News

Help us make the 81st Fair UNFORGETTABLE!

It truly takes a village to put on the Fair, and we’d love for you to join ours! Your time and support are incredibly appreciated, and for each 4-hour shift you work you will receive a FREE Fair ticket ($25 value).

If you’re ready to jump in and help, please sign up using this link to let us know your area of interest.

We have a variety of tasks where we could use a hand. Here’s a look at just a few:

Our Operations Team needs a few folks to help set out safety fencing and cones over the weekend of September 27-28.
Have an affinity for the artisans and vendors and enjoy problem solving? Susan Hill and Elyssa Wood are down a teammate and need a third Area Coordinator. Please email the office if you are interested!
We have a few spots open at the Waterford Craft School Tent! Welcome folks to the Tent Talks, talk with fairgoers about upcoming classes and/or guide kids make a “itty-bitty” broom.
Help with welcoming fairgoers at the ticket gates. The Welcome Team takes tickets and helps folks remember where they park their cars. This team is led by Chris Wood & Grey Frandsen.
The Old Mill Shop, run by Cerrena Baird & Emily Houston, could use floor monitors, cashiers and wrappers.
Art at the Red Barn lead Lis Zadravec could use some help with show set up/break down and also working the floor.
If checking IDs, pouring drinks and slinging fun is more your thing (and you are 21 or older), volunteer at the Graham’s Bar-room at the Bond Street Barn. Mark Sutton & Marty Rathmann would greatly appreciate your help!
Love the homes on tour? Become a docent and share these amazing places with fairgoers! Julie Harner and the Tours Committee won’t bite 😉
Let your “Martha Stewart” shine working with our Artisan Hospitality Team! Give Demonstrating Artisans short breaks, help them with set up and/or breakdown, run errands for them, or help out with the Welcome Dinner on Friday evening.

We so appreciate your consideration! For more ways you can help, follow this link to complete the volunteer inquiry form!

Fair Updates…

The 81st Waterford Fair is just a few months away! As we finalize plans for another spectacular weekend, don’t miss your chance to support this treasured event.

Many Ways to Get Involved!

Become a Sponsor or Donor: Support the Fair by becoming a booklet page donor or a business sponsor. Every contribution helps make the Fair possible!
Volunteer: Now’s the perfect time to sign up for one or more of over 400 available shifts. From guiding visitors to assisting artisans, there’s a role for everyone! Follow this link for more information.
Be a Homestay Host: Be a vital part of Fair history by opening your home to host a visiting artisan for the weekend. It’s a unique and rewarding experience! Complete this quick form and we will be in touch.
Join or Renew Your Membership: Remember the special Waterford Fair benefits for Waterford Foundation members! Join or renew now to ensure you receive your complimentary tickets and invitations to exclusive Fair events.

Member & Village Resident Tickets: Important Update!

Fair tickets are now on sale to the general public! Please share the ticket link with friends and family. Below, you’ll find important information about our new ticket process for your complimentary ticket(s).

As always, you will receive complimentary ticket(s) to this year’s event. Please note these important changes:

No discount code is needed this year. Tickets will be issued directly to Foundation members and village residents via email during the first week of September. They’ll be sent to the primary email address associated with your membership or household.
You will still need to print the e-ticket or show the ticket QR code to receive your “hanging tag” Fair ticket. You can redeem your e-ticket at the Welcome Tent or any of the three gates during Fair weekend.
If you do not receive your ticket email by Tuesday, September 9, please contact the office for assistance at 540-882-3018 x 0 or [email protected].

We can’t wait to see you there!

Tickets Now On SALE: Wheatland Spring Tour & Fair Beer Preview

We’re thrilled to team up once again with our good neighbors at Wheatland Spring. We can’t wait to sip on this special brew when the Waterford Fair kicks off on October 3rd and are excited to share it with you in August!

Join John Branding, Wheatland Spring’s farmer and brewer, for an evening at the brewery. He’ll share what makes their farm brewery so unique — from how they grow their grains responsibly to their dedication to supporting our local community. We’ll wrap things up with a taste of our brand-new Fair beer!

Don’t miss out on this exciting event! Purchase your ticket(s) here.

When: Friday, August 8th at 6 PM
Where: Wheatland Spring Farm + Brewery
38506 John Wolford Rd, Waterford, VA 20197
Cost: $35 (all proceeds directly support the Waterford Fair!

This exclusive event is limited to just twenty guests, so grab your tickets fast – only two per order!

Your ticket includes:

A private farm brewery tour
A special tasting of the81st Waterford Fair beer
One free beer to enjoy after the tour, courtesy of Wheatland Spring

Come on out, tour, taste some amazing beer, and be among the very first to enjoy our new brew!

81st Fair Updates, Ways to Participate & Application Deadlines…

Get ready! The Fair is just a few months away, and we’re buzzing with excitement as we finalize plans for another unforgettable weekend. Don’t miss out on the incredible opportunity to support this historic event! You can make a real difference as a booklet page donor (perfect for families and individuals), a business advertiser, a dedicated business sponsor, or by providing an in-kind donation. All the details can be found here!

Is there a food truck or local eatery you think would be perfect for the Fair? We want to hear from you! Please share their name (& contact information if you have it!) with our office at [email protected], and help us bring even more deliciousness to the weekend.

Want to be part of the Fair’s success? Now’s the perfect time to apply to VOLUNTEER! With over 400 available shifts, there are so many ways you can contribute and help bring the Fair to life. Click this link to sign up and join our amazing team. It truly takes a village!

FINAL CALL for amazing creations for the Old Mill Shop! We’re seeking books by local authors, delicious homemade baked goods, and beautiful made-by-hand works. Artisans, bakers and authors, ensure your applications are in by August 11, 2025. Find all the participation details and the application here!

Local Artist Vicki C. Garrison’s “Waterford Shadows” Selected for 81st Fair Cover Art

This year’s selection process for the 81st Fair’s featured artwork was especially competitive, with over twenty entries. We are pleased to announce that Vicki C. Garrison of Hamilton, Virginia, has been selected as the winner of the 81st Waterford Fair Cover Art Competition. Her exceptional watercolor, “Waterford Shadows,” will be featured on the cover of this year’s Fair booklet and in all digital materials.

Vicki, a native of Purcellville, Virginia, and a Hamilton resident for the past four decades, has dedicated recent years to advancing her expertise in watercolor, alongside exploring oil painting. This renewed focus represents the culmination of a lifelong artistic interest.

Her artistic development includes participation in numerous classes and plein air workshops with regional artists, as well as specialized instruction from nationally acclaimed watercolor artist Tom Lynch. Vicki is also an active member of the Loudoun Sketch Club, regularly engaging in their exhibitions and plein air painting initiatives.

We can’t wait for everyone to see “Waterford Shadows” showcased this year. Please join us in congratulating her!

Village Residents…

Applications Are Now Open!

Local Artisans & Bakers (Old Mill Shop), Farmers and Value Added Producers (Farmers Market), Food & Drink Merchants, Sponsors, Fair Booklet Page Patrons and Potential Guest Speakers, we are excited to have you join us for the 81st Fair.

Applications are now open and can be found by following this link or by clicking the image below. Fine Art, Art Mart and the Dried Flower Barn will open for applications per the schedule below.

As we get closer to October we will also be looking for volunteers to join the Fair team! You can check back at waterfordfairva.org later this year for more information.

We so appreciate your interest and consideration!

If you have any questions please email us at [email protected] or call 540-882-3018 x 113 or 114.

Calling all ARTISTS…We Are Now Accepting Applications for Art at the Red Barn!

Local 2-D and 3-D artists, we are now accepting applications for the Fair’s Fine Art Exhibit and Sale and Art Mart. Details and application can be found by following this link or by clicking the image below.

Accepted Media for Art Mart: Oil, acrylic, watercolor, pastels, charcoals, block print, pen and ink, pencil drawings, collage and 3-dimensional work (decorative, not functional). Framed prints and cards are not accepted. Cards can be sold at the Old Mill Shop via a separate application. Matted prints and unframed originals may be sold in your own bin.

Fine Art Categories:
• Oil Painting
• Acrylic Painting
• Water Media: watercolor, gouache or other water-media painting
• Pastel, & Drawing: Any dry media: pastel, colored pencil, graphite, charcoal, ink or other drawing media
• Mixed Media/Sculpture: more than one media, 50% each of two media, block print, 3-dimensional sculpture or collage
Special Category Requirements: In ANY Category, work may be considered for Best in Show, Best Loudoun Artist, or Best Waterford Scene.

As we get closer to October we will also be looking for volunteers to join the Fair team! You can check back at waterfordfairva.org later this year for more information. We so appreciate your interest and consideration! If you have any questions please email us at [email protected] or call 540-882-3018 x 113 or 114.