Photo courtesy of organizers
Wood artwork by Nathan Favors
Old Town’s biggest open-air art walk is back. The 24th Annual Alexandria Art Festival returns to John Carlyle Square this weekend — Saturday, Sept. 26 and Sunday, Sept. 27, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days — and admission is free.
The festival gathers more than 125 local and national artists and thousands of original works spanning nearly every medium: paintings, life-size sculptures, photography, ceramics, glasswork and fine jewelry, along with handcrafted apparel and home decor. Every piece is handmade in the USA, and because all the artists stay on-site for the full two days, visitors can meet the makers and hear the story behind each original work.
Now in its 24th year, the festival is presented by Howard Alan Events, the Florida-based producer of some of the country’s top juried art and craft shows, from Aspen to Sarasota. The Alexandria edition is consistently ranked among the nation’s best by Sunshine Artist Magazine, and over the decades it has become a fixture of the fall season for residents and visitors alike.
If you go: The 24th Annual Alexandria Art Festival runs Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 26–27, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at John Carlyle Square, 300 John Carlyle Street. Admission is free and open to the public, with ample parking nearby. Details are at artfestival.com.
