The Herndon Festival and Celebrate Fairfax! Festival, two events each with 40 years history in Fairfax County, won’t be back in 2024.
Herndon Mayor Sheila Olem called it “heartbreaking news” as she, town manager Bill Ashton II, and Cindy Roeder, director of Herndon Parks and Recreation, made the announcement Monday.
“We face increasing logistical challenges that impact security and the overall accessibility of the festival,” said Ashton in a YouTube video.
“It is with a heavy heart, we announce the permanent closure of the Herndon Festival,” he said.
Olem said that over the years fewer people have volunteered, and that’s had an impact. The festival takes 1,000 staff hours to put together, as well as 1,000 volunteer hours, plus planning and training time.
Roeder called the festival that started in 1981 a “source of joy, laughter and connection to our community.”
She, Olem, and Ashton thanked everyone who has been involved.
“We want to thank each and everyone of you for your support and participation throughout the years,” said Roeder.
In Fairfax, Celebrate Fairfax‘s annual festival that was known to draw thousands to the government center didn’t happen in June.
In a recent social media post, Supervisor Pat Herrity said the decision to end the county’s annual June festival came without public discussion.
Without formal action or public discussion, the Board has ended the Fairfax Fair that was put on annually by Celebrate Fairfax and was attended by tens of thousands of residents every June at the main Government Center. pic.twitter.com/XhZA93TLvv
— Supervisor Pat Herrity (@PatHerrity) November 29, 2023
“At the encouragement of the rest of the Board, Celebrate Fairfax is now holding a majority of its events at a new facility that it acquired in Tysons,” Herrity said.
Celebrate Fairfax said it has turned the The Parc at Tysons into its headquarters and a “a hub for placemaking and community building.” The Parc at Tysons is located in what used to be the Container Store at 8508 Leesburg Pk.
Feature image courtesy Herndon Festival/Facebook
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