The Fairfax County Park Authority has unveiled event lineups for this year’s Summer Entertainment Series, which will feature more than 100 outdoor concerts, movie screenings and other free diversions.
Kicking off with Springfield Nights at Burke Lake Park and Arts in the Parks at Frying Pan Farm Park on June 24, the 2026 offerings won’t be quite as extensive as in previous years after the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors adopted a fiscal year 2026 budget that reduced funding for the series by $136,000.
As a result of the budget cut, the overall number of scheduled shows has dipped from 189 last year to 124 for 2026, and Sully District’s Starlight Cinema movie nights will no longer be preceded by a performance, according to FCPA spokesperson Andy Grabel.
Despite the tighter budget, the park authority says this year’s lineup will still deliver the variety that community members expect from the program, which inspired the Board of Supervisors to declare Fairfax County the “Music Capital of Virginia” last year.
“The Summer Entertainment Series is one of the most popular and beloved summer traditions in Fairfax County,” Grabel said in a statement shared with FFXnow. “… Despite fewer performances being hosted this year due to a more limited budget, Fairfax County residents and visitors have plenty of choices for free entertainment at the Summer Entertainment Series starting on June 24.”
The program will still include 10 different series at 20 locations around the county — an expansion from the 14 venues used last year. The additions include four new sites for the kids-centered Arts in the Parks series, which will now be available in all nine magisterial districts:
- Spring Hill Rec Center (1239 Spring Hill Road) in McLean
- Lorton Community Center (9520 Richmond Highway)
- Strawberry Park at the Mosaic District (2911 District Avenue) in Merrifield
- Springfield Overlook garage (7039 Old Keene Mill Road) for Kid’s Concerts on the Green
Arts in the Parks will also include new Cultural Heritage Nights at Ossian Hall Park (7900 Heritage Drive) in Annandale, celebrating Korean, Peruvian, Bolivian, Bulgarian, Taiwanese and West African cultures.
After the 2025 Summer Entertainment Series drew more than 35,100 attendees, the FCPA doesn’t anticipate a significant dip in participation this year. More from the park authority:
The line-up includes concerts showcasing rock, R&B, bluegrass, pop, classical, blues, country, folk and everything in between; children’s performances showcasing fun songs, magic, comedy and four movie screenings in August; cultural performances featuring song and dance from around the world, including the Caribbean, Africa, India, Russia and China. We look forward to welcoming the community at these great events.
The schedule for the series is below. A full line-up of performances can be found on the park authority’s website.
Arts in the Parks
- Saturdays, June 27-Aug. 8 at 10 a.m.: Burke Lake Park amphitheater, Ellanor C. Lawrence Park amphitheater, Spring Hill Rec Center, Lorton Community Center, Springfield Overlook garage rooftop park space, Wakefield Park
- Wednesdays, June 24-Aug. 5 at 10 a.m.: Frying Pan Farm Park’s visitor center pavilion (2739 West Ox Road) in Herndon
- Sundays, June 28-Aug. 9 at 10 a.m.: Strawberry Park at the Mosaic District
- Saturdays, June 27-Aug. 8 at 7:30 p.m.: Cultural Heritage Nights at Ossian Hall Park
- Fridays, June 26-July 17 at 7:30 p.m.: Lake Accotink Park (7500 Accotink Park Road) in Springfield
- Fridays, July 24-Aug. 21 at 7:30 p.m.: Royal Lake Park (5344 Gainsborough Drive) in Kings Park West
- Thursdays, July 2-Aug. 13 at 5:30 p.m.: Fairfax County Government Center (12000 Government Center Parkway), kicking off with the U.S. 257th Army Band
- Wednesdays, July 1-Aug. 19 at 7 p.m.: Leonadus K. Plenty Amphitheater at the Franconia Rec Center (6601 Telegraph Road)
- Thursdays, July 9-Aug. 13 at 7 p.m.: Frying Pan Farm Park’s Kidwell Farm (2709 West Ox Road)
- Saturdays, July 11-Aug. 1 at 7:30 p.m.: Workhouse Arts Center (9601 Ox Road) in Lorton
- Fridays, Aug. 7-28 at 7:30 p.m.: Grist Mill Park (4710 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway) in Mount Vernon
Music at Arrowbrook Centre Park
- Saturdays, July 11-Aug. 29 at 7:30 p.m.: Arrowbrook Centre Park (2351 Field Point Road) in Herndon
- Thursdays, July 2-Aug. 20 at 7:30 p.m.: Nottoway Park (9601 Courthouse Road) in Vienna
Spotlight by Starlight (Mason District)
- Fridays, June 26-Aug. 21 at 7:30 p.m.: Mason District Park (6621 Columbia Pike) in Annandale
- Wednesdays, June 24-Aug. 19 at 7 p.m.: Burke Lake Park (7315 Ox Road) in Fairfax Station
- Saturdays, Aug. 1-22 at 6:30 p.m.: Sully Historic Site (3650 Historic Sully Way) in Chantilly
- While the other series mostly focus on musical performances, Sully District’s annual drive-in movie nights will feature screenings of “Tangled,” “Zootopia 2,” “Finding Nemo” and “Cars.”
Performances take place each week with days off for Fourth of July weekend (July 3-5). More outdoor entertainment can be found elsewhere in the county throughout the summer, including free shows in McLean, Reston, Vienna, Fairfax City and Herndon.
