While the Ferris wheels and games are probably the Arlington County Fair’s most iconic attractions, an entire second world could be found this weekend indoors.
Many fairgoers sought refuge from a 100-degree heat index inside the Thomas Jefferson Community Center (3501 2nd Street S.). There, they encountered vendors selling assorted wares, advocates seeking signatories for petitions, assorted competitions and more.
It was, both literally and figuratively, the calm before the storm.
The bottles were all lined up against the wall, awaiting their executioners. The lights were on at the rides, but the vehicles were frozen in place like cars on I-95 and crowded with fair workers savoring their last moment of downtime before the floodgates opened.
Five days of live entertainment, family-friendly fun and, of course, food-eating contests kick off next week with the start of the 49th annual Arlington County Fair.
Starting next Wednesday, Aug. 13, and lasting through Sunday, Aug. 17, this year’s fair at the Thomas Jefferson Community Center (3501 2nd Street S.) includes a relocated beer garden and a new partnership with the Department of Parks and Recreation.
Matt Richards knows exactly what he wants to do on Saturday, Aug. 16: grab a beer and relax in the upper field at the Arlington County Fair.
After five years as chair of the Arlington County Fair Board, Richards is among those on the all-volunteer board who will be able to take a breath and enjoy the fruits of their labor this year thanks to a new partnership with the Arlington County Department of Parks and Recreation.
Street upgrades in Bluemont, Claremont and Shirlington, plus a loan for renovating 73 affordable housing units, are scheduled for County Board consideration this weekend.
Board members have a total 52 items on their consent agenda this month, but no regular hearing items. All items pulled for further consideration will be heard at the Board’s recessed meeting, set for Wednesday, June 18.
County Board members on Saturday (May 10) unanimously approved a developer’s plan to demolish an existing office building in Clarendon to make way for a 309-unit apartment building.
“It looks good. It’s a very nice building,” Board Chair Takis Karantonis said of the project, proposed by Carr Properties, dubbed Clarendon Square.
A possible beer garden at the Arlington County Fair and a proposed protected bike lane on Army Navy Drive are up for County Board consideration this weekend.
Other topics scheduled for consideration this Saturday include traffic signal upgrades on S. Carlin Springs Road and Richmond Highway, a pair of sports courts in Crystal City and $100,000 in arts grants.
The Arlington government’s budget woes likely won’t be severe enough to impact new deer-culling efforts.
The $151,000 proposed in County Manager Mark Schwartz’s draft fiscal 2026 budget “will fund these efforts,” Department of Parks and Recreation director Jane Rudolph told County Board members at a Feb. 27 budget work session.
Arlington County Board members approved higher fees for access to county-operated electric-vehicle charging stations this past Saturday (Dec. 14), among other actions.
“We’re not trying to make big bucks. We’re just trying to meet our costs,” Board chair Libby Garvey said after the vote to raise the base fee from the current 14.52 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) to 17.46 cents.
Designs for a Rosslyn park, a controversial towing decision and a possible change in Arlington County Fair operations are all going before the Arlington County Board this week.
These items are all on the agenda as the Board holds its last meetings of the year on Saturday (Dec. 14) and the subsequent Tuesday (Dec. 17).
Arlington County police officers working the final night of the county fair called for backup after reportedly coming under attack during an arrest.
The incident happened Sunday night just before 9 p.m., an hour before the fair’s closing time, on the upper soccer field of the Thomas Jefferson Community Center grounds.
Excitement is in the air as the 2024 Arlington County Fair kicks into gear.
As the sun set on Thomas Jefferson Community Center park yesterday (Wednesday), hundreds gathered to enjoy the first night festivities and enjoy heart-stopping rides, sweet treats and classic games.
