Summer may be on the downswing, but looking at Fairfax County's event calendar, you wouldn't know that. Before school is back in session and the warm weather turns crisp, check out why August is a prime time to visit and explore Fairfax County.
1. Holidays and Month-Long Celebrations
August is a popular month for celebrating different passions, from local foods to craft beer to your golf swing. Here are a few interests you might want to embrace this month.
DC Restaurant Week
August 12 - August 18
Image courtesy Founding Farmers
Attention, foodies! Summer Restaurant Week returns to the metropolitan area this month! Twice a year, the DMV area highlights some of the region's top restaurants, and many fabulous Fairfax County dining spots join in on the celebration to offer brunches, lunches, and dinners at a special rate. DC Restaurant Week returns from Monday, August 12 to Sunday, August 18 and includes both in-house dining and to-go meals with a variety of family-style offerings as well as cocktail and wine pairings. Eat your heart out and support hundreds of restaurants throughout the DMV. Get the list of participating restaurants here. (List will be updated as more restaurants are added.)
National Farmers Market Week
August 4 - August 10
Let's try a fun challenge this week by skipping the Pinterest recipes and browsing favorite homemade recipes from Fairfax's locals. From August 4 -10, it's National Farmers Market Week, and Fairfax's farmers markets are celebrating with recipe swaps! Check out the full list of farmers markets and drop off your recipe at the market information tent while searching for a new one to try. You'll leave with a bag full of fresh local produce, secret recipes, and a free reusable, insulated bag!
National Golf Month
It's a tee-riffic time to book your spot on the green because August is National Golf Month! Fairfax County offers some of the best golfing in Northern Virginia, by "par!" Check out Fairfax County-operated courses and reserve your tee time here. For a complete list of area golf courses, check out this list. For fun for the whole family, be sure to check out our mini-golf courses as well.
Virginia Craft Beer Month
Virginia Craft Beer Month is upon us, and our Fairfax County Breweries are the "pitcher" perfect place to get your fix! Visit some of the most innovative and dedicated brewmasters to find your new favorite beer. Explore award-winning breweries in the area, such as Caboose Commons and Caboose Tavern, which recently medaled gold at the 2024 U.S. Beer Championships for its Boxcar Brown Ale in the American Brown Ale category. Additionally, at this year's Virginia Craft Beer Cup, Lake Anne Brew House received second place for their Stand-Up Paddle Porter and Bunnyman Brewing took second place for its Conejitos Furiosos Spicy Mexican Lager. Dominating in the fruit category, Bike Lane Brewing took the #1 spot for their Kiki’s Carrito sour ale. Venture through all the locally brewed and locally poured beer Fairfax County has to offer!
Hot tip: Bunnyman Brewing Co. just opened its new second location at the Workhouse Arts Center! Stop by the new taproom to celebrate Craft Beer Month!
Women's Equality Day
Image courtesy Mina Habibi/Workhouse Arts Center
This August marks the 104th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment, which secured women's constitutional right to vote. August 26 may be commemorated as Women's Equality Day, but this entire month brings a variety of ways to remember and celebrate the suffragists who fought for change.
Visit the Lucy Burns Museum:
In 2018, the Workhouse Arts Center completed a renovation of a 10,000-square-foot barracks building on campus, in what was formerly the Lorton Correctional Facility which operated from 1910-2001. This building now hosts the Lucy Burns Museum, which tells the story of the suffragists who were imprisoned here in 1917 for picketing the White House for women’s right to vote. Watch this video to learn more about this fascinating story.
On Friday, August 23, The Workhouse Arts Center invites all to attend Learning at Lunch - Suffragists UNcarcerated. Attendees will delve into the remarkable story of the Workhouse's involvement in the Women’s Suffrage Movement, where over 70 suffragists who protested at the White House were imprisoned. This event, presented by author and longtime museum volunteer Kenena Spalding, will also highlight the crucial contributions of other suffragists who were never arrested.
On Saturday, August 24, celebrate Women's Equality Day with an afternoon of festivities honoring the efforts and achievements of the revolutionary activists who fought long and hard for women's rights. It will be an evening filled with performances by Capital Harmonia, a DC based all women's chorus, and an opportunity to get creative with themed crafts!
Visit the Turning Point Suffragist Memorial:
It took 72 years to pass and ratify the 19th Amendment and more than 100 years to fully honor the millions who fought for women to have a voice in their government. The Turning Point Suffragist Memorial is a national landmark that pays tribute to ALL women who fought during America's women's suffrage movement. Snap a photo in front of the original White House gates that the women protested in front of in 1917, learn their stories at 19 educational stations, stroll through the reflection garden, and spend some time at this integral site for women's history in #FXVA.
Get Inspired with Little-Known Local Stories:
Fairfax County is home to a multitude of sites and stories that celebrate the contributions of women to the United States. Explore the many sites in our region that tell their stories, and in doing so, gain a new appreciation for what they achieved.
2. LEGO Discovery Center Turns One!
Photo courtesy Virginia Tourism Corporation
Where imaginations run wild, the LEGO Discovery Center at Springfield Town Center is turning one and is promising a bricktastic First Birthday Celebration on August 9 for all newcomers and seasoned fans. As if LEGO Discovery Center can get any better, the birthday bash is giving away free LEGO sets and the first 100 paid visitors will receive a complimentary LEGO Mystery Minifigure! Everyone better run to Springfield to get a surprise Minifigure and to participate in the first-ever MINI World Scavenger Hunt, a task that will be no easy feat. What is a birthday party without a birthday cake? At the Creative Club, they believe every birthday celebration deserves a cake. That's why kids can design and create their own dream birthday cake. Remember, imagination is boundless! Join the celebration and enjoy everything the LEGO Discovery Center has to offer in its LEGO-tastic playground!
Hot Tip: Be there bright and early to witness the big name reveal of the giant LEGO Giraffe!
Another treat for LEGO enthusiasts: the upcoming BrickFair LEGO Expo at the Dulles Expo Center on August 3-4, 2024. This event offers another exciting opportunity to immerse in the enchanting world of LEGO creations and connect with fellow fans. Or, check out the brand new Bricks & Minifigs retail shop in Herndon for all your LEGO and game supplies!
3. Waterfront Dining
Photo courtesy Kalypso's Sports Tavern
Food always tastes better when it comes with a spectacular view. Luckily, our region's waterfronts are bustling with scenic dining destinations for every palette. From the flowing waters of the Potomac River to the tranquil edge of Lake Anne, check out our Guide to Waterfront Dining in Fairfax County!
4. Special Events This August
There are so many unique events happening this month that it was tough to narrow down. Here is a sampling of some not-to-miss August fun. Check our full event calendar for even more great ideas.
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4H Fair & Carnival |
Purple Heart Commemoration |
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Night Sky Tour at The Roll-Top Observatory |
Lake Anne Cardboard Boat Regatta |
| Crab Feast August 10, 2024 Aslin Beer Company |
Summer Olympics Games Through August 11, 2024 AMC Tysons Corner 16 |
| Poetry Beneath the Stars August 17, 2024 Turner Farm |
Over The Edge With Holistic Haitian Alliance August 24, 2024 Hyatt Regency Tysons Corner Center |
5. The Final Victories of the 2024 Summer Olympics
The finals are coming up, which only means one thing...the end of the 2024 Summer Olympics. This is your last chance to support these amazing athletes, especially those from Fairfax County! For the first time ever, come watch on the big screen at AMC Tysons Corner as NBC presents Olympic Watch Parties. All you need is popcorn as you watch the live coverage of all the glory and the ceremonial extinguishing of the Olympic flame at the closing ceremony. On the other side of the county, it's not too late to take a selfie in front of the 8-foot-tall Herndon Torch for a chance to win a prize pack!
6. Summer's Last Hurrah
Water Mine Family Swimmin' Hole
Before the weather starts to cool off, squeeze out all the summer fun that you can! Get the thrill-seekers of the bunch excited for splishing, splashing, turning, and twisting at our local waterparks. Strike up some friendly competition at our mini golf courses - with a variety of themes, lengths, and difficulties for everyone. Even get out on the water with kayaks, paddleboards, and canoes at our local parks. Or, head to where the wild things are at NOVA Wild - they also just opened a new Butterfly Wings exhibit. For music lovers, enjoy summer melodies at the outdoor Filene Center at Wolf Trap before the season ends.
7. Free Admission at Great Falls National Park
August 4
Photo courtesy Roger Lee Katzenburg
Perhaps one of the most unexpected attractions in Fairfax County is Great Falls Park, packed with trails, historic ruins, scenic overlooks, and a majestic waterfall you don’t even have to hike to see. While admission to the park is usually $20 per vehicle, there's an opportunity to enjoy the natural wonder for free this month on August 4 in celebration of the anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act passed in 2020.
This landmark conservation legislation will use revenues from energy development to provide up to $1.9 billion a year for five years to provide needed maintenance for critical facilities and infrastructure in our national parks, forests, wildlife refuges, and more. Celebrate this monumental achievement for our national parks by experiencing the beauty of the Potomac River.
What are you most looking forward to during these dog days of summer? Tell us in the comments below or join the conversation on social media using #FXVA and @VisitFairfax.
