The local weather may be cooling down, but Tysons Corner Center’s events calendar is heating up this month.
The mall will usher in a new season with its third annual Fall Festival, which will bring food, shopping, live entertainment and more to the Plaza from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 14.
Though it’s not Halloween-centered like last year’s event, which was held in the heart of spooky season, this year’s “Sip and Celebrate Autumn” festival will offer some familiar attractions, including craft beer samples from Barrel & Bushel, a vendor market, music and a photobooth.
The festival has five breweries from around Virginia participating in the beer sampling: Old Bust Head Brewery, Commonwealth Brewery, Port City Brewery, Ardent Brewing and Remnant Farm Kombucha, which will also have non-alcoholic drinks available.
At the Makers Market, which will operate from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., shoppers will be able to find jewelry, baked goods, candles and other crafted items from 12 local businesses:
- Get Clutched by CSJ
- Jujuteh
- Golden Bond Jewelry
- Artesana Love
- Artita Gallery
- Bamm Sauce
- Toi Moi Bakery
- Black Nerd Coffee
- Bun & Pillow
- Kaaya Life
- Nikki B’s Sweet Treats
- Smell of Love Candles
Admission to the overall festival is free, but any adults 21 and older who purchase a $50 VIP ticket will get access to a wine tasting tent. In addition to tastings from 10 wineries, including Clifton’s Paradise Springs Winery, VIPs will get a souvenir tasting glass, a personal charcuterie box and complimentary “lite bites.”
Proceeds from the VIP ticket sales will go to the Merrifield-based nonprofit Food For Others, which is gearing up for its 11th annual Tysons 5K and Fun Run later in September.
This year, the fundraiser will be part of a “Fall into Wellness” event on Sept. 28. After the race, which will take place from 8-11 a.m., Tysons Corner Center will host workouts and other wellness activities on its Plaza from noon to 3 p.m., including a “Mommy & Me” class from Fit4Mom, a pilates demo by the recently opened Club Studio, and a Lululemon-led cool-down.
Barrel & Bushel will offer complimentary bites, and there will be a fashion show, courtesy of Aerie and American Eagle. Some other mall retailers will get involved with “giveaways, raffles and activations,” according to a press release.
Also coming to Tysons Corner Center this September is a Taste of Thai Festival. Hosted by the Thai Restaurant Association of America, a nonprofit trade organization for Thai restaurant owners, the festival will celebrate Thai cuisine and culture from 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21.
“This festival aims to showcase the diverse flavors and rich traditions of Thai cuisine while advancing the quality and awareness of Thai food,” the mall’s press release said. “It’s also an excellent opportunity for networking, education, and promoting a thriving business environment for all those connected to the world of Thai restaurants.”
Murals added to parking garage bridges
When festivalgoers arrive, they might be greeted by four new murals on the pedestrian bridges between the shopping center and the “C” parking garage near Nordstrom, now known as the “Blue” garage.
Painted by the local artists JD Deardourff, Serena Saunders, Jordann Wine, and Gaia based on the idea of “transformation and change,” the murals were added as part of an ongoing renovation of three parking garages. Slated to finish in October, the project is also making wayfinding and accessibility improvements.
Tysons Corner Center also confirmed that, as previously reported, the clothing stores Hobbs London and Vuori will open this fall, along with the outdoor drinkware retailer Yeti. Banana Republic is in the midst of remodeling its second-floor store across from Apple.
“The new multi-dimensional retail space will be decorated with travertine, brass, and Venetian plaster, creating a luxurious and contemporary atmosphere,” the press release said. “Shoppers will be invited to explore high-quality collections in an immersive, experiential environment.”
