Fall into the perfect season
From an 18K digital world at ARTECHOUSE and a free chalk art festival in Old Town to a beloved farmers market's new home at The Wharf, here are three DMV experiences worth putting on your September calendar.
This month's issue is full of great ideas, things to do this fall and fun family experiences you won't want to miss. The DMV's art, culture and outdoor scene is in full swing, so we've rounded up several ways to soak it all in throughout the pages — but these are the top 3 things you definitely won't want to miss this issue!
Chalking up the sidewalks at Old Town North's Chalk-A-Block
Alexandria's Old Town North Alliance brings back its free, family-friendly street-art celebration from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 19 (rain date is Sept. 20) at the newly completed TideLock waterfront, 1055 N. Fairfax St., Alexandria, VA. Now in its third year, Chalk-A-Block pairs professional chalk artists with dedicated community chalk zones where kids and adults alike can create their own masterpieces alongside art therapists from River Grove Therapy. Add in live music from The Okays, local makers, a judged "Best in Show" award and a "People's Choice" vote, plus food from neighborhood spots like Hank's Oyster Bar and Jula's on the Potomac, and you've got a laid-back fall afternoon that's easy to reach right along the Mount Vernon Trail.
Diving into ARTECHOUSE's new SUBMERGE Project
ARTECHOUSE DC, tucked just off the National Mall, is resurfacing this September with its most ambitious exhibition yet. Premiering Sept. 11, SUBMERGE Project transforms the gallery's floor-to-ceiling canvas into a 280-degree, 18K digital world, anchored by a 45-minute show called Beyond the Render. Thirteen artist teams — including Emmy winners Emily Yang and Maciej Kuciara — contribute 14 short, immersive works, from underwater realms to futuristic dreamscapes, plus 18 hands-on installations where visitors can shape AI-generated imagery with voice and gesture. It's the kind of only-in-DC outing that turns kids who think they're "not into art" into instant fans.
Stocking up at Farmers Market SW's new Wharf home
After a decade at 4th and M Street SW, the beloved Farmers Market SW has found a scenic new home at The Wharf's M Street Landing plaza, just steps from the water. Every Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through Nov. 21, families can browse locally grown produce, pasture-raised meats and eggs, fresh baked goods, coffee, jams and prepared foods from area farmers and small businesses — with the market continuing to accept SNAP/EBT and Produce Plus benefits. It's an easy, low-key way to spend a weekend morning with the kids: grab breakfast from a vendor, wander the stalls, then let the little ones stretch their legs along the waterfront afterward.
