Opening Reception
Opening Reception is the celebratory kickoff for the 55th Annual Labor Day Art Show at Glen Echo Park. Held in the Spanish Ballroom on Friday, September 4, 2026, from 7:00 to 9:00 PM, the reception gives visitors an early look at the exhibition before the main show opens to the public. The event is presented by the Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts and Culture and includes refreshments served in the adjacent Bumper Car Pavilion.
The reception offers a preview of one of the largest art shows in the Washington, D.C. area, featuring work from more than 400 artists across the mid-Atlantic region. Attendees can expect to see a broad range of mediums, including sculpture, painting and drawing, ceramics, glass, jewelry, fiber arts, photography, furniture, and works on paper. RSVPs are preferred but not required for entry.
When: Friday, September 4, 2026, from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
Venue: Spanish Ballroom at Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo, MD 20812.
Admission: Free. RSVP is preferred but not required.
RSVP: Online RSVP is available through the event page, though walk-ups are not turned away.
Refreshments: Served in the Bumper Car Pavilion during the reception.
Run time: Two hours.
About the show: The 55th Annual Labor Day Art Show runs September 5–7, 2026, from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM daily, also at the Spanish Ballroom. The exhibition includes sculpture, painting and drawing, ceramics, glass, jewelry, fiber arts, photography, furniture, and works on paper.
Ages: No age restriction is listed.
Note: The Spanish Ballroom is not air-conditioned, though large fans will run throughout the day. A suggested donation of $10 supports the park’s free festivals, concerts, and historic building preservation.
Awards: Cash prizes of $250 each will be awarded for top works in the 2D and 3D categories, and the Park View Artist Award 2026 offers the winner a solo exhibition in the Park View Gallery in 2027. Gift certificates to BLICK Art Materials will also be awarded. The 2026 awards judge is Edith Graves, founder of Edith Graves, Art Advisor, LLC.