VINTON–The Vinton Area Chamber of Commerce held its annual Fall Festival and 5K Run/Walk on October 10—damp but determined. The event got underway with the race at 8 a.m. and continued as advertised until 4 in the afternoon.
- William Byrd’s JROTC Color Guard opened the Fall Festival at the 5K race.
![Vinton Fall Festival 5K winner.](http://ourvalley.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/5K-winner-Fall-Festival-resized-300x288.jpg)
![William Byrd's JROTC Master Sergeant Allen Culbreth (left) and Coach Eric Royal complete the 5K.](http://ourvalley.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Master-Sergeant-Culbreth-and-Coach-Eric-Royal-finishing-the-Fall-Festival-race-resized-300x248.jpg)
![WBHS Coach Eric Royal and guidance counselor Stephanie Browning at the 5K.](http://ourvalley.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Coach-Royal-and-guidance-counselor-Stephanie-Browning-at-the-race-resized-178x300.jpg)
The Vinton Breakfast Lions served up their annual all-you-can-eat pancake and sausage breakfast from 7 to 11 a.m. at the VFW.
![The Vinton Breakfast Lions Club held their annual pancake breakfast.](http://ourvalley.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Vinton-Breakfast-Lions-Club-pancake-breakfast-resized-300x221.jpg)
Dozens of food and craft vendors lined Lee Avenue. Entertainers performed on the Farmers’ Market and Lee Avenue stages.
![Dozens of vendors lined Lee Avenue for the Fall Festival.](http://ourvalley.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/street-fair-2-resized-300x186.jpg)
![Vinton Police Lt. Mark Vaught, Roanoke County Sheriff Charlie Poff, Vinton Police Chief Ben Cook, and volunteer emcee Bootie Chewning spent the day at Fall Festival.](http://ourvalley.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/police-presence-at-the-festival-resized-300x202.jpg)
![The GFWC Woman's Club of Vinton booth at the Fall Festival.](http://ourvalley.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/GFWC-of-Vinton-resized-300x224.jpg)
![Employees of the Vinton Public Works department are a key to the success of the Fall Festival each year.](http://ourvalley.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Vinton-Public-Works-resized-300x252.jpg)
Animals and their owners withstood the weather for the petting zoo and traditional Doggy Costume Contest.
![Competitors in annual Fall Festival Doggy Costume Contest.](http://ourvalley.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/competitors-in-the-Doggy-Costume-contest-resized-300x232.jpg)
Most amazing were the volunteers from the Chamber and the Town of Vinton who glued the festival together. Especially noticeable were the student volunteers from William Byrd High School–from the JROTC students who opened the day with the color guard for the 5K race, their cadets and WBHS teachers who took part in the race, the cheerleaders who applauded runners as they crossed the finish line, and the art students who painted faces throughout the day. Many of the performances involved students as well—Savannah Amos, Emily Lang, and Tess Owens sang, while the Floyd Ward ensemble danced.
![Volunteers from the William Byrd art classes painted faces at the festival.](http://ourvalley.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/face-painting-by-WBHS-art-students-resized-300x244.jpg)
![Martial artist Christian Thompson performed.](http://ourvalley.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/martial-artist-at-festival-resized-300x246.jpg)
![Martial artist Christian Thompson.](http://ourvalley.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/martial-artist-Christian-resized-220x300.jpg)
![Singer Tess Owens performed at the Lee Avenue stage.](http://ourvalley.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/singer-Emily-Lang-resized-275x300.jpg)
![Singer Emily Lang performed.](http://ourvalley.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/singer-Tess-Owens-resized-293x300.jpg)
The day concluded with a surprise hit—the newly formed Derailed Band who had some of the crowd dancing in the street.
![Dancing in the streets to the music of the Derailed Band.](http://ourvalley.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/dancing-in-the-streets-resized-300x203.jpg)
![Derailed Band.](http://ourvalley.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Derailed-BAnd-resized-300x186.jpg)
For more details of the event and more photos, be sure to check out Thursday’s Vinton Messenger.