Arts & Entertainment

Celebrate Fairfax! Festival Starts Friday

30th annual event features three days of live music, 40 food vendors, rides, games--something for every age

Has it really been 30 years? The Celebrate Fairfax! festival kicks off its 30th annual three-day run on Friday in Fairfax and it promises to deliver something for everyone.

Spread out on 25 acres of the Fairfax County Government Center grounds, the festival features everything you need for a great time: Live music, food from 40 vendors, rides for all ages, arts and crafts, go-kart rides, nightly fireworks (at 9:15 p.m. Friday and Saturday) and even a petting zoo for the kids.

New Events

The organizers aren't letting things get stale--they're delivering bigger and better by adding some new features this year: History Hill, the Extreme Zone featuring go-cart racing, "Greenology: The Science of Green Living" and the Craft Beer Garden and Silent Disco.

Find out what's happening in Kingstowne-Rose Hillwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Also new this year: Online ticket purchasing

You can save $3 per ticket when you buy online (discount tickets are also available at Wegmans.) At the gate, adult tickets are $12, children ages 3-10, $5; 2 and younger are admitted free of charge. Seniors and military personnel pay $8 per ticket. Carnival rides cost extra and tickets can be purchased one at a time or in an all-day pass for $25.

Find out what's happening in Kingstowne-Rose Hillwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Hours and Parking

The hours are:

  • Friday: 6 p.m.-12 Midnight
  • Saturday: 10 a.m. to 12 Midnight
  • Sunday: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Parking: If you get there early, you can park behind the Pennino and Herrity buildings on Post Forest and Government Center Parkway. You may also park at Fair Lakes Circle and Fair Oaks Mall and a free shuttle bus will take you to the festival.
  • Directions to the festival can be found here.

Children's Activities

Some areas, such as the Exxon Mobil Children's Avenue, where there will be plenty of hands-on activities for younger children, a petting zoo, and inflatables, have shorter hours. They are: Friday:  6-8:30 p.m.;   Saturday:  10 a.m. - 8:30 p.m. and Sunday: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. (Be sure to stop by the Patch booth to say hello and enter our drawing for an American Girl doll from American Girl Placeopening at Tysons on June 18th.) Other kids activities include a climbing wall, carnival rides, and a children's stage.

Live Music

Festival-goers will have their pick among 90 different concerts and live acts on seven different stages or venues at the festival, including homegrown talent The Morrison Brothers, whose musical influences include the Zac Brown Band and Citizen Cope.

The big event: The featured performers on the festival's Bud Light Main Stage this year are these well-known national chart-toppers:

Here's the lineup of some of the area's best local and regional talent, performing at the Cox Rocks! Stage:

Friday, June 10


6:15 p.m. MELODIME
7:15 p.m. Mission Hill
9:45 p.m.
Herr Metal


Saturday, June 11

  11:30 a.m. Flo Anito  
1:00 p.m. the reserves 
2:30 p.m. The Morrison Brothers Band
4:00 p.m. Bronze Radio Return
5:45 p.m. Keeping Riley
7:00 p.m. The Resistance
9:45 p.m. Powerful Quiet Fire Soul Show


Sunday, June 12


11:00 a.m. Schiavone McGee
12:30 p.m. Memphis 59
2:00 p.m. Eric Brace & Last Train Home
3:30  p.m. Jack Diamond - Jim Steed Band

Need some quiet time away from the rides and concerts?  Be sure to check out the Crafts Market and Community MarketPlace, where more than 400 vendors and crafters can be found. Open only during daylight hours, the Crafts Market is open on Saturday and Sunday, and closed on Friday. The MarketPlace is open until 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and all day Sunday.

Look for updates this week from Patch and Celebrate Fairfax! Be sure to like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.


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