Celebrate community at the Taste of Annandale

The 2017 Taste of Annandale drew a large crowd.

Ready for some fun? The fourth annual Taste of Annandale is Oct. 13, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., along Tom Davis Drive in the heart of Annandale, Va.

This family-friendly and pet-friendly event features live music and dance, a 5K race, a beer garden, best-dressed pet contest, a chili cook-off, a full-program of children’s entertainment – and of course, plenty of food reflecting the diverse cultures of the community.

There is no charge to attend.

Here are some highlights: 

• For the first time, the Taste of Annandale is having beer sales. Audacious Aleworks Brewery & Taproom of Falls Church will be selling some of its most popular craft beers. 

• The certified 5K Race will start at 9:30 a.m. at the Kmart parking lot, at 4251 John Marr Drive. Runners can register online. The course heads along Columbia Pike and through Mason District Park. 

Runners get a good start at the 2017 Taste of Annandale 5K.

• There will be a full day of continuous children’s programming (puppet shows, costumed characters, live music, crafts, health screenings, and more) hosted by the Annandale Christian Community for Action’s Child Development Center.

• The pet contest, hosted by Chico’s Natural Pet Market, will feature the best-dressed pets of Annandale and beyond. The judges will select the pet with the best Halloween costume, the most creatively dressed pet, and the best duo or group. It’s not just for dogs; any pet can participate. The winners will take home prizes from Chico’s.

The Paw Patrol will be back at the 2018 Taste of Annandale.

• The entertainment the lineup includes the Blue Book Value Band, Capoeira Candeias (a sport/dance performance from Brazil), Shannon Dunne (Irish dance), Helen Yamada and Family (traditional dance from Okinawa), Jake Sizemore (singer), Kofi Dennis & Friends (Djembe drumming), NOVA Wushu Academy (martial arts), the Fairfax Chinese Dance Troupe, the 7 Step Hand Dance Academy, and a Chinese fashion show.

• When it comes to food at the Taste of Annandale, festival-goers will have a choice of food options from Peru, Vietnam, China, the Middle East, Latin America, and American BBQ. 

• There will also be a law enforcement display with the police helicopter sponsored by Communities of Trust, photo booth, vendors, a pop-up park sponsored by the Fairfax County Office of Community Revitalization, and remarks by local elected leaders. 

The traditional Chinese fashion show will be back against this year.

The Taste of Annandale couldn’t happen without the generous support of our sponsors. The  Gold-level sponsors include: ACCA Child Development Center, Annandale Blog, Annandale Rotary Club, Annandale United Methodist Church, Audacious Aleworks, the Center for Dentofacial Aesthetics, Chico’s Natural Pet Market, The Couts Group/Coldwell Banker, Heartland Home Foods, Herl’s Bath & Tile Solutions, the Korean American Chamber of Commerce, and Landmark HHH Inc., and Won Trading.

The Taste of Annandale was organized by a volunteer group of local stakeholders with the goal of encouraging community engagement, celebrating Annandale’s diversity, and shining a spotlight on local businesses and organizations.