What better way to kick off autumn than with family-friendly festivals.
Although there are dozens of festivals, from those centered around our favorite Chesapeake Bay bivalve to traditional Oktoberfest celebrations in Rivah country—here we focus on a festival in each of the four Northern Neck counties.
In Lancaster County
Kilmarnock Fall Festival
Saturday, October 10-Sunday, October 11|
9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Town Centre Park
150 North Main Street, Kilmarnock
Kilmarnock will host its 4th annual Fall Festival with hopes that the weather will cooperate to make the celebration a full two days of fun.
The festival, although scheduled for two days, was limited to one day last year because of rain.
“Hopefully this year we’ll actually be able to have it two days. We’re hoping for good weather,” said the town’s community development coordinator Emilie Webster. “But last year, the one day was very packed. We had about 1500 attendees.”
The festival is held at Town Centre Park, where about 50 craft vendors will be set up along with a kid zone with face painting, inflatables, bumper cars and a petting zoo, which was very popular last year, said Webster.
The Half Shell Stage will be active with the addition of the town’s annual Classie Memorial Dog Show, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday. The dog show will feature fun categories and doggie demonstrations and participants enter at the show. No pre-registration is required.
“We’re excited about this being a part of the festival this year,” said Webster. Everyone is invited to bring their furry friend to participate in contests like the best kisser, best lap dog, best tail wagger and prettiest eyes.
Hula dancers will take the stage following the dog show at 1 p.m. and Ja’Nae Washington will teach line dancing from 2-3 p.m.
There also will be music on the stage from 2-4 p.m. on Sunday.
New this year is a chili cook-off from 1-2 p.m. on Sunday. Applications are available at the Kilmarnock Town Hall, 1 North Main Street, Kilmarnock, or on-site the day of the event. Participants are asked to fill one crockpot with their best chili for tasting.
“And when it’s out, it’s out,” said Webster.
Food trucks also will be on-site both days.
Another addition is a photo-op with an antique horse-drawn carriage on display courtesy of the Kilmarnock Museum. The Rappahannock River Railroaders from Deltaville will bring a model railroad display.
Event highlights
Saturday and Sunday
10 a.m.-4 p.m.: Art and crafts vendors, kid zone, food trucks
Saturday
10 a.m.-1 p.m.: Classie Memorial Dog Show
1 p.m.: Hula dancers
3 p.m.: Line dancing instruction
Sunday
2-4 p.m.: Music
In Richmond County
Warsaw Fest
Saturday, October 10
9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Warsaw Town Park
171 Main Street, Warsaw
Formerly known as Warsaw Days, the name of the fall celebration in Richmond County changed to Warsaw Fest sometime in the early 1980s, according to Warsaw-Richmond County Chamber of Commerce president Sara Carroll.
Sponsored by the Chamber, Warsaw Fest is a one-day event in the heart of the town along Main Street, with the bulk of the activity at the Warsaw Town Park.
Held each year on the second weekend in October, the festival includes artisan and craftsman vendors, food, music and a parade. The event is only one of a few in the region to still include a traditional “baby and beauty contest” for ages 0 months through 12 years for girls and 0 months through 6 years for boys.
“We’re one of the last ones to still do that,” said Carroll.
The festival is more than simply an event. It’s a tradition for many family and friends, something they attend every year to celebrate the small town, the businesses there and the local artisans. It’s also the main fundraiser for the Chamber.
“We probably raise between $5,000 and $10,000 that goes back into local businesses like our Christmas in July grant, which is a grant to help them improve their business or organization,” said Carroll. “We also give to nonprofit members every year. And it helps us host after hours for our members. And now we’ve started a speaker series.”
Along with a kid zone and a vendor market area with some 50 artisans and crafters, the festival offers a car and truck show, music throughout the day, a food court with five food vendors and a 2 p.m. parade. Of course, restaurants in town also will be open and serving.
“Registration for the parade is free so we would love for anyone to come and join us. We have pre-registration but you can just register on site,” said Carroll.”You need to be in line and ready to go before 1:30 p.m. but we start lining up at 11:30 p.m.”
The parade usually includes between 30 and 40 units, she added. It will begin at St. John’s Street and travel to Hamilton Boulevard along Main Street to Belle Ville Lane.
The car and truck show participants are urged to enter the parade. The Rappahannock High School “homecoming is that same weekend, so we anticipate the homecoming court will be a part of the parade,” said Carroll.
Festival visitors are asked to park at Rappahannock Community College, 52 Campus Drive, Warsaw, where a shuttle provided by Richmond County Public Schools will bring them to Main Street.
Additionally, the festival will include a Virginia Heart Walk organized by VCU Health Systems to raise money for the American Heart Association. The walk will also start in the Warsaw Town Park.
And remember Main Street, from St. John’s Street to Ridgeway Road, will be closed from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. with detours in place.
Event highlights
8:30-11:30 a.m.: Virginia Heart Walk
9:30 a.m.: opening ceremonies, vendor market and kid zone open
9:30-11:30 a.m. on the main stage, baby and beauty pageants begin
10 a.m.: Car and truck show judging
2 p.m.: Parade
Throughout the day: food vendors, music, vendor market
In Westmoreland County
Montross Fall Festival
Thursday, October 1-Saturday, October 3
Montross Courthouse area
“Fall Festival [in Montross] is like homecoming. A lot of people will come back and see all the people they haven’t seen for a year. It’s special and that means a lot,” said festival co-chairman Barbara Jean Jones. She and Alan Hickman have spearheaded the event for the past three years.
The Montross Fall Festival is more than a day-long celebration, according to Jones, who said events begin from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, October 1, when C&F Bank in Montross sponsors a free admission family skate night at Stan’s Skateland, 17408 Kings Highway, Montross.
“There’s always a big turn out for that,” said Jones. “It’s very popular.”
On Friday, October 2, the Westmoreland County TRIAD will sponsor a community lunch fundraiser with hot dogs, chips and a drink at the lot adjacent to the C&F Bank, 15960 Kings Highway, Montross.
The fun will kick up a notch on Saturday, October 3, when the actual festival begins at 9 a.m. in the Courthouse Square with opening ceremonies, an address from the mayor, flag raising by a scout troop and the national anthem. Artisan vendors also open at 9 a.m.
“We have quite an assortment of vendors this year with food vendors setting up by Northern Neck Brewery and the marketplace at the courthouse,” said Jones.
Entertainment throughout the day will include an appearance by the John Grigsby and County Line Band from 1-3 p.m. on the Courthouse Square. As always, the festival will include a dog costume contest, chalk art contest, a classic car show by the Northern Neck Region Antique Auto Club of America, a kid zone at Montross Community Park and an oyster shucking contest. The shucking contest was added several years ago and is “a big draw,” said Jones. “Last year we even had one of the ladies that competes in Urbanna participate.”
The time of the grand feature parade has been pushed back an hour and will begin this year at 3 p.m. It marches from the old Washington & Lee High School through the courthouse area to Lyells Street. The festival and parade theme this year is Celebrating America’s 250th and the parade also will honor Westmoreland business owners.
“We are trying to honor every business in our area, even going out of the town. A lot of these businesses are not part of the town but are part of the community by supporting and donating to the schools and other organizations,” said Jones.
“We’ve asked them all to ride in the parade and we have a local golf club group that is providing golf carts,” she added. “We want people to see current and past business owners and those who have contributed and done so much for our community. It’s just heartwarming to get all of them in one place at one time.”
Parade entrants are urged to pre-register but interested units can just show up that day. However, Jones says, “if you aren’t pre-registered you won’t be judged.” Judging categories will include best fire truck, rescue squad, commercial entry, best decorated car, truck and motorcycles, best appearing car club, school unit and best appearing semi-truck, along with a judge’s award.
“And this year we will be dividing money among the bands that come and march instead of a cash donation to the top band. Every band that participates will receive a cash donation,” said Jones.
Parking is encouraged at Westmoreland High School, where a shuttle bus will run to the courthouse area and make several stops for visitors who don’t want to walk from one spot to another in town.
Although the festival is rain or shine, the committee does monitor the weather, said Jones. A major storm or weather event may change it.
Although Jones isn’t sure how long the festival has been running, she said “when I was a child it was going on so that’s at least 65 years. It’s been a part of the town of Montross for many, many years.”
Event highlights
9 a.m.: Opening ceremonies and vendors open
9 a.m.-noon: Classic car show, C&F Bank
10 a.m.-3 p.m.: Entertainment
Throughout the day: kid zone in Montross Community Park
11 a.m.: Dog Costume Contest
3 p.m.: Parade
In Northumberland County
Fall Festival
Saturday, October 17, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Northern Neck Farm Museum
12705 Northumberland Highway, Heathsville
The Northern Neck Farm Museum is preparing for its annual Fall Festival on Saturday, October 17.
The focus and highlight of the event is the corn maze, which is already complete and ready for visitors, according to museum president Barbara Jean Jones.
The maze even reflects the festival theme, Celebrating America’s 250th, and is in the shape of a flag. Designed by Jones’ daughter, Kate Downing, and cut by Jones’ husband with a zero turn lawnmower, the maze will be a little more challenging than in past years, she said.
“They did a fantastic job. But this corn maze is not one you’re going to go through in five minutes. It should be fun.”
The museum will be open for viewing. There will be children’s activities including the popular shelled corn pit.
“If it’s one thing the children love, it’s to play in the corn,” said Jones.
The sawmill will be operating and there will be tractor rides and pumpkins available.
The museum welcomes antique farm equipment and tractors for display during the event.
“You never know what’s going to be at the museum, what equipment or machines will be there,” said Jones.
Hog dogs, hamburgers, cheeseburgers and chips will be available.
“We try to make it family-friendly and sometimes vendors take away from what the children like to do, so we don’t have vendors,” Jones said.
The maze will be open through October during the farm museum hours, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturdays and 1-4 p.m. on Sundays.
The museum’s Seafood Boil will be held on October 17 as well. Doors will open at 5 p.m., dinner will be served at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $50. To purchase tickets, call 450-2373.
