Photos: Town of Occoquan
OCCOQUAN — The town’s annual Fall Arts & Crafts Show returns Saturday, Sept. 26, and Sunday, Sept. 27, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. Admission is free, the show runs rain or shine, and more than 300 vendors will fill the historic district. For full details, visit Fall Arts & Crafts Show | Occoquan Festivals. Here is a quick guide to what the town has posted so far.
Schedule of Events
The festival calendar lists every Art Park demonstration, Imagination Alley performance and live music set for both days. It also includes a Road to Revolution ribbon cutting at the Mill House Museum on Sunday at noon.
The Art Park
New this year, the Art Park at Mamie Davis Park offers free demonstrations starting at 11 a.m. both days, including stained glass, watercolor, wax sealing and wreath making. Garman Glassblowing FXBG will demonstrate live glassblowing at the park entrance all day. Some sessions offer optional hands-on kits for purchase.
Imagination Alley
The family zone on Commerce Street is free, with a craft tent, a bead bar, alpacas and a Touch-a-Truck featuring O.W.L. Fire Department and Prince William County Police vehicles. A few activities, such as face painting, carry a fee. Musician George Tyner performs both days, and Michael Rosman’s Amazing Feats of Comedy takes the stage Sunday at 3 p.m. Children’s Art Classes Woodbridge leads clay sculpting classes Saturday at 1 and 1:45 p.m.; pre-registration is required and space is limited.
Beer Garden and Live Music
The Mill Street Draft Garden at 200 Mill St. is the official beer garden, open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. Live music runs from 1 to 4 p.m., with the Chris DeSantis Duo on Saturday and Vinny G JAMZ on Sunday.
Food and Drink
Seventeen year-round Occoquan restaurants will be open, and about two dozen street food vendors will set up in three zones. Visitors 21 and older can buy a drink to go at D’Rocco’s, Madigan’s Waterfront or the Mill Street Draft Garden and carry it within the festival area under the town’s Sip & Stroll license.
Photo: Town of Occoquan
Vendors and Map
The vendor directory lists booth numbers for the show’s makers and creators, and the event map shows where to find them.
Parking and Shuttles
There is no visitor parking in town during the show. Free lots at the Lake Ridge Commuter Lot, the Route 123 Commuter Lot and the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton connect to a shuttle that costs $10 per person round-trip; kids 12 and under ride free. A pass is good for either or both days, and prepaid riders show their receipt to volunteers at the show entrance.
Road Closures and Parking Permits
Parking restrictions begin on a rolling basis Friday, Sept. 25, at 9 p.m., and all parking in the festival area is closed both days. Streets inside the festival area close at 8 a.m. Saturday and Sunday and do not reopen before 6 p.m. Residents and business owners can pick up a limited number of permits for parking under the Route 123 bridge at Town Hall starting Tuesday, Sept. 22, at 9 a.m. Permits are first come, first served, with one per business or residence.
Accessibility
A wheelchair-accessible shuttle runs from the Workhouse Arts Center lot from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days, and a limited number of accessible parking spaces are available under the Route 123 bridge. Some areas, including the beer garden, have gravel or grass surfaces, and the town’s accessibility page covers each location.
Questions can go to the Town of Occoquan at [email protected] or