Eileen Garnett Civic Space

Department Resources

Special Events

A series of County-sponsored special events and celebrations will be held at the Eileen Garnett Civic Space throughout the 2026 calendar year. To learn more, click on an event listed below (when available).

Date & Time	Event
April 18, 2026, 10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.	Small Space Gardening 101 In celebration of Earth Day, learn techniques and varieties suitable for growing in small spaces and containers at this free, bilingual workshop. The first part of the workshop will be indoors; the rest will be hands-on in The EGG, HOH’s learning garden (weather permitting).
May 23, 2026, 2 p.m. - 6 p.m.	Asian Heritage Celebration This event celebrates the rich and diverse cultures of Asia and features origami and calligraphy demonstrations, dance performances, and a range of Asian cuisines.
To be rescheduled	Dog Days of Summer This dog-friendly event features an agility course, pet costume contest, doggie photo booth, and splash zones for dogs to cool off.
To be rescheduled	Movie Night Join us for a family-friendly film on the lawn.
To be rescheduled	Fall Festival Join us for this autumn-themed festival for pumpkins giveaways, a petting zoo, arts and crafts, food vendors, and live music.

In addition to the County-sponsored events listed above, community groups and private entities may also reserve the Eileen Garnett Civic Space for public events. Click on a section below to learn more about these community events and then review the Civic Space Reservations section for information on how to reserve the space.

Flags for Our Heroes

The Rotary Club of Annandale is planning a community tribute of 250 American flags displayed on the lawn of the Eileen Garnett Civic Space and at the American Legion Post 1976 from Flag Day though the Fourth of July weekend. There will be opening and closing ceremonies to mark the commemoration.

Opening Ceremony – Sunday, June 14, 2026 at 3:00 p.m.
Closing Ceremony – Saturday, July 4, 2026 at 1:00 p.m.

Community Mural

The Mason District Arts Council invites residents to participate in a community mural project in cooperation with ArtLords on the theme “The New Colossus” by Emma Lazarus on the lawn of the Eileen Garnett Civic Space. The mural will then be displayed in a prominent central Annandale location throughout the month of July 2026.

Community Mural Painting – Saturday, June 27, 2026 from 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

This new night market features a selection of food and non-food vendors in a lively evening atmosphere.

Saturday, March 28, 2026 from 3:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 11, 2026 from 3:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 23, 2026 from 3:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Saturday, June 27, 2026 from 2:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Saturday, July 25, 2026 from 2:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Saturday, August 29, 2026 from 2:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Saturday, September 26, 2026 from 2:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 31, 2026 from 2:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 21, 2026 from 2:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

The Mason District Arts Council hosts this first annual festival that will feature local and regional artists. The event will feature visual artists as well as live performances from community groups. Come see why the Mason District is the cultural hub of Fairfax County!

Saturday, October 17, 2026 from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Civic Space Reservations

Diagram of the Eileen Garnett Civic Space showing the educational garden, great lawn, plaza, and parking area

The Eileen Garnett Civic Space (Civic Space) is subject to site-specific reservation policies due to the unique circumstances of the County-owned property, including the planning and logistics required to host an event on the site.

The Civic Space is comprised of four areas (see diagram). The Educational Garden is licensed to Hands on Harvests, a non-profit gardening group, and is not reservable but may be visited. Community members may also volunteer to tend the garden through Hands on Harvests. The remaining three areas – the Great Lawn, the Plaza, and the Parking Lot Expansion Area – are reservable, but subject to slightly different restrictions.

Individuals, groups, community organizations, and businesses may reserve the Plaza. Please review the Plaza Reservation Policy to understand the restrictions for the Plaza and the proper process to apply for Plaza use. Submit a Park Use Application for the Plaza to FCPA Park Services. For general assistance or questions about the application, please reach out to FCPA Park Services. Applications are accepted and evaluated on a rolling basis. You must have an approved permit for exclusive use of the Plaza.

Only the County or FCPA may reserve the Civic Space for community events, either through a Full or Partial Civic Space reservation. Any County Department or Agency, or FCPA Division interested in hosting an event should submit a Park Use Application to FCPA Park Services. If you have any questions about how to fill out and submit the permit, please reach out to the FCPA Park Service Division for general assistance. Priority scheduling is feasible if the application for the upcoming year is submitted by November 1st of the preceding year (e.g., November 1, 2024, for the 2025 season). You must have an approved permit to host an event in the Civic Space.

If an individual, community organization or business is interested in event partnership at the Civic Space, please reach out to a specific County Department or Agency, or FCPA Division about the event idea. Review the County’s Departments and Agencies webpage for ideas on who to contact. Each County webpage has contact information listed.

Visit the FCPA Parks Locator tool to learn more about reserving the Eileen Garnett Civic Space.

Support the Civic Space

The Fairfax County Park Foundation (FCPF) welcomes donations for Fairfax County Park Authority general support of the Eileen Garnett Civic Space. Interested donors may write a check, payable to FCPF, noting “Eileen Garnett Civic Space.” Mail to: FCPF (Eileen Garnett Civic Space) at 12055 Government Center Parkway, Suite 404, Fairfax, VA 22035.

FCPF will send an acknowledgement letter, suitable for tax purposes, to each donor. Donor names and contact information will be shared with the Garnett family so they know who made a gift in Memory of Eileen Garnett to support this special Civic Space.

Please direct any questions about donations to the Fairfax County Park Foundation at (703) 324-8582 or parkfoundation@fairfaxcounty.gov.

Celebration of First Mural Under the Paint it, Fairfax! Program

The Community Revitalization Section celebrated the completion of the first mural under its new Paint it, Fairfax! program. A ribbon cutting ceremony was officiated by Supervisor Jimenez on October 28, 2024. The mural is located on the east facade of the ACCA Child Development Center and adjacent to the Eileen Garnet Civic Space. The mural, in conjunction with the development and programming of the Eileen Garnett Civic Space, is part of a larger placemaking strategy to enliven and build pride in the area. The mural was developed by renowned Italian artist Pepe Gaka. His intricate work was hand painted to represent the amazing diversity of Annandale and the native plant species that are present in the Civic Space’s educational garden.

Grand Opening Event

The Eileen Garnett Civic Space grand opening was celebrated on Saturday, October 21, 2023 with an event that included a ribbon cutting ceremony, music, dance, fitness, and food. Speakers at the grand opening ceremony included Laura Baker of the Department of Economic Initiatives, Chairman Jeff McKay, Deputy Director of the Park Authority Sara Baldwin, former Mason District Supervisor Penelope Gross, and Megan Garnett, the daughter of Eileen Garnett.

Department of Economic Initiatives (DEI)

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