Celebrate Vienna’s Famous Festival, Viva Vienna

A three-day weekend is nearly upon us, gifting you and your family the opportunity to have an adventure. For those that live in the town of Vienna, the adventure is just outside, in the form of the Viva Vienna festival, one of the biggest local events in the area. For three days, the town will close down Church Street, Center Street, Dominion Road, and Mill Street. You’ll find local entertainment and music, food vendors selling tasty bites, a Brewfest, and many other vendors alongside the streets. Bring your four-legged friend and the kids to find something for everyone. 

The best day to enjoy the festival is on Saturday, when all the vendors will be out. On Sunday and Monday, parts of the festival move to Caffi Field while other parts close down altogether. This festival has happened almost every year for the past 35 years and has allowed residents of Vienna to discover local businesses, local politicians and political groups, and the famous historic locations. Viva Vienna is strategically located around the Freeman House, the Old Vienna Railroad Station, the Caboose, and the W&OD trail. 

Enjoy Your Day Off While Giving to Charity 

Presented by the Rotary Club of Vienna, Viva Vienna serves as a fundraiser for the local branch of the organization. That money supports the Rotary Club’s mission, promoting peace, fighting disease, focusing on clean water and sanitation, saving mothers and children, supporting education, and protecting the environment. 

The Vienna branch of the Rotary Club has, in the past year, given checks to impactful organizations like the Shepherd Center of Northern Virginia and the Kisima Childcare Academy and Orphanage. Awards are given to individuals who serve the community, such as the Volunteer Fire Department. Profits from the BrewFest, a first-time event that will be part of the festival, will enhance the donation made to the community. The Rotary Club expects to give $6,000 to the Volunteer Fire Department this year. Overall, this club donates around $240,000 every year to more than 70 different organizations in the area. So you can feel good about this festival while enjoying it at the same time. 

Fun For the Kids

Traditional carnival rides, sweets, activities, and live children’s entertainment are all a part of the Viva Vienna festival. Amusement rides populate around the caboose next to the Vienna Town Green, while right across the (closed-off) street is the Children’s Stage. Vendors like the Bubble’s Production offer face painting, balloon twisting, glitter tattoos, and costumed characters. Find adorable local clothing vendors like Giggle in Pink to find unique outfits to dress your small ones in. Bubble shooters, toys, and books also can be found at these vendor booths peppered along Church Street. 

Live entertainment that might attract small children include the Vienna Singing Princesses, Rocknoceros, and the Great Zucchini.

One of a Kind Vendors

The booths along the streets offer unique, one of a kind products, food, and an introduction to a local business that you might not have known existed previously. Handmade bags and accessories can be found at BlissByBabe, while Celestial Bonsai can introduce you to traditional Japanese indoor bonsai plants (remember Karate Kid?) A local pet booth, Chippin, offers tasty treats for your furry friends who want a quick snack. For a beautiful henna tattoo, try the Henna Guy booth to see ornate, Middle Eastern imagery drawn on your hands. 

Local scented candles from Mam Jams Candle Co. can light up your home on those long summer evenings and freshen every room. A mobile ax-throwing booth will be set up for those who dare to launch an ax– Odyssey Mobile Adventures would like for you to ask about their knife-throwing too! 

Fun for the Adults

For the first time in Viva Vienna history, the festival will offer a “Backstage BrewFest at Vienna Firehouse.” This event will serve a specific need–giving drink to the thirsty, as it were, for those who want a beer garden. In the past, according to the Viva Vienna chairman, attendees would ask for beer and be re-directed to the Vienna Inn (a fine institution). This time, attendees will enjoy live music, multiple food trucks, and beer and wine at the parking lot of the volunteer firehouse.