The Arlington Festival of the Arts will make an outdoor return over Labor Day weekend, despite the pandemic.
The annual festival, which was postponed in April after statewide bans on public gatherings, features fine art from local and national artists in forms like glass, paintings and jewelry.
The festival is taking place near the intersection of N. Highland Street and Washington Blvd in Clarendon. Exhibits will be open to the public between 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 5 and Sunday, Sept. 6.
Now in its 8th year, the festival typically packs Washington Blvd with visitors walking through rows of white display tents. This year, though, the event will have safety measures meant to prevent COVID-19’s spread.
All attendees above the age of 2 are asked to wear a mask, and social distancing is required between visitor groups and artists. Limits will also be set on how many visitors can attend at one time.
“This has been a trying time for artists around the world, and their appreciators, because nothing beats being able to see the creation in person,” festival producer Howard Alan said in a press release. “We have been able to craft creative solutions to bring art back to the people, without compromising safety.”
Artwork at the festival has been selected from hundreds of applications by an independent panel of expert judges, according to the press release.
Artists include Loretta Scott, a painter in Reston, and Carolyn Copper, a photographer in D.C.
The festival is free to attend and visitors are encouraged to reserve a time slot to avoid lines.
Picture courtesy Arlington Festival of the Arts