Featuring the theme, “Freedom, Flip Flops and Fireworks,” Fairfax City’s always spectacular Fourth of July parade will hit the streets Friday, July 4, from 10 a.m-noon, and will go on, rain or shine. The day’s activities include family fun at the nearby fire station, plus an evening show with live entertainment and fireworks at Fairfax High. 

The parade starts at 4100 Chain Bridge Road and loops around downtown Fairfax along Chain Bridge, Main Street and University Drive to the reviewing stand on Armstrong Street. The largest Independence Day parade in the commonwealth begins with a flyover by The Flying Circus’s replica World War II-era planes. 

The colorful extravaganza has something to delight all attendees. There are floats, gigantic balloons, several bands, superheroes, dancers, firefighters, police, princesses, color guards, antique vehicles, cultural performers, martial-arts groups, clowns, the Kena Shriners, and Boy, Girl and Cub Scouts. 

Among the local highlights will be the Fairfax High and Woodson High marching bands, members of the City of Fairfax Theater Co., political dignitaries, Fairfax High Alumni Kazoo Band, the Fairfax Jubil-Aires, and the ever-popular City of Fairfax Regional Library Precision Book Cart Drill Team. 

Yet, there’s still more fun in store after the parade. Future Fire Fighters Day will be held at Fire Station 3 at 4081 University Drive, from noon-2 p.m. Families will enjoy children’s activities, learn about fire safety and explore the station’s fire engines. Children can try manning a real fire hose. 

The Ratcliffe-Allison-Pozer House at 10386 Main St. will be open that day for free tours from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. And from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., the public is invited to the front lawn of the Fairfax Museum and Visitor Center, 10209 Main St., to celebrate its 33rd birthday with cupcakes and lemonade. And inside the building, attendees can see the traveling exhibit, “WWII: Voices of Service,” with activities for children and information about Fairfax’s WWII heroes.

Then in the evening, the Fourth of July entertainment moves to Fairfax High’s football stadium, 3501 Lion Run, from 6:30-10 p.m., for the evening show and fireworks display. Barbecue, corn on the cob, pizza, lobster rolls, kebabs, empanadas, Asian food, funnel cakes, kettle corn, ice cream, Italian ice, cotton candy, cookies and other treats will be available for purchase.

All bags and coolers will be checked before attendees are permitted to enter the stadium for the evening show. Bag checks will begin at 5:30 p.m. and continue until the event ends. Pets (except for service animals), alcohol, fireworks, weapons and smoking are prohibited.

Evening Show & Fireworks Schedule

* 6:30-8 p.m. – The U.S. Army band, Downrange, will perform a free concert.

* 8-8:30 p.m. – Welcoming remarks and parade-awards ceremony.

* The Vienna-Falls Chorus will sing the National Anthem.

* 8:30-9:30 p.m. – Downrange takes the stage again.

* 9:30-9:45 p.m. – The fireworks display.

* 9:45-10:30 p.m. – Downrange performs.

For the most up-to-date information on how weather predictions may affect the show, visit the City of Fairfax Parks and Recreation Facebook page. In the event the fireworks display is postponed due to rain, it’ll be rescheduled for July 5 at 9:30 p.m. However, in that case, there’ll be no concert and no shuttle buses. The school’s parking lot will be open for public use to watch the fireworks display. 

Parking and Shuttle Buses

* For the parade, attendees are encouraged to use the free shuttle service, since parking and access to downtown will be limited. Shuttle buses will run from 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. from George Mason University’s Rappahannock River Parking Deck, 4395 University Drive; Woodson High, 9525 Main St.; and Fairfax United Methodist Church, 10300 Stratford Ave. All Shuttle Buses are ADA-accessible.

* Free, secure bike and scooter parking will be available from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at University Drive and Armstrong Street. Park bike, scooter, stroller or other such wheels in a temporary, parking corral provided by Bike Valet DMV. 

* For evening show, fireworks, both regular and accessible parking at Fairfax High are limited, so shuttle-bus use is encouraged. Free, ADA-compliant shuttle service from Woodson High to Fairfax High will be available starting at 5:30 p.m. After the fireworks, buses will return spectators to Woodson until 11:30 p.m. 

* Road Closures: Lion Run will be closed to traffic from 4-11 p.m., and no through traffic will be permitted on Blenheim Boulevard from about 9:15 p.m. to about 9:45 p.m.   

For more information about Fairfax City’s Fourth of July celebration, go to https://www.fairfaxva.gov/government/parks-recreation/special-events/independence-day-celebration.