It was a big way to be welcomed to the neighborhood. Adam and Julianne Erbrecht moved to Clifton two weeks before the historic town’s massive annual festival Clifton Day. Julianne is music director at Burke Presbyterian Church and Clifton is closer than their old home in Centreville. “We love the atmosphere here,” Adam said. “There’s more space, it’s a slower pace.”

However, Clifton’s space and pace changed on Oct. 11, as hundreds of craft demonstrators, small business vendors, pony rides, musical performances and other activities filled the town’s streets and drew thousands of visitors.

Some have been coming for many years, like Clifton Art Guild member Jack Pardue of the Mount Vernon area of Alexandria. Pardue stood quietly over a palette of oil-based paints he was using to recreate a scene from the Outer Banks on canvas.

For others, it was their first festival, or first time in Clifton. Laura Rutherford of Scotland was visiting with her friend and classmate at the College of William & Mary Emily Marter. Marter grew up in Clifton and has always loved neighborhood institution Peterson’s Ice Cream Depot. “It’s awesome to see everyone come over to experience this,” Marter said.

Fairfax and W.T. Woodson High School graduates Chris DiAntonio, Ellie Jordan and Kyle Boswell used their first time at Clifton Day to grow their Virginia Southern bowtie business. There were also beekeepers Jonathan and Marche Covington of Dunn Loring with their first Clifton Day tent for their colorful, carved beeswax candles.

Unlike last year’s rainy, gloomy weather, clear, blue skies and temperatures in the sixties and seventies throughout the day encouraged the population of visitors.