Taking a staycation this summer? Don’t fret, there is plenty to do here in Northern Virginia during the summer months. A wide variety of events, music, food, rides and other entertainment can be found this summer at any one of the fairs listed below. You can explore animal competitions, carnival rides and first class music. Fair time in Northern Virginia is certainly livemore time! Take your family out and support these community events.
Arlington County Fair
The Arlington County Fair is a summer family event complete with carnival rides, live animal shows, musical entertainment, arts and craft exhibits, and a variety of international foods. Local crafters will display their needlework, apparel, dolls, photography, creative writing, flower arrangements and ceramics. On Saturday, there will be a parade to the fair, starting at 10 a.m. outside the Arlington Career Center, proceeding along S. Highland to 2nd St. and finishing at the fairground.
New this year, there’ll be even more culinary delights to choose from, with an expanded array of food trucks. There will also be a Photo of the Day Contest and a “Find the Disco Ball” contest (a tribute to the Fair’s 1977 birth), with prizes for the winners. Admission to the fair is free.
Dates and Times: August 16-20, 2017, Wednesday, August 16, 2017, 5-10 p.m. (outdoor only), Thursday, August 17, 2017, 5-10 p.m. (outdoor only), Friday, August 18, 2017, 2-10 p.m. (outdoor); 4-10 p.m. (indoor), Saturday, August 19, 2017, 10 a.m.-11 p.m.(outdoor); 10 a.m.-9 p.m. (indoor), Sunday, August 20, 2017, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. (outdoor); 11 a.m.-7 p.m. (indoor)
Location: Thomas Jefferson Community Center, 3501 South Second Street, Arlington, VA..
Parking: There is no public parking at the Fair and parking on nearby streets is restricted to neighborhood residents with temporary permits.
The Community Center parking lot will be used for fair vendors and exhibitors only. Shuttles will run continuously from the Ballston and Pentagon City Metro station, and from the I-66 parking garage and Arlington Career Center lot for $2 round-trip. Children under 12 may ride for free. Bike Arlington and partner Two Wheel Valet have teamed up to provide free valet bike parking on the tennis courts.
Fair Highlights: Harlem Wizards, Racing piglets
Air-conditioned Indoor Exhibitor Hall and Entertainment: interactive aquarium area, indoor community entertainment, arts/crafts, jewelry, competitive exhibits, community and commercial exhibitors
Outdoor fun begins with the 5 p.m. ribbon-cutting on Wednesday in front of the Thomas Jefferson Community Center. There will be pony rides, True Health Kids Obstacle Course and animal races. The following days will feature free musical performances, Harlem Wizards, dancers, exhibitions and more.Kids’ Court: inflatables, face painting, and Monster Mural. Cole Amusement Midway: Kiddie/Thrill Rides, Games and Pony Rides. The ride lineup includes Catch N Air, Cliff Hanger, Rainforest Expo Wheel, Funnel Force, Hurricane, Super Shot, Tilt-A-Whirl, Zipper, Money Maze, Dizzy Dragons, Go Gator, Jolly Choo Choo, Jungle Crawl, Magic Carpet Slide, Skipper the Dolphin, Willie the Whale and more. 5K run/walk: Saturday 8 a.m.
Website:
arlingtoncountyfair.us
Fauquier County Fair
The Fauquier County Fair features livestock, rabbits, poultry, produce, homemade arts and crafts, animal shows, contests, games, demonstrations, homegrown dinner and a variety of live music. The competitions are 
especially popular and include the Animal Sounds Contest, ATV Rodeo, Corn Shucking Contest, Hot Dog Eating Contest, Lawn Mower Pull, Pie Eating Contest, Watermelon Seed Spitting Contest, Zucchini Races and much more.
Fauquier County provides a perfect setting for an old-fashioned fair. The area is known as horse and wine country set in the beautiful rolling foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The area offers a contrast as both a natural haven and gateway to bustling Washington DC metropolitan area.
Dates and Times: July 12-15 2017, Wednesday, July 12th, 2:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., Thursday, July 13th, 2:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., Friday, July 14th, 2:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., Saturday, July 15th, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Location: Fauquier Fairgrounds, 6209 Old Auburn Road, Warrenton, Virginia
Admission: Youth: (12 & Under) $5, Adults: $10,Babes in arms: FREE, Adult Military: (with military ID) $5, Senior Citizens: (65 & Over) $5, Parking is free.
Website: fauquierfair.com
Loudoun County Fair
The Loudoun County Fair is held at the Loudoun County Fairgrounds each July and is best known for its Kiss-a-Pig fundraiser and livestock auction. Other fair highlights include a carnival, rodeo-bull riding, dairy show, goat show, horseback demonstrations, magic acts, pet shows, floral exhibits, obstacle courses, tug-of-war, live musical entertainment and a special dinner each evening.
Dates: July 24-29, 2017
Location: Loudoun County Fairgrounds, 17564 Dry Mill Rd. Leesburg, Virginia. Located near the intersections of Routes 7 and 9.
Admission Daily: Purchased at gate – $12.00 per adult; $5 per child ages 6-12; ages 6 and under are free.
Weekly Passes: Purchased at gate – $25.00 per adult; $15 per child ages 6-12; ages 6 and under are free.
Website: loudouncountyfair.com
Lucketts Fair
(Loudoun County)
Re-discover the Lucketts Fair, a family friendly event which honors Lucketts’ agrarian roots. Enjoy bluegrass music all weekend under the gazebo, thrill at the border collies herding sheep, take a load off and enjoy a hayride, let the little ones loose in the hay maze, squish grapes and sample the juice, dominate the mechanical bull, dance with the cloggers, visit with authors in the Reader’s Garden, shop at the juried crafters and artisans, explore for antiques, refuel on great fair food, squeeze some apple cider and so much more!
Join in the fun by entering the Best Fruit Pie and the Largest Vegetable contests. Don’t miss the Cake Walk. Winners take home an amazing homemade cake. The Bakery is back and beckons you into the Old School auditorium for freshly baked goodies and a cup of knock-your-socks-off coffee.
Stop by the Old School House Market tent during fair days to purchase raffle tickets for your chance to win this hand-sewn quilt. You may also purchase tickets and view the quilt in advance at the
Lucketts Community Center on weekdays. Tickets are $1 each or 6 for $5.
Visit with local non-profit organizations to learn about ways that they give back to the Lucketts community. Groups including The Journey Through Hallowed Ground, Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy, Equine Rescue League and Loudoun Beekeepers, among others, will demonstrate their missions through activities.
Bring the entire family, young, old and everyone in between. Stay the weekend – each day offers new country flavored delights.
Dates: August 19-20, 2017, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Rain or Shine
Admission: $7. Children 7 years old and under are free.
Location: Lucketts Community Center, 42361 Lucketts Road, Leesburg VA
Website: theluckettsfair.com
Prince William County Fair
The Prince William County Fair dates back to 1949 and today is Virginia’s largest county fair. The annual event in Manassas, Virginia includes livestock exhibits, a variety of midway shows, truck and tractor pulls, Monster Trucks, Lawnmower Racing, a rodeo, demolition derbies, baby contests, pet shows, live music, storytelling, games and carnival rides.
Dates: August 11 – 19, 2017
Mon, Wed, Thurs, and Fri 5 p.m. – Close, Tuesday 2 p.m. – CloseSat and Sun 12 p.m. – Close Closing time is usually around 11 p.m. but varies with attendance.
Location: Prince William County Fairgrounds, 10624 Dumfries Road Manassas, Virginia. The fairgrounds are located near I-66, off of Virginia Route 234.
Admission: One Admission Adult Ticket $10, One Admission Child/Senior Ticket $6, Ride wristbands:, Weekdays: $18 Sun 8/14: $22, Fri 8/19: $20, Sat 8/20: $22
Specials: Tickets are half price on Half Price Night—Aug 14th.FREE GATE ADMISSION. 2-5 p.m. only on Tues, Aug 15th. Ladies admitted FREE on Ladies Night—Aug 16th. Children 4 and under and Active Military admitted FREE daily.
Website: pwcfair.com