13th Annual Bethesda Row Arts Festival is free to the public
Saturday, October 16th from 11am – 6pm
Sunday, October 17th from 11am – 5pm

Festival FAQ

The outdoor event is held rain or shine on Bethesda Row located on Woodmont and Bethesda Avenues, Elm Street and Bethesda Lane, east of Arlington Road. The festival is in easy walking distance from the Bethesda Metro station and 15 minutes from downtown Metrorail stops. Numerous free parking garages (49 and 57) are conveniently located around the site. Click here for directions or more information, or you can join our mailing list to receive event updates.

About Each October, the streets of Bethesda Row are transformed into an outdoor art gallery of spectacular fine arts and crafts. More than 200,000 people have enjoyed the Bethesda Row Arts Festival in the heart of Bethesda’s designated Arts & Entertainment District since it began in 1997. This year many of the world's finest arts and crafts will be presented.

The Festival, underwritten by Federal Realty Investment Trust, features the work of 180 leading artists and crafters from the Mid-Atlantic and around the country. On display will be the finest in: ceramics, drawings, fabrics, glass, graphics, jewelry, metalwork, paintings, pastels, photography, printmaking, sculpture, wood and mixed media.

The Festival has been recognized as one of the top 200 fine art shows in the United States by Sunshine Artist magazine, and the event will benefit the NIH Children's Charities.

Event & Community Activities The Arts Festival offers an Art Sale benefitting the NIH Children’s Charities, children’s art activities, live acoustic stage performances, street performers, and high-quality outdoor food vendors.

The Bethesda Row Arts Festival raises funds and awareness for the NIH Children’s Charities, which include The Children's Inn, Camp Fantastic/Special Love, Inc., and Friends of the Clinical Center. These three wonderful organizations are instrumental in providing much needed support for young patients and their families. The Festival will continue its support of the community with proceeds from the Art Sale, Children’s Activities and Sponsorship funds, benefitting NIH Children’s Charities.

Bethesda Row is a sensory delight. A popular dining and gathering place, Bethesda Row covers four city blocks and features more than 50 fine shops, upscale galleries, unique restaurants, and an eight-screen movie theater. Low-rise retail and office buildings create a very pleasing, human-scale, town-center feel. The architecture is eclectic, ranging from art deco to southwest to postmodern in style.

Attractive cobblestone sidewalks, wooden and wrought-iron benches, trees and shrubbery round out the welcoming atmosphere of Bethesda Row, the recipient of three prestigious awards in 2002 - an Urban Land Institute Award for Excellence, a Congress for New Urbanism Charter Award and a Washington Smart Growth Alliance Recognition Award.

Bethesda Row is owned and managed by Federal Realty Investment Trust, a Rockville, Maryland based equity real estate investment trust (REIT). An industry leader for more than 40 years, Federal Realty specializes in the ownership, management, development and re-development of shopping centers and retail properties across the country. Shares of Federal Realty are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol: FRT

FESTIVAL FAQ

How many artists exhibit at the Festival?
We will have almost 180 juried fine artists as well as 18 returning winners from the 2009 show attending the 2010 festival.

If I’m an exhibiting artist, can I set up on Friday night?
We apologize for the possible inconvenience, but there is no set-up allowed on Friday night prior to the show. Due to the location of the show, the downtown Bethesda streets are closed to traffic beginning only early Saturday morning. Therefore all set up must take place after 5am Saturday morning.

Are reproductions allowed in the show?
Reproductions will be allowed in this year’s show, but under strict regulations. Reproductions will be limited to no more than 25% of the 10x10 booth space and must be clearly labeled in one bin. Reproductions will not be eligible for show awards.

Can I volunteer to help out at the Festival?
Yes, for more information on volunteering at the festival please see our Contact Us page, or contact Katie at katie@deutsch-inc.com

Does the festival go on rain or shine?
Yes! The Arts Festival is a rain or shine event.

What address can I use for my GPS to get to the Festival?
7200 Woodmont Ave Bethesda MD 20852 will take you to the center of the Arts Festival. For more information on parking and festival location please see our Contact Us page.

Are there restrooms at the Festival?
Yes, we have portable restrooms available in two locations within the festival, on Elm Street next to Baja Fresh, right before Bethesda Lane as well as in the middle of Bethesda Ave next to Dunkin Donuts.

Where can I park?
There are both indoor and outdoor parking options available during the Arts Festival. Public parking garage #57 is located directly adjacent to the Festival, but please keep in mind access to this garage is ONLY from Bethesda Ave. You will not be able to enter or exit the garage from Elm Street. For full parking information please see our map of parking in downtown Bethesda here.

Do you offer gift certificates to the show?
Yes, for our 2010 show we will be introducing a system where you can pre-pay amounts to the festival in advance, and give them to family or friends to redeem with any artist at the show. They will be available in $50 and $100 increments. Please contact the festival at info@bethesdarow.org for more information or to purchase a gift certifiate for the 2010 show.