Virginia's oldest juried crafts fair marks its sixty-first anniversary this year when the Annual Waterford "Homes Tour & Crafts Exhibit" (known locally as "The Waterford Fair") returns for a three-day run: October 1, 2 and 3 from 10 am to 5 pm daily.

World famous and a visual and artistic delight, the Homes Tour and Craft Exhibit is held each autumn in the National Historic Landmark village of Waterford. This 1733 village, founded by Quakers, offers historic homes open for tour, 160 juried heritage craftsmen with hands-on demonstrations, continuous traditional music and dance, Colonial-era militia encampments, marching fife and drum corps, Civil War re-enactors, with skirmishes throughout the weekend. Tickets at the gate are $15 per person per day, children 12 and under are free. Advance tickets through September 30 at $13 per person per day (ticket orders by mail, phone or email must be received by September 20).

Advance tickets may be charged by phone through the Waterford Foundation office at 540-882-3085 or 882-3018. Or send your check (please specify dates you wish to attend), along with a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: Waterford Foundation, P.O. Box 142, Waterford, VA 20197. Or, call the Foundation office for a ticket outlet near you. Bus groups and groups of 20 or more are $12 per person and must be booked in advance. Call the Waterford Foundation Office for group arrangements. Ticket orders by mail, phone or e-mail must be received by September 20.

Waterford is located just 45 miles northwest of Washington, DC and in close proximity to Dulles International Airport. To get there: take the Dulles Toll Road/Greenway to Leesburg, exit and follow signs for Route 7 West. Continue on Route 7 and exit onto Route 9 West to Route 662 and follow to Waterford. Call 540-882-3085 or 882-3018 for more information or visit the web at www.waterfordva.org