Comments on: Virginia Wine Festival – Sept. 15-16 http://www.thedctraveler.com/2007/09/virginia-wine-festival-sept-15-16/ A Washington DC insider's travel guide that's full of area information for both tourists and residents. Covers area attractions, activities, events, nightlife, memorials and monuments, historic sites, museums, the Smithsonian... Sat, 26 Sep 2009 14:38:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Jon http://www.thedctraveler.com/2007/09/virginia-wine-festival-sept-15-16/comment-page-1/#comment-333 Jon Sun, 16 Sep 2007 11:55:43 +0000 http://www.thedctraveler.com/virginia-wine-festival-sept-15-16/#comment-333 Diane: First thanks for your comments. And second, so sorry about the traffic and food issues. After 32 years of doing this, you would think the organizers might have these details nailed. Perhaps the only possible solution to avoid the end of event rush is to arrive early and try to leave early as well. There also a free shuttle from Belmont Country Club (Just off of Route 7 - on Russell Branch Parkway) which might be easier. LINK: http://www.virginiawinefestival.org/tips.htm Diane: First thanks for your comments. And second, so sorry about the traffic and food issues. After 32 years of doing this, you would think the organizers might have these details nailed.

Perhaps the only possible solution to avoid the end of event rush is to arrive early and try to leave early as well.

There also a free shuttle from Belmont Country Club (Just off of Route 7 – on Russell Branch Parkway) which might be easier. LINK: http://www.virginiawinefestival.org/tips.htm

]]> By: Diane http://www.thedctraveler.com/2007/09/virginia-wine-festival-sept-15-16/comment-page-1/#comment-105 Diane Sun, 16 Sep 2007 01:11:28 +0000 http://www.thedctraveler.com/virginia-wine-festival-sept-15-16/#comment-105 It is now 9PM. I just arrived in the door. I live in Lorton, VA. I was sitting in my car at the Festival's parking lot at 5:30PM, I got out of the parking lot at 7:50PM. While I totally enjoyed the Wine Festival I was appalled by the lack of traffic management out in the lots. It was utterly disorganized and disfunctional. Obviously no-one on duty managed traffic for large events. I am surprised there was not a riot! The Sheriff's department did a very good job making sure that no one had a glass with wine in it and definitely watched for the sobriety level of others. I spoke to 3 different individuals with the shiff's department and they all told me, and many others, that they should write. Authorities were very quick to point the finger at each other...fire department blamed it on the county police and the sheriff's office blamed it on the fire officials that volunteered for the event. In either case, getting out of the lot was an absolute travesty. 2 hours and 20 minutes it took for us to get out of the lot. I was 4 rows from the exit. The back side rows could not feed into the main lane because no one was managing traffic in the front. All the side rows in the front were merging into the main lane. It meant that the thousand cars parked near the exit would have to leave first before the rest of us could leave. On another note, the lines for food, as late as 3:30pm, still took up to 50 minutes. What does it take to get additional food concessions there?? The enjoyment of the event was ruined buy things that are so easy to fix. At $50 a couple, I would not anticipate this kind of aggravation. It's ashame. We will never go again. Diane Lorton, VA It is now 9PM. I just arrived in the door. I live in Lorton, VA. I was sitting in my car at the Festival’s parking lot at 5:30PM, I got out of the parking lot at 7:50PM. While I totally enjoyed the Wine Festival I was appalled by the lack of traffic management out in the lots. It was utterly disorganized and disfunctional. Obviously no-one on duty managed traffic for large events. I am surprised there was not a riot! The Sheriff’s department did a very good job making sure that no one had a glass with wine in it and definitely watched for the sobriety level of others. I spoke to 3 different individuals with the shiff’s department and they all told me, and many others, that they should write. Authorities were very quick to point the finger at each other…fire department blamed it on the county police and the sheriff’s office blamed it on the fire officials that volunteered for the event. In either case, getting out of the lot was an absolute travesty. 2 hours and 20 minutes it took for us to get out of the lot. I was 4 rows from the exit. The back side rows could not feed into the main lane because no one was managing traffic in the front. All the side rows in the front were merging into the main lane. It meant that the thousand cars parked near the exit would have to leave first before the rest of us could leave.

On another note, the lines for food, as late as 3:30pm, still took up to 50 minutes. What does it take to get additional food concessions there??

The enjoyment of the event was ruined buy things that are so easy to fix. At $50 a couple, I would not anticipate this kind of aggravation. It’s ashame. We will never go again.

Diane
Lorton, VA

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