The McLean Community Center (MCC) held yet another successful McLean Day fair at Lewinsville Park on May 15 and 16. It began in 1915 as a school and community fundraiser hosted by McLean School and Civic League at Franklin Sherman School with the tradition continuing for over a century up until today.
The festival featured large and small carnival rides available for all ages, including gourmet food trucks, live music performances, petting areas, and carnival games with promising prizes and the opportunity to flame up the competition with your friends.
The carnival rides require tickets or wristbands that can be purchased in advance through the McLean Community Center for a discount. However admission was free for all visitors attending the event.
Throughout the weekend, visitors walked through rows of booths, listened to live performances and participated in family-friendly activities across the park. Many attendees spent hours exploring the festival grounds and supporting local vendors.
Some of the festival’s most popular attractions included the carnival rides, many of which drew long lines. One crowd favorite was the guitar-themed pendulum ride, which swings riders high into the air while rotating 360 degrees, creating an adrenaline filled experience for the visitors.
“It was very crowded and the line for any ride was super long,” sophomore Caroline Yu said. “I went with my friends so it wasn’t boring waiting in the lines, we also played heads up [which] was really fun.”
Other popular attractions included the glider ride, which lifted riders into the air while circling above the fairgrounds, and the drop tower, known as one of the festival’s most thrilling rides.
Many visitors also enjoyed the Appalachian Mountains ride, where music played throughout the attraction, allowing groups of friends to take photos and enjoy songs from popular artists while riding together.
“McLean Day is a great event to go with friends or family,” senior Zain Shah said. “I really enjoyed spending time with my friends while trying new activities, it was a great way to hang out and make lasting memories before graduation.”
Over 100 local businesses and organizations, along with Fairfax County’s police and fire departments set up booths with giveaways and activities. More than 10,000 visitors attend McLean Day each year, giving community members an opportunity to reconnect with friends and meet new people.
“Coming to McLean Day was a very fun experience for me because I got to hangout with my friends [and] listen to good music,” sophomore Elizabeth Teeter said. “It was an event that got me reunited with friends that I haven’t talked to in a long time, so I’m glad that I came.”
