Laughter and music rang out from the Loudoun Heritage Museum on Saturday, Sept. 21 at the Claude Moore annual Fall Festival. This festival celebrates the beginning of the fall season with live music, craft tents, and pumpkin painting as it prepares the community for a new season.
The festival boosts small businesses from across Loudoun in its mission to foster relationships between local consumers and vendors.
“The Fall Festival is to bring the community together for the fall time,” Claude Moore Park employee Lauren Ginsburg said.
Families from all over Loudoun were able to come together to pet their favorite barnyard animals, watch puppet shows, paint pumpkins, and shop from a variety of local shop owners.
“I really came because my wife and my mom wanted to come,” local crafter Jordan Hotaling said. “But, I also run my own craft fair, so I wanted to come and check out these crafters and vendors. [The event is] much bigger than I thought it was.”
Craft vendors like 9-year-old Veronica Nunly helped to create the welcoming atmosphere that made the Fall Festival the success it was.
“I just like selling my stuff because it brings happiness to other people, and it brings a smile to their face when they buy stuff,” Veronica said. “So, I like doing it.”
This positive social atmosphere could be felt throughout the festival and on the main stage, where singers and instrumentalists like Acoustic Aubery performed their sets.
“I’ve been here the past two years,”Acoustic Aubrey said. “In the past two years, it has been a lot of fun. It’s just a really cool atmosphere and environment.”
Loudoun County, specifically the Claude Moore Park, has done a wonderful job helping the community get back to its pre-COVID connectedness. The positive effect that this festival has on Loudoun is something that can be seen in a lot of other events like the Ashburn Summer KickOff or the Lovettsville Oktoberfest.
“The best thing about being involved with festivals and events is the opportunity to help build a community, foster a sense of pride within a community, and engage a community,” business consultant with Thrivent Financial Services to The University of Minnesota Extension Chris Romano said, “Honestly, in my professional career, I’ve never found something outside a community festival that can do that to the same degree.”
All over the park grounds other crafters found someone who shared their passion. The Claude Moore Fall Festival organizers achieved all that they set out to do by giving its attendees an exciting start to the season.
“As you can see, there is no admission charge here, other than the things you purchase,” Claude Moore Park employee Joe Wagner said. “People can come here just to share the community and what activities there are that we offer. Anybody that wants to come and enjoy themselves here on a beautiful Saturday can [do that].”
