At Room Escape Fairfax, we're all about community. We not only care deeply about each other, but we care about our customers and the community that connects us. On our blog, you'll often see us highlight local events, Northern Virginia festivals, and establishments because we're all about camaraderie, companionship, and experience. Being local ourselves, we know and value the intimacy of community, and we work hard to positively contribute to the culture of Fairfax and of Northern Virginia. We bring excitement, adventure, and friendship to the area, giving one-of-a-kind personal experiences to the community. But, we're not the only ones who care about local community and enriching experiences…

This summer, there's a lot to look forward to in Northern Virginia. If you're like us, you'll want to be out in the warm weather, creating exciting memories with your friends and family. So we wanted to put together a list of upcoming events in the area that celebrate community, friendship, and experience. We made sure to include something for everyone! Celebrate community with us: check out these 8 fun events and festivals in Northern Virginia this summer.

1) Smithsonian Folklife Festival

National Mall, Washington, D.C.: June 29-July 4th & July 6-July 9
The Smithsonian Folk Festival is a beautiful combination of culture and spectacle, of history and awe. The Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage invites you to celebrate its 50th anniversary through a two-week, free event jam-packed with singing, dancing, crafting, game workshops, traditional cooking displays, and unique cultural enrichment. This year features a remarkable display of Circus Arts. Be engulfed in dazzling mystery and enchanting performances as you experience the full history of American circuses and the cultural impact of generations of circus families. Be wowed by the unbelievable shows and displays of gravity-defying feats. In the big top tent, be amazed by aerialists and acrobats, or try to unravel the ancient mysteries of equilibrists and object manipulators whose stunning tricks may outwit even the most experience puzzle masters! But the show doesn't stop at the stage: you'll get a once-in-a-lifetime look behind the scenes of these incredible circus acts. Be overwhelmed by the intricacy and artistry of all the individual talents that make the show so spectacular! Meet the coaches, makeup artists, costume designers, prop designers, set designers, cooks, sound technicians, and more!

We love adventure and artistry: the Smithsonian Folklife Festival has all of this, and more. Most importantly, this festival celebrates community and culture by emphasizing heart and spirit. Join us in this remarkable experience!

2) Arlington County Fair

Arlington, VA: August 17-21
The Arlington County Fair is a delightful celebration of township, neighbors, and communities. Boasted as one of the largest free events on the east coast, this fair welcomes all and is perfect for any group or family. The Arlington County Fair keeps its sense of small-town intimacy without losing 21st-Century spectacle. There are carnival rides, and petting zoos, and pig races, and pony rides. There is live entertainments, crafts, food, parades, and more! With something for everyone, the Arlington County Fair emphasizes togetherness, and we cannot wait to join in the delightful display and engaging events!

3) Prince William County Fair

Manassas, VA: August 11-19th
If small-town fairs are not the feel you're looking for, then you will for sure want to indulge in the Prince William County Fair, the largest county fair in the whole state of Virginia. This fair modernizes and electrifies classic Americana. The extravagant pageantry is unmatched. The activities and performances are breathtaking and thrilling. With the Prince William County Fair you get excitement, excitement, excitement. Come with your friends or bring the whole family: there is truly something for everyone here. From petting zoos to stingrays, and from pony-rides to the demolition derby, all shows and experiences with defy your expectations. Take a camel ride, and then visit the Jurassic Kingdom, but only after you've watched a show at Joe's Circus. Once you've seen the Monster Truck rally, you've got to see the rodeo, the goat show, the spider tower, and the adorably delightful puppy-pet show! There's wine-tasting, carnival rides, and grandstand events every day.

Like Room Escape Fairfax, the Prince William County Fair is all about the whole experience. You will be dazzled. You will be delighted. You will be awe-struck, and cheering for more! Here, you're sure to create unforgettable memories!

4) Shenandoah Valley Music Festival

Orkney Springs, VA: events occurring mid-July through Labor Day Weekend
Hosted at the foot of the stunning Great North Mountain, in the historic Shrine Mont conference center, the Shenandoah Valley Music Festival is celebrating its 54th year. At this music festival you'll experience a spectacular show with a breathtaking background. This year, enjoy incredible music from award winning musicians Arlo Guthrie and Emmylou Harris. Revel in the hypnotic crooning of the Midtown Men: the reunited original broadway ensemble of the Jersey Boys! You won't want to mis these Tony Award Winners and Nominees rocking the house with their favorite sixties-hits! Whether you're seated in the pavilion or on the lawn, you won't have to sacrifice your view of the stage to an overwhelming crowd–the venue is intimate, and encourages the communal celebration of musical culture.

5) Spring Wine Festival and Sunset Tour

Mount Vernon, VA: May 19-21
Really embrace the culture of our Northern Virginia community by traversing the enriching, historic grounds of Mount Vernon while also celebrating Northern Virginia's modern, comprehensive wine culture at the Spring Wine Festival and Sunset Tour. Take a tour of the Mansion and cellar and learn all about George Washington's own dreams of opening a vineyard, as well as his passion for wines. You may even get to see George and Martha Washington themselves! Bring a blanket and lounge on the east lawn, overlooking the gorgeous view of the Potomac River. Indulge in wines from 20 Virginia wineries while you listen to live jazz and enjoy delectable fruits, cheeses, baguettes, gourmet sandwiches, and dessert, all provided by the Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant. All proceeds from the Spring Wine Festival and Sunset Tour go toward the restoration of Mount Vernon and all of its educational programs.

6) Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival

Reston, VA: May 20-21
For its 26th year, the Greater Reston Arts Center nonprofit hosts the Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival, its largest annual fundraiser, by celebrating incredible, innovative arts. The festival highlights artists from around the country who work in a variety of different media. We love that the artists here are always pushing boundaries and paving-the-way for new, beautiful forms of art and artistic experience. During the festival, the Reston Town Center closes its streets to all but pedestrians in order to encourage community, meaning that all 11 blocks are filled with displays from over 200 of America's best artists. Their website boasts: "Participating artists uniformly view the festival as one of the "top five" outdoor art festivals in the country and extend high praise to the level of hospitality they receive from volunteers and involvement from a community that appreciates the high quality of the art presented."

Room Escape Fairfax will always be the first to celebrate creativity and artistry–the Northern Virginia Arts Festival's own celebration of creativity and artistry is culminated in this incredible display of community.

7) Pet Fiesta

Reston, VA: May 6th
Adorable! Delightful! Paw-tastic, and bow-wow-rific! Reston's Pet Fiesta is a charming collection of the most lovable fuzzy friends! Bring your own pups and check out vendors touting the hippest pet products. Meet the animals looking for their furr-ever homes, and maybe add a new addition to your family! From dogs to live entertainment, there's so much to see and do! Take part in the Tails on Trails dog walking, learn about pet adoption, or sit for caricature artists and face painters. Be sure to see the unforgettable Dog House of Style Fashion Show where rescue dogs strut-their-stuff in the hottest "canine couture." Our Northern Virginia community is not just made of places and people: our community includes pets, too. At the Pet Fiesta you're sure to have a barking time!

8) Vintage Virginia Wine & Food Festival

Centreville, VA: June3-4
Praised as Northern Virginia's best wine festival, the Vintage Virginia Wine & Food Festival is perfect for all families and friends. This is an "all-you-can-taste" experience: fill your souvenir wine glass with wine from any of the 250+ Virginia wineries represented! Including over half of Virginia's wineries, you'll get to taste wines from the oldest wineries to the newest wineries, and from the largest wineries to the most exclusive boutiques. You don't have to be a wine-lover to enjoy the live music, or indulge in the massive collection of delicious foods from local restaurants and food trucks! This festival is all about Virginia: bring your friends, bring your family, and celebrate our community through local wines, bands, and foods!

8 Fun Events and Festivals in Northern Virginia this Summer