Clifton Day returns on Sunday, October 11, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. This is its 58th year, and the Clifton Betterment Association is hosting. This year's theme is "Back in Time." Virginia Railway Express puts it more directly. Clifton Day is the only day of the year when the train stops in the town.
That one detail shapes the whole day. The railroad runs through the middle of town, and on October 11 it sets how you arrive, how the festival is laid out, and when the crowd thins out. Plan around the tracks and the rest falls into place.
Decide How You're Getting There Before You Pick Booths
Roads in town close to through traffic from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. So the real choice is between three ways in:
- The train. VRE runs round-trip service to Clifton from every station between Manassas and Rolling Road. The ride in is free. The ride back costs $7 per person, and children under two ride free. If you're coming from the Burke side, the Burke station gets you in without looking for a parking space.
- The parking shuttles. Shuttles run from Chapel at Water and Main at Dell from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
- Accessible parking. Handicapped parking is at Trummer's from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
If you're driving in from the Fairfax County Parkway, check the interchange first. In its September 2, 2026 update, VDOT said two ramp movements at the new Popes Head Road interchange would stay closed "until this fall." One is northbound Parkway to Popes Head Road. The other is Popes Head Road to southbound Parkway. Both were detoured via Braddock Road, and a 45 mph work zone speed limit stays on the Parkway between Route 123 and I-66 until the widening projects finish in mid-2027. Look at VDOT's project page the morning of the festival, since the ramps may reopen in the meantime.
The Tracks Split the Festival in Two
Most of the more than 100 vendors and makers set up south of the railroad. Arts, crafts, vintage, and antiques fill three areas: Main Street and the Trummer's parking lot, the Clifton Shoppes' lot on Chapel Road, and the Caboose lot at Main and Chapel. The beer and wine garden is at Clifton Town Hall on Chapel Road, pouring 2 Silos Brewery beer and wines from The Wine Attic from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Its stage lineup runs Caitlyn Schneiderman at 10:30, Short Hill Mountain Boys at 11:30, Lillian Hackett at 1:00, the Brennan Edwards Band at 2:15, and the Guy Bouchie Band at 4:00. Sarah Swanner plays the Ayre Square Acoustic Stage at Main and Chapel from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
KidFest takes over Clifton Town Park, behind Clifton Baptist Church. It has T-ball, face painting, a juggling Uncle Sam stilt walker, comedy and circus stunt shows at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., and a Rocknoceros show from 1 to 3 p.m. Pets stay home. Clifton Fire Station 416 on Chapel Road holds an open house with firetruck tours all day.
The "Back in Time" theme shows up most clearly north of the tracks. Fairfax County is running its Fairfax 250th booth at the Pink House from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It's the county's local celebration of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution and U.S. independence. The Pink House is 7137 Main Street, a town-owned property just north of the railroad with two buildings and a gravel lot. The Town intends to renovate the two-story frame building facing Main Street for Town use, but that depends on funding that hasn't been secured yet. So the booth brings a lot of foot traffic to a building whose future use is still being worked out.
The Clifton Barn is also north of the railway. It hosts a mini horse carnival with Teddy and Eleanor from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Eleanor's kissing booth opens at 10 a.m., noon, and 2 p.m. The suggested donation is $10, and it benefits the Cloverleaf Equine Center. The Clifton Lions Club sells hot dogs right by the railway.
Main Street's Eateries Keep Their Own Hours
Clifton's own restaurants and shops are part of the festival, and several stay open well past 5 p.m., when the booths close and the trains start pulling out.
| Town eatery | Clifton Day offering | Hours that day |
|---|---|---|
| Clifton Cafe | Grab-and-go crêpes, pretzels, and coffee outside; full menu inside | 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. |
| Main Street Pub | Clifton Day pub menu, plus the general store | 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. |
| Môtier | French pastries, quiche, croques, and coffee on Chapel Road | 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
| Peterson's Ice Cream Depot | Cones, shakes, malts, and sundaes | 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. |
| Trattoria Villagio | Slices and street tacos outside; full Italian menu inside | 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. outside, 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. inside |
| Trummer's | Fresh beignets outside; schnitzel and burgers inside | 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
| The Wine Attic | Casual tastings outside; a seated tasting of bolder wines inside | 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. |
The late hours at Main Street Pub, Peterson's, and Trattoria Villagio make the evening easy for anyone who doesn't have a train to catch. Local groups add to the food lineup. Clifton Presbyterian Church serves crab cake and brisket sandwiches behind Trummer's from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Boy Scout Troop 1104 sells baked goods and apple cider at First Baptist Church.
The information booth and lost and found are outside The Wine Attic. The ATM is at Main Street Pub, and Clifton Presbyterian Church has a quiet room open all day.
How the Day Runs, Hour by Hour
Most of Clifton Day's timing comes down to a few fixed times:
- 8:00 a.m. Roads close to through traffic, and Clifton Cafe and Main Street Pub open.
- 8:30 a.m. Parking shuttles start running.
- 9:00 a.m. The vendor areas, KidFest, the Pink House booth, and the horse carnival open.
- 10:00 a.m. The beer and wine garden opens at Town Hall.
- 4:44 p.m. The last train toward Burke leaves.
- 5:00 p.m. The festival closes.
- 5:30 p.m. The last parking shuttle runs.
- 5:33 p.m. The last train toward Manassas leaves.
- 6:00 p.m. Roads reopen.
Train riders headed east get 16 minutes less of the festival than riders headed west. If you're riding toward Burke, plan your last stop for around 4:15. The festival's download page still links a map PDF labeled 2025, so confirm 2026 logistics on the official Clifton Day site rather than relying on that file.
After the Trains Stop Coming
Clifton Day doesn't end the fall calendar. The rest of the season is smaller and all local.
The Clifton Farmers Market is on the Town calendar at 8 a.m. on October 18, October 25, and November 1. The Clifton Haunted Trail runs Saturday, October 24, from 7 to 10 p.m. Tickets went on sale October 2. The Clifton Betterment Association lists it on its 2026 events page. The Clifton Horse Society's Clifton Christmas Parade is set for December 5, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with more details to come. The Town Events Committee also supports the annual Holiday Homes Tour and Holiday Tree Lighting, though its page doesn't give dates for either.
For weekends outdoors, NOVA Parks lists the Bull Run-Occoquan Trail as open dawn to dusk for walking and hiking. Biking is allowed on authorized sections, depending on trail conditions. Hemlock Overlook Regional Park's trails are open daily from dawn to dusk, but its buildings and restrooms are closed to the public. Fountainhead Regional Park's hours get shorter as the season goes on. It's open 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. in October, 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. in November, and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. in December. Mountain bike trail status is posted daily by phone or on Facebook. Fountainhead's page is less clear about its late-season marina and boat rental schedule, so call ahead before planning a day on the water.
Clifton Day is the one Sunday a year when Clifton is a train stop, and the town fills the day from its first shuttle to its last train. After that, the calendar goes back to the market, the trail, and the parade. If you're already thinking about how Clifton's calendar and character figure into a sale or purchase down the road, Katrina Funkhouser knows this town well and is glad to talk it over. Find her on the Clifton neighborhood page, or come by after the last train leaves. Let's Connect.
