The King Valley Art Show returned in spectacular fashion over the weekend, drawing crowds in the hundreds to King River Brewing for its 26th annual celebration of regional creativity.

Opening night on Friday saw around 200 guests attend the gala event, catered by the local primary school as part of its major fundraising initiative.

Over the course of the weekend, more than 250 visitors came through on Saturday alone, with an estimated 300 or more attending on Sunday.

King Valley Arts president Anita Laurence said it was terrific to see that kind of community response year after year.

"It’s a much-loved event, with people returning and plenty of first-time visitors too," she said.

The exhibition featured around 300 artworks from 115 artists, spanning a wide range of mediums and styles.

King Valley artist Ben Jenkins won the show's grand prize, pocketing $3000, for his painting titled 'Tiepolo progression in blue'.

The show was judged by Melbourne-based artist Ben Winspear, who also conducted live painting demonstrations on Sunday, adding to the festive atmosphere.

Children’s activities, artist talks, and the scenic brewery setting contributed to a vibrant and inclusive weekend.

Ms Laurence said overall the event was extremely successful.

"We've had lots of sales for the artists," she said.

“We had Ben doing his demos, activities for the kids, and lots of people enjoying lunch and the brewery.

"It was a real team effort with volunteers helping out across the board.

“It’s great for the community and great for our artists, we're confident we'll be putting it on next year."

The event continues to be a fixture on the local arts calendar, with plans already underway for the 27th edition in 2026.

Further coverage in Friday's edition of the Wangaratta Chronicle.