasis on culture and representation and Clarkston's identity as a community shaped by people and cultures from around the world.
Through the partnership, ExSE develops and coordinates festival programming while CCC provides the venue and supports community outreach, promotion, volunteer coordination and event logistics.
The collaboration also advances CCC's work to create opportunities for arts, culture, learning and community connection in Clarkston.
Tickets
Tickets for the 2026 East by Southeast Festival of the Arts are now available.
Attendees can purchase tickets for the festival and find current ticketing information through the official ticketing page.
Purchase Tickets for the 2026 ExSE Festival of the Arts(opens in new tab)
Additional festival information and updates are available at www.eastxsoutheast.com(opens in new tab).
Get Involved with ExSE
Community members, businesses and organizations can participate in ExSE beyond attending the festival.
ExSE is currently welcoming food, craft, beverage and visual art vendors and is seeking sponsors and in-kind partners to help support artists, festival production, technical needs and community programming. AAPI-owned and AAPI-identifying vendors are especially encouraged to participate.
The festival's programmed artist and workshop lineup is essentially full, but visual artists interested in selling their work may still be able to participate through the vendor market.
For vendor applications, sponsorship opportunities, participation requirements and information for artists and other creative participants, visit CCC's dedicated Get Involved with ExSE page.
Learn How to Get Involved with the 2026 ExSE Festival of the Arts(opens in new tab)
Festival Information
2026 East by Southeast Festival of the Arts
October 16–18, 2026
Clarkston Community Center
3701 College Avenue
Clarkston, GA 30021
Tickets:
Purchase Festival Tickets(opens in new tab)
Festival Information:
www.eastxsoutheast.com(opens in new tab)
Get Involved:
Vendor, Sponsorship and Creative Participation Information(opens in new tab)
