Springfield Days Kicks Off Saturday

Get ready for a weekend of family fun and games: Springfield Days is coming up Saturday, June 1 through Sunday, June 2.

The annual festival is always the weekend following Memorial Day and takes place in and around the Springfield area.

"It's a celebration of community," said Nancy-jo Manney, executive director of the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce. "Every community needs to have an event like this to celebrate its diversity, celebrate its oneness and remind each other that this is a really great place to live."

View photos from Springfield Days 2012 on Patch

According to Manney, the festival has been around for more than 25 years and is a collaborative, community effort between Springfield area businesses, local officials and volunteers.

"There is really something for everyone at Springfield Days," said Manney.

Back in the late 1950s, an annual Springfield celebration was held on the Fourth of July on the property that is now Springfield Plaza at Old Keene Mill Road and Commerce Street in Central Springfield.

That celebration evolved into the festival that is now Springfield Days.

This year, Springfield Days kicks off at 8 a.m. with the Springfield 15K/5K Race where thousands of runners from Fairfax County will hit the pavement, starting at Loisdale Road near the soon-to-be Springfield Town Center.

Interested participants must be registered by Friday, May 31 to run as there is no race-day registration. Online registration for the race is now closed, but in-person registration is Thursday, May 30 and Friday, May 31 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Metro Run & Walk, located at 7261 Commerce St., in Springfield.

The remainder of Saturday will feature various free activities at the Party in the Park at South Run REC Center.

There wil be live music from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., PetFest from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. which will have games and more for pet owners and their pets, wagon rides and nature walks from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and the night ends with and outdoor movie.

View the full Saturday schedule here.

Sunday is the Cardboard Boat Regatta at Lake Accotink Park. Admission to the regatta is free, but there is a $4 parking fee per car. Boat drop-off is at 10 a.m. and the regatta will begin at 2 p.m.

Early-bird race registration for the race closes Friday, May 31. The Registration fee is $20 per boat if received by noon May 31 and $30 per boat if payment is received after noon on May 31.

To learn more about Springfield Days, visit www.springfielddays.com.