New Parade to Kick Off Arlington County Fair

The Arlington County Fair will bring “Summer Nights and Lights” and a parade when it returns next month.

The fair kicks off with a parade at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 5.

The route will run from the Arlington Career Center (816 S. Walter Reed Dr.), down S. Highlands Street, down 2nd Street S. and to the Thomas Jefferson Community Center entrance at 125 S. Old Glebe Road.

Local groups are encouraged to participate and can register on the fair’s website.

The fair will also hold a 5K run/walk on Saturday, Aug. 8 at 8 a.m. Registration is $25 for adults and $10 for kids ages 12 and younger.

At the fair itself, visitors will get to experience the popular pig races, rides, live performances and indoor and outdoor exhibitions. The fair will hold multiple competitive exhibits including competitions for honey, beeswax, breads, cakes, pies, needlework, fine arts, photography and flower arrangements.

Fair visitors are encouraged to go car-free to the fair, but there will be shuttle service from the Ballston and Pentagon City Metro station, and from the the I-66 parking garage and Arlington Career Center lot, for a $2 round-trip fee.

The fair runs from 5-10 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday (Aug. 5 and 6), from 2-11 p.m. on Friday, from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday. The fair also features indoor hours starting Friday.

The free annual fair, now in its 39th year, will again be held at the Thomas Jefferson Community Center grounds (3501 2nd Street S.).