The population of the City of Falls Church will more than double if only for a few hours this Monday as more than 20,000 are expected to gather around City Hall and along Park Avenue for the 23rd annual Memorial Day Parade and Festival. It's the biggest event of the year for Falls Church, and the line-up of vendors and parade entrants is a big and colorful as ever.
Once sponsored by the Falls Church Fire Department, for the last two decades the City's Department of Recreation and Parks has been in charge, insuring each year a unique throw-back to the best traditions of small town America. The department is able to guarantee just about everything but the weather, but seldom has that been a problem. Still, everything goes on, rain or shine.
Kids, politicians and funnel cakes abound, along with crafters, and service club and local business exhibits, pony rides and live entertainment. Among the 48 entrants in the parade, which begins at 2 p.m., is the annual appearance by the popular Underdog. This is a special one, marking her 40th anniversary of participating in this and similar parades across the U.S. Grand Marshal of the parade is Mary Ellen Shaw, who will be retiring after serving 34 years in the Falls Church School system, including the last seven as its superintendent.
Not to overlook the real purpose of the holiday, three opportunities to honor the memory and contributions of the nation's veterans will highlight the day's calendar. At 7 a.m. a flag ceremony at the Falls Church Veterans Common, Little Falls at the W&OD Trail, will be held. At 11 a.m., a ceremony at the Falls Church Veterans Memorial in front of the Community Center will commence. Then, at noon, there will be a re-enactor honor guard and dedication of a memorial to Civil War soldiers that will take place in the graveyard surrounding the old Falls Church at 115 E. Fairfax.
The day's festivities also mark the kick-off of the annual Falls Church News-Press/Diener and Associates, CPAs, food drive. It's the 12th consecutive year for the drive. Citizens are invited to bring bags of canned or non-perishable food to the News-Press booth at the festival that will transported to the Food for Others warehouse in Merrifield. From that location, mobile units go out to feed homeless and hungry people at 17 locations throughout Northern Virginia every day.
Shopping bags have been inserted into all home editions of the News-Press delivered in the City to help encourage participation in the drive, which begins on Memorial Day and runs through the 4th of July. After Monday, boxes set up to receive food contributions will be set up in a number of businesses along Broad Street (see the ad on Page 11 of this edition for the complete list).
In addition to taking food donations at its booth Monday, the News-Press will also judge "Wacky Hat Contest" entrants at its booth up until 1 p.m. The winner gets a $50 gift certificate to a Falls Church restaurant.
After the 7 a.m. Veterans Common ceremony, the full force of the day's festivities kick off at 9 a.m. with the annual Don Beyer Volvo 3K Fun Run (and walk), beginning at the intersection of Great Falls and Little Falls Streets.
The Ken Smith band kicks off hours of live entertainment on the stage/review stand set up in the intersection of Little Falls and Park Avenue at 9 a.m., while the Lions Club will offer free eye exams and Civil War re-enactors will be on display at the old Falls Church, also from 9 a.m. on. Tours of the 150-year old Cherry Hill Farmhouse commence at 10 a.m.
Among the most popular events of the day is the annual "Pet and Owner Costume Contest" sponsored by the Falls Church Animal Hospital, which will take place at 10:30 a.m. at 313 Park Avenue. Bring pets (and owners) early to sign up.
As the entertainment continues on the stage with the Falls Church Concert Band, Falls Church Dance Program, the Ken Smith Band (again) and Joanne Juskus, the Falls Church Police Department will conduct a K-9 demonstration in Cherry Hill Park 11 a.m.
The K-9 demo, an exciting exhibition of the skills of the department's canine corps, is back after a few years' haitus, and promises to be among the day's most thrilling events.
Clowns, little leaguers, marching bands, pipers and drummers, square dancers, Kena Shiners in go-carts, cub scouts, veterans and many others will be in the parade, along with the News-Press crew crammed into the classic Mustang convertible with News-Press colors (black and white, of course). Be sure to greet us.
For the first time, the Falls Church Veterans Council will distribute a program of the day's activities.
A complete parade roster and list of vendors appears elsewhere in this edition of the News-Press.