Haymarket Day: Come see the parade, trolleys and more
Crowd members gather around craft vendors to see what treasures they may find at Haymarket Day 2008. {Bennie Scarton/News & Messenger}
The bands are ready to march, the clowns are ready to entertain and the trolleys are ready to take you through town.
It’s time for Haymarket Day.
The town’s biggest annual event is set for this Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“We’re hoping people will bring the kids and just spend the day in Haymarket,” said Sherrie Wilson, the town’s Deputy Clerk and one of Haymarket Day’s organizers.
Each year Haymarket Day, which includes a parade, vendor booths set up by area crafters and businesses and activities for kids and teens, gets a little bigger, Wilson said.
“It almost doubles every year,” she said.
The big draw for many is the parade down Washington Street, which this year will include about 1,800 people representing more than 50 community groups and organizations.
“The biggest attraction in the parade is probably going to be the Old Guard Drum and Fife Corps,” Wilson said. “They’re really big.”
The United States Army’s Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps are well known across the country for performing at presidential inaugurations, Wilson said.
Other parade participants include the Haymarket Town Council, Thomas the Tank Engine, Unistars Unicycling, the Nokesville Horse Society, Battlefield High School’s marching band and Junior ROTC,
Osbourn Park’s Navy Junior ROTC, the Gainesville Volunteer Fire Department, area churches, boy scout troops, dance studios, and more.
Late in the day, the United States Navy Band, the Commodores, a new addition to Haymarket Day this year, will perform from 12:30 to 2 p.m. on the main stage at the Harrover property.
“That’s the biggest main event this year,” Wilson said.
Throughout the day there will be other performances, as well as a kids zone and teen zone.
Parking for Haymarket Day will be available at PACE West School and in the field across from Foster’s Grille.
Trolleys will be running all day to take visitors through town.
For more information about Haymarket Day, visit townofhaymarket.org.
Staff writer Amanda Stewart can be reached at 703-878-8014.
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