Columbia Pike Blues Festival Attracts Music Fans, Vendors, Candidates

ARLINGTON, VA — The largest blues festival in the Washington, D.C., area returned to Arlington on Saturday for its 26th year, where perfect weather let residents and visitors enjoy top music acts, barbecue, fajitas and cool refreshments.

Candidates running in Tuesday’s Democratic primary in Arlington were also out in force at the 2023 Columbia Pike Blues Festival on South Walter Reed Drive, near the intersection with Columbia Pike.

The free outdoor music event, which also offers activities for children, attracts a large crowd each year to South Arlington.

The local vendors at Saturday’s festival included craft beer and wine sellers, home improvement businesses, and a group calling on Arlington County to ensure that the Barcroft Apartments along Columbia Pike remain affordable for decades to come.

Candidates with booths at the event included Natalie Roy and JD Spain, who are seeking the Democratic nomination for Arlington County Board, Parisa Dahghani-Tafti, who is running for commonwealth's attorney, and Wanda Younger, who is running for sheriff. Independent candidate Audrey Clement, who is running in the general election in November for one of the two seats opening on the county board, also had a booth.

Many candidates who didn't have booths, including state Sen. Barbara Favola and her challenger, James DeVita, acting Sheriff Jose Quiroz, and county board candidate Tony Weaver, were seen campaigning at the festival.

The Columbia Pike Blues Festival is produced by the Columbia Pike Partnership in partnership with Arlington Arts.