Mary, 5, and Natasha Solano participate in face painting, one of the activities at the Burke Centre Festival on Saturday, Sept. 6. Photo by Abigail Constantino/The Connection
Organizers of the Burke Centre Festival canceled the Wine Garden at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 6, when thunderstorms rolled in. “We got the announcement from OEM and we lasted till about 7:30,” said Jeannie Winslow, Burke Centre Festival Coordinator. The Wine Garden event was supposed to go until 10 p.m.
Earlier in the day, the sky was blue and clear but it was hot. “I think people are coming but they’re not staying because of the heat,” said Winslow. Attendance was expected at 10,000 to 12,000, based on last year’s estimate but with the heat, it might be lower. But Sunday is supposed to be cooler, she said.
The festival, held at 6060 Burke Centre Parkway, brings factions of the communities together--schools, fire department, residents, and businesses “all for the purpose of having fun,” said Winslow.
Oksana Lazareva and her daughter Sofia, 6, who live in the Burke/Fairfax area came to last year’s festival and are back for the second time. “It’s fun. Lots of things and activities for kids,” she said.
Activities included a pony ride, a rock wall, zombie and face painting, inflatable slides, and many others that were sponsored by businesses and organizations.
Vendor and group tents lined the entrance of the festival. A man dressed as Colonel Silas Burke stopped by the Burke Historical Society’s tent, which displayed a shirt printed with all the names of places in Burke preceded by the word Burke.
There were also demonstrations by the Fairfax Police Department, which showed off a cruiser decorated with safe driving decals and messages, such as no texting and the consequences of driving while using handheld devices.
Law Jost, of the Hidden Pond Nature Center, handled a milk snake to the delight of children. “Most people make a mistake and think it’s a coral snake,” which is poisonous, he said. “Red to black a friend to Jack. Red to yellow kill a fellow.”
“I think it’s a great aspect to the community...there’s tons of activities for the kids to do,” said Natasha Solano, activities coordinator for the Burke Centre Conservancy.