10 Things to Do in Fairfax, Virginia

Historic Fairfax, also referred to as Old Town Fairfax, was founded in 1799. During the Colonial and Revolutionary periods, the City of Fairfax was frequented by George Washington, George Mason, and William Fairfax. Take a self-guided walking tour and see a variety of historic buildings including the Fairfax Court House, Ratcliffe-Allison House, William Gunnell House, Joshua Gunnell House, Ford House, Fairfax Elementary School, Old Fairfax Jail, Old Town Hall and the Marr Monument.

The 10,000-seat arena, located on the campus of George Mason University, hosts some of today’s hottest concerts and family-friendly events. Annual events include the Ringling Brothers & Barnum and Bailey Circus, The Harlem Globetrotters, Sesame Street Live, Disney On Ice and The Wiggles.

The museum, located in Fairfax, Virginia, examines the history of firearms dating from 1350 to the present-day with exhibits featuring the firearms of six American presidents, 12 U.S. general officers and six foreign heads of state; treasures associated with Pilgrims, the American Revolution, the Civil War and other notable events in American history.

The park has a 218-acre lake for fishing, boating, rowboat rental, camping, a miniature train, a carousel, outdoor volleyball courts, an 18-hole par 3 golf course, clubhouse with snack bar and driving range, disk golf, horseshoe pits, an ice cream parlor, picnic areas, playgrounds, trails, an amphitheater, and miniature golf course.

Hailed as "the pride of Fairfax County," the professional orchestra performs for diverse audiences at the George Mason University Center for the Arts. The orchestra also provides education and outreach programs.

The 12-acre site features historic buildings and beautiful vistas that transport visitors to Fairfax during the Civil War. The  Interpretive Center offers educational tours and programs, lectures by prominent scholars, Civil War living history events, and demonstrations.

The mall has nearly 200 shops, services and restaurants including Macy’s, Lord & Taylor, Sears and JCPenney, Apple, Banana Republic, BCBG Max Azria, Best Buy Mobile, Brighton Collectibles, Coach, J. Crew, H&M, Michael Kors, Liljenquist-Beckstead Jewelers, XXI Forever, Zoe Salon & Spa, and more.

Fairfax hosts a wide range of events throughout the year including parades, art and music festivals, holiday events and much more. Some of the highlights include:

• Chocolate Lovers Festival
• Celebrate Fairfax
• Fourth of July Fireworks
• Fairfax County Fair
• Fall for Fairfax Festival
• Fairfax Four Miler

The ice arena offers public skating, lessons, hockey leagues, skating parties, and camps. There is a pro shop with one of the largest selections of skating equipment in the area.

The park is one of the only major Civil War sites in Fairfax County.

Interpretive kiosks present information about the battle and offer insights into some of the men who were wounded on this land. There are two granite memorials that honor the two Union generals who were killed at Ox Hill. Reenactment and living history groups occasionally gather at the park to provide a sense of the past.