Welcome back — we can’t wait to see you in Waterford!
It’s a fair like no other! Join us for our three-day quintessential Fall celebration of all things handmade. Enjoy 85+ juried contemporary and heritage artisans from across the country who gather in the National Landmark of Waterford, Virginia to exhibit and demonstrate their art and craft based on traditional American handiwork. This is your chance to touch, feel, and explore high-quality American craft, meet the makers behind the fabulous work. You may even find that perfect piece for your home or for someone special.
This unique village, set among the rolling hills of western Loudoun county, comes alive with period re-enactors, live music, heritage exhibits, a wine & beer garden, homes & garden tours, a fine art exhibit and sale, shopping at the Old Mill, the Dried Flower Barn & with our juried artisans, mini classes through the Waterford Craft School, and lots of hands-on activities for the kids.
Proceeds from the Waterford Fair benefit the preservation and education efforts of the Waterford Foundation whose mission is to preserve and protect the Landmark District, and through education, to increase the public’s knowledge of life and work in an early American rural community.
For FAQs on attending the Fair look to the right. Ticket information will be posted as we get closer to the Fair. Advanced tickets begin at $16 for adults, children 12 and under are free. We offer many packages, including an early bird shopping ticket with preferred parking for Friday only and special rates for bus/tour groups!
Scroll down for information on being a participating artist or vendor and advertising. We will be opening applications for the following venues throughout the spring and early summer: Old Mill Shop, Dried Flower Barn, Baked Goods, Fine Art & Art Mart, Farmers Market and food & Drink. Follow this link for more information or to apply.
Mill Consignment Shop
The Waterford Fair provides many opportunities for artists to participate, from exhibiting and demonstrating to selling crafts as a consignor at several venues in the village. This is the information to participate at the Old Mill Shop as a consignor. The application will be available early summer here.
During the Waterford Fair, the Waterford Foundation offers fair-goers a selection of one-of-a-kind handmade crafts from more than 100 artisans and craftspeople–also chosen by a jury for their quality–sold in the Old Mill Shop. These items are attractively displayed in the lovely and historic Mill, and sold by Foundation volunteers.
Basketry, woodwork, jewelry, textiles, pottery, Christmas decorations, and other decorative objects are some of the many items that are attractively displayed in this lovely and historic setting. The artison need not be present, although volunteer help is always welcome
Food and Drink Merchants
We’re on the lookout for exceptional food trucks, stands, and carts to make the Waterford Fair a destination for delicious food and drink (non-alchoholic), as well as the best in made by hand craft. We would like savory and sweet offerings, traditional fair and gourmet options, as well as coffee, tea, and other refreshing drinks to keep our crowds fed and happy! Applications will be accepted begining May 1st at: Food & Drink Merchant Applications.
Volunteers
The Waterford Fair is the premier traditional crafts fair and homes tour in the Northern Virginia area. The Fair needs many volunteers to make it a success. The Fair is fun and a great way to be involved in the community. Volunteers have fun assisting with the Fair on the day(s) they volunteer and…get complimentary entry!
A few of the ways volunteers can help:
- Homes Tour Docents
- Ticket Takers
- The Mill and Art Mart
- Beer and Wine Tent
Need a community service project for your staff? Sponsor our Local Libations Tent — pour beer, have fun and help the Foundation preserve the National Historic Landmark of Waterford.
Please consider helping at the Fair this year and in years to come. The Waterford Fair is an important part of supporting the mission of the Waterford Foundation and preserving this National Historic Landmark. The help of volunteers is much appreciated! Visit www.waterfordfairva.org to participate.
Check waterfordfairva.org for important dates and application information
Any questions please contact the Fair office at 540-882-3018, ext. 4 or email fairadmin@waterfordfoundation.org.
Advertise in the 78th Waterford Fair!
It’s never to early to start thinking about being a part of this long-standing community tradition and preservation event. Place an ad for your business. We offer a wide range of opportunities for all budgets. Email fairadmin@waterfordfoundation.org for details.
Advertisers, did you know…
- Approximately 10,000 visitors attend the Waterford Fair annually, many returning year after year.
- A 2014 survey conducted by Visit Loudoun indicated that 65 percent of visitors to the Waterford Fair come from Virginia. Of those, 75.9 percent are women; 41.8 percent have college degrees; and 68 percent are day-trippers. Each spends an average of $337.11 on food, wine, events, shopping, and fuel. Those who spend the night spend an average of $1,042.22.
- They represent a huge pool of potential customers for your company—thousands of young families and high-end buying public interested in the Fair’s quality traditional crafts, historic homes privately owned which are open only once a year, and interactive history lessons about life in an early American rural village.
- A four-time winner of Loudoun County’s Event of the Year by Visit Loudoun, the Waterford Fair provides “lasting benefits to the community…and the generations of overnight stays and effective promotion to out-of-county visitors.”
FAQs
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What is included in the ticket price? Parking, admission, tour of historic homes/gardens and all exhibit buildings, all entertainment and re-enactments, craft demonstrations, and hands on children’s activities. Food and drink will be available for purchase. Early bird shopping Friday, 10/1 and special packages are also available for an additional fee.
When will tickets be on sale? Late summer through our website, so check back here.
What are my transport/parking options getting to the event?
From the Beltway: Rt.267 (Dulles Toll road/Greenway) towards Leesburg, Virginia. Left exit onto Leesburg bypass (Rt. 7) west. Exit Rt. 9 west (Charlestown/Hillsboro). Right at the gas station onto Rt. 662 (Clarke’s Gap Road). 2½ miles into Waterford. You will be directed to parking.
From Baltimore and Frederick, MD: I-70 to Rt. 340W towards Charlestown, exit at 17 towards Brunswick, go through two round-abouts to continue on 17 South, at traffic light bear right to stay on 17 South (Berlin Turnpike), cross the Potomac river and continue on Berlin Turnpike. In Lovettsville, go around the “squirkle”, at the end of the road turn left on Berlin Turnpike, go 250 ft. and turn left on Berlin Turnipke, go 350 feet and turn right on East Broad Way, which turns into Milltown Rd. Follow Milltown Rd.for 6 1/2 miles. You will be directed to parking when you reach Old Wheatland Rd.
From West of Waterford: Rt. 7 to Rt. 287 to Rt. 9 Left on Rt. 704 (Hamilton Station Road) and follow to end. Left onto Clarke’s Gap Road (Rt. 662). You will be directed to parking. If you are coming in from West Virginia follow Rt. 9 east through Hillsboro, VA. Cross Rt. 287 at traffic light. Left on Rt. 704 (Hamilton Station Road) and follow to end. Left onto Clarke’s Gap Road (Rt. 662). You will be directed to parking.
Where do I park?
There are 2 large parking fields. As you enter the village you will be directed by Fair traffic personnel.
What do you do if it rains?
The Fair goes on rain or shine. All buildings and vendors are open. Please dress accordingly.
Is the Fair wheelchair accessible?
The Waterford Fair takes place throughout the village of Waterford and its surrounding fields. With its hills and uneven roads and sidewalks, it is not easy for physically disabled people to navigate. We offer limited handicapped access facilities and parking at each entry gate. Most of the historic buildings and private homes on tour are not wheelchair accessible.
A designated handicapped drop-off area is located at Waterford’s Catoctin Presbyterian Church. After drop-off, please proceed to the Red Lot to park.
There are marked handicapped spaces near the ticket gate at each lot.
May I bring my dog?
Please do NOT bring pets. The streets are crowded, and animals cannot be taken into buildings nor left unattended outside. There is no readily accessible water for thirsty pets.
