The Taste of Annandale on Oct. 1: 11 things to know

The sign on Little River Turnpike.

The Taste of Annandale is just two days away – It’s Saturday, Oct. 1, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., on Tom Davis Drive, between Columbia Pike and John Marr Drive in central Annandale. 

Here are 11 things you need to know:

(1) It’s happening rain or shine – Hopefully, the weather will clear up by Saturday, but the Taste of Annandale is happening whatever’s going on with the weather. There will be tents.

(2) The 5K Race – Registration for the 5K Race is under way on the Runtime Fitness website. Racers can register on site on Oct. 1 and pick up their packets 6:45-7:45 a.m.at the parking lot of Annandale United Methodist Church, 6935 Columbia Pike. Awards to the winners will be presented on the stage at the Taste of Annandale at 9:45 a.m. Prizes have been donated by Silverado, Foxfire Grill, Metro Run & Walk, PR Performance Fitness, and Sun & Moon Spa.

(3)  Parking – The preferred parking areas for the Taste of Annandale are at the United Baptist Church at 7100 Columbia Pike and the Kmart parking lot at 4251 John Marr Drive. Vendors can park at Giant.

(4)  Food – Come hungry. A variety of restaurants and food trucks will be on hand offering a mix of cuisines. There will be a covered area for visitors to enjoy a meal.

(5)  Entertainment – A continual lineup of music and dance groups will be performing throughout the festival. A couple of new acts have been added, including the Fairfax Chinese Dance Troupe and the Eagle Taekwondo Academy. See the updated schedule on the home page of the Taste of Annandale website.

(6)  Children – Bring the kids. The ACCA Child Development Center is hosting an impressive series of activities for children, including a “Dino Babies” show by DinoRock, puppet shows by the Blue Sky Puppet Theatre, a pumpkin patch, book giveaway, dress-up play, and much more. The full schedule is posted on the Taste of Annandale website. In case of the rain, the activities will be moved indoors.

(7)  Speakers – Rep. Gerry Connolly, the honorary chair of the Taste of Annandale Steering Committee, will deliver a few short remarks at the opening ceremony at 10 a.m. Other speakers expected include state Sen. Dick Saslaw, Mason Supervisor Penny Gross, Del. Kaye Kory, Board of Supervisors Chair Sharon Bulova, Del. Marcus Simon, Del. Vivian Watts, and former congressman and supervisor Tom Davis.

(8) Sponsors and vendors – A growing number of sponsors and non-food vendors have signed up. Visit the Taste of Annandale website for updated lists.

(9)  Annandale High School – The school’s culinary department will be giving cooking demonstrations, and students will be selling water and other items.

(10)  Chili-Cook Off – The bike patrol unit from the Mason District Police Station and the B shift from the Annandale Volunteer Fire Department are vying for bragging rights and a trophy. Chili tasting and voting starts at noon. The winner will be announced at 1:50 p.m.

(11)  Pop-up Park – Want to learn more about revitalization options for Annandale? Representatives from several Fairfax County agencies will be available to chat in a tiny parking-lot-size “parklet.”