Fairfax Fall Festival: Food, Crafts, Music

47th annual celebration is Saturday, Oct. 14.

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Haus of Marzipan will entertain the crowd with a dazzling array of aerial choreography, comedic acrobatics and whimsical dance at the Fairfax Fall Festival on Saturday, Oct. 14.


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Perfekt Blend will perform a mix of high-energy dance music and tender ballads on the main stage.


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Bonnie Hobbs/The Connection

Vendor Lynette Reed with her hand-marbled paper at last year’s festival.


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Bonnie Hobbs/The Connection

Synnai Mann with her balloon animal and fire hat at last year’s event.



<36hd>Fairfax Fall Festival: Food, Crafts, Music


47th annual celebration is Saturday, Oct. 14.


<1b>By Bonnie Hobbs  

<2b>The Connection

When the leaves start changing color and the weather cools down, it’s time for the Fairfax Fall Festival. This year’s event, the 47th annual, is Saturday, Oct. 14, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. The fun includes three stages of live entertainment. food, crafts, beer gardens, plus children’s rides and activities. 

Admission is free, and there are activities for all ages. (Except for service animals, pets are discouraged). Vendors and the carnival will close at 5 p.m. But the musical entertainment will continue with Scorpion Rose performing rock, country and reggae tunes from 5:30-8:30 p.m. in Old Town Square, at University Drive and North Street. 

More than 400 crafts booths and displays will line both sides of University Drive, Main Street and Sager Avenue. And at Fire Station 3 at 4081 University Drive, the Fairfax Volunteer Fire Department will host Sparky’s Harvest Bash with Sparky the Fire Dog, teaching children fire prevention and safety.
A wide variety of food will be offered at two food courts – one on Sager Avenue and the other on University Drive next to the fire station. In addition, three food vendors will be at Old Town Square. And a trio of beer gardens will be at the Main Stage at University Drive and South Street, in Old Town Square, and at University Drive and Sager Avenue.

The Children’s Stage in the Truist Bank parking lot at 4020 University Drive will feature singers, dancers and magicians. Carnival rides and face painting will be there, too. (Rides are weather-dependent). 

Vendor Lynette Reed with her hand-marbled paper at last year’s festival. 

 

A full slate of entertainers will perform on the three festival stages (See Entertainment Schedule for details and addresses). And Haus of Marzipan is set to wow the crowd with its aerial dance/acrobatics shows, next to Fire Station 3. 

Open houses will also be at the City of Fairfax Museum and Visitor Center, Ratcliffe-Allison-Pozer HouseHistoric Blenheim and Civil War Interpretive Center, and the Fairfax County Circuit Court historic records area. For details, times and addresses, go to www.FairfaxFallFestival.com.

“The second Saturday in October, for the City of Fairfax, means the Fall Festival,” said City Mayor Catherine Read. “This event draws vendors and artisans from around the region. Good food, lively music, activities for the kids, and the start of the holiday shopping season. It’s one of my favorite events of the year.”

Festival parking is at The Judicial Center parking garage B on Page Avenue and the Old Town Village parking garage (3925 Chain Bridge Road). Accessible parking is at City Hall, 10455 Armstrong St. (accessed via Chain Bridge Road) and the Old Town Village parking garage.

In addition, handicap-accessible shuttle buses will travel to the festival from Fairfax High, 3501 Lion Run, and GMU’s Rappahannock Parking Deck, 4393 University Drive, and back again, from 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. And a First Aid station will be at Fire Station 3. 


Entertainment Schedule


Special Featured Performers

4081 University Drive (next to Fire Station 3)

11 a.m. & 2 p.m. - Haus of Marzipan

A dazzling combination of aerial choreography, comedic acrobatics and whimsical dance.


Main Stage

University Drive and South Street

11 a.m. - Riptide

3 p.m. - Perfekt Blend


Old Town Square Stage

10415 North St.

10 a.m. – Main Street Band

Noon – Rob Hornfeck Enterprise

2:30 p.m. – Zac Quintana Band & the Sages

Children’s Stage

4020 University Drive (parking lot)

10 a.m. - Virginia Ballet Company and School

10:45 a.m. - Turley the Magician 

11:30 a.m. - McGrath School of Irish Dance 

12:30 p.m. - Crickett 

1:15 p.m. - C4 Performing Arts 

2 p.m. - Eric Energy 

3 p.m. - Center for Ballet Arts 

3:45 p.m. - Groovy Nate 

4:30 p.m. - Bach to Rock