Children decorated colorful masks.
Afternoons on Church Street kicked off its debut on a steamy-hot Sunday, May 31, from 1 to 5 p.m., with exhibits and children’s activities planned and hosted by the Vienna Arts Society [VAS]. The six-month project, running through October, is produced by the Town of Vienna Department of Parks and Recreation. Planned for the last Sunday of every warm-weather month, Afternoons on Church Street is a family-friendly pedestrian stroll featuring activities, live entertainment, and special programming.
Twenty two artists from the VAS exhibited their works and talked about their processes for creation and design, and pieces were available for sale. On display were paintings, prints, fabric art, and handcrafted jewelry.
Children got VIP treatment. VAS offered artistic outlets for youngsters, from printmaking to mask decoration. The children’s tent was busy throughout the day.
Even as 90-degree temps covered Vienna, there was a steady flow of strollers throughout the afternoon. A blue-grass band performed in the caboose lot, and, nearby, on the grounds of Freeman Store, children jumped in a bounce house. Re-enactor Jon Vrana presented a piece on the “Arrest and Incarceration of Mary Surratt” on Freeman Store’s porch.
Each month, a new theme is introduced, supported by community organizations and Church Street businesses.
Afternoons on Church Street events include June 28, Stories & Scavengers, sponsored by The Patrick Henry Library; July 26, Party on the Porch, sponsored by Vienna Parks and Recreation Department; Aug. 30, Wheely Fun Time, sponsored by Bikes At Vienna; Sept. 27, Mums and Mugs, sponsored by Chase the Submarine; and, Oct. 25, Shop Local - Shop Vienna, sponsored by the Town of Vienna. The “Afternoons” run from 1 to 5 p.m.
For more information on Afternoons on Church Street, contact the Parks and Recreation Department at 703-255-6360 or visit www.viennava.gov.