<bt>The 14th annual Centreville Day Festival will be held again this year in the Centreville Historic District in the heart of Centreville. (Near Route 28, Route 29 and I-66.) This is a communitywide celebration representing the past, present and future of Centreville.
The event kicks off on Friday, Sept. 16, at 6:30 p.m. at St. John's Episcopal Church, with a period dinner followed by a presentation about Centreville's history, "Tales From the Blanket," starring Supervisor Michael R. Frey (R-Sully) as John Mosby. Tickets for the dinner and show are $12.50 and may be reserved by calling Sue Davis at 571-213-7298.
The majority of the festivities, though, will be all day Saturday, Sept. 17, beginning with the annual parade at 10 a.m. It starts at Centreville High and winds its way along Union Mill and Braddock roads, ending at the Old Centreville Crossing Shopping Center.
Parade participants include: The Centreville Regional Art Guild, SYA Little League Baseball, Centreville High Marching Band, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Centreville Regional Library, Old Dominion Historical Fire Society, Fairfax County Sheriff's Office, Sully District Democrats and Republicans, county Board of Supervisors Chairman Gerry Connolly (D), Daughters of the American Revolution and the Knights of Columbus.
Also taking part will be: both Centreville Fire Stations 17 and 38, Cultural Care Au Pair, Centreville United Methodist Church, Centreville Presbyterian Church, Baha'is of Centreville and Virginians for Jerry Kilgore (Republican candidate for governor). The parade is being organized and coordinated by Centreville's American Legion Post 1995.
As always, children with decorated bicycles, wagons, scooters or other wheels are welcome to participate. Just show up by 9 a.m. on parade day. For more information, call Bob Hartman at 703-830 2134 or e-mail him at blkbrbob@aol.com.
Afterward, events in the Historic District begin with a 9/11 Memorial Service sponsored by the Centreville Volunteer Fire Department (Station 17), followed by opening ceremonies.
Frey will present the Centreville Citizen of the Year award and the awards for the annual Children's Art Contest, sponsored by the Centreville Community Foundation, the Centreville Regional Library and the Centreville Regional Art Guild. Some 43 elementary school students participated in the contest this year, and their efforts are on display at the library.
ENTERTAINMENT WILL BE provided by local musical talent, Civil War re-enactors, first-person interpreters at the various historical sites, Civil War displays and memorabilia from Centreville throughout the years, local authors, a rock climbing wall and the Children's Fun Zone.
Feast at the "Taste of Centreville" food court and vote for the favorite restaurant. Lining the streets will be more than 100 crafters, businesses and nonprofit organizations, sharing their wares and information.
Remote parking, with shuttle service to the Historic District, will be at Centreville High, Trinity Centre, the bowling alley on Route 29 and the Centreville Regional Library. Handicap parking will be on site.
This year's sponsors are: Platinum Sponsor, Carteret Mortgage; Silver Sponsors, Odyssey Travel and Navy Federal Credit Union; Bronze Sponsors, Stanley Martin Companies and MC Orthodontics, Business Sponsor, Bryan Hunt, CPA; Friends of Centreville Sponsors, Del. Tim Hugo (R-40th) and the Herndon-Dulles Chamber of Commerce. Also providing assistance are the Fairfax County Police Department, Centreville Volunteer Fire Department and the county Sheriff's Office.
For more information about Centreville Day and how to take part as a visitor, parade participant, sponsor, vendor or restaurant in the "Taste of Centreville" contest, or to nominate a local citizen for "Citizen of the Year," go to www.centrevilleday.com or call the event coordinator, Sue Davis, at 571-213-7298.