Celebrate Fairfax 2018 Guide: Performers, Fireworks, Parking

FAIRFAX, VA—Get ready for Celebrate Fairfax, the county's biggest summer celebration, held June 8-10 at the Fairfax County Government Center. Festival-goers will enjoy live music, family entertainment, exhibits, carnival rides and fireworks.

Among the highlights are carnival rides, over 120 performances on seven stages with headliners Good Charlotte, Sugar Ray, Gin Blossoms and Cracker.

Here are some things to know as you plan to attend:

Concert Schedule

Friday, June 8

8 p.m. – Good Charlotte: Founded in Waldorf, Maryland in 1996, the group released its self-titled debut in 2000 and became one of the biggest pop-punk bands with 2002’s "The Young and the Hopeless."

Saturday, June 9

6:30 p.m. – Sugar Ray & Gin Blossoms: Sugar Ray’s” breakthrough hit song “Fly” put them on the map in 1997, reaching #2 on the Adult Top 40 charts, #1 on the Modern Rock Tracks, #1 on Top 40 Mainstream charts. Since then Sugar Ray has sold over 8 million records. The Gin Blossoms gained a local following in Phoenix, Arizona during the 1980s, but their breakout record “New Miserable Experience” in 1992 helped them rise to fame. With singles like “Hey Jealousy,” “Allison Road,” “Until I Fall Away,” “Mrs Rita,” and “Found Out About You,” the record has sold 5 million copies.

Sunday, June 10

4:30 p.m. – Cracker performing at The Sunday Brew: Cracker has been described as alt-rock, Americana, insurgent-country, and even punk and classic-rock. They have released ten studio albums and done thousands of live performances. The band is known for songs like “Low,” “Euro-Trash Girl,” “Get Off This” and “Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out With Me.” To attend this concert, you must have a Sunday Brew ticket. The event will feature 13 local and regional breweries, two stages of entertainment, beer-focused activities and exhibits.

See the performers on other stages:

• Cox Rocks! Stage
• Devils Backbone Live
• The Vintage
• The Garden
• The Silent Disco
• The F.H. Furr Family Stage
• Fairfax Corner Community Stage

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Fireworks

Fireworks shows will happen at 9:30 p.m. on Friday, June 8 and Saturday, June 9 courtesy of Leidos.

Rides

Individual ride tickets ($1.25 each) will be available for purchase at ticket booths. If you plan on riding lots of rides, the $25 All-You-Can-Ride Handstamps (on-site only) and Carnival Combo general admission tickets are available. Rides typically require two to six tickets per person.

The rides are divided into two sections:

• The KidWay MidWay features all of the kiddie rides meant for younger kids. It is located between the Inova Children’s Hospital Avenue and the Food Court.
• The Carnival area features new rides such as the Extreme for older riders.

Ride hours are:

• Friday 6 p.m.-midnight. All-you can ride Handstamps are not available for purchase but can be redeemed Friday.
• Saturday 10 a.m.-midnight. All-you can ride Handstamps are available for purchase until 5 p.m.
• Sunday 11 a.m.-7 p.m. All-you can ride Handstamps are available for purchase until 5 p.m.

Check out potential rides and height and weight restrictions here.

Other Activities

• Sunday Brew (special ticket required)
• Kids Crafts and Steam Works
• Petting zoo
• Wiggler Car Village
• Toddler moonbounce
• Fairfax Express trackless train
• Robotics Pavilion
• Washington Capitals "Street Caps" mini rink
• Story time with the libraries
• Fairfax County Karaoke Championship (registration required)
• Fairfax County DockDogs Competition (registration required)
• Celebrate Fairfax! Donut Eating Contest (registration required)
• esports Arena – PSISTORM CUP VI (registration required)
• Celebrate Fairfax! 5K (registration required)
• Celebrate Fairfax! Loves the 90s Team Trivia (registration required)
• LOVE Artwork
• Taste of Virginia Wine Bar (tickets on-site)
• The Gaga Pit
• Bobby McKey's Dueling Pianos
• Brad Matchett Comedy Hypnotist

Admission

Tickets are required to enter and can be purchased for one day or the entire weekend. General admission includes access to the headliner performances and other live music, free parking at festival lots, and complimentary shuttles to and from the parking lots.

Weekend admission is available for $22 online through June 10. Adult tickets are $12 online and $15 at the gate. Children ages three-12 are $5 and children 2 and under are free. Sunday adult tickets are $8 online and $10 at the gate. Daily admission tickets are also available at Northern Virginia Wegmans locations for $10 through Thursday, June 7.

Seniors and active or retired military can receive discounted $10 tickets at the gate with ID.

Tickets are also available in combos for special events. Visit celebratefairfax.com/tickets for more information.

Parking and Transportation

Limited parking will be available at the Government Center complex across the street (12011 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax), but those lots fill up quickly. Parking levels under the Government Center are by permit only. Permits are valid only on Friday, June 8 in the evening, all day Saturday, June 9, and all day Sunday, June 10. On-site parking at the Fairfax County Government Center is available for persons with valid DMV-issued handicapped permits.

Free shuttle buses are available to and from the Fair Lakes Circle (across from the Kohl's shopping center) and Fair Oaks Mall (11750 Fair Oaks, stops near ManTech and near Fairfax Marriott) and festival every five to 10 minutes.

See more about parking and transportation here.

Image by Art Cole Photography, courtesy Celebrate Fairfax