Bethesda Fine Arts Festival 2026

The Bethesda Fine Arts Festival has returned to the Woodmont Triangle neighborhood of downtown Bethesda for 2026. Featured are the works of over 120 national artists, in a variety of mediums. There is also live music, and food is available from several vendors on-site. Admission is free. The festival is winding down for today, but there is another whole day tomorrow, Sunday, May 10 from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Bethesda Fine Arts Festival returns May 13-14, 2023

The annual Bethesda Fine Arts Festival will return next month, on May 13 and 14, 2023 in downtown Bethesda. Over 100 of the nation's best contemporary artists will display and sell original fine art and crafts along Norfolk, Auburn and Del Ray Avenues in Bethesda's Woodmont Triangle neighborhood from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM on May 13, and from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM on May 14. Admission is free, and you will also find that parking is free in the Auburn-Del Ray Public Parking Garage 36 at 4910 Auburn Avenue.

Neighborhood restaurants - including Bethesda Curry Kitchen, Dog Haus Biergarten and Red Bandana Bakery - will sell food and drinks, and beer and wine for those 21 and older. Music artists performing live will include Sara Jones, The Walkaways, Carley Harvey, Wes Tucker & The Skillets, Eric Scott, Jay Byrd and Jarreau Williams. The festival will be held rain or shine.

The festival is organized by the Bethesda Urban Partnership, and this year's sponsors are Kitchen Saver and The Phoenix Group of Compass. For more information, please visit www.bethesda.org or call 301-215-6660.

Photos courtesy Bethesda Urban Partnership

Bethesda Fine Arts Festival 2016 today and Sunday; Villain & Saint recreates Watkins Glen Summer Jam today in Bethesda

Art lovers and classic rock lovers can make a day - and night - of it in Bethesda today. Bethesda Urban Partnership is hosting the annual Bethesda Fine Arts Festival in the Woodmont Triangle today, May 14, from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and tomorrow from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Admission is free, and so is parking in the Auburn-Del Ray Parking Garage 36 at 4910 Auburn Avenue.

Walk to the festival, which will be held along Auburn, Del Ray and Norfolk Avenues rain or shine. 130 artists from across the country will display their works. In addition to the many restaurant options in the Triangle, the following restaurants will be serving food on Del Ray Avenue near the entertainment stage: Yamas Grill, Bethesda Curry Kitchen, Haagen-Dazs, Mamma Lucia, and Smoke BBQ.

Enjoy live music, and check out the booths of local businesses - The Flats at Bethesda Avenue luxury apartments will have giveaways and a chance to win a hefty gift card from Paper Source at Bethesda Row, and Stonehall Bethesda's condo sales center will be open from noon until 4:00 PM at 7706 Woodmont Avenue (this could be a great option if thunderstorms hit in the afternoon - bring an umbrella).

A different type of festival will be held across town at Villain & Saint at 7141 Wisconsin Avenue (there's easy parking in the lot behind the building). The bar and live music venue is recreating the famous 1973 Watkins Glen Summer Jam starting at noon. While the main event starts at 6:00 PM and costs $30 online or $35 at the door, you can enjoy the pre-show party outside starting at noon for $5 at the Montgomery Womens Cooperative Farm Market next door.

Cover bands will recreate the legendary acts who appeared before a crowd of 600,000 in 1973: The Grateful Dead, The Allman Brothers and The Band. For more details and ticket links, visit their Facebook page.

Big art weekend in Bethesda: Bethesda Fine Arts Festival, Peter Max, art walk

Art aficionados have a big weekend ahead in Bethesda. Meet famed artist Peter Max Saturday, and explore some of the best artists you may not have heard of in downtown Bethesda.

Start off tonight with the Bethesda Art Walk, sponsored by the Bethesda Urban Partnership, from 6:00-9:00 PM. Walk or use the free Bethesda Circulator bus to tour 6 participating gallery displays around downtown Bethesda, before dining in one of the many restaurants nearby. The art walk is free.

Saturday, May 9, from 1:00-3:00 PM at Wentworth Gallery in Westfield Montgomery Mall, you can meet a living legend: artist Peter Max. You'll also be able to browse and purchase from his latest works. RSVP now online, or call 301.365.3270. Free to attend.

But your artistic weekend is just getting started. There's plenty of time to take in the Bethesda Fine Arts Festival 2015 Saturday (10 AM - 6 PM) and Sunday (10 AM - 5 PM), in downtown Bethesda's rapidly-evolving Woodmont Triangle. Walk along Norfolk, Auburn and Del Ray Avenues to see 130 artists in action. If you like what you see, you can also purchase their works.

There will also be live music both days, and a children's play area on Auburn Avenue. Why not also get something to eat from one of 6 restaurants who will be at the festival, including the new Urban Heights?

Admission is free, and there will be free parking (at least for this year!) in the public garages nearby, such as the one on Auburn Avenue. The event is held rain or shine.

BETHESDA FINE ARTS FESTIVAL 2014 PHOTO GALLERY

Did you attend this past weekend's Fine Arts Festival in the Woodmont Triangle area of Bethesda? If not, here are some photos to give you an idea of just some of what was on display:

BETHESDA FINE ARTS FESTIVAL 2014 STARTS TODAY, CONTINUES SUNDAY (PHOTO)

The biggest event in town this weekend is the Bethesda Fine Arts Festival, in the Woodmont Triangle neighborhood of downtown Bethesda. Sponsored by Bethesda Urban Partnership, the free-to-enter festival will bring 130 artists from all over North America to town today (10:00 AM - 6:00 PM) and Sunday (10:00 AM - 5:00 PM). Mediums include painting, sculpture, photography and more.

There will also be live music, children's activities, and plenty of food from great downtown Bethesda restaurants like Mamma Lucia, Smoke BBQ, Haagen-Dazs and Hard Times Cafe. Free parking is available in the Auburn Avenue public parking garage both days.

For more information, visit the official website of the festival.

BETHESDA FINE ARTS FESTIVAL 2013 PHOTO GALLERY

Bethesda Urban Partnership organized the Bethesda Fine Arts Festival, held over the weekend in the Woodmont Triangle area of town.

Artists from across the country, as well as live music and Bethesda restaurant food, brought a crowd to tent-lined streets.

Even the Man of Steel made an appearance, on behalf of Bethesda party supply store Party City.

More photos to come!

BETHESDA FINE ARTS FESTIVAL, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY

This isn't exactly what it sounds like, so don't start running the other direction, thinking you'll need a masters in Fine Art to enjoy this festival.

Instead, "Old Town" Bethesda becomes a market of sorts along Norfolk, Auburn and Cordell Avenues.

That means you'll be able to meet artists, and buy their creations, such as paintings, photos, furniture and jewelry.  Some of these folks have traveled from across the country to be here.

In addition to engaging in cultural pursuits, there will be fabulous food from BlackFinn, Haagen-Dazs, Hard Times Cafe, Mamma Lucia and Yamas Grill (if Yamas has gyros or lamb burgers, grab one!).

There will also be live music.

The hours are 10-6 today, and 10-5 Sunday.

Broaden your mind, and shrink your wallet, at this annual fine art experience in downtown Bethesda.