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Fashion Show

15th Annual Carbondale Fashion Show: Step Right Up
March 12-14, 2026 ⁠

An alluring and dynamic extravaganza of a show featuring both local and regional designers and models, dancers and performers with multimedia storytelling.  Transforming the Carbondale Rec Center into a glitzy fashion house, this event sells out annually with 600+ tickets sold per night.  It's not to be missed!

Early bird tickets (Members only) | Wednesday, January 28, at 12:00pm.

Public sale & volunteer sign up | Wednesday, February 4, 12:00pm

Get Tickets Here (coming soon)
 
 

Above edit from the 2023 show “Mirror, Mirror” videography by Jackalope Cinema. More videos from previous shows below!

 

Interested in becoming a co-producer, partner or sponsor?

Participation as a partner puts your name in front of thousands of people, as well as showcases your business year-round at other events such as Carbondale Mountain Fair. It connects you with the important messages of sustainability, creativity and community– messages that are in the forefront of our minds worldwide today.

We invite you, or your company, to be part of this premier valley event in the heart of the Carbondale Creative District by joining with us as a partner. Support our local arts education with your commitment to us. We welcome the opportunity to meet with your company representatives to further discuss the details.

Proceeds from the show will directly benefit Carbondale Arts’ arts education programs which include free after-school arts classes, curriculum-based arts education, and the Rosybelle Mobile Maker Bus, youth scholarships and other programs. For further inquiries, please contact Jamie Abbott at 970-963-1680 or jamie@carbondalearts.com.

Learn more

Get involved by modeling or volunteering at the event

Each year, Carbondale Arts seeks enthusiastic and creative community members, ages 18 to 80+, to be volunteer models. We welcome community members of all ages, all sizes, all ethnicities and orientations. The diversity of our cast is one of the things that makes our show such a special event.

Model commitment consists of Wednesday and Sunday evenings from late January through the first two weeks in March and Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday evenings the week of the show.

Dance and model casts for the 2026 show have been selected.

 

Not quite ready for the catwalk?

This grand and glamorous event needs a whole lot of volunteers leading up to and during the event to make it happen. From ticketing to ushering, hair and makeup, cocktail serving and more, it takes a village to put on this show!

2026 volunteer sign ups will go live Wednesday, February 4 at 12:00pm.

Designer Information

The fashion show sells out 3 evenings each year. That is over 1800 people seeing your designs live and in person, not to mention your clothing's information being distributed in 4000 local newspapers via the show's program. Coverage of the fashion show reaches over 30,000 people (and counting!) between newspaper, radio and social media. Both our audience and designers come from all around the country.

Artists, designers, and teams who have experience working in fashion, textiles, graphic, and industrial design are encouraged to apply.

  • Clothing must be sustainably created using a combination of ethically sourced, sustainable fabrics, up-cycled, and/or recycled materials made by the applying designer or in a fair trade and/or locally-sourced scenario.

  • Carbondale Arts works with amateur, volunteer models from the community and cares deeply about presenting all body types in the fashion show. Designs must be available or adjustable for a wide range of shapes and sizes.

2026 applications closed December 5, 2025.

 
 

Meet the Directors

 
 

Emily Fifer and Meagan Shapiro, photo by Renee Ramge (2025)

The 2026 Fashion Show marks a meaningful transition. Founder and Director Amy Kimberly will step down, and move into a mentorship role, supporting Meagan Shapiro and Emily Fifer as the incoming directing team. Furthering this year’s transition is a hiatus by the show’s Creative Director, projection and clothing designer, Laura Stover, as well as a departure of Technical Director Evan Gaspar. 

As our beloved event enters a new era, we’re excited to recognize the ongoing and evolving leadership of Meagan and Emily – the event is in good hands. Both women have been intimately involved in the show’s creative process and production for a combined 16 years.

The roots of this show remain intact– with above and beyond generous contributions and collaborations from our community over the years, making it this event the extravaganza we know it to be.

Read the Full Press Release
 
 

A special thanks to our volunteer photographers!

 

Watch clips from previous shows: They are equally excellent.

 
 

The 2025 Fashion Show is Supported by:

 

Associate Producer

 
 
 

Sponsorship Partners