Selling cotton candy at last year’s Clifton Day are Dariece Rau, assistant leader of Clifton’s Cub Scout Pack 1861, with (back row, from left) Nick Richmond, Gannon Rau and Sean Cunningham and (front row, from left) Thomas Mikolashek and John Biamonte. Photo by Bonnie Hobbs.
Below is a partial listing of some autumn events happening in the local area:
Oct. 12—The Fairfax Fall Festival, held throughout the streets of downtown Fairfax, will be held Saturday, Oct. 12, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. There’ll be crafts galore, plus food, music and fun for children.
Oct. 12—Encore Theatrical Arts Project will be among 12 dance companies performing in the fourth annual Fairfax County Dance Coalition Gala Showcase. “A Celebration of Dance” is slated for Saturday, Oct. 12, at 7:30 p.m., in the theater of NOVA’s Annandale campus. Ballet, jazz, tap, modern, hip hop and international dances will be presented. Tickets are $22 in advance at www.fairfaxcountydance.org/gala.htm or $25 at the door. The audience is invited to the reception after the show.
Oct. 13—The 46th annual Clifton Day festival is Sunday, Oct. 13, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (Rain date, Oct. 20). The family-friendly fun includes crafts, food, antiques, jugglers, bagpipe players, unicyclists, music, pony rides, civil war reenactments and children’s activities. For VRE train schedule plus parking information, go to www.cliftonday.com.
Oct. 18, 19, 20—The Craftsmen’s Classic Arts & Crafts Festival will be held, Friday-Sunday, Oct. 18-20, at the Dulles Expo Center. Friday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. For more information, see www.craftshow.com.
Oct. 26—The Clifton Haunted Trail is slated for Saturday, Oct. 26, from 7-10 p.m., in the Town of Clifton’s Eight-Acre Park. Sturdy shoes are recommended; snacks and beverages are available. (Not recommended for young children). For cost and other information, see www.cliftonhauntedtrail.com.
Nov. 8-10—The Northern Virginia Christmas Market craft show returns to the Dulles Expo Center, Friday-Sunday, Nov. 8-10. Hours are Friday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Nov. 14-16—Robinson Secondary’s theater students present “Little Shop of Horrors,” Thursday-Saturday, Nov. 14-16, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door. See www.RobinsonDrama.org.
Dec. 7—The annual Clifton Christmas Parade on Horseback, Christmas-tree lighting ceremony and homes tour are set for Saturday, Dec. 7. The parade begins at 2 p.m.
Dec. 13-15 and Dec. 20-22—Encore Theatrical Arts Project’s song-and-dance extravaganza, “Switching Christmas,” takes the stage at NOVA’s Annandale campus. Performances are Dec. 13-15 and Dec. 20-22. Tickets are $18, students and senior citizens; and $22, adults, for this colorful, family-friendly show and may be purchased at http://www.encore-tap.org/.
Dec. 13-15—The Sugarloaf Crafts Festival is set for Friday-Sunday, Dec. 13-15, at the Dulles Expo Center. Hours are Friday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.