Muncie's Happy Little Fest returns to celebrate iconic PBS painter Bob Ross

Deanna Watson, Muncie Star Press
Updated ·2 min read
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

MUNCIE, Ind. — "All Things Bob Ross" returns to Muncie, where the iconic painter called home for years, as Ball State PBS brings back the award-winning Happy Little Fest this fall.

Set for 1 to 4 p.m. Oct. 1, Happy Little Fest celebrates the PBS painter Ross, who inspired other artists and, now, Halloween costumes.

Participants in the “Look Like Bob” contest during the 2022 Happy Little Fest in Muncie, Ind. This year's fest, celebrating the iconic painter who called Muncie home for years, will be held Oct. 1, 2023, at Ball State Univeristy.
Participants in the “Look Like Bob” contest during the 2022 Happy Little Fest in Muncie, Ind. This year's fest, celebrating the iconic painter who called Muncie home for years, will be held Oct. 1, 2023, at Ball State Univeristy.

“As the home of the popular ‘The Joy of Painting’ series and America’s favorite television painter, Bob Ross, who inspired generations of people to try their hand at creating art, we’re proud to bring this event back to East Central Indiana,” said Dr. Phil Hoffman, assistant dean of Media and general manager of Ball State Public Media.

Ball State Public Media, where "The Joy of Painting" was produced, is housed within the College of Communication, Information, and Media.

“And we’ll also have some news about our new commitment to arts and culture programming in the region, dedicating our work to building on Bob’s legacy of creativity and innovation," Hoffman said in the news release about the event.

The Happy Little Fest will be held at University Green, located between Bracken Library and the Architecture Building, 1120 N. McKinley Ave., on the campus of Ball State University.

Ticketing information can be found on the Happy Little Fest website. Proceeds benefit Ball State PBS.

Events associated with the fest include:

  • "Paint Like Bob" workshop, 3 to 6 p.m., led by Chris Taylor, a certified Ross instructor and associate lecturer and senior director of Sports Production in Ball State’s Department of Media. Participants will learn Ross' "wet-on-wet" technique and take home a 16x20 canvas; tools and paint will be supplied. A painting ticket is required.

  • "See Where Bob Painted," 1 to 4 p.m. in the E.F. Ball Communication Building, where "The Joy of Painting" was filmed. Participants can hear Ross' voice in the sensory studio and see 24 original paintings.

  • "Happy Little Games," 1 to 4 p.m., hourly. Test your knowledge of Bob Ross facts.

  • “Bob Ross For Kids” painting workshop, 1:30 p.m. Kids ages 6-13; learn simple techniques to create Bob Ross-inspired paintings. Free with registration; limited to 12 kids.

  • “Look Like Bob” contest, 2:30 p.m. Come dressed as Ross for the chance at a fabulous prize.

The festival also includes food trucks, live music, and much more.

Ticket information

  • Purchase tickets at happylittlefest.org.

  • General/Adult tickets are $20, Students are $10, and kids 8 and under are free. Get access to all activity tents, Studio Tours, Sensory Studio, and Painting Gallery.

  • Adult (14 years+) Painting Workshop tickets (3 to 6 p.m.) are $100.

The event will be held rain or shine. Visit the Ball State PBS event page for more details.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Bob Ross fest celebrating iconic painter returns to Muncie