Tell your friends: This is the best weekend to visit Culpeper!

Last week I discussed hospitality in the wake of a crisis, but fortunately there’s no reason to wait for an emergency to open our community to strangers.

Culpeper is hosting a series of upcoming events, and one that just passed, which spotlight our area. Be sure to let your out-of-town friends know that this is the time to come for a visit.

On Saturday, Culpeper Regional Airport hosts its 10th annual Air Fest. There’s nothing like this classic car show of the sky.

It’s exciting just to hear the planes buzzing overhead in an area where we’re not used to the sound. But seeing the planes up close brings back the wonder of youth — and can wow you just thinking about how all those different designs can take off and fly.

The show runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and admission is free. There’s plenty of food and children’s activities on site, but I was inspired last year by the families that showed up with a picnic basket and a blanket and camped out in the grassy field at the end of the runway — there aren’t many opportunities to do that anymore.

On Sunday, it’s the town’s turn to play host as Culpeper Renaissance Inc. invites us to the fifth annual “Taste of Culpeper.” The event, which runs from noon to 5 p.m. in the Depot area, is eye-opening for its variety of local cuisine.

As a self-described “foodie,” having everything in one place is a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon, and the day is guaranteed to be less heartburn-inducing than watching the Redskins game.

While the chance to sample the food is worth the admission for me ($15 at the gate, $10 in advance at Chateau du Reaux, Randy’s Flowers, StellarOne and Wachovia), some have been known to come for the wine. With 11 Virginia wineries, and the addition of three Virginia breweries this year, there’s a taste to fit every palette, and it’s a great showcase of the commonwealth’s viticulture.

CRI does a great job of making the “Taste” a lot more than just a drinking event. There are diversions for the whole family including games, crafts and pony rides for children and music all day.

This year, that music got a big boost when bad weather forced the summer Third Thursday Concert Series to reschedule its “Battle of the Bands.” So now, while you’re enjoying the food and fun, you can stay to hear five area acts compete for the title. You’ll want to come early and plan to stay for a while — it’s a diverse lineup, and I don’t think we’ll hear the same song twice.

With the big weekend ahead, I also want to mention my son’s favorite local event that just occurred — The Harvest Days Farm Tour. The Culpeper Chamber of Commerce and Visitor’s Center deserve a special thanks for showcasing our local agricultural community. The event lets my son pretend he’s driving a tractor, and it gives me a chance to thank our local farmers for keeping so much of our area green.

While there’s plenty of history and natural beauty to draw visitors to Culpeper, our local businesses, agricultural community and nonprofit organizations do a great job of highlighting what makes our home such a wonderful place to live (or visit).

Clements’ column runs every Monday.