Bearfootin' Art Walk
The 2025 Bears are here! View the 2025 Bearfootin' Brochure here.
About Bearfootin' Art Walk
Since 2003, the Bearfootin’ Art Walk has helped raise funding for Downtown Hendersonville and a variety of local non-profits. In addition to raising funds, the bears offer a window into good work being done by community organizations in Henderson County.
The Bearfootin’ Bears arrive as blank slates before local artists transform each in a spectacular fashion, with creative themes ranging from Mona Lisa to Blue Ridge Mountain scenery. After the “Reveal” event in early May, the bears then take up residence in downtown Hendersonville for the duration of the summer and fall, up until auction. Participants bid during the auction to raise funds for local non-profits and Downtown Hendersonville. Winning bids up to $3,000 are split evenly between the downtown program and the nonprofit chosen by the sponsor, while bid amounts exceeding $3,000 are directed entirely to the non-profit.
Bearfootin' Auction Information
2. Bidding begins on September 26, 2024 at 10am EST. It’s free to register, and you can bid anytime between September 26 and the deadline at 6pm on
3. There will be an outdoors, in-person Auction Celebration on
4. There will be no proxy bidding. Bidders will receive automatic text notification if they are outbid with the option to submit a new bid. There is no option for reserve/proxy bids, meaning you can’t set a price that the system will automatically bid for you. If you are outbid, you will need to place a higher bid if you wish to continue.
7. Bidders do not have to attend the in-person event to be a winning bidder, but winning bidders are encouraged to pick up their bear the evening of
8. Winning bidders will be contacted regarding payment and picking up their bear via text and email. Bears can be picked up at the event, or during a scheduled “pick up window” the week following the event. Winners have 5 days to pay or they will be automatically charged on the credit card filed. Alternatively, winners can pay with cash or check. There will be a 2.95% processing fee on all credit card transactions.
Bearfootin' Bear Reveal
Get ready to unleash your wild side and join us for the biggest tradition of the season! Mark your calendars for Wednesday May 7th, 2025 when the excitement hits its peak at the Hendersonville Welcome Center Stage on South Main Street with the grand unveiling of the Bearfootin' Bears! Before these magnificent bears take their place on Main Street, you'll have the exclusive opportunity to get up close and personal with them at the reveal event. Prepare for an unforgettable spectacle as we reveal this majestic masterpiece to the world in all its glory.
Bear Tracker
2026 Bear Sponsorships Interest Form- Complete Here
This is NOT a waitlist, but by filling out this form you will be notified when the 2026 Bearfootin' Sponsor Application goes live. Please note that staff does not actively monitor this form, if you have any questions please email info@downtownhendersonville.org.
20th Anniversary Bear Hunt
2022 marks 20 years of Downtown Hendersonville's Bearfootin' Art Walk! Each year, the program combines local artists, nonprofits and the community to create an interactive art walk downtown, and raise funds for our community. In 2021, we had our biggest auction to date, raising $102,000 for 20 nonprofit organizations.
Now, we're on a hunt to track down the location of our bears over the years and asking YOU to help us out!
Fill out the form if you own a bear, or just spot one in the wild!
Note - for a few years there were painted Apples and Goats! Please feel free to include those too!