Participants in the Sunday’s Great Falls Spring Festival at the Village Green had the opportunity to enjoy good weather and refreshments. Photo by Ryan Dunn.
“When the weather is nice we always have a nice turnout,” said Wendy Adeler Hall, daughter of the Great Falls jeweler Jorge Adeler. On Sunday, April 13, families from the Great Falls community and Northern Virginia gathered at the Village Green for the annual Spring Festival. The Spring Festival and Egg Hunt was hosted by the Great Falls Optimist Club and Adeler Jewelers, a family business which has served northern Virginia for more than 20 years.
This was the 30th annual Spring Festival held in Great Falls. Inflatable moon bounces, tractor hayrides, and other entertainment were available for children. A highlight event was the egg hunt, with approximately 8,000 eggs laid out on the Village Green for children to locate and claim. “It is awesomely organized, we love Great Falls,” said Christine Gabriel who brought her son Christian to participate in the event.
About 840 of the plastic eggs were filled with gemstones and chocolates. The gemstones were supplied by Jorge Adeler, owner of Adeler Jewelers, in another annual tradition. “My dad has a real passion for what he does,” said Wendy Adeler Hall. “For most kids it is a treasure hunt. My dad absolutely loves colored gem stones.” Funds raised from the event will go to the Great Falls Optimist Youth Fund.
“We had a blast, it was fun,” said Herndon resident Tricia C. Ratliff, who attended the event with her husband and children. Owner of one of the oldest business in Great Falls, Adeler started the egg hunt as a gift to the community, and since partnered with the local Optimist club for about 20 years. Local merchants also participated to sponsor rides. The event grew from just an egg hunt to an entire spring celebration. Adeler intends to continue sponsoring this event to help build a sense of community that brings families together.
For more information about Great Falls Village Center, visit http://gfvcca.com/.