The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has authorized changes giving Visit Fairfax more responsibility — and funding — for developing and running community events that could attract tourists and other outside visitors.
Board members voted unanimously at their Oct. 27 meeting to amend a memorandum of understanding between the county government and the independent nonprofit, handing it event management responsibilities previously delegated to Celebrate Fairfax.
“Consolidating these functions under Visit Fairfax centralizes tourism and event management within a single entity with a consistent, dedicated funding source,” county staff said in proposing the change.
Earlier this year as part of the budget process, supervisors redirected $750,000 in local funding from Celebrate Fairfax to Visit Fairfax. The approval of a revised MOU on Oct. 27 was a procedural step to formalize that action.
Supervisors did not discuss the impact of the measure prior to a vote, but Board Chair Jeff McKay said he appreciated county and Visit Fairfax staff working through complexities and “expeditiously getting back to us” with an amended agreement.
County supervisors over the past year have been looking at ways to consolidate organizations serving similar functions, including events and tourism promotion.
Funding for tourism and event promotion comes from the county’s transient occupancy tax on hotel stays. The tax was increased last year from 4% to 6%, with two-thirds going to the local government and the remainder to the state government.
Of the county’s share, one-quarter must be designed for tourism events, marketing and related initiatives.
Officially known as the Fairfax Convention and Visitors Corp., Visit Fairfax was established in July 2004 to serve as Fairfax County’s designated marketing organization, or DMO. Governed by a 26-member board, the organization operates independently, but in collaboration with, the county government.
According to tax filings, Visit Fairfax reported revenue of $4.65 million in 2025, with expenses of $3.31 million. Though it’s a nonprofit entity, contributions to the organization are not tax-deductible, according to the IRS.
Visit Fairfax CEO Barry Biggar pitched supervisors last year on gaining the additional hotel tax revenue, saying it could be leveraged to a major increase in tourism and convention business across the county.
Biggar has served as president and CEO of Visit Fairfax since 2008, having spent the preceding five years heading a similar organization in Texas.
Celebrate Fairfax honored despite losing county funding
At the Oct. 27 meeting, the Board of Supervisors also recognized Celebrate Fairfax for its 43rd anniversary, praising its legacy of bringing the community together through events, even as members acknowledged that the nonprofit is in a period of transition.
“Your partnership in so many activities that happened throughout the county is wonderful,” McKay told Celebrate Fairfax leaders at the meeting. “As we look forward to the new evolution of this and work with Visit Fairfax and other organizations, we’re hoping to take the seeds that were planted and turn them into even bigger and better things.”
Founded in 1983 as the Faxfair Corporation, Celebrate Fairfax was tasked with organizing a countywide celebration that became the Celebrate Fairfax! Festival, a three-day event held every summer at the Fairfax County Government Center until the pandemic.
Instead of bringing back the festival once limits on public gatherings eased, Celebrate Fairfax announced in 2022 that it would be retired in favor of smaller events held across the county throughout the year.
Celebrate Fairfax reported $764,000 in annual revenue and $661,000 in expenses in its most recent tax filing. Contributions to that organization are tax-deductible.
In addition to the Celebrate Fairfax! Festival, the nonprofit’s activities included the Fall for Fairfax Kids Fest and support for the annual Lord and Lady Fairfax Awards, which honored individuals in each magisterial district for their volunteer service and other accomplishments.
In its resolution saluting Celebrate Fairfax’s anniversary, the county board lauded the organization for “more than four decades of service and its lasting contributions to the vitality, character and quality of life of Fairfax County.”
At the same time, McKay stressed the need to prioritize equity going forward, noting that the festival’s centralized location meant it wasn’t accessible to all residents.
“As much as I loved all the years of the fair and really grateful for all the work that was done to put on that fair, it became very evident to me that it was not meeting the needs of people in every part of the county,” the chairman said before highlighting the volunteers, residents and businesses who put in time and work to support Celebrate Fairfax’s events over the years.
“That spirit will continue because of the foundation that you all have laid,” he added.
Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity noted that he still hears from constituents “about how much they loved the Celebrate Fairfax fair” and the Lord and Lady Fairfax program, initiatives that he misses.
Celebrate Fairfax’s work at The PARC at Tysons, which served as a base for the organization starting in 2021, “really helped create a place … to help pilot ideas and build community across the county,” said Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik.
Opened in a former Container Store, the venue at 8508 Leesburg Pike was shuttered at the end of June by Fairfax County, which attributed the decision to the expense of continuing to maintain and operate the aging building.
“Thank you for your many years of dedication,” Palchik told Celebrate Fairfax’s leaders. “I personally am excited to see this next chapter that helps grow and exemplify the best of Fairfax.”
Mount Vernon District Supervisor Dan Storck noted Celebrate Fairfax’s involvement in organizing local programming for the U.S.’s 250th anniversary this year.
Joined by Celebrate Fairfax President and CEO Ashley Morris as well as other board members, Board of Directors Chair Debbie Kilpatrick said she was thrilled to join the nonprofit in 2020, but her “excitement quickly became concern” for its mission when in-person events across the county were largely shut down due to Covid.
According to Kilpatrick, Celebrate Fairfax had faced a recommendation in fall 2020 that it dissolve “due to the lack of revenue, reserves and with no opportunity to engage our community.” Instead, leaders advocated for a new vision for the organization’s future and were ultimately able to reestablish it with the help of county funding as a contributory agency.
Over the past five years, the nonprofit helped deliver 240 free events around the county, she told the Board of Supervisors.
“Our principles have always been centered on people, places and shared experience for all to embrace a sense of belonging and building community,” Kilpatrick said. “While Celebrate Fairfax is no longer a county contributory partner, we want to thank you for your support and belief in our ability to serve the Fairfax County community.”
