Give the Gift of Art

The Torpedo Factory Art Center will transform into to magical winter woods in December. During Alexandria’s biggest holiday weekend, the Torpedo Factory Artists’ Association invites you to give the gift of art this year with one-of-a-kind works for the one-of-a-kind loved ones in your life.

The Holiday Festival will be a destination for visitors before and after the Holiday Boat Parade of Lights on the Potomac. More than 150 artists from the Torpedo Factory Artists’ Association will keep 80 studios open late to accommodate shoppers who want to buy handmade jewelry, ceramics, photography, paintings, and other original works to give the gift of art this year.

The evening will feature a children’s scavenger hunt, live music, snacks, and a visit from Santa. Several giveaways will occur during the festival, including a raffle and door prizes. Door prizes include gift certificates and coupons from a number of artists, holiday décor items, art books, and smaller art pieces. Raffle prizes include one-of-a-kind art pieces including enamel jewelry, mosaic work, and more.

Schedule of events

• 4:00 – 7 pm: Children’s scavenger hunt across three floors of artists’ studios.
• 4:15 pm: Santa Claus arrives by boat from the Boat Parade of Lights, led to the 3rd floor by Braddock Brass Quintet playing Here Comes Santa Claus.
• 4:30 – 7 pm: Santa is available for visits and photos with visitors of all ages on the 3rd floor landing.
• 4:30 – 5:30 pm: Braddock Brass Quintet performance.
• 5:45 – 6:30 pm; 7 – 7:45 pm: Alexandria Choral Society performances from the second floor balcony.
• 7:00 – 9:00 pm: Mingle with the artists while enjoying in studio snacks and two central wine bars.
• 8:45 pm: Raffle drawing of Torpedo Factory Artists’ work.

Thank you to John Farr Lighting and CSI Printing & Graphics for their services, and to all the participating Torpedo Factory Artists’ Association member artists and galleries for helping make Holiday Festival an exciting, rewarding and productive event!

Shop Small, Shop Local, Support Working Artists

In 2014, Alexandria was estimated to be home to nearly five time the national average for creative business (Americans for the Arts), thanks in large part to the Torpedo Factory Art Center, which features the largest community of working artists’ studios in the U.S. All of the artists in the Torpedo Factory Art Center are also small independent business owners. Not only do they help to shape the distinctive creative personality of Old Town Alexandria, but on average, dollars spent at local businesses return three times more money to the local economy compared to a chain. (Civic Economics)