Finding Community at Burke Centre Festival
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Finding Community at Burke Centre Festival

Burke residents enjoy the last breath of summer at the activity-filled festival.

Festival goers soak in the sun-filled day full of games, foods, and handmade goods at the annual Burke Centre Festival.

Festival goers soak in the sun-filled day full of games, foods, and handmade goods at the annual Burke Centre Festival. Photo by Jennifer Albarracin/The Connection

Each year, about 8,000-10,000 visitors attend the annual Burke Centre Festival. This past weekend was no exception, as families arrived with kids of all ages, basking in the last summer rays of the season. The 42nd Festival was held from Sept. 7-8, 2019 at the Conservancy Festival Grounds.

The festival included 123 booths from 18 food vendors, 63 arts and crafts exhibitors, 25 outreach booths, Fairfax County Police and Fairfax County Fire and Rescue displays. Other attractions included amusement rides, pony rides, live bands, dance performances, midway style games, a wine garden, and an interactive wildlife show from the Hidden Pond Nature Center.

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Joy & Billy Davis, owners of Day Three Bath & Body, pictured in front of their fresh, natural, and handmade products.

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Burke Historical Society members J. Andrew Bennet, Joshua Coffer, Cindy Bennett Huldah Coffer, and Jon Vrana dress up as the town’s historical figures, posing in front of their makeshift museum that displays photos and summaries of Burke’s history at the Burke Centre Festival.

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Barbara Nowak, a ceramic artist, holding one of her pieces she was selling at the Burke Centre Festival.

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Children enjoying carnival rides at the Burke Centre Festival.

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Dancers of The Virginia Ballet Dance Company perform to the track ‘Bad Guy’ by 17-year-old rising pop star Billie Eilish, at the 2019 Burke Centre Festival.