The Story
Why do thousands of people descend on this tiny town in Northern Virginia, once a year? This is Clifton Day, an annual festival with around 150 artisans, antique dealers, vintage sellers, and other vendors. You can experience live music, children’s activities, pony rides, and delicious food. This year was its 56th year and is the only day of the year when the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) stops in town.
In 1967, the town sponsored the first Clifton Day Festival to attract the public to this historic town. This celebration continues each year as a town fair and music festival on the Sunday before Columbus Day in October.
To many of the out-of-towners, it's a chance to visit an enclave of turn-of-the-century living. Few of the 65 Victorian homes in Clifton were built after the early 1900s. A small general store serves the town's needs.
To the locals, Clifton is an island of peace, a refuge from the bustle of life in Northern Virginia and Washington DC.
