From funky galleries to Smithsonian-affiliated collections, Daytona Beach is home to a vibrant arts and culture movement — it’s part of what makes the area’s fabric so completely distinct. Dive into the rich arts and culture scene with a trip to one of these upcoming exhibitions, art festivals or music performances.
BUGS: Outside the Box
WHEN: Open through Oct. 19, 2025
WHERE: Museum of Arts & Sciences
ADMISSION: Included in paid admission
Visitors can see the natural world from a new perspective with BUGS: Outside the Box, an awe-inspiring natural history exhibition. Imagine standing beneath a butterfly with a five-foot wingspan or locking eyes with a beetle stretching four feet long. Through a collection of enlarged, scientifically accurate insect sculptures, BUGS: Outside the Box offers a captivating look at some of the tiniest creatures on Earth — at a scale that reveals the incredible beauty and complexity normally hidden to the naked eye. Created by Italian artist and entomology enthusiast Lorenzo Possenti, each sculpture is the product of meticulous research, powerful magnification, and an artist’s skilled hand. The result is a vibrant and dynamic presentation that blurs the boundaries between art and science. Discover amazing armor and why insects wear their skeletons on the outside. Explore extraordinary architecture, from long antennae to intricately colored wing scales. Marvel at the art of camouflage, where bugs impersonate twigs, leaves, and even other animals to survive.
Shoosty Bugs: An Art Infestation
WHEN: Open through January 4, 2026
WHERE: Musuem of Arts & Sciences
ADMISSION: Included with paid admission
The Museum of Arts & Sciences is hosting Shoosty Bugs: An Art Infestation, featuring over 50 digital creations that demonstrate the artist’s innovative fusion of metamorphic insects inhabiting lengths of color-saturated silks. Stephen Shooster, aka Shoosty, is a fine artist and writer whose media ranges from digital to paper and most recently, silk. His work displays multiple themes and styles, concentrating on music, landscapes, and conceptual art. It was during a post-surgery convalescence that Shoosty encountered what would become his most fanciful muse – the bug. Inspired by the sacred scarabs of ancient Egypt, Shoosty saw the variety of anatomy and armature of these creatures as a boundless source of imaginative creation. Since then, Shoosty Bugs have taken on a life and movement of their own.
It's a Ship Show: Florida's Maritime Canvas
WHEN: Open through January 4, 2026
WHERE: Cici & Hyatt Brown Museum of Art, located on the campus of the Musuem of Arts & Sciences
ADMISSION: Included with paid admission
Embark on a visual voyage through the rich maritime history of Florida’s waterways, as depicted in a stunning collection of ship paintings. The exhibition will feature some 60 historical paintings of watercolors and oil paintings showcasing a diverse array of vessels, from the graceful lines of sailboats gliding across serene waters to the robust forms of commercial ships navigating Florida’s bustling ports. Luxurious yachts, symbols of leisure and affluence, are also captured in vivid detail. Each painting tells a story of Florida’s intricate relationship with the sea, reflecting the state’s role as a hub of maritime activity.
Chris Gug Underwater Photography Exhibit
WHEN: Through July 31
WHERE: Ocean Art Gallery, 197 East Granada Blvd., Ormond Beach
ADMISSION: Free
Chris Gug is an award-winning underwater photographer who captures amazing underwater photographs by diving all around the world. Check out this breathtaking exhibit at the Ocean Art Gallery through July 31.
Into Neverland: Swirling Dreams of Southern Memories
WHEN; June 5 through Aug. 31, 2025
WHERE: Ormond Memorial Art Museum
ADMISSION: By donation and free for OMAM members and U.S. veterans
The main galleries of the Ormond Memorial Art Museum will be transformed into the world of Channing Gray, whose solo exhibit is a constellation of swirling images that intertwine stories of her kin and being a Quarter-Rican Florida girl living in the U.S. South. Her books, paintings and installations are inspired by memories of southern waters, grandmother's quilt and rocket launches.
Halifax Art Festival
WHEN: Saturday, Nov. 1 - Sunday, Nov. 2
ADMISSION: Free
WHERE: Downtown Daytona Beach, Beach Street and Riverfront Esplanade
From ceramics and basket weaving to watercolors and oil paintings, the Halifax Art Festival, held each fall in early November, celebrates seasoned as well as emerging artists and craftsmen. Featuring more than 150 juried artisans from all over the country, it is the second oldest continual art festival in the state of Florida. Fine art booths will line Beach Street and craft art booths will be on Magnolia Avenue and Bay Street.
The Halifax Art Festival draws over 30,000 visitors each year to shop for antiques, original artwork in an array of mediums, crafts, home goods, jewelry, clothing and more. Live entertainment, a student art competition, children’s activities and festival food make it a fun family-friendly event.
First Saturday Ormond Art Walk
WHEN: Recurring monthly on the first Saturday
ADMISSION: Free
The First Saturday Ormond Beach Art Walk celebrates art and culture, with a cool downtown vibe. Most of the artwork is handcrafted by local fine artists, but national and international artists are here as well.
Stroll the Boulevard every first Saturday to experience new creations, meet new creators, and treat yourself to a night of intellectual and aesthetic stimulation.
First Friday Art Walk Downtown Daytona Beach
WHEN: Recurring monthly on the first Friday
ADMISSION: Free
Downtown Daytona Beach invites you to stroll along Beach Street every first Friday of each month to enjoy “ArtWalk”! Meet artists and other art lovers for an evening of stimulating art, fun, and refreshments offered by the following galleries and purveyors of culture:
- Aberrant Art Gallery: 118 N Beach St.
- BOHO Society 71 – Riverside Market: 222 S Beach St.
- Cinematique: 242 S. Beach St.
- Etrusca Gallery: 146 S Beach St.
- Galerie Elan: 248 S Beach St.
- Halifax Historical Museum: 252 S Beach St.
- Macker Seafood: 141 Bay St.
- Salon 230/Spa Above and Hatfield’s Hideaway: 116 Magnolia Ave.
- Starry Night Gallery: 230 S Beach St.
- VJL Art Gallery: 170 N Beach St.
Experience the area’s inspiring art scene for yourself — start planning your getaway today! Check out our Arts & Culture map, download our free official destination guide or sign up for our e-newsletter.
