Bonfire Brought Neighborhood Together
Diverse Crowd Helped Inaugurate New Holiday Tradition
One of the highlights of the Rosslyn Holiday Market Festival, held December 10 and 11 in Gateway Park, was the bonfire on the western edge of the park. This much-anticipated event took place thanks to a partnership with Arlington Parks and Recreation.
The bonfire burned brightly throughout the evening on Friday, the final day of the market. Separated from the area where vendors were, it attracted a quieter, more laid-back crowd who chatted in small groups around the fire or relaxed in Adirondack chairs nearby. Unseasonably warm temperatures may have contributed to the large crowd that came to the market and bonfire that night.
Not far from the blaze, a mobile event bar offered a convenient way to enjoy drinks. The bar was crowded for much of the evening, with many congregating around the sleek, modern space to enjoy a club-like experience under the stars. Others preferred to have their drinks around the fire.
It was great to have Kona Grill there, as well. This terrific new restaurant, which joined the Rosslyn dining scene earlier this year, served up a few dishes from their expansive menu. A DJ, coordinated by Bruce Pike Productions, played a great selection of music to enhance the festive atmosphere.
Several attendees posted their images on social media.
"Love my neighborhood," tweeted Ami Kelly, who shared her pictures of the bonfire.
"Hanging out in Gateway Park in Rosslyn . . . short sleeves on a December evening," tweeted another.
Lyndell Core, the senior Arlington Parks staff person who kept the fire burning that night, said he saw the bonfire as something celebratory and unifying "as people gathered to build what we hope will be a new tradition."
Based on the positive response to this event, it seems clear that the bonfire should return -- bigger and better -- next year.
To view more photos of the event, visit the Rosslyn BID's Facebook page.