Art on the Avenue Today in Del Ray

Fall is in the air and that means it is time for Del Ray’s Art on the Avenue. The annual event attracts 50,000 visitors to an art-centric street fair, set for Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Mt. Vernon Avenue between Bellefonte and Hume avenues in Del Ray.

The festival is run entirely by volunteers with the support of local businesses.

More than 300 fine artists, artisans and craftspeople will be setting up booths alone the Avenue showing off their handmade items, such as wheel-thrown vases and bowls, tiles, sculpture, hand-embossed leather belts, tote bags and purses, drawings and pastels, knitted and crocheted hats and gloves, woven scarves and shawls, gourmet food, fused and blown glass, jewelry, turned wood bowls, paintings, photography, wooden puzzles, and much more, according to the organizer’s Web site.

In addition to perusing artists’ wares, there will be opportunities to enjoy four stages of music and performances. Kids will have plenty to do, with activities such as stuff your own scarecrow, paint a pumpkin, lotus flower design, weave screen art, to name a few.

And of course, lots of delicious food from area eateries will entice visitors. Here are businesses signed up so far:

Food vendors who will be set up in a “food court” in the field at Mt. Vernon Community School include Crepe Deli Catering, Apple Frankie’s Enterprises, Sherri’s Crab Cakes, Suya to Go, Orient Bowl, Capitol Kettle Korn, Popped Republic, Captain Cookie DC, Sweet Art and Melted, Ashbank Farms, Betty Jane’s Sweet Delights, Rocklands, St. Elmo’s, Thai Peppers, Del Ray Pizza, Pork Barrel BBQ, Seva and Evening Star.

Del Ray Patch will offer updates on Art on the Avenue leading up to the festival, as new information becomes available.

PHOTO: Street scene from past Art on the Avenue/Patch archive