Updated! Events and vendors lineup for Saturday’s ‘Celebrate Van Ness Main Street’

This Saturday, everyone’s invited to “Celebrate Van Ness Main Street.” From noon to 8 p.m. on Saturday, October 11th, VNMS and its partners and sponsors are organizing activities and entertainment up and down the Main Street’s Connecticut Avenue corridor (with pedicabs so attendees can easily reach points north and south).

And there will be food, of course, including:

Those barbecue pre-orders are happening here.

Another Washington Conservatory of Music concert at Forest Hills Park is also confirmed. VNMS hosted the first one on September 13th. This concert will make you want to get up and dance.

The Washington Conservatory Jazz Players performing at Forest Hills Park on Saturday, September 13th. (photo by Marjorie Share)

Here’s the full schedule of events.

And here’s the latest (as of October 8th) from Van Ness Main Street:

To celebrate VNMS, we’ll have another outstanding Artisan Pop-Up market with more than 20 local vendors sharing their creativity and passion. They’ll be there from 12-6 and will be joined by Carpe Librum’s huge used book, DVD, CD, and record sale, with proceeds supporting the nonprofit Turning the Page.

Bread Furst will be hosting another pop-up BBQ from 12-6 at our Artisan Pop-Up market, and Sfoglina is bringing the sweetness with a delicious gelato giveaway from 2-3. You’ll have worked up a thirst, so head over to Honey & Friends for wine tasting from 3:30-5!

It won’t just be your tastebuds that are happy, though – the Avenue will be FULL of music. The Washington Conservatory of Music will have performances up and down the corridor:

• 2-6pm at the Whale Tea – Upright bass and keyboard
• 4-6pm at Forest Hills Park – Dance music band. Bring a blanket and a picnic and relax (or dance!) in the park with us
• 4-8pm at Chevy Chase Art Gallery – Guitar solo
• 5:30-7:30 at Rosemary Bistro – Bossa Nova electric violin
• 6-8pm at Il Supremo – Guitar duo

And that’s not all! RAWRA will be performing from 4:30-6 under the arch at Park Van Ness, and then Crush Funk Brass Band will have you dancing in the parking lot at Calvert Woodley from 6-8pm!

If that’s not enough dancing for you, we’ve got you covered, because there will be line dancing lessons at the Park Van Ness rotunda from 2-4pm. Not in the mood for dancing? Our Pollinator Planting crew will be out front of Calvert Woodley from 2-4, tending to the pollinator beds. This is a great opportunity for gardening newbies and experts! And, there will be fun for all ages, including the kiddos – who can also visit Politics & Prose from 12-4 for face painting!

Wondering how you’re going to get to see it all? DC Pedicabs will be with us too, offering rides between Calvert Woodley and Politics and Prose!

Celebrate Van Ness Main Street is going to be a fun-filled celebration of music, art, community, and connection and we can’t wait to see you there- mark your calendar and RSVP here so we know you’re coming!

Thank you to our generous sponsors for helping to make this event possible – Department of Small & Local Business Development, ANC3F, Wegman’s, Days Inn, Edmund Burke School, The Chesapeake Apartments, and Calvert Woodley Fine Wine & Spirits.

Forest Hills Connection is an editorially independent program of Van Ness Main Street.