YORKTOWN — The leaves are beginning to change color and Pumpkin Spice is everywhere, which means fall is back, and Yorktown is hosting four complimentary, specially-themed Market Days in September, October, and November to get you in the mood.
First Responders Market
Kicking off the festivities is the First Responders Market on Saturday, Sept. 10, from 8 a.m. to noon. This festival is York County’s salute to the firefighters, sheriff’s deputies, 911 and emergency communications dispatchers, public works officials, and other first responders who protect the community every day.
York County reports several emergency vehicles and officials will be on-site to educate the public and answer questions. York County Fire & Life Safety will bring its ladder truck, and the York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office will have a patrol car, crime prevention trailer, DARE tent, motorcycles, and its K-9 unit on-sight.
Public Works’ large Vactor Truck, used to handle large-scale liquid and sludge clean-up in emergencies, will also be parked at the event, and any first responder that shops at the market will receive a discount from vendors and artists.
Fall Festival
The Fall Festival will be held Saturday, Oct. 8 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., where guests will have the opportunity to purchase seasonal “gourd-ous” and tasty treats like pumpkins, apples, mums, and kettle corn.
Visitors will also be able to participate in family-oriented activities such as a hayride, face painting, a hay maze, a petting zoo featuring miniature animals, and pumpkin painting.
There will also be a pumpkin weight guessing contest, and estimates can be submitted to the Yorktown Facebook page on the morning of the market. The first to guess the correct weight, or be the closest without going over, will win a prize basket of goodies from the festival.
The Carrot Tree, located in Riverwalk Landing, will be selling its famous caramel apples and apple cider, and the Fifes and Drums of York Town will perform at 10 a.m.
Paws at the River
Paws at the River will bring awareness to animal rescue organizations
and help place adoptable pets in their “furever” homes Saturday, Oct. 29 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
For this festival, the market will extend to Riverwalk Landing businesses, where visitors will find information booths and educational opportunities, and purchase delicious doggy delights at FiDough Homemade Dog Treats at the market or Gangsta Dog, located in Riverwalk Landing.
The annual Halloween Pet Costume Parade will begin at 1 p.m. This popular trick-or-treating event will feature several Yorktown businesses and rescue organizations, and a map will be posted both online and on-site.
Maritime Festival
The final festival in the line-up, the Maritime Festival, will take place Saturday, Nov. 12 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Visitors to the Maritime Festival will be able to enjoy some of the best local and seasonal seafood in the area including clam chowder, Virginia blue crabs, and fresh fried fish. Guests can also shop for nautical-inspired art and jewelry.
According to York County, Pirates will invade the waterfront to talk to kids about seafaring life, and there will be educational information for mariners of all ages. Attendees will be able to sing along to live sea shanties on the Riverwalk Landing stage, watch a special performance by the Fifes and Drums of York Town at 10 a.m., and as a special treat, the History Fair inside the Freight Shed will tell the untold stories of Yorktown. Then, cruise on over to the Riverwalk Landing Piers for historic workboat tours.
Free parking for special events is available in several lots throughout Historic Yorktown, including the two-level parking terrace on Water Street. The free Yorktown Trolley runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
Events will be held rain or shine. Vendors and artists will move into the lower level of the parking terrace in the case of inclement weather. Some activities, however, may be canceled and will not be rescheduled.
Visitors are encouraged to follow Visit Yorktown’s social media accounts for all event-related changes and announcements. For more information, check out the official Yorktown Market Days website.
