Mason District Park Festival Offers Neighborhood Fun, Sept 24

Fall must be here if it's time for the annual Mason District Park Festival at Mason District Park in Annandale, Va. Join in the seasonal spectacular on Saturday, September 24, 2011 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Festival goers will find live entertainment, crafts, hayrides, pony rides and a moon bounce. Children will love the rides and spectators of all ages can watch the police and fire department demonstrations as well.

This year's live entertainment includes:

10 a.m. - DinoRock (Puppet Show) The DinoRockers invite you to meet eight wacky oddballs from the Mesozoic Era, including the thick-headed Pachycephalosaurus; Lumpy and his son Bumpy; Sarah, the Saharan Suchomimus who's only thought is of eating fish; the very cool Elvis, the Cryolophosaurus found in Antarctica, and the little lost T-Rex toddler named Wuzzy, who has feathers!

11 a.m. - Hui O Ka Pua `Ilima (Hawaiian Dance & Music) Hui O Ka Pua `Ilima performs traditional and contemporary songs and dances of Hawaii and the Polynesian islands of New Zealand and Tahiti.

12:15 p.m. - Chin Hamaya Culture Center (Okinawan Dance & Music) Enjoy the beauty of traditional Okinawan music and dance combined with dragon and lion dances.

1:15 p.m. - Fairfax Swing Band (Swing Music) In the tradition of Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey and other big bands of the '40s, the Fairfax Swing Band has been wowing audiences since 1989 with music from the big band era through today's contemporary sounds.

2:15 p.m. -- The Reunion Music Society Jazz Orchestra (Jazz Music) Led by NOVA's Professor of Jazz Studies Herb Smith, the Reunion Music Society Jazz Orchestra performs selections from jazz notables such as Duke Ellington, Charlie Bird and Miles Davis along with songs from Broadway shows.

Admission to the festival is free and tickets can be purchased for individual rides.

Mason District Park is located at 6621 Columbia Pike in Annandale, Va. Directions are as follows: Beltway Exit 52B (Little River Turnpike, Rt. 236) east two miles to right at John Marr Drive to right onto Columbia Pike to park entrance on right just before Sleepy Hollow Road.

For more information, please call 703-941-1730.