Fairfax County, VA - When Fairfax County celebrates its 275th Anniversary on June 17, one special guest whose family is directly connected to the jurisdiction, will make a historic appearance and meet the people who live, work, and play in the county that bears his name.
Lord Nicholas Fairfax, direct descendant of Thomas Fairfax (6th Lord) will attend as the guest of honor, along with his wife of 30 years, Annabel, also known as Lady Fairfax. Administrator of the vast Northern Neck Proprietary through a Virginia land grand which dates back to 1649, the County was named after Lord Thomas Fairfax when it was founded in 1742.
275 years after the county’s founding, his descendant will join county officials and over 80 historical organizations for a free public, family-friendly historic festival celebration, on Saturday, June 17, 2017 from 10am-4pm. The event will take place in the area surrounding the Historic Fairfax Courthouse and the Fairfax County Judicial Center Grounds in central Fairfax. In the days leading up to the celebration, Lord Fairfax will also tour various County attractions including George Washington’s Mount Vernon, the Workhouse Arts Center and the Fairfax Museum, among other venues.
"Fairfax County has a long and fascinating history,” says County Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova. “Whether you are a history buff or a family with kids looking for a fun afternoon, you will enjoy our county's exciting 275th Anniversary Celebration. I look forward to seeing everyone on June 17.”
Born in 1956, Nicholas Fairfax (14th Lord), serves as the current holder of the title of Lord Fairfax of Cameron, succeeding his father, Thomas Fairfax (13th Lord). Having been a member of the House of Lords from 1977 – 1999, he was then elected back into that body as one of 48 elected Hereditary Conservative Peers in November 2015. Lord Fairfax also holds the titles of director of the North of England marine insurance company; a consultant to the Burford Capital, the world leading litigation funding and corporate intelligence firm, and a co-founder of Hawki Worldwide, a private security firm.
While serving as both a successful business owner and member of British Parliament are extremely demanding vocations, Lord Nicholas Fairfax is also a hands-on philanthropist who dedicates his extra time and effort to serving the greater good. For example, in 2005, he organized and led the “White Night’s Ride,” a charity motorbike trip of 7.500 miles across Russia and Siberia, raising over a million dollars for charitable causes.
“Annabel and I are thrilled to be helping Fairfax County, named after my forebear the Sixth Lord Fairfax, celebrate its 275th anniversary,” said Fairfax. “We hope as many people as possible will join us on Saturday, June 17 to mark this anniversary of one of the oldest and greatest counties in America.”
For more information, including maps of the celebration festival please visit www.fairfax275.com. Join the conversation on social media at Facebook (www.facebook.com/Fairfax275) and YouTube (Fairfax County’s 275th Anniversary). Hashtag: #fairfax275
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MEDIA CONTACT: Gretchen Bulova – (m) 703-220-4347 (e) fairfax275@gmail.com