MPAartfest Returns To McLean Central Park In October

MCLEAN, VA — MPAartfest will return in 2021 after being held virtually in 2021. Hosted by McLean Project for the Arts, the event will happen Sunday, Oct. 3 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in McLean Central Park.

This is the 15th year of the arts festival, which transforms McLean Central Park into an outdoor art gallery. The free event showcases contemporary art, live music from local musicians, a Children’s Art Walk, food vendors and more. At least 40 artists are participating as well as four nonprofit art groups.

The Children's Art Walk is an outdoor gallery of student art open to students in the McLean and Langley school pyramids as well as private and parochial schools. The Children's Art Walk is sponsored by the New Dominion Women’s Club of McLean.

Musical performances have become a popular part of MPAartfest over the years. Here is the performance schedule:

• 10 a.m. - Blues Alley Youth Jazz Orchestra: Premier youth Big Band Swing orchestra and long-time MPAartfest favorites
• 11 a.m. - Sheyda Do’a Band: Latin and World music from an Albanian vocalist and Strathmore Artist in Residence
• 12 p.m. - Nataly Merezhuk’s Hot Band: American/Russian violin virtuoso with one foot in classical and one foot in gypsy swing
• 1 p.m. - Project Locrea: All-star international collective featuring musicians from China, Argentina, Ethiopia, Bulgaria, Peru, and even the USA
• 2 p.m. - Irene Jalenti: Italian vocalist/looper with a multilingual repertoire, brings a fresh musical vision
• 3 p.m. - Josanne Francis: Trinidad & Tobago steel-pan gem crosses genres with a Caribbean feel

MPAartfest is held in partnership with the McLean Community Center, sponsors, the Fairfax County Park Authority and The Mather. Funds raised through sponsorships and donations support McLean Project for the Arts' exhibitions and programs.

Event organizers plan to implement COVID-19 protocols and procedures based on CDC guidance.

For more information, visit mpaart.org/mpaartfest.