Have you made it to one of the local summer concerts yet? Fairfax County is a great place to live year round, but especially in the summer. Today we’re highlighting the Summer Entertainment Series available all throughout the county. The Fairfax County Parks programs provide concerts and shows for all different ages at different parks throughout the county all on various days and times of day! Skim through the options (broken down by location) and be sure to mark your calendars for the ones you don’t want to miss! The best part? They’re FREE! Pack a picnic and a chair and go have yourself a great night at a free concert! Visit my previous blog to get other ideas for fun available through the parks system.
Alexandria – Lee District/Grist Mill/Workhouse Arts Center Concert Series
Lee District Park hosts concerts on Wednesday evenings throughout the summer (click the link to see the line up). The Mount Vernon Nights series includes Friday night concerts at the Grist Mill and Saturday nights at the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, the line up includes a Brewfest on August 4th!
Annandale – Mason District & Ossian Hall Park Concerts and Kids Shows
Mason District park Annandale VA
Concert at Mason District Amphitheater
The Spotlight by Starlight concerts are held at Mason District Park and Ossian Hall Park in Annandale and include concerts W/F/Su at 7:30pm as well as Saturday morning (10am) kids shows at Mason District and International themed nights at Ossian Hall on Saturday nights at 7:30pm. We caught the tail end of a swing band last summer at Mason District, and we’ve gone to two of the international concerts at Ossian Hall in the past. Our girls especially loved the Irish dancers! The Great Zucchini, always a kid crowd pleaser, is up this Saturday 7/21 at Mason District!
Burke Lake Park Concerts and Kids Shows
The Springfield Nights series runs through August 15th on Wednesday nights at 7pm at Burke Lake Park. The amphitheater hosts performances for children on Saturday mornings at 10am throughout the summer. Catching a show is a great way to start a Saturday at Burke Lake with kids. We saw the Great Zucchini last summer and then stayed for a ride on the train, time and the playground, a short hike and of course ice cream cones! The train and ice cream aren’t free, but we don’t mind shelling out a few dollars for a fun day.
Centreville Drive-in Movies
Centreville Drive in movie
While this feels like a drive, it leads you to drive-in movies! Free movies on Saturday nights throughout August are sure to create lasting family memories! Check out the information here. Coco will be featured at the end of August!
Fairfax/Herndon – Government Center/Frying Pan Farm/Arrowbrook Park Concerts and Kids Shows
Evenings on the Ellipse are Thursday night concerts hosted at the Government Center in Fairfax throughout July and August. These run a little earlier than most other evening shows, starting at 5:30pm. Could be a good way to keep kids entertained before bedtime if you can handle the traffic to get there. Frying Pan Farm Park in Herndon hosts Wednesday morning children’s shows (10am) and Thursday night concerts (7:30pm). This is a great way to spend a Wednesday at Frying Pan with kids – pack a picnic and visit the animals after the show! Lastly, Arrowbrook Centre Park in Herndon hosts Saturday night concerts throughout July and August (8/4 is a British Invasion night)!
Springfield/Fairfax – Lake Accotink & Royal Lake Park Concert Series
The Braddock Nights series takes place on Friday nights at 7pm at Lake Accotink and Royal Lake Park throughout July and August. If this is your neck of the woods grab the bug spray and a camp chair and enjoy some free music!
Vienna Concert Series
Last but not least, lovely Nottaway Park hosts Thursday evening concerts throughout the summer, including an Amish cover band to close out the series in August. I may just be intrigued enough to go check that one out!