The Herndon Festival is Here! Full Schedule, Ticket Information

It's the weekend everyone in Herndon waits for, eagerly, each year.

The Herndon Festival is back!

The 33rd annual event kicks off this Thursday night at 6 p.m., and will last all weekend long, through Sunday at 6 p.m., to the sheer delight of everyone in town (as well as many people from nearby towns as well).

This town-wide event regularly attracts more than 80,000 people from the greater D.C. Metro area., not only for the great events it features, but because it boasts free admission, as well.

Town organizers say, there is a large array of activities to keep festival patrons entertained in store this year. Featured events include live entertainment on three stages, international foods, carnival rides and games, children's entertainment, free hands-on art activities for the kids, a business exposition, both a 10k and 5k race, a Fitness expo, a model railway exhibit, an arts and crafts show, and much, much more.

Want to keep up with all the festival activities, so you don't miss a beat? This year, the Town will be rolling out a Herndon Festival mobile phone app just in time for the event's kick-off, as well. In the meantime, though, you can still follow the Herndon Festival on Facebook and Twitter.

Here is a preview of some of the features of this year's festival, and the schedule:

 

• FESTIVAL DAYS/HOURS: Thursday, May 30: 6-10 p.m. Friday, May 31: 5-11 p.m. Saturday, June 1: 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday, June 2: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

• No pets other than service animals can attend the festival.

• No alcohol can be brought to the festival. 

• Festival-goers can bring lawn chairs and blankets if they wish for watching concerts/entertainment.

• No smoking is allowed on festival grounds.

 

• CARNIVAL RIDES & GAMES, TICKET PRICES: There will be over a dozen rides and games at this year's carnival! To enter the carnival area, a person must have purchased a minimum of $5 worth of ride tickets. By exception, parents do not need to purchase tickets for themselves if they are accompanying a child and have bought a minimum of $5 worth of tickets for that child. PRICES: Single tickets: $1. Book of 30: $25. Book of 50: $40. All-you-can-ride wristband offered for Thursday, 6-10 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. for $16 per day. 

• LIVE MUSIC: This year's festival features three stages. The Municipal Center Stage features headline performers during the evening hours. The Cafe Stage features local and regional singer/songwriters. Organizers say, these are tried and true favorites as well as first-timers to the festival. This year, the Cafe Stage will be highlighting more duos, trios, and quartets providing the Cafe area with a variety of different artists. The Depot Stage features headline performers of regional and national acclaim during the evening hours. Saturday afternoon, festival-goers can enjoy a variety of up-and-coming rising stars, and Sunday, enjoy past cafe performers in the festival's "Amped-Up" program. The Kids' Alley has children's and family-friendly performers. Visit the entertainment schedule for more information on this year's performers.

• FIREWORKS DISPLAYS: Thursday and Saturday at 9:30 p.m.

• FINE ARTS BOOTHS: For the 13th year, the Herndon Festival will again offer a wide array of artists' booths, selling a variety of original, hand-crafted creations. Click here for more information.

• HANDS-ON ARTS & CRAFTS ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS: The Council for the Arts of Herndon produces the Children's Hands-On-Art Area at the Herndon Festival on Saturday and Sunday. The Children's Hands-On Art Area will again be located in the Kid's Alley at Station and Lynn Streets. Make a caterpillar or kite, create and decorate your own musical instruments, plant a fabric garden and more. Kids can get creative with the help of featured crafters and try brass rubbings or linoleum block prints. Skilled artisans such as Chinese calligraphers will be on-site to create their work in front of your eyes! Enjoy over a dozen unique and fun crafts for children.

• BUSINESS EXPO: The Herndon Festival Business Expo is held during the day on Saturday and Sunday of the festival, along Pine Street.  Visit over 50 diverse business vendors and take advantage of the opportunity to have one-on-one conversations with representatives from a variety of businesses including home improvement, health and wellness, animal care, education, insurance, and much more. The expo also features special give-aways and door prizes. 

• SUNDAY 10K AND 5K RACES - ONLINE REGISTRATION ENDS THURSDAY! Register to run in the festival's two races this year, or register in person at the race on Sunday. Both races begin and end at the Herndon Community Center. Both of the races will be run on certified courses throughout the Town of Herndon on paved roads. USATF rules prohibit strollers, baby joggers, pets, in-line skates and headphones on the course. Water stops will be available throughout the course.  Participants should be able to complete the 10k race in 90 minutes and the 5k race in 45 minutes. A t-shirt will be given to the first 800 preregistered participants. Following the race, participants can enjoy refreshments, door prizes, music, and an award ceremony. Breakfast breads and muffins complements of Great Harvest Bread company.  In addition, runners will have the opportunity to visit vendors in our Fitness Expo and pick up some special offers. Awards will be given to the top two finishers in several categories. For more information or to pre-register, click here.

• MODEL RAILWAY EXHIBIT: Festival organizers say, the Washington, Virginia, & Maryland Garden Railway Society creates an amazing garden train display interwoven around colorful flowers and landscaping. Stop by and visit the display located next to the Depot Stage. The display runs on Saturday and Sunday. To learn more about this organization, visit http://www.wvmgrs.org/.

• INTERNATIONAL FOOD VENDORS: Festival organizers say, festival-goers can expect "freshly popped popcorn, funnel cake, cinnamon roasted almonds, pizza, burgers, sausages, and more. From Cajun to Asian and everything in between, you will find it all at the 2013 Festival. Thirsty?  You can wash all them good eats down with a one-of-a-kind Wild Bill's root beer served up in a collectable festival mug - a Festival favorite every year.  Or, stroll through the Kid's Alley to enjoy a refreshing frozen beverage from Moose Joose.  If you want something a bit more grown-up you will find beer vendors serving up Budweiser and Bud Light at various locations throughout the festival. You can also visit all of your favorites from last year, like John the Greek and Tarin Thai, and try some new additions like the mouthwatering rotisserie-style chicken of Guapo's of Herndon.

 

FESTIVAL MAP:

 See the map of the festival grounds and layout, in the photos section of this article.

 

MORE INFORMATION ON THE HERNDON FESTIVAL:

Visit www.herndonfestival.net for more information on everything festival-related.

 

TELL US - Are you planning on going to the Herndon Festival this year? What are your favorite aspects of this annual event? Tell us in the comments below.

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