Fall in Virginia: Waterford Fair, Virginia Fall Races

I played hooky at the end of last week and it was the best. I mentioned in the Skyline Drive recap post how the husband and I really wanted to make an effort to enjoy our surroundings more. When people come visit you and freak out over how beautiful things are and Instagram the hell out of your world, it makes you realize there's something you're used to that you should still appreciate. Vineyards and wineries, national monuments, lots of horses, towns and cities from the 1700's...yeah there's a lot to love. After Skyline drive and during the rest of the weekend we went to the Waterford Fair and the Virginia Fall Races. Two more Virginia things you need to come see.

The Virginia Fall Races are held in Middleburg, VA where Middleburg Events Studio is (my West side studio!). If Middleburg sounds vaguely familiar to you, you're likely associating it with Jackie O. JFK and Jackie regularly stayed at their Middleburg Estate and Jackie often returned in the later years to fox hunt and stay at Red Fox Inn. See what I mean? Cool history.  

This older woman on the right was the coolest. Check her out wit her Chanel in the middle of a field. 

Should you get to the event early, there's a Field Hunter Championship event (which is what these pictures are from). I personally think it's way more fun to watch since you get to be up close in the field.  If you follow me on Instagram, I posted this shot below over the weekend. I like to call it "Hey Carlene, your roots are showing". Sometimes it's easy to forget where you are most comfortable amidst time in DC and at conferences and days filled with technology. But yes, little known fact, our second car is a big truck. We have no qualms about walking through fields or woods or jumping out of truck beds or over fences. Horse smell and leather make the husband and I feel at home (He grew up on a horse farm that is now a vineyard in Middleburg. I rode a lot growing up.). And Virginia in fall is really the time when I realize that the most. 

Now onto the Waterford Fair. Waterford is a tiny, historic town in Northern Virginia and each year they shut down the streets to host a colonial fair. You can tour historic homes, watch colonial craft demonstrations and shop from a bounty of historic artisans...like, oh I don't know... my parents, the pewtersmiths just for example. I'm pretty sure I've only missed one Waterford Fair ever in my life. Mom and Dad have been exhibiting at the show forever. It's one of a few times every year they get to hang out with their friends: the Windsor chair maker who is was ex-DEA agent in Miami. The guy with a famous industrial American family who makes baskets out of trees he harvests himself. I know most people grow up on a cul de sac with parents and their friends who work in 9-5 offices, but you can start to imagine the pre-hipster era hipsterness I experienced and why I have an above average knowledge of Early American crafts and why there's usually some pewter in my food photography. 

So I know the blog has basically been an ad for Virginia tourism, but seriously, should you decide to come to Virginia, the first week in October is the perfect time. Book it now for next year.