Celebrate Fairfax! Festival Begins Friday

The Celebrate Fairfax! festival kicks off its 30th annual three-day run on Friday in Fairfax.

Spread out on 25 acres of the Fairfax County Government Center grounds, the festival features 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 a petting zoo for the kids.

New Events

There are 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. 

Also new this year: Online ticket purchasing. People can save $3 per ticket by buying online (discount tickets 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.

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: Those who arrive early can park behind the Pennino and Herrity buildings on Post Forest and Government Center Parkway. Parking is also available at Fair Lakes Circle and Fair Oaks Mall, with a free shuttle bus to the festival.
• Directions to the festival are 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. (Patch will have a booth with a drawing for a doll from  opening 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:

• Friday, 8 p.m.: 
• Saturday, 8 p.m.: The Bangles
• Sunday, 4:30 p.m.: The Legwarmers

Here's the lineup of entertainment at the Cox Rocks! stage:

There will also be a Crafts Market and Community MarketPlace, with more than 400 vendors and crafters. 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.