Signs and fencing are already going up around town to prepare for the 25th annual Herndon Festival, scheduled to run Thursday, June 2 to Sunday, June 5.
The event, which takes over the downtown municipal center complex area, will showcase everything from carnival rides and fair food to games and children's art tables, among other things.
Abby Kimble with the Town of Herndon said parents with school-aged children should also note that the festival is open Friday, June 3 at 4 p.m., for children to explore after school.
In addition to offering rides and games for children of all ages to win prizes, the festival will also run two stages of live entertainment.
Scheduled to kick off the event, "BeauSoleil Avec Michael Doucet" will use their Cajun sounds of Louisiana to bring the excitement to the center of town.
In addition, the Depot Stage, near the Herndon Depot Museum, will recognize the 25th anniversary of the festival through various artists.
Playing off a "flashback" theme, festival visitors will be able to hear former festival artists, and nationally known, Country Gentlemen, who will perform their songs influenced by country, jazz, rock, folk and blues.
Thursday evening is scheduled to conclude with a fireworks display sponsored by the Herndon Dulles Chamber of Commerce.
FRIDAY, JUNE 3 will hold a TGIF celebration theme featuring the usual festival highlights in addition to featuring a local group and a nationally-known recording artist.
The locally-known Brindley Brothers are scheduled to play a blend of original rock on the Municipal Center Stage starting at 6 p.m.
Following them will be Ari Hest, performing songs from his album “Someone To Tell.”
On the Depot Stage, Bio Ritmo is scheduled to perform at 7:30 p.m. playing classic salsa.
Carnival rides and festival food will continue into the evening.
The weekend will offer the same rides and feature more than 24 food vendors, but will showcase a business expo and an arts and crafts show with more than 110 vendors.
In addition, children will be able to make their own art at the Council for the Arts of Herndon's Children’s Hands-On Art station.
There will also be a range of entertainment, featuring everything from acoustic, oldies and top 40s to entertainment specifically for children.
For those who want to bring their dogs to the festivities, a K9 2K Walk and Doggie Expo is scheduled for 10 a.m., Saturday, June 4, at the Herndon Community Center.
Additional Saturday afternoon activities will feature "Rising Stars," which is a showcase of local and regional talent that is touring the East Coast.
At 2 p.m., "Getaway Car," "Kenin" and "Cecilia" will take the Municipal Center Stage to perform, while the Depot Stage will host daytime entertainment including a magic show.
The Cafe Stage, the third stage of the event, will also feature acoustic music ranging from folk to blues.
Saturday evening will be filled with entertainment from two tribute bands, scheduled to pay homage to two different eras.
"TNT: A Tribute to the Tops and the Temptations" will play the Depot Stage, while the Municipal Center Stage will host "2U" a tribute to the band U2.
Saturday evening will conclude with a fireworks display choreographed to music.
THE FINAL DAY of the festival will include a 7:30 a.m. 5K/10K run starting from the Herndon Community Center.
After runners have showered and rested, they are encouraged to return to the Sunday afternoon events where Herndon High School's Jazz Band is scheduled to kick off the final entertainment at the Municipal Center Stage.
Immediately following, singer/songwriter Deni Bonet will play a combination of alternative-pop music on her electric violin.
To help wrap-up the four-day event, and to flashback on 25 years of the festival, "Eddie From Ohio," a contemporary folk group, is scheduled to take the stage.
Free shuttle bus service is scheduled to run to provide transportation to and from the festival site and two parking locations — the Worldgate parking garage on Worldgate Drive and Herndon High School on Dranesville Road.
Buses will depart every 10 minutes from each location for easy access to the downtown area. The shuttle bus is scheduled to operate from 6 to 10:30 p.m. Thursday, June 2; from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. Friday, June 3; from 9:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, June 4; and from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sunday, June 5.
The Herndon Festival is free and open to the public, although there is a charge for some of the activities.
The festival is produced by the Town of Herndon Parks & Recreation Department with assistance from area civic organizations and businesses.