Arlington County Fair: dates, hours, rides, parking and shuttle

Last checked Oct. 19, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Facts come from the Arlington County Fair, the volunteer-run nonprofit that organizes it.

The Arlington County Fair is the county’s biggest free event: five days of midway rides, games, music, fair food, competitive exhibits and more than 100 vendors at Thomas Jefferson Community Center and Park in South Arlington. The fair says it has run for nearly 50 years and that recent attendance has passed 150,000, drawing people from Arlington, Northern Virginia and the wider Washington region. Official site: arlingtoncountyfair.us.

What this means for you

• Next fair: 2027 dates are not announced yet. The 2026 fair ran Wednesday, Aug. 12, to Sunday, Aug. 16.
• Cost: free to get in; rides and games use paid credits.
• Parking: Ballston Mall garage plus a free ART shuttle. On-site parking is ADA only.
• Dogs: leashed dogs outside only.

When it is

The fair is held each August. The 2026 fair ran Aug. 12-16, and its hours were:

Sensory-friendly hours ran 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, and the fair has a sensory tent. The fair says hours can change. It has not posted 2027 dates; we will add them here when it does. Vendor, performer and competitive exhibit applications open each spring.

Where it is

Thomas Jefferson Community Center and Park, 3501 2nd St. S. The fair has outdoor grounds in the park and indoor hours at the community center. People also walk in from Arlington Boulevard and the Arlington Boulevard pedestrian bridge.

Tickets and prices

Admission is free, and so are the outdoor stage and Kids’ Court. Rides and games are run by Cole Shows and use credits on a ride card or a QR code in the FunTagg app. The 2026 ride prices were:

• 1 credit: $1
• 24 credits: $20
• 48 credits: $40
• 72 credits: $60
• 96 credits: $80
• 125 credits: $100

Each new ride card carries a one-time $2 activation fee. Presale credits were sold at a discount online until the fair opened.

Parking, shuttle and getting there

There is no general parking at the fairgrounds: the lot in front of the community center is for cars with ADA tags. The fair’s getting here page lists the other options:

• Free shuttle: park at the Ballston Mall Parking Garage, 627 N. Glebe Road, from $1 for three hours, and ride the free ART bus shuttle from near North Randolph Street and North Glebe Road. Shuttles start half an hour before the fair opens and run until half an hour after it closes. The stop is two and a half blocks from Ballston-MU Metro (Orange and Silver lines).
• Bus: ART 41 stops on South Glebe Road at 2nd Street South (southbound) and 1st Road South (northbound). Metrobus A70 uses the same stops, and Metrobus A12 stops at 2nd Street South and Old Glebe Road.
• Bike: free bike valet on the basketball courts, with room for 190 bikes and scooters. It is staffed Saturday and Sunday; bring your own lock.
• Rideshare: drop-off and pickup on South Old Glebe Road at 2nd Street. Cars idling more than two minutes are moved on.

Electric scooters and other electric rideables are not allowed on the fairgrounds; park them in front of the community center or at the basketball courts. ADA mobility devices are allowed.

What to know

• Dogs: leashed dogs are welcome on the outdoor grounds; only service animals go indoors or on the shuttles.
• Program: the printed program is at the information desk and posted on the fair’s website.
• Zero waste: the fair bans foam food containers and plastic straws, composts food waste and has a water refill station, so bring a reusable bottle.
• Volunteers: the fair is run by volunteers and does not take walk-up volunteers; sign up in advance through its support page.

More summer events

For the rest of the year’s big dates, see the Marine Corps Marathon, Clarendon Day and the Fourth of July fireworks.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Arlington County Fair?

The 2026 fair ran Wednesday, Aug. 12, through Sunday, Aug. 16. The fair has not announced its 2027 dates yet; check arlingtoncountyfair.us.

Is the Arlington County Fair free?

Yes. Admission is free, and so are the outdoor stage and Kids’ Court. Rides and games cost extra: in 2026 ride credits were $1 each, or 24 for $20.

Where do you park for the Arlington County Fair?

At the Ballston Mall Parking Garage, 627 N. Glebe Road, from $1 for three hours, then take the free ART shuttle. Parking at the fairgrounds is for ADA tags only.

Can I bring my dog to the Arlington County Fair?

Leashed dogs are allowed on the outdoor fairgrounds. Only service animals are allowed indoors and on the shuttles.

Where is the Arlington County Fair held?

At Thomas Jefferson Community Center and Park, 3501 2nd St. S., off South Old Glebe Road near Arlington Boulevard.