MPAartfest In McLean Central Park Canceled: Update

UPDATE: MPAartfest has been canceled on Oct. 2 due to anticipated inclement weather. The McLean Project for the Arts made the decision in coordination with Fairfax County Park Authority and local weather experts, as 2 to 3 inches of rain are expected this weekend. McLean Project for the Arts will look into hosting alternative fall art events.

MCLEAN, VA — The McLean Project for the Arts is holding the 16th annual MPAartfest on Sunday, Oct. 2 in McLean Central Park, where the day will be filled with art, music, food and fun.

The festival, which runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Oct. 2, will offer enjoyment for residents of all ages. The festival is presented with the assistance of lead community sponsor McLean Community Center and through a partnership with the Fairfax County Park Authority.

MPAartfest admission will be free. Parking will be available at the McLean Community Center, at 1234 Ingleside Avenue.

This year’s MPAartfest will feature the work of more than 35 visual artists, D.C. area music performers, local food vendors, and a variety of children’s activities. The festival will include a one-day juried fine art show and sale that will feature the work of acclaimed artists from the Mid-Atlantic region and beyond. Visit the McLean Project for the Arts website for a complete list of this year’s featured artists.

“We are so appreciative of our lead community sponsor, the McLean Community Center, and of all the generous community sponsors who help to make this event possible. We invite all the community to join us for a relaxing and inspiring day of art in the park," McLean Project for the Arts Executive Director Lori Carbonneau said in a statement.

The music performances will be curated by Music Director Ken Avis, radio host of Antidote WERA 96.7 FM and a musician with the award-winning band Veronneau. This year’s performers include the Blues Alley Youth Jazz Orchestra at 10 a.m., Alison Crockett at 11 a.m., Bobby Thompson at noon, Little Red and the Renegades at 1 p.m., Ruthie and the Wranglers at 2 p.m., and Taisha Estrada at 3 p.m

The MPAartfest Children’s Activity Tents will feature a variety of art-based activities and learning stations. Other art highlights include the New Dominion Women’s Club Children’s Art Walk, a juried open-air gallery displaying artwork from local public and private elementary school students.

For food, MPAartfest will feature Café Beret, sponsored by The Mather, where guests can enjoy wine and beer provided by The Wine Outlet. The event will also offer food from a variety of food trucks and eateries, including Café Kindred, Kona Ice and Rocklands BBQ.

For more information about MPAartfest, visit www.mpaart.org.