For children at Oktoberfest, the kids’ activities are the highlight. For grown-ups, it’s food, beer and music… and watching children have fun. Photo by Donna Manz.
Fall is the festive season in Vienna. There are the traditional annual events—from the Halloween parade to the Church Street Holiday Stroll and everything in-between—to new multi-generational activities. Local holiday craft fairs and bazaars are big, as are elementary school book fairs, a great place to buy holiday gifts for children that not only make them happy, but, support the schools as well. One of the nicest parts about school book fairs is that anybody can visit and buy.
The Vienna Choral Society performs in concert in early fall and then again during December, and the Vienna Theatre Company appears in the first of the new season’s theatrical productions.
The Town of Vienna newsletter comes out monthly and highlights events sponsored by the town and by other organizations, including civic associations and clubs. Go to http://www.viennava.gov/Archive.aspx?AMID=43&Type=Recent to access Town of Vienna newsletters.
FALL FUN BEGINS with the Fifth Annual Oktoberfest—sponsored by the Tysons Regional Chamber of Commerce™—Saturday, Oct. 6; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Town Green and historic Church Street.
The all-day family fair features live entertainment on two stages, a main stage and children’s stage, beer garden, food vendors, live music, children’s activities and a festival marketplace. A German band plays from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
There will be a special ceremony recognizing the Freeman Store’s listing on the National Register of Historic Places during Oktoberfest.
See www.vtrcc.org for more information.
*66th Annual Vienna Halloween Parade begins at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 24, at Branch Street and Maple Avenue. Every year a new theme is presented and this year’s theme is “Celebrating Holidays Around the World.” Santa Claus serves as the grand marshall, bringing Christmas to Vienna early. Marchers are invited to dress in the holiday style of their choice, representing any place in the world.
The Halloween Parade is Vienna’s most eagerly-anticipated annual event. Many of the parents toting their children to the parade once stood along Maple Avenue as children themselves, watching the parade.
*52nd Annual Holiday Bazaar organized by the Vienna Women’s Club will be held on Saturday, Nov. 10, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Vienna Community Center, Cherry Street. Admission is $2.
The club sells hotdogs, chips and canned drinks for lunch and hosts a bake sale. The bazaar also features a used book sale and Aunt Alice's Attic, specializing in knick-knacks.
The fair, the only fundraiser hosted by the Vienna Women’s Club, features approximately 80 vendors selling holiday crafts, jewelry and giftware. The club awards scholarships to high school graduates, as well as funding projects for Vienna’s elementary schools.
*10th Annual Vienna Turkey Trot 10K, 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run will be held on Sunday, Nov. 18; Packet Pickup & Registration is at 7 a.m., 10K race start time and 5K race start time is at 8:15 a.m. The 1-Mile Fun Run starts at 9:15 a.m. Race begins and ends at the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department, 400 Center Street S, Vienna.
Proceeds from registration benefit James Madison High School Marching Band and the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department. Fees to enter each event.
This event draws runners from throughout the area, as well as elected officials.
To register or for more information, visit www.viennaturkeytrot.com.
*The Vienna Theatre Company will present “See How They Run” Oct. 19, 20, 26, 27, Nov. 2 and 3 at 8 p.m. and Sundays, Oct. 28 and Nov. 4 at 2 p.m. Tickets go on sale this week at the Vienna Community Center.
Performances are at the Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry St. SE, Vienna.
Ticket prices for this production are $13 general admission and $11 for seniors aged 65 and over and students.
To learn more about the production or to buy tickets, go to www.viennatheatrecompany.org/index.php.
*Northern Virginia Handcrafters Guild Art & Craft Showcase will be held Friday, Nov. 25, and Saturday, Nov. 26, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, Nov. 27,11 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry Street, SE
This annual Thanksgiving weekend arts and crafts showcase simply screams “holiday.” The 30th Annual NVHG Art & Craft Showcase features more than 80 juried artisans offering
original handmade arts and crafts, including decorative painting, fused glass, stained glass, ceramics, pottery, hand-painted silk, etched glass, woodworking, handweaving, photography, pencil sketching, wearables, jewelry, etc.
Admission $3. For additional information, email: viennashow@nvhg.org
*Historic Church Street Holiday Stroll is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 26, 6 p.m. The annual Holiday Stroll on historic Church Street is held the Monday evening after Thanksgiving.
Santa Claus arrives atop a screaming antique fire engine and helps Mayor M. Jane Seeman light the town holiday tree. Santa Claus moves to the Freeman House—the heart of the celebration—and listens to their Christmas lists from the front porch. There’s a popular petting zoo and the caboose, decorated by the Ayr Hill Garden Club, and open to the public. You can roast marshmallows on sticks over open fires and stroll among the shops open.
Church Street is closed to vehicular traffic for the evening between Lawyers Road and Mill Street.