The Taste of Annandale is this Saturday – here’s what you need to know
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| The Taste of Annandale layout. |
After months of planning, the fifth annual Taste of Annandale is right around the corner. It’s a community festival Saturday, Oct. 5, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., on Tom Davis Drive. (That’s the street by the post office between John Marr Drive and Columbia Pike.)
We’re having live entertainment, lots of food options, a beer garden, pet contest, 5K race, children’s activities, and much more.
There will be plenty of parking at the Kmart parking lot at 4251 John Marr Drive, at the
United Baptist Church at 7100 Columbia Pike, and Annandale United Methodist Church, 6935 Columbia Pike.
Here’s what’s happening at the Taste of Annandale:
There will be a variety of restaurants, food trucks, and other food vendors offering a diverse selection of dining options – from Vietnam, Korea, India, China, Peru, Thailand, the Middle East, and more. You’ll also find American favorites like burgers, lobster rolls, hotdogs, and tots.
Save some of your appetite for the chili cook-off, pitting the Mason District Police Station against the Annandale Volunteer Fire Department. Festival-goers can try both types of chili and vote for their favorites. The winner will take home a massive trophy.
The beer garden features two micro-breweries: Audacious Aleworks Brewery & Taproom of Falls Church and Settle Down Easy Brewing Co.
The 5K Race starts at 9:30 a.m. in the Kmart parking lot. Register online or on site starting at 8:30 a.m. Runners can pick up their packets Friday, Oct. 4, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at PR Performance Fitness, 4111 John Marr Drive. The first 125 registrants will get T-shirts.
The entertainment on the Taste of Annandale stage will include a diverse mix of music and dance from a variety of cultures all day long.
The Monarca in Flight studio will present an aerial dance performance at noon. The entertainment lineup also includes a mariachi band, a Peruvian dance group, traditional Chinese music, a rock band, Korean dancers, the Annandale High School orchestra, and more.
The best-dressed pet contest, sponsored by Chico’s Natural Pet Market, will happen on stage at about 1:35 p.m. Register online and learn how you can select a free pet outfit from Chico’s. The top three winners selected by a panel of judges and the audience favorite will have a chance to compete to become Chico’s Next Pet Model.
The team of judges includes animal communicators Amy Martin and Diane Roadcap, Del. Kaye Kory, and Willie, the K9 candidate for mayor of Annan-tail and his campaign manager, Giovanna.
ACCA Child Development Center (CDC) is hosting a full day of children’s activities during the Taste of Annandale.
There will be shows presented by the Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts, play time with giant Imagination Playground blocks, music, free vision and other health screenings, child IDs, face painting, book-making and other crafts, book giveaways, pumpkin patch photos, and costumed characters.
The Medical Care for Children Partnership is bringing its dental van and will provide free dental exams and teeth cleaning for children.
There will be a public safety display in the Annandale Fire Department parking lot on Columbia Pike.
The police helicopter is expected to touch down on the field behind the fire station at about 12:30 p.m. A K9 demonstration is planned for about 11:30 a.m.
The Fairfax County Communities of Trust Committee is bringing cruisers and special vehicles from the Fairfax County and state police departments for kids to explore. There will also be displays from the FBI, American Red Cross, and Fire Department. The FCPD mobile police recruiting van will be there, too.
The Annandale Pop-Up Park is hosting Community Day in the CDC parking lot, with family games and activities, along with displays by county agencies and community groups, including the animal shelter, library, NOVA Labs, Transportation Department, and Park Authority.
The Taste of Annandale will also have a free photo booth, vendors, elected leaders and candidates, and lots of information from local businesses and community organizations.
The Title Sponsors of the Taste of Annandale are Lambros Goldsmith and the Vistas of Annandale. The event is completely sold out; the organizers were not able to accommodate everyone who wanted to participate. If you want to be a sponsor or vendor in the 2020 Taste of Annandale, get your forms in early.
The Taste of Annandale is all about bringing the community together and shining a spotlight on the businesses and organizations that make their home here. The event is organized by the all-volunteer Annandale Roundtable. All proceeds from the Taste of Annandale will benefit projects by and for Annandale youths.
