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Five live bands. Inflatable obstacle courses and carnival games. Face painting and balloon artists. Adoptable puppies. Great local food. Live jazz at The Italian Store. And an Oktoberfest celebration and beer garden at Westover Market that keeps the party going until 9 PM.

Westover Day is back, and this year the celebration is taking over the neighborhood. On Saturday, October 3, the festivities kick off at Cardinal Elementary from 2–6 PM before spreading through Westover, with live music and specials at The Italian Store from 4:30–6:30 PM and an Oktoberfest celebration at Westover Market from 5–9 PM.

More than 1,000 people joined us last year, but this year we’re thinking bigger: more music, more activities, more local organizations and, for the first time, a celebration that stretches across Westover. The idea is simple—bring the kids, bring your neighbors, spend the afternoon at Cardinal, and then make your way through Westover as the celebration continues into the evening.

A Neighborhood Celebration, Grown from the Ground Up

Westover Day began in 2022 as a grassroots effort to bring Arlington’s Westover neighborhood together — to put in one place the local businesses, community organizations, schools and residents who give this corner of Arlington its distinct character. Each year, the event has grown a little larger as more neighbors, makers and community groups have gotten involved. This year marks the biggest expansion yet.

For the first time, the celebration won’t be contained to Cardinal Elementary. It will extend throughout Westover itself, creating an afternoon and evening that flows through the neighborhood’s streets and storefronts.

What to Expect This Year

The main festival runs from 2–6 PM at Cardinal Elementary, and there’s something genuinely for everyone. Three live bands will perform at Cardinal throughout the afternoon, headlined by Westover Knights. Kids can tackle inflatable obstacle courses, try their hand at carnival games, enjoy complimentary snacks while supplies last, or get their faces painted. Balloon artists will be on hand, and Lost Dog & Stray Cat Animal Rescue will be bringing adoptable puppies — so come prepared to fall in love.

Dozens of local organizations and makers will have tables set up, offering a real opportunity to discover groups and small businesses you might not have encountered before. Food comes courtesy of Big Boy Biscuits and Seaside Oyster Company, two local favorites that need little introduction.

As the afternoon continues, the party moves up the street. From 4:30–6:30 PM, The Italian Store will host live jazz by The Legacy Jazz Combo + a special guest (!), refreshments and Westover Day specials. Then from 5–9 PM, Westover Market and its beer garden take the baton — featuring a performance by Fast Eddie and the Slowpokes, a New Realm Brewery tasting and tap takeover, and Oktoberfest food specials.

More Than a Party

What makes Westover Day worth paying attention to isn’t any single activity — it’s what happens in between. Neighbors run into each other. Kids find their classmates. Someone discovers a local nonprofit they didn’t know existed. A family stumbles across a small business that becomes a new regular stop. These are the quiet, compounding effects of a community that takes the time to care.

Want to Help Make It Happen?

Westover Day is also looking for volunteers to help with setup, breakdown and activity management throughout the day. It’s a particularly great opportunity for high school students looking to earn community service hours. If you’d like to get involved, you can sign up here.

Organized by the Greater Westover Civic Alliance

Westover Day comes to you courtesy of the four Westover-area civic associations, including Westover Village, Tara-Leeway Heights, Highland Park-Overlee Knolls, and Leeway Overlee.