Over the course of the past 30 years, Florida residents Howard and Debbie Alan have been exhibiting the artwork of local craftsmen and artisans across the country through fairs and shows of all sizes, all from a small office in Jupiter, Florida.
Of the 45 annual art shows and 40 annual craft shows, one of the most popular occurs right here in Northern Virginia, by the name of the Alexandria Old Town Art Festival, formerly known as the King Street Art Festival.
Now in its 18th year, the annual affair—scheduled to take place at a new location (John Carlyle Square) on Saturday, Sept. 12 and Sunday, Sept. 13—will feature hundreds of pieces of artwork, all handmade by talented artisans of NoVA, the U.S. and other parts of the globe as well. Those who choose to attend will be inspired by everything from paintings and jewelry to life-sized sculptures and more.
While the festival typically takes place on King Street, it has grown to maximum capacity each year, requiring the Alans and their team to make a location change. As of press time, according to the Alexandria Old Town Art Festival website, the festival is still scheduled to take place this September despite the ongoing spread of the coronavirus. Plus, the featured artists and jurors have yet to be announced.
As changes are made to the lineup of craftsmen, as well as the schedule of events, we will update this piece. // 300 John Carlyle St., Alexandria; Sept. 12, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. & Sept. 13, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; free
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