Summer fairs in Northern Virginia (2016)

Hard to believe there is only a month left to spring (aside from the fact we’ve actually had a real one this year instead of jumping straight into summer!). As June rolls in, this means all the county fairs, cultural festivals and later in the summer, most of the air shows, arrive too.

Northern Virginia hosts some of the biggest County Fairs in the state. Here are a few that are coming up: 

Celebrate Fairfax:  Each year Fairfax County puts on several great events, a popular one is “Celebrate Fairfax”; 2016 marks its 35th year. Fun for all ages, Celebrate Fairfax has the typical carnival attractions, such as rides and food, but it also offers several performances and special presentations. This year’s musical headliners include the B52s and Living Colour (I've always wanted to see the latter band and hope to make it). And a whole lot more. The fair runs for 3 days, Friday to Sunday, starting June 10^th. 

Loudoun County Fair: The fair is a large annual event and will open on July 25 and run through July 30, 2016 There is plenty to see and do including live entertainment contests, a demolition Derby, concerts, performers, lots of animals, a Carnival Midway and more. There are lots of daily events, fun for all ages listed, just check out the fair's website. At time of writing, it looks like the schedule is still being finalized. The fairgrounds are located at 17558 Dry Mill Road, Leesburg, Va.

Photo taken at the4-H Fair horse show a few years back

The Fairfax County 4-H Fair and Frying Pan Farm Park Show will run from dates TBA, but typically runs during the last few days of July and the first couple of days in August. This annual fair showcases all kinds of entertainment, including animal shows, various exhibits, music, contests, rides and more. The fun takes place at Frying Pan Farm Park, located on 2709 West Ox Rd in Herndon. You can learn more about daily events everything else fair-related at the designated 4H website. 2016 marks the event's 68th year!  

Arlington County Fair will run from Aug. 17 to Aug. 21, 2016. Admission to this fair is free and there is also a shuttle service priced at $2 per adult round trip (children under 12 and seniors are free) to get visitors to and from the fair. The fun includes entertainment, family-oriented events, sports, carnival rides, music, dancing and more, both indoor and outdoor events. The annual fair, now in its 40^th year, takes place at the Thomas Jefferson Community Center, located at 3501 South Second St., in Arlington.

The Prince William County Fair is scheduled from Aug. 12 to Aug. 20, 2016. This fair has been an annual event since 1949. Its origins were seeded by a group of WWII veterans who sought to promote Prince William's agricultural industry. The fair bills itself as Virginia's largest county fair. It looks like this year, like previous years, will has lots of events on the calendar. The action takes place at 10624 Dumfries Rd, Rt. 234, Manassas, Va. You can visit the Prince William County Fair website for more information regarding admission, parking and more. While agriculture in the region has declined as the population and building growth continues to move west from the District, still the history and popularity of this event lives on. 

If you're looking for some family fun as the summer arrives, these are some great events in Northern Virginia to consider.

[Related reading: Cultural and ethnic festivals in the D.C. area ]