Celebrating its 27th year, this highly selective, beautifully curated showcase for 170 of the finest of independent artists and craft makers is a “must-see” for lovers of the arts in the Greater Boston region and beyond. The “Jewel of Craft Shows” is nestled into the heart of Boston’s western suburbs, easily accessible from all over New England. The curated exhibitors come to Marlborough, Massachusetts from every corner of America to participate in this award-winning event. With so many painters, potters, sculptors, jewelers, woodworkers, fashion designers, furniture makers and more, make sure you allow enough time to see it all.

The Sculpture Café

The sunlit Sculpture Café is a meeting place, a gallery exhibition area, and a cozy spot to grab a drink or a sweet bite and rest your feet after your first pass through the show. Every afternoon from noon to 4pm music wafts from the café through the entire exhibition hall. Reconnect with your friends at one of the small tables in the Sculpture Café for coffee or tea, savory treats, and sharing the contents of your shopping bags. 

It’s a great place to people-watch and share photos of work by your favorite Paradise City artists on social media. If you’re more in the mood for food that’s savory and substantial, look to the Paradise Café in the rear of the hall for sandwiches, salads, hot soups and yummy daily specials like baked pasta or chicken pot pie, along with a glass of wine.

There’s an excellent lineup of music in the Sculpture Café from noon to 4pm each day. Listen to original music, jazz, classics from the Great American Songbook, and upbeat swing in three-part harmony.

Friday, March 22 – Classic Big Band music with the fabulous Leslie Alexandra Trio; with vocals by Leslie Alexandra, keyboards by Don McMahon, and Chet Pasek on percussion.

Saturday, March 23 – O-Tones Trio: Infectious renditions of swing and Motown. Soulful singer Mary Witt is accompanied by a variety of instruments and three-part harmony.

Sunday, March 24 – Green Street Trio: Classic jazz with pianist Paul Arslanian, bassist George Kaye, and guest vocalist Avery Joi.

Special Exhibit: Fresh Greens!

When it comes to refreshing your home and surroundings, green means “GO!” 

Artists “think green” in a variety of ways. Serene green carries through a potter’s celadon glaze, an emerald ring, the green patina on a bronze or copper sculpture, a painting of a spring meadow, or a teal-green resin stream running through a walnut tabletop. The theme can also incorporate “green” eco-artistry, the re-use of found objects as elements of mixed-media assemblage, or fashion and quilts made from recycled fabric.

Designers often incorporate the color green into their client’s environment, fostering a feeling of harmony and life. It is a way of bringing the outside in, and for those without a green thumb, even a tint of hunter or jade evokes nature – without the mess of potting soil! Green stands for balance, nature, spring, and rebirth. It’s the symbol of prosperity, freshness, and progress. In feng shui, green promotes health and family, and is often used in rooms where loved ones gather.

Like the flowers that re-emerge in the Spring, our artists are eager to share their newly unfurled collections and remind you of why the grass is always greenest at Paradise City.

“Green is the prime color of the world, and that from which its loveliness arises.”
– Pedro Calderon de la Barca

How Do They Do It?

Walking the show, one often comes across an artist working on a painting, sketching out a concept for a commission, carving wood or sizing clothing for a client. This is one of the little pleasures of Paradise City. Not only is the event an opportunity to meet the artists and talk to them about their work, but there is always a glimpse of the technique and thought process behind each piece of art. Listen to their stories!

Enter to Win a Shopping Spree

Visitors may stop by the Information Booth at any time during the show to place their entry for a drawing in one of the big baskets. The winner will receive a gift certificate for a $250 shopping spree that may be redeemed at an exhibitor’s booth at any Paradise City Arts Festival over the next year.

Benefit Coat Check

Since 1998, the enthusiastic volunteers from the The Marlborough Public Schools Music Association have been operating a coat and package check at the entrance to Paradise City to benefit music in the public schools. It’s so much more comfortable to walk the show without wearing or carrying a heavy coat or umbrella! You can even leave any purchases at the coat check and pick them up on your way out. Donations are voluntary, and much appreciated.