Fall Festival
The Fall Festival is an annual outdoor community event organized by the City of Fairfax's Parks and Recreation department, drawing tens of thousands of attendees and serving as a major platform for city departments, community organizations, and partners to engage with residents.
In October 2024, the event was held on October 12 with an anticipated attendance of 40,000–45,000 people. In 2025, the festival was scheduled for October 11, with multiple city entities — including the Urban Forestry Master Plan outreach team and the Senior Center — planning a presence. For 2026, the festival was anticipated for October 10 and referred to as the city's 50th annual Fall Festival, with confirmed participation from the Fire Department (hosting an open house at Fire Station 3), stormwater outreach staff, recycling/composting volunteers, and the Senior Advisory Council, among others.
The event is consistently noted alongside other signature city events such as Rock the Block, the Chocolate Lovers Festival, and the Independence Day Parade as a key Parks and Recreation community offering.
Still open
- Whether the 2026 Fall Festival on October 10 proceeded as planned and what the actual attendance and outcomes were.
- Whether the comp time/employee scheduling policy for staff working the Saturday of Fall Festival was clarified or resolved.
- Whether the recycling champions/composting volunteer program was implemented at the 2026 Fall Festival.
- Whether the volunteer management model for one-time events like Fall Festival will be expanded given staff capacity constraints noted in May 2026.
What members have said
At the September 8, 2026 meeting, Council Member Bates expressed enthusiasm about the upcoming Fall Festival (anticipated October 10), drew a positive comparison to the recently successful car show, and said he was 'crossing his fingers' for similarly good weather at the Fall Festival.
Positions as recorded in meeting minutes; votes without recorded comment aren’t summarized.
Discussion time
councilcommissionMinutes of named discussion per transcribed meeting, Oct 8, 2024 onward.
History
Filled dots are actions on this topic; open dots are mentions.
- Oct 10, 2024Parks and Recreation Advisory Board · item 7bUpcoming Events and Programs
Fall Festival is scheduled for October 12, 2024, with anticipated attendance of 40,000–45,000 people.
- Urban Forestry Master Plan Presentation
Fall Festival on October 11th was noted as an upcoming opportunity to feature a table about the Urban Forestry Master Plan. The Senior Center confirmed it will have a presence at the Fall Festival on October 11th. Fall Festival is scheduled for October 11th as an upcoming Parks and Recreation department event.
Discussed alongside
Topics that come up in the same meetings.