Youth for Tomorrow will hold its 28th Annual Country Fair & Auction Saturday, Oct. 5 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on its campus at 11835 Hazel Circle Drive just off Linton Hall Road in Bristow.
For the past 28 years, the campus has been inviting Northern Virginians to a County Fair & Auction to benefit the nonprofit organization that helps teens in need, and every year the community responds, helping the fair grow bigger and better.
Youth for Tomorrow spokesperson Becky Whitelock said the emphasis is always on fun for people of all ages.
“’Fun for kids of all ages,’ we like to say because when we come to the fair, we become somewhat of a kid,” she said.
This year, organizers have taken special care to include teens and thrill-seeking adults in all the excitement, incorporating amusements such as a NASCAR simulator, Pev’s Laser Tag Course, a rock wall, extreme air jumpers, a mechanical bull and a vertical-rush obstacle course.
Whitelock said they have even installed an extended zip-line.
“We’ve had a zip line before, but never one that runs the entire length of the lower campus,” said Whitelock, who said they expect it to be a big draw for teenagers.
Whitelock also expects the Center Ring Circus School to be one of the bigger attractions for people of all ages. Founded by former Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus clown Gregory May, the entertainers demonstrate and instruct participants in circus skills such as unicylcing, juggling and tight-rope walking.
For elementary age children, she suggests parents take them to Frontier Town and Junior Rodeo which offers a hands-on experience, including a bucking sheep rodeo for children and pig races!
“Instead of bull riding, they do sheep riding,” Whitelock said. “They do a lot of fun things”
Younger children should enjoy Minnieland Kid’s Zone which features a performance by national children's performers Cody and BJ at noon, local entertainer Safari Bingo at 11 a.m., plus family fun games, a puppet show, face painting, crafts, story-telling and more.
Of course, there are also traditional carnival rides and amusements: bouncy castles, cork shooting, a corn maze, cyclone amusement rides and a pirate ship.
“There is no way that kids can do every single activity,” said Whitelock, "and it would be hard for me to say what is the most interesting.”
However, not everything at the fair is just for the kids. She encourages anyone with a wallet to visit the live and blind auctions, which feature wonderful, rare items and are also huge revenue builders for Youth for Tomorrow.
That does not mean everything is expensive. In fact, it can be a bargain for the smart bidder, or one with unique taste since no one knows how much anyone else is bidding. Whitelock said you could get a “bargain” or overpay, but either way it goes to a good cause.
She also expects the on-site farmer’s market to be a hit this year with some autumn food favorites like caramel apples, apple cider and apple butter, plus demonstrations on how to make your own fall treats. Of course, there will be a cornucopia of delicious food and desserts to be found throughout the fair grounds.
Like previous years, many local businesses, volunteers and organizations have pulled together to donate their time, money and resources to make the day a success. Last year there were 16,000 visitors and this Saturday Whitelock expects to exceed that number.
Tickets are affordable too. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children 4-16, and free for children three and under. Coupons are available on the Youth for Tomorrow County Fair website. Also, attendees need not worry about parking, which is provided without charge with plenty of space on the school grounds. No pets are allowed on the campus.
Information on Youth for Tomorrow
Founded by former Redskin’s Coach and NASCAR Championship team owner Joe Gibbs, the Youth for Tomorrow nonprofit organization has served the “the least, the lost and the lonely children” of the Washington, D.C. metro area since 1986. Specifically, it houses, educates and provides services for teens who have been abandoned, abused, homeless or are in need of therapeutic intervention. In recent years, they also served the needs of teen mothers and their children.
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