Fairfax City Fall Festival

Fairfax City Fall Festival

The City of Fairfax has run this festival for 50 years, and it takes over the streets of the old town with more than 400 vendors, three stages of music and a row of kids' rides. Getting in costs nothing. The rides are the part that costs money: $3 to $5 a ticket, or a $30 wristband that covers the day. There is also a Children's Stage with dance academies and local acts on the schedule.

Here is the honest part. It gets crowded, and the vendor rows are mostly adult shopping, so the kids' patience runs out before yours does. Decide on the wristband question before you get there. If your kid is a ride person, the $30 wristband pays off after about six tickets. If not, you can skip the rides and just do the Children's Stage and the food.

Parent Tips 💡

• ✓Use the free shuttles. Park at the GMU deck or Fairfax High and ride in. Circling downtown streets is not worth it.
• ✓Decide on the wristband before you arrive. Tickets are $3 to $5 each, so the $30 all-day wristband only makes sense if your kid will ride a lot.
• ✓Head to the Children's Stage first. It is free and gives kids a place to sit while you catch your breath.
• ✓Leave the dog at home. The city discourages pets, with an exception for service animals.
• ✓Go early or late. Midday is the peak crowd. Arriving at 10am or coming back after 3pm is calmer with small kids.