Art on the Avenue
The 30th Annual Art on the Avenue takes place Saturday, Oct. 4 in the Del Ray neighborhood of Alexandria
On the first Saturday of October, Del Ray trades traffic for artists’ tents. Art on the Avenue, the neighborhood’s regional multicultural arts and music festival, returns Saturday, Oct. 3, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. along Mount Vernon Avenue between Hume and Bellefonte avenues.
Now in its 31st year, the free festival is produced by the Del Ray Business Association. It’s volunteer-run: last year, more than 250 volunteers helped put it on. It has picked up multiple “Best of” honors from Virginia Living readers, including Best Food at a Festival.
Here’s what to expect, and how to get there.
The art
Each year, thousands of visitors stroll the avenue past more than 300 artists: jewelers, silversmiths and beaders, woodworkers, potters, soap makers, glass artists, painters, sculptors, fabric artists and more. Last year, jewelry and ceramics were the biggest categories.
Look for young artists, too. Last year’s festival reserved booths for teen graduates of Avenue Ambition, a 10-week workshop series that teaches artists ages 12 to 18 how to create, market and sell their work.
In 2025, local artists also gave live demonstrations in the Nest Academy parking lot at 2609 Mount Vernon Ave. They showed wood burning, miniatures, iris paper folding, jewelry making and knitting.
The music
The music is just as varied, with folk, rock ‘n’ roll, country, jazz, classical and choral groups. Last year, music ran all day on four stages:
- City Stage at Pat Miller Neighborhood Square (Mount Vernon and Oxford avenues), with local bands from rock to vintage country
- Acoustic stage at the Nancy Dunning Garden, 2809 Mount Vernon Ave., with a lineup of duos
- Col. Arnald D. Gabriel Concert Band Stage on the Mount Vernon Community School basketball court, featuring community ensembles like the NOVA Concert Band, Silver Tones Swing Band and the Alexandria Citizens’ Band
- Future Stars stage at Bellefonte and Mount Vernon avenues, with youth bands
This year, the concert band stage will host one of the day’s most memorable moments. Col. Arnald D. Gabriel, the 101-year-old namesake of the stage, will step back onto the podium to conduct two pieces with the NOVA Concert Band during its noon to 1:15 p.m. set.
Gabriel’s long road to that podium runs through World War II, when he served as a combat machine gunner with the Army’s 29th Infantry Division. He went on to command and conduct the U.S. Air Force Band, leading the Air Force Symphony Orchestra and the Singing Sergeants, and became the band’s first conductor emeritus. He later taught young musicians at George Mason University.
Later in the day, the Alexandria Citizens’ Band will close out the concert band stage at Mount Vernon Community School with a free, family-friendly concert at 5 p.m., playing music “from classical to contemporary.”
Check the festival’s music page for the full schedule.
The food
Del Ray’s restaurants set up along the route, and there’s a food court for festival standbys, from hot dogs and crab cakes to chocolate-dipped bananas and homemade cider. Last year’s mix included raclette from Cheesetique, dosas from Spice Kraft Indian Bistro, pork sandwiches from Pork Barrel BBQ, frozen custard from The Dairy Godmother and coffee and cider from St. Elmo’s Coffee Pub. Food court vendors served crab cakes, barbecue, dumplings, suya chicken, kettle corn and fresh-squeezed lemonade.
See the festival’s food page for the current list.
Pie for a cause
The festival’s pie contest turns 19 this year. Pam’s Pie Competition & Bake Sale honors the late Pam Fitzgerald, a Del Ray neighbor who led the festival’s pie crew. It takes place in front of The Dairy Godmother, 2310 Mount Vernon Ave. Bakers of all ages compete, from kids 11 and under to professionals. Once judging wraps, slices go on sale for $5 each.
All proceeds from this year’s contest support the Miracle League of Alexandria’s new sensory room at Mount Vernon Community School.
Want to enter? Details and rules are on the festival’s pie page.
For kids
Kids’ activities have always been a big part of the festival, with favorites such as stuffing a scarecrow and painting a pumpkin. The Kids’ Art Corner, on the school field near Del Ray Artisans, offers free art projects hosted by local schools and nonprofits. Last year’s lineup included paper marbling, watercolors, mosaics, robot demos and pumpkin painting, and it ran from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Parents can post photos of their kids’ creations with #myartontheavenue for a chance to win prizes. More at the festival’s kids page.
Getting there
Organizers urge visitors to leave the car at home. Mount Vernon Avenue and the blocks immediately next to it close to traffic from Hume to Bellefonte avenues, and parking is extremely limited.
- Metro: Free trolleys run from both the Potomac Yard and Braddock Road Metro stations.
- Bike or scooter: A bike and scooter valet is at Children’s House Montessori School, 104 Hume Ave. Riders can check in online in advance at bikevaletdmv.com.
- Rideshare: Recommended drop-off points are 1800 Mount Vernon Ave., near Bellefonte Avenue, and the Mount Vernon Recreation Center, 2701 Commonwealth Ave.
- Parking: Parking is on side streets only. Watch posted restrictions and don’t block driveways or intersections. Limited accessible parking is available at Children’s House Montessori School, 104 Hume Ave.
Full directions are on the festival’s Getting Here page.
Note for Saturday regulars: The Del Ray Farmers Market will not be held on Saturday, Oct. 3, because of the festival.
If you go: Art on the Avenue, Saturday, Oct. 3, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Mount Vernon Avenue between Hume and Bellefonte avenues, Del Ray. Free. artontheavenue.org
