Art on the Avenue: A Guide

Get ready, Alexandria. Del Ray’s signature event arrives Saturday morning.

The 18th incarnation of Art on The Avenue, a multicultural arts festival celebrating the community’s diversity, will be held rain or shine.

The free event will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday along Mount Vernon Avenue between Hume and Bellefonte avenues.

More than 340 artists and craftspeople will set up booths along Mount Vernon to display and sell their work, including jewelers, silversmiths, woodworkers, pottery makers, soap crafters, glass artists, painters, sculptures, fabric artists and more.

There will also be four stages featuring live music, free children’s craft activities and performances, food vendors and a pie-baking competition benefitting Stop Child Abuse Now of Northern Virginia.

For a list of performing musicians, check out the full schedule.

The festival, which is run entirely by volunteers with the support of local businesses, draws more than 50,000 people to Del Ray annually.

Saturday’s weather forecast calls for a mostly sunny skies with temperatures creeping into the upper 80s.

DASH will provide free transportation to the festival from Braddock Road Metro Station. Much of Mount Vernon Avenue will be closed to traffic from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday.

Other information:

• The Del Ray Farmers’ Market is taking a week off to accommodate Art on the Avenue.

• Painter and singer-songwriter Alex Cook will be installing a mural on the E. Del Ray Avenue side of A Show of Hands throughout the day. You can view some of Cook's other murals on his website.

• Del Ray Artisans (2704 Mount Vernon Ave.) will host artist demonstrations throughout the day outside its gallery. Inside, check out the new "Del-Ray-Geous" exhibit. 

• St. Andrew & St. Margaret of Scotland Anglican Catholic Church (402 E. Monroe Ave.) is hosting a blessing of the animals from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. All pets are welcome, even fish and snakes. There will also be animals available for adoption and an exotic animal petting zoo.

• The Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary (1804 Mount Vernon Ave.) is hosting a flea market and estate sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday featuring furniture, collectables, educational games, books for kids and adults, stuffed animals, crafts and glassware. The market benefits struggling families living in Alexandria.

• Del Ray Variety (203 E. Custis Ave.) is hosting a Great Pumpkin Contest.

• The Neighborhood Pharmacy and Greener Cleaner are both closed Saturday for the festival.

For more information on Art on the Avenue, visit the festival website.