Quick Summary
- Learn about pools, splash parks, lakes and more.
- Summer Entertainment Series features 120+ performances at multiple locations.
- Keep reading with the Summer Reading Adventure.
- Hunger doesn't take a vacation - learn about summer meals for kids.
- Learn about using FCPS school grounds this summer.
It’s summertime and there are plenty of things to do here in the area. Here’s our quick (but by no means comprehensive) guide to summer in Fairfax County.
Water and Pools
Many of us are drawn to water, be it a neighborhood pool, local lake, splash park or the Potomac River. Here are some places to explore water this summer:
- Waterfront Parks (Burke Lake, Lake Accotink, Lake Fairfax, Riverbend Park)
- The Water Mine Family Swimmin’ Hole – a family water park at Lake Fairfax Park captures the excitement of the Old West’s Gold Rush with attractions tailored for all ages.
- Our Special Harbor – a fully accessible Chesapeake-Bay themed sprayground.
- Cub Run Leisure Pool – an indoor water park with fun features for younger and older swimmers.
- Rec Centers – indoor swimming pools open at 10 locations throughout the county.
As always, safety is top of mind in pools and on boats:
Regarding streams...Fairfax County has more than 1,600 miles of streams and associated channels. Natural waters can be susceptible to pollution that can cause health risks to you and your pets. Read our Health Department’s advisory on recreational use of county streams.
Outdoor Performances
Our Park Authority’s Summer Entertainment Series is always a favorite. This year, there are more than 120 free performances to choose from across the county at 20 venues.
- Arts in the Parks children’s entertainment
- This year includes four new locations: Lorton Community Center, Rooftop Park Space at Springfield Garage, Spring Hill Rec Center and Strawberry Park at Mosaic District.
- Braddock Nights
- Evenings on the Ellipse
- Franconia Nights
- Hunter Mill Melodies
- Mount Vernon Nights
- Music at Arrowbrook Centre Park
- Providence Presents
- Spotlight by Starlight
- Springfield Nights
- Starlight Cinema
Picnic Locator
Looking for a place to pack up a lunch and eat somewhere outdoors but don't know where to go? Use our Park Authority's picnic locator to find the perfect spot for your next picnic. Filter your search by facility type, group size, permitted extras and amenities. Due to high demand, we recommend making a reservation early.
Summer Reading Adventure
Our Library’s Summer Reading Adventure isn't just about reading. Children, teens and adults can also participate in lots of fun activities to keep you busy and having fun all summer long. And for kids, the summer reading program helps combat summer learning loss, or the "summer slide," before school resumes.
Visit Fairfax Mini Guides
Visit Fairfax, our tourism group, has collected a number of summer guides from mini golf locations to ice cream shops to performance venues and more.
Summer Meals for Kids
Hunger doesn’t take a summer vacation.
Approximately 29 percent of Fairfax County students receive free and reduced price meals during the school year. When the school year ends, so does the opportunity for consistent, nutritious meals for many of these students. The Free Summer Meals for Kids Program fills that need by providing nutritious meals to children ages 5 to 18.
Enjoy FCPS School Grounds
Get outside this summer at a school near you. School blacktops, playgrounds, outdoor basketball and tennis courts, and tracks are available for use. Learn what items and activities are prohibited, such as alcohol, animals, drones and tobacco products.
Help with Your Garden
For more than 40 years, the Fairfax County Master Gardeners Association has served as the area’s experts in helping local gardeners with a host of horticultural conundrums — from selecting the right plants and understanding how to care for them, to conducting home soil tests and helping address pest issues.
During the growing season, master gardeners are on duty five mornings a week, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to noon.
- Phone: 703-324-8556
- Email: HelpDesk@FairfaxGardening.org
Do you need advice in person?
- Attend plant clinics
- Explore upcoming classes at library branches
Want to learn more about gardening? Search "gardening" on the Park Authority's activities page to sign up for gardening classes.
Extreme Heat Resources
It'll likely turn very hot this summer, so we have several resources available, including tips to stay cool and when cooling centers will be activated.
Home Safety
If you're traveling this summer, our Police Department offers a series of tips to keep your home safe from burglars and other unwanted visitors.
Guide to Cycling
When the weather cooperates this summer, hop on your bike and cycle around trails and pathways across the county. In the last 20 years, there’s been a significant increase in bicycling on county trails, sidewalks and roads.
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