Colin Hay, Alexandria Symphony Orchestra and Civil War Artillerymen at Fort Ward

Art on the Avenue, Del Ray’s centerpiece annual art festival, runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday along Mount Vernon Avenue. The event includes hundreds of artists lining the Avenue selling their wares as well as bands, kids’ activities, food and the ever-popular pie-baking contest. More information at the Art on the Avenue website.

• Check out our complete Art on the Avenue guide.

Colin Hay, lead singer of Aussie band Men at Work, begins a three-night stand at The Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave.) on Friday, Oct. 4. If you’re not familiar with his solo work, Hay has 11 albums to his credit along with this fine tune. Tickets run $35 and are still available for his Friday and Sunday shows. More information available at the Birchmere website.  

The Rusty Doves, an Americana duo from Central New York, will perform for free at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4 at St. Elmo’s Coffee Pub (2300 Mount Vernon Ave.). Give them a listen.

Trim the family tree. Join genealogist Lisa Stansbury of the Maritime Heritage Program in the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries to discuss research and more. Stansbury recently researched the families of the 16 men lost on the USS Monitor. At the Athenaeum in Alexandria, 201 Prince St., 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4. Free. 703-548-0035.

Powwow with Alexandria City Council members when they hold their fall retreat Friday and Saturday at the T&ES and Recreation Maintenance Operations Facilities located at 2900 Business Center Dr. The public is invited to attend. Session One: Aligning the Work of the Organization, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 4; Session Two: Maximizing the Role of City Council, 8 a.m. to noon Oct. 5.  

Learn about the role and equipment of Civil War artillerymen in the Defenses of Washington Saturday, Oct. 5 when Fort Ward Museum (4301 W. Braddock Rd.) presents Civil War Artillery Day. This free, living history program runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is designed to appeal to Civil War enthusiasts of all ages. The event is weather dependent. For more information, call the museum, 703-746-4848.

Alexandria Symphony Orchestra opens its 70th season at 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5 at Schlesinger Hall. The symphony is offering two complimentary tickets to all furloughed federal workers. The program includes Schoenberg “I Dreamed a Dream” from “Les Miserables” as well as Liszt Piano Concerto No. 2 and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5. Tickets range from $5 to $20. 703-548-0885.

The Jimmy Cole Band hits the Basin Street Lounge at the 219 Restaurant (219 King St.) at 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5.

Janna Audey, who does a great cover of Bob Dylan’s “Mississippi,” will perform for free from 10 a.m. to noon Sunday, Oct. 6, at the Four Mile Run Farmers and Artisans Market (4131 Mount Vernon Ave.). The market is open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.