From music to dance to all sorts of arts and crafts, Del Ray’s biggest arts festival will have plenty to draw visitors to the neighborhood on Saturday (Oct. 3).
The 31st annual Art on the Avenue, which closes Mount Vernon Avenue from Hume to Bellefonte Avenues the first Saturday of every October, will host more than 300 artists and dozens of activities for all ages from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The festival has become one of Del Ray’s most important events. The Del Ray Business Association estimates attendance could reach 50,000.
Art on the Avenue is bringing back dance performances on the street this year near the intersection of Mount Vernon Avenue and Custis Street. The unique performances will be at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
“Dance is an area of art that I don’t think gets enough attention,” founder and organizer Pat Miller said.
The Caboose Fund, a local nonprofit, will be hosting a community canvas painting activity this year as part of its efforts to raise money to restore the Little Red Caboose outside Mount Vernon Community School. In addition, the Kids Art Corner returns to the field next to Del Ray Artisans, with booths dedicated to interactive art stations for children. The Kids Art Corner is open from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
In addition, multiple artists will be hosting art demonstrations in the parking lot of the Nest Academy of Del Ray in the 2600 block of Mount Vernon Avenue. The section will include demonstrations in chainmail, stained glass art, fiber sculptures, crochet, fiber weaving and more.
As in past years, the event will feature multiple music stages, a pie contest, a political soapbox area and a festival store. In addition to three stages of music, Rock of Ages Music (ROAM) and Del Ray School of Music will present future stars in the parking lot at the corner of Mount Vernon and E. Bellefonte avenues.
The 1900 to 2900 blocks of Mount Vernon Avenue will be closed to traffic between Bellefonte and Hume Avenues, as well as adjacent blocks to the east and west, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Buses will be detoured to the 1600 to 2900 blocks of Commonwealth Avenue between Monroe and Hume Avenues.
Parking will be a challenge, so visitors are encouraged to take the Metro and use the free trolley from the Potomac Yard or Braddock Road Metro stations. A free bike valet will be available at the intersection of Mount Vernon and Hume Avenues.
The festival is completely volunteer run and continues to seek volunteers. A map of the festival, directory of artists and vendors, and more information are available on Art on the Avenue’s website.
More than three decades since Art on the Avenue started, its growth is evident in the sheer number of vendors along Mount Vernon Avenue. The first Art on the Avenue had about 75 artists, Miller said.
“It wasn’t until the third or fourth year that we hit the 300 mark,” Miller said.
