Community Corner

Seventh Annual SkateFest Rolls Into Wakefield Park Saturday

The two-day long festival which raises money for the Children's National Medical Center of Washington, DC returns to Annandale for a fourth time.

Hundreds of skateboarders from Annandale and the greater Washington, DC metro area will descend on Wakefield Park this weekend for the 7th annual SkateFest.

The two-day long festival, which is sponsored by the Fairfax County Park Authority and the Fairfax Surf Shop, will feature a five-event skate competition from 12-7 p.m. on Saturday where skaters from four different age groups will compete for prizes.  

This will be the fourth year Wakefield Park hosts the event.

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"One of the main reasons we started the skateboarding event was because there was nothing available for skateboarders. We wanted skateboarders to have a place to go, where they can win prizes and achieve something through their favorite hobby," said SkateFest owner Dan Callahan. "Having an event where skateboarders can go and compete, win prizes, trophies and raise money was a perfect way to give skateboarders a place to go."

Interested skaters can register and check in for the preliminary rounds of the competition on Friday from 5-7 p.m. All competition participants can register online for $25 or pay $30 to register on Saturday.

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More than 300 participants attended last year’s event. SkateFest organizers say they anticipate closer to 400 attendees this year.

"This is my first time going, and I am extremely excited!! I have heard so many great things about it over the past few years. I am looking forward to winning some prizes from Girl and Death Wish," said 13-year-old Nader Kandi.

In addition to celebrating National Go Skateboarding Day, SkateFest also raises money for the Children's National Medical Center of Washington, DC through its Sk8 for a Cause event that commences on Saturday at 12 p.m.

The funds collected from the event benefit three specific areas in the Children's Hospital: Oncology, neurology and opthomology. 

Skaters of all ages and skill level can participate in Sk8 for a Cause, which takes participants through a check-pointed route that allows them to raise money for the hospital and win prizes along the way. More than $20,000 in products were donated for the prize packs for this year's event.

Over the past five years, SkateFest has raised more than $30,000 in donations for the children’s hospital.

“It's for a great cause. The Sk8 for a Cause event gets more and more successful every year and the hospital really benefits from it,” said Kara Martinez, public relations director for SkateFest.

The skater who raises the most money will win a scholarship to Camp Woodward while the top 10 skaters will receive prizes.

For more information about Sk8 for a Cause, read Martinez's Patch blog: Skatefest and Sk8 for a Cause In's and Outs.

While the event caters primarily to skaters, Martinez said there's something for everybody at the festival.

“Even if there are no skaters in the family, everyone's welcome to come out and enjoy the food, the DJs and everything. There will also be music, food, and plenty of family-friendly activities along with various vendors and giveaways,” said Martinez.

This year, organizers have added a silent auction where festival attendees can bid on a variety of donated items.

Residents who wish to donate to Children's National Medical Center, but don't want to skate can fill out the same online registration form and leave the skater name blank.

Additionally, there will be two fundraiser nights to raise money for Children’s National. The first is at Buffalo Wing University from 6-9 p.m. on Thursday and the second is from 6-9 p.m. on Sunday at Joe's Crab Shack. Ten percent of all sales from both nights during those times will go to the Medical Center.

Those who wish to participate in the Sunday fundraiser at Joe's Crab Shack have to pick up the required flier at Wakefield Park on Saturday in order for the hospital to receive the donations.

For more information about SkateFest visit www.skatefestfairfax.com.


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