SW ArtsFest 2012

401 M St SW, Washington, DC | Get Directions »
FREE

Annual Arts Festival – SW ArtsFest – Celebrates 2^nd Year

Washington, DC – On Saturday, September 29, 2012, SW ArtsFest kicks off another year of free entertainment, interactive arts, and events at its annual arts festival in Southwest DC. Designed to promote the art, culture, and neighborhood of the SW Waterfront area, the festival draws upon the participation of local Southwest art institutions and its neighbors to assemble artistic, creative events and opportunities for festival goers of all ages and interests. The festival is accessible by Waterfront metro and runs from 9 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. at multiple venues.

Bicyclists of all experience levels commuting to the festival can participate in the Parade of Decorated Bikes: A Rolling Art Parade. Organized in partnership with BicycleSpace and Figment, bikers can visit one of several bike decorating stations in DC to decorate their bike and then join the parade at 1 p.m. at Yards Park for a short ride to the SW ArtsFest Central Art Market, where art, jewelry, and crafts will be available for purchase.

Other arts activities include hand dancing at Arena Stage, with instruction from the National Hand Dance Association, and a sock puppet art studio especially for kids at the Waterfront sponsored by Hoffman-Madison Waterfront.

Performing artists ranging from liturgical dancers, stilt walkers, a gospel choir, and two performance stages provide entertainment throughout the day. The 11^th Annual Jazz Preservation Festival will run from noon to 8 p.m., and a Central Art Market will provide a stage of entertainment from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Festival goers can end the day with a performance of Don Giovanni at National’s Stadium at Opera in the Park, sponsored by the Washington National Opera, from 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Throughout the day, Arena Stage will offer 45-minute theater tours every hour on the hour from noon to 6 p.m., Christ United Methodist will provide church tours from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Washington Walks will provide walking tours of the Southwest neighborhood at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Film screenings, with selections from the 2012 DC Shorts Film Festival and The Documentary Center at George Washington University, will be held from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. A raffle for multiple prizes will be held at St. Augustine’s Church at various times throughout the day.

If culinary art is more of what people crave, then they can satisfy their appetite with food and drink at any of several locations. A farmer’s market with food demonstrations, King’s Barbecue, fried fish sandwiches, baked goods, beverages, and prepared foods at the Central Art Market and Arena Stage are available.

For more information about the festival and its events, including a printable map and schedule, visit the SW ArtsFest 2012 website at www.swdcartsfest.org or join us on Facebook (SWArtsFest) and Twitter (@swartsfest).