Vint Hill Fall Festival Turnout Underscores Community Enthusiasm

Posted on September 30, 2016 by

Six hours of steady crowds along Aiken Drive, spread over the rows of 150 vendor tents and in the food truck pavilion marked a successful Vint Hill Fall Festival, as an estimated crowd of 7,000 filled Vint Hill’s Main Street area on Sept. 24, several thousand more than during last year’s very successful inaugural event.

Adults, kids, and even many family dogs from around the region enjoyed four bands and six street performances on the County Chevrolet stage, and shopped among the wide variety of vendors from Fauquier County and beyond. Vint Hill businesses, including Covert Café, Old Bust Head Brewing Company, Vint Hill Craft Winery, and Von Canon General Store were open during the event, gaining valuable exposure to attendees, and giving festivalgoers even more shopping and entertainment options, as well as exposure to Vint Hill’s blossoming Main Street community.

“The record turnout by vendors and attendees tells us that we have a growing annual tradition,” said Ed Moore, president of Vint Hill Village, LLC. “The Fall Festival is an ideal way to both spotlight and celebrate the community that’s emerging around us in Vint Hill, and the tremendous response for the second year in a row shows us that we’re on the right track.”

The historic property and former Army base was again transformed into a walkable street festival on Aiken Drive, spilling over to adjacent properties, including the Silvermead House, once the Army Post Commanders private residence, in order to accommodate space for 150 vendors and food trucks and 10 live performers. Twenty-two sponsors helped offset the event’s cost.

Sponsors included, main stage title sponsor, Country Chevrolet, as well as Sunbelt Rentals, Bohler Engineering, the Broad Run Lifestyle Magazine, Pennoni, UVA Community Credit Union, Kerxton Insurance Agency, Poplar Springs Inn & Spa, Von Canon General Store, Warrenton Toyota, Discovery Publications, KRT Signage, Fallon, Myers & Marshall, LLP, Highland School, Pro-Pave, Inc. Old Bust Head Brewing Company, JBR, Inc., Robinson Paving, Dewberry Consultants, American Disposal Services, Shenandoah Landscape Services and Piedmont Dogs.

In addition to its goal of bringing the entire Fauquier community out in a day-long celebration of autumn spirit, the event has proved to be an added support for the local businesses of the master planned, mixed-use community in Vint Hill.

Old Bust Head Brewing Company, a sponsor of the event, was able to capitalize on the heightened exposure that the large turnout brought.

“We were in a perfect location,” said Old Bust Head co-founder Julie Broaddus. “And the festival was hopping all day. We served up more than two hundred root beers and root beer floats from out tent, and there was a constant stream of traffic going from there to and from the Taproom. We’re excited to see so many folks come out to enjoy Vint Hill.”

Other newer businesses to Vint Hill, such as the Von Canon General Store, also a sponsor, and Iva Bella’s new additions Simply Pure and Iva Bella Tattoo, both brought new attention to their blossoming storefronts.

“As our doors officially opened in early September, the timing of the festival couldn’t have worked out better for us,” said Von Canon General Store owner Matt Adams. “It’s major community events like these that enticed us to locate our business in Vint Hill. This festival presented a unique opportunity to bring awareness to our store, and the weekend was a great success. We look forward to continuing to connect with the community in Vint Hill.”

Piedmont Dogs, a non-profit organization that runs the Vint Hill Dog Park and the provider of water stations and demonstrations for dogs, was also surprised by the volume it had as a participating sponsor.

“We knew to expect steady traffic at our booth,” Piedmont Dogs owner Ken Ellis said. “But we were pleasantly surprised to see that big of a turnout. We were busy all day!”

Plans are already underway for next year’s Vint Hill Fall Festival, which will be held on September 23, 2017. Families can expect even more vendors, food trucks and entertainment selections.

For more information about reserving space as a vendor, entertainer or sponsor in next year’s Fall Festival, visit vinthillfallfestival.com and sign up for the mailing list.