A race and a music festival will close roads in two Arlington neighborhoods this weekend.
Parts of two roadways in Pentagon City will be closed Saturday, June 15 for the ZERO Prostate Cancer 5k Run/Walk, which begins at 7:45 a.m.
The course will close portions of roads starting at 6 a.m. From the Arlington County Police Department:
From approximately 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
- S. Joyce Street, between 15th Street S. and Army Navy Drive
From approximately 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
- Army Navy Drive, between S. Joyce Street and 25th Street S.
On the same day, the 2024 Columbia Pike Blues Festival will close portions of the following roadways — near the intersection of S. Walter Reed Drive and Columbia Pike — from 7 a.m. until 10:30 p.m.
- S. Walter Reed Drive, from 9th Street S. to Columbia Pike
- Southbound Walter Reed Drive, from 7th Street S. to 9th Street S. – local traffic only and handicapped drop off for the event.
- 9th Street S., from S. Highland Street to S. Walter Reed Drive
- 9th Road S., from S. Garfield Street to S. Walter Reed Drive.
More than 50 vendors will be offering a variety of food, drink and shopping options. At 1 p.m., the first of five musical acts will take the stage.
“Guests are welcome to bring their own chairs,” the festival’s website notes.
The event — held every summer since 1995 and billed as the D.C. area’s largest blues festival — will feature an all-female lineup of artists this year. From our prior coverage:
Taking center stage at the festival is Brooklyn native Bette Smith, a soul artist whose musical journey traces back to the gospel tunes she sang in church, infusing her soulful sound with spiritual roots.
In addition to being inducted into the New York Blues Hall of Fame in 2012, Smith — otherwise known as Sharon Meriel Kathleen Smith — has worked with several famous blues, jazz, rock and country musicians, including Jimbo Mathus, Kirk Fletcher, Luther Dickinson and Patterson Hood.
Smith is also gearing up to release her third album, “Goodthing,” next month with with Grammy-winning UK producer Jimmy Hogarth just a few weeks before the festival kicks off.
Blues artists Eden Brent, Mama Moon & The Rump Shakers, The Stacey Brooks Band and The Honeylarks are also set to perform.
