Innovative Upstate NY Art Event Named America’s Best ‘New Festival’ in 2023

Troy Art Block has been in existence for only one year, and yet, it's already award-winning. The inaugural rendition of the festival was such a hit, in fact, that it's been included in a list of the best "new festivals" in America for 2023.

The bar has been set very high for one of the Capital Region's most innovative events.

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"Troy Art Block" Included in List of Nation's Best After First Year of Operation

A story from New York Upstate shared the news that the Troy, NY-based Troy Art Block was ranked first in a list of America's best "new festivals" of 2023, according to USA Today's 10Best Reader’s Choice.

In the first year of the event, 27 temporary murals were painted on buildings in downtown Troy. Take a look at this video, posted by the Arts Center of the Capital Region:

While the murals were being painted, there were also panel discussions, live painting, and a block party happening in the area. Those efforts were geared toward bringing more attention, and more customers, to locally-owned downtown Troy businesses.

It is recognized as the first open-air art gallery in the Capital Region, according to New York Upstate.

Here are the other festivals that joined Troy Art Block in USA Today's top-ten:

1. Troy Art Block - Troy, New York
2. HWY30 Music Fest: Texas Edition - Fort Worth, Texas
3. Birmingham FOOD+Culture Festival - Birmingham, Alabama
4. Cincinnati Black Wine Festival - Cincinnati, Ohio
5. Wakpa Triennial Art Festival - St. Paul, Minnesota
6. Highball - Atlanta, Georgia
7. Texas Route 66 Festival - Amarillo, Texas
8. Because They're Funny Comedy Festival - Washington, D.C.
9. Black Authors Festival - Sag Harbor, New York
10. Adjacent Festival - Atlantic City, New Jersey

You can visit Troy Art Block's official webpage for more information.