Finally! The weather is getting warmer, events are beginning to fill the calendars, and everyone that has been waiting patiently (or impatiently) for the return of festival season is about to have big ol' smiles back on their faces! Fairfax County has community festivals all around the county starting in late April through June (and beyond). So put on your shorts, grab your sunscreen, and get ready for rides, food, and fun!
There are lots of different types of festivals like music festivals, street festivals, and farm festivals in the fall but here are several key Fairfax County festivals you won't want to miss this spring and summer as festival season begins in Northern Virginia.
Use this blog post as a guide to see which festivals are near you today, this week, and this weekend all summer long.
Taste of Vienna
April 27, 2024
I've been going to Taste of Vienna since it began nearly a decade ago and kind of view it as my own personal kickoff to festival season – I look at it as my reward for surviving the cold of winter. My personal challenge: devour as much food as humanly possible like a bear coming out of hibernation. Besides being an awesomely convenient way to sample all the best restaurants in the Town of Vienna, it's also a brilliant way to thank and support the first responders who work for the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department – the organization that hosts the event. Oh, and there's also local wine and beer for purchase. So beware sliders, crab cakes, pasties, kabobs, and BBQ - Papa Bear is hungry and will be on the prowl once again!
PerchFest
May 3 - 4, 2024
Have you ever attended a festival 11 stories up in the air? Be sure to add PerchFest to your calendar this year, a biannual celebration that is attended by nearly 15,000 people over the course of a spring weekend. Enjoy putt putt in the sky, live music and a selection of craft beers from Starr Hill Biergarten. get ready for fitness classes and shop till you drop at the Made in Fairfax pop-up shop, courtesy of Celebrate Fairfax. Plus, there's plenty more to enjoy while supporting the festival’s charity partner, Miriam’s Kitchen. Let's not forget about the throwback theme as guests are encouraged to wear 80’s and 90’s attire for retro fun!
Northern Virginia Tea Festival
May 4 - 5, 2024
Image Courtesy of Elden Street Tea Shop's Facebook
Looking for the ultimate celebration of all things tea? Take this as your sign to attend the Northern Virginia Tea Festival, hosted by Elden Street Tea Shop. This tea-centric weekend is perfect for both tea aficionados and curious beginners eager to immerse themselves in tea drinking, learning from local experts, and enjoying the company of other tea lovers. The festival offers something for everyone, with a variety of tea classes and demonstrations that explore both the art and science of tea preparation. Kombucha enthusiasts will also have the chance to learn how to make their own fermented tea drink at home! Still on the fence? Perhaps the morning tea yoga session will sway you! Combining the mindfulness of yoga with the relaxing properties of tea to start your day feeling rejuvenated.
Bonus: Find the ideal Mother's Day gift among the 50 tea vendors at the festival. Shop for everything from loose-leaf teas and tea blends to tea sets, teapots, and infusers.
Taste of Tysons Corner
May 4, 2024
Image courtesy Taste of Tysons Corner
Taste of Tysons Corner is back this year to give you the opportunity to taste your way through Tysons Corner Center. Taste of Tysons Corner allows you to experience a wide array of food & beverage offerings with food samplings, cooking demos, chef appearances, a beer garden, live music & entertainment, giveaways, and more! Sample 40+ bites from Tysons Corner Center eateries and watch live music and cooking demonstrations on the plaza. Head over to the Tysons Corner tent to receive a digital "Passport to Delicious: Eatery Guide" and visit every sampling table to qualify for a chance to win the Grand Prize!
Hot Tip: A purchase of a $30 VIP ticket grants you access to exclusive VIP lounge complete with complimentary pairings from our full-service restaurants.
McLean Day
Rides Only Preview Day: May 17, 2024
Festival Day: May 18, 2024
Image Courtesy McLean Community Center
McLean Day is festival season's perfect first taste of rides, exhibitor booths, entertainment stages, and everything else you'd expect a community festival to be. The large and small ticketed carnival rides will give the kids thrills while the food, music, and exhibitors keep the grown-ups entertained. This year on Friday, May 17, a day before McLean Day, you’re invited to "T.G.I.F. Carnival Rides" - a rides-only event where you can get a taste of what to expect on Saturday.
Tephra ICA Fine Arts Festival
May 18 - 19, 2024
Image credit Charlotte Geary for Tephra ICA
Lovers of fine arts will rejoice to hear that Tephra Institute of Contemporary Art will be hosting its annual festival at Reston Town Center this May. Highlighting more than 200 artists who are creating unique, handmade works of art, the festival comprises one-on-one experiences, performances, and special events in the unique outdoor environment of the town center.
BrewWorks Festival
May 18, 2024
The BrewWorks Festival at Workhouse Arts Center returns in a celebration of beer, wine & spirits, and visual arts. Sample microbrews, cider, wine, and spirits, enjoy delicious food and lawn games, and listen to local bands throughout the day. Don't miss out on the thrilling art battle where artists will compete in multiple rounds until one champion stands! While on campus, browse the Workhouse galleries, artist studios, gift shop and Lucy Burns Museum, which explores the site's history as a former prison with ties to the women's suffrage movement. Keep an eye out for local Fairfax County brewery Bunnyman Brewing, which is set to open a second taproom at the Workhouse Arts Center this Summer!
Taste of NoVA
May 19, 2024
Image Courtesy of Northern Virginia Magazine
For the time ever, the Taste of NoVa will be at the National Museum of the United States Army! Don't miss the ultimate "yes chef" event! Northern Virginia Magazine is bringing its "Best Restaurants" list to life, featuring over 40 of the best restaurants and more than 25 wineries and breweries to refresh your palate. With food, live music, and the region's top chefs all in one place, what more could you want? Make sure to wander through the museum after the event for a glimpse of the must-see experiences and exhibits.
Asian Festival on Main
May 19, 2024
Image Courtesy Asian Festival on Main/ Facebook
The 4th Annual Asian Festival on Main is a one-day, outdoor family event right on Main Street and University Drive in the historic Old Town Fairfax City. It's a celebration that showcases Asian heritage, featuring food, arts and crafts, educational activities, and performances, all while embracing themes of love and diversity.
Viva! Vienna!
May 25 - 27, 2024
Now is when we really start getting into the festival swing of things! Viva! Vienna! is three days full of rides, food, exhibitors, ongoing entertainment, and thousands of revelers. My favorite things to check out at Viva! Vienna! are all the great festival cuisines, those hidden gem items found in the exhibitor booths, and the kid-friendly entertainment which keeps my youngster in the festival mood for hours at a time. I look forward to strolling down Church Street during this event every year – just to take it all in.
Reston Pride Festival
June 1, 2024
Reston puts on a community-wide event each June celebrating and supporting the LGBTQIA+ community featuring dance and vocal performances, keynote speakers, an awards ceremony, and more. The 2024 Reston Pride Festival: SHINE! takes place at Lake Anne Plaza starting at 12 PM and festivities lasting until 6 PM!
Taste of Springfield
June 8
Bust out the stretchy waistband! The Taste of Springfield Feast-ival is a community celebration of good food, exhibitors, performances and LIVE music! This family-friendly
Out & About Festival
June 22, 2024
For the first time, Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts will host a festival of music and nature headlined by Grammy winner Brittany Howard, beloved by fans as the lead singer and guitarist for Alabama Shakes in America's only National Park for the Performing Arts. Out & About celebrates pride by spotlighting LBGTQ+ artists and allies who live out loud. Don't sit on tickets to this one - they are expected to go quickly!
Be sure to keep checking back for more information as more festivals are constantly being added to our calendar of events! For the full run down of festivals this summer, click here. Where will you celebrate festival season in #FXVA?
