City Of Fairfax Cancels Public Events Through November

Press release from the City of Fairfax:

08/19/2020 10:20 AM

The City of Fairfax has made the difficult decision to cancel major public events through November 2020. Limitations on crowd sizes and adherence to social distancing guidelines make holding large, popular events nearly impossible. The decision is supported by the mayor and city council.

“COVID-19 has forced the cancellation of almost every large and small event in the D.C. metro area, so our announcement probably won’t come as a surprise to city residents,” said Cathy Salgado, parks and recreation director. “Still, we are aware of the impacts to our vendors and local businesses that count on the large influx of visitors these events draw. It’s disappointing, but the universal opinion is that holding these events in the current public health climate just isn’t feasible. Staff enjoys holding these events almost as much as the people enjoy attending them, and we are hopeful that our events will return next year.”

Canceled events include:

• Rock the Block concerts (August-October)
• Beer in the Burbs (September 5)
• Fall Festival (October 10)
• Holiday Craft Show (November 21-22)

Staff will wait until later this fall to assess whether it is possible to hold the Holiday Market and Festival of Lights and Carols events.

The Labor Day Car Show will be held as a wave parade on September 7. Approximately 30 cars will roll through Fairfax City streets. Details of the timing and route have not been finalized yet.

The 2020 Spotlight on the Arts Festival will be held August 27 through September 5, with a mix of virtual and small, in-person events.

A virtual shopping and information bazaar to connect vendors and non-profit organizations with city residents is under consideration.

This press release was produced by the City of Fairfax. The views expressed here are the author’s own.