Joe Gibbs to host Bristow Country Fair

Just as he has for the past 24 years, Joe Gibbs will be on the Youth for Tomorrow campus in Bristow for the 24th annual Country Fair & Auction this Saturday.

The fair benefits the at-risk children who reside there.

The Hall of Fame football coach and NASCAR team owner will serve as host for the many activi-ties planned for the day and will lend auctioneers John and Charles Nicholls a hand with the live auction.

The 40-plus items this year include a trip to Le Cordon Bleu/Paris, NASCAR packages, a Super Bowl package, a quarter in the broadcast booth with Sonny, Sam and Larry at a Redskins game, quail hunting with Oliver North, a steak and lobster feast prepared by Brit Hume and a chance to be named in an upcoming novel by David Baldacci.

Along with a treasure trove of items in the live auction tent, there will be something for bid that nearly everyone will find appealing in the silent auction tent and on the Blind Bid Board.

Under the Home Depot tent there will be dozens of tools and home repair items for bid and a birdhouse making experience for children. Raffle tickets can be purchased for 10 electronics items in the Best Buys tent; Lustine Auto Mall will host a raffle for a one-year lease of a Toyota car.

Six thousand people are expected for the event, always one of the best attended fall festivals in the area. A large variety of activities for people of all ages is planned.

In Frontier Town, there will be Cowboy Camp, target shooting with former football great Dave Butz, Quick Draw Paint Ball, Bungee Bull Rides, country music and dancing.

The NASCAR Experience will feature show cars and transporters from Joe Gibbs Racing, Service Master transporter and show car, Daytona 500 simulator and a micro-reality race track.

In the Sports and Fitness area, visitors will be encouraged to try rock climbing, an obstacle course, Quarterback Blitz, tumbling and parachute games. Loudoun Inova Mobile Health Services will dispense flu shots for $15 to ages 4 to adult.

Food is available from Clyde's, Westpark Barbecue, Chick-fil-A, Domino's, Paradise Ice Cream and Hawaii's Best Shaved Ice.

Gates will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The silent auction tent will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and the live auction will take place under the big top from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children under 16 and free for children 3 and under. More than 50 free rides and activities will be available for children. Parking is free at the campus at 11835 Hazel Drive, Bristow (south of Manassas off Va. 28).

A list of the live and silent auction items, special events and photo gallery is available at youthfor-tomor row.org or call 703-631-3360 for more information.

Staff writer Bennie Scarton Jr. can be reached at 703-369-6707.