Eighty-two autumns of the Waterford Fair, and why I never miss one
Every October, something happens to my village that I have never quite gotten used to. The cars disappear. The streets fill with people on foot. Woodsmoke drifts past the Old School, a fiddle tune carries down the hill, and for three days Waterford looks and sounds much the way it might have two centuries ago.
The 82nd Waterford Fair runs Friday, October 2 through Sunday, October 4, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, and I'd love for you to come see what my neighbors and I get to call home here in western Loudoun County.
How the Waterford Fair began: saving a village
Waterford was founded in 1733 by Quaker settlers. Today the entire village and its surrounding farmland are a National Historic Landmark. That didn't happen by accident. In the 1940s, a group of residents who worried that Waterford's old buildings would be lost formed the Waterford Foundation, and in 1944 they opened their homes to visitors to raise money for preservation.
That homes tour grew into the Fair. More than eight decades later, it remains the Foundation's largest annual fundraiser, and the Foundation reports that the great majority of its funds go directly to preserving the village and to year-round education programs, including the Second Street School, where fourth graders spend a day in a one-room schoolhouse. When you buy a ticket, you are quite literally helping keep Waterford standing.
What you'll find at the Waterford Fair
Artisans at work, not just for sale. More than 225 juried artisans and fine artists demonstrate their crafts in historic buildings, old barns, and tents throughout the village. Every one of them is juried by professionals in their field and works in traditional methods. You can watch a broom take shape, talk with a potter mid-throw, and take home something made by the hands you just watched.
The historic homes tour. As someone who spent 25 years in interior design before becoming a REALTOR®, this is the part I look forward to most. Homes, gardens, and businesses open their doors with docents inside to share their stories, and different properties are featured each day. The Second Street School and Catoctin Presbyterian Church are open all three days. Come back Saturday and Sunday and you'll see different houses.
Living history. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Gun Shop exhibit and its live gunsmithing demonstrations. There's also a story I can't stop thinking about: an 1860 friendship journal belonging to Waterford resident Maranda Stewart Hough turned up in a California thrift store, sold for $1.99, and has now come home. It will be on display at the Waterford Craft School tent, with a Tent Talk about it on Saturday. Tent Talks are free, but seats are limited and need to be reserved in advance.
Music, food, and local libations. Traditional American music plays on the main stage on the Old School lawn all weekend, with strolling performers throughout the village. Food is available everywhere you turn, and local beer and wine are poured, fitting for a village in the heart of what's become known as DC's Wine Country.
Kids, unplugged. Children 12 and under get in free with a paid adult. Many artisans offer hands-on activities for young visitors, there's a hay bale mountain to conquer behind the Old School, and a natural play area near the Bond Street Barn.
Tips for visiting the Waterford Fair, from a neighbor
Your ticket is good all weekend. New for 2026, every general admission ticket is a three-day pass: $20 in advance or $25 at the gate for adults, and $20 for seniors, military, and youth ages 13 to 21.
Bring cash. There are no ATMs at the Fair this year.
Wear real shoes. The village is pedestrian-only, hilly, and full of grass and old pavement.
Remember your lot color. Parking is free in three meadows (Green, Yellow, and Red). Shuttles and ADA drop-off are available, though most historic buildings are not wheelchair accessible because of their age.
Leave the dog home. Pets aren't permitted, though service dogs are welcome.
It's rain or shine. Honestly, Waterford in a soft October drizzle is lovely too.
The Waterford Fair as an introduction to village life
I often tell people that the Fair is the easiest way to understand what it's like to live in Waterford, because for one weekend the whole community is on display. You'll see neighbors running the gates, docents who live around the corner, and volunteers who have worked the same booth for decades. That spirit doesn't pack up on Sunday evening. It shows up at the Old School the rest of the year, at the village's other traditions, and in the simple habit of stopping to talk on the sidewalk.
Living here means owning a piece of history and helping care for it. Homes in the village range from log and stone houses of the 18th and early 19th centuries to Victorian and early 20th-century homes, and exterior changes within the historic district go through a review process that protects the character everyone comes here to enjoy. It's a different way of owning a home, and for the right person it is deeply rewarding. The surrounding countryside offers land, space, and those same views, just a short walk or drive from the village center.
If you walk through Waterford this October and find yourself lingering in front of a particular porch, I'd be glad to talk. I can help you understand the village's homes, what stewardship here involves, and what's available in and around Waterford.
I hope to see you at the Fair.
Christy Hertel | Hunt Country Sotheby's International Realty (703) 624-6283 | christyhertel.com 22 W. Market Street, Leesburg, VA
Ticket details, schedules, and the full homes tour lineup are available at waterfordfairva.org.
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