In addition to learning about the country’s history through educational programs or taking in local attractions, Fairfax County residents will be able to celebrate America 250 by partaking in specially crafted alcohol.
The county will unveil a series of unique craft beverages to commemorate the U.S.’s 250th anniversary, starting this Sunday (April 19) with the launch of a pair of new wines developed by Fairfax County’s two wineries.
Paradise Springs Winery in Clifton (13219 Yates Ford Road) and The Winery at Bull Run in Centreville (15950 Lee Highway/Route 29) will both host festivities from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday to mark the debuts of their respective wines: a red blend dubbed “250” and a white “Independence.”
“Each vineyard will host special events featuring ceremonial toasts and remarks from George Washington himself, both vineyard’s winemakers, and Fairfax County officials,” Visit Fairfax, the county’s tourism organization, said in a press release.
Tickets for both “The Founder’s Toast” at Paradise Springs and “Patriot Day 2026” at Bull Run can be purchased online for $20, which covers the price of tastings for both wines and a complimentary glass of one of them. Attendees will also be able to purchase the wines in limited-edition bottles.
At Paradise Springs, the commemorative toast will take place at noon during an opening ceremony, followed by a meet-and-greet session with the winery’s owners and winemakers. From noon to 2 p.m., visitors can take a photo with “George Washington,” and wine tastings will continue until 5 p.m.
The Bull Run event will have George Washington lead the commemorative toast at 3 p.m. The Americana band Wicked Olde will provide live music from 2-5 p.m., and ticket holders can access the winery’s newly expanded Barrel Room Museum, an event space that also features more than 200,000 Civil War-era artifacts.
Commemorative beers, liquors also planned
The Fairfax County 250th Commission, which was assembled to help organize the county’s semiquincentennial programming, will also highlight the local brewing scene with an official beer, “Fairfax 250,” to be released on Memorial Day weekend.
More on the signature beer:
This limited-edition Hazy IPA is designed to be approachable and reflective of the County’s diversity, featuring hops sourced from around the world. A true collaboration beer, the beverage was jointly created by the brewmasters at Bike Lane Brewing & Café, Bunnyman Brewing, Fair Winds Brewing Co., G34.3 Brewing Co., Hawkley Brewing, Lake Anne Brew House, Ono Brewing Co., and Settle Down Easy Brewing. The can art will feature four unique designs that capture the people, places, and pints that shape Fairfax County’s tourism experiences.
The brew will be available for purchase at participating taprooms throughout the county while supplies last. An official event and brewfest to celebrate the launch is expected to be held in mid-June at Bunnyman Brewing in Chantilly, where it now operates Mustang Sally’s former location.
Finally, George Washington’s Mount Vernon will supplement the county’s beverage line with its own limited-edition whiskeys. Nodding to the plantation’s distillery, which at one time was among the largest in the U.S., the series will start rolling out this summer.
According to Visit Fairfax:
Highlights include the inaugural Washington’s Generals Series, a Premium Rye Whiskey featuring collectible label art; Washington’s Bourbon Whiskey, the first bourbon produced at Mount Vernon since Washington’s time; and the ultra-limited Spirit of ’76 Single Barrel Cask Strength Bourbon Whiskey, expected to debut around July 4 with only 120–170 bottles available.
Additional small-batch releases are planned throughout the year, offering visitors a rare opportunity to experience Mount Vernon’s historic distilling legacy in a new way.
With the involvement of George Washington’s Mount Vernon, the commemorative beverages showcase both local businesses and the transformative history that makes Fairfax County “uniquely positioned for America’s 250th celebrations,” according to Visit Fairfax President and CEO Barry Biggar.
“You can stand where George Washington pondered the founding of our new nation, then immerse yourself in our modern, vibrant destination through our incredible wineries, breweries, and local businesses,” Biggar said in a statement. “These commemorative releases are indeed a fantastic example of how Fairfax County is connecting our history with a modern visitor experience.”
Other events coming up in the county’s yearlong 250th anniversary celebrations include:
- Revolutionary Ideas (April 18, 8:30-4 p.m.) — a free conference organized by the Fairfax County History Commission with lectures, information tables for local nonprofits and history organizations, trivia and an awards presentation. Located at the Fairfax County Government Center.
- Horse Expo (April 18, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.) — Frying Pan Farm Park’s annual Horse Expo returns with a visit by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management’s 250th Wild Horse and Burro ambassador team. Named Freedom and Liberty, the geldings will stop by as part of a national tour, joining festivities that will also include food trucks, pony rides, demonstrations and other equestrian activities.
- Echoes of a Nation: 250 Years in Memory and Song (April 28, 8 p.m.) — George Mason University’s choirs will mark 250 years since the country’s founding with a selection of traditional work songs and Maurice Duruflé’s “Requiem.” General public tickets are $19 for the concert at the Center for the Arts on Mason’s Fairfax campus.
- Revolutionary War Weekend (May 2-3, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.) — George Washington’s Mount Vernon hosts a military reenactments, an artisan market, performances, and demonstrations of 18th-century activities, from rope making to artillery drills.
