Arlington County Fair
When: Aug. 18-22
Where: Thomas Jefferson Community Center, 3501 Second St. S., Arlington
The 2020 fair went virtual, but now the live version is back! Get ready for carnival rides and games, stage performances, competitive exhibits, face painting, arts and crafts activities, goat yoga, dance parties, mobile axe throwing and a beer garden with New District Brewing. Food vendors will be serving goodies like arepas, ribs, sausages, fried Oreos, fruit slushies and bubble tea. Admission is free but rides are ticketed.
Rosslyn Reads: Pop-Up Book Sale
When: August 18, 3-7 p.m.
Where: Rosslyn Farmers Market, Central Place Plaza, 1800 N. Lynn St., Arlington
Looking to restock your nightstand or pick up a breezy read for one last beach trip? Perhaps the kids have blown through that summer reading list and are hungry for more? Find roughly 2,000 titles priced between $2 and $6 at this outdoor pop-up sale at the Rosslyn Farmers Market. Proceeds will benefit Turning the Page, a D.C.-based nonprofit that ensures underserved students have access to educational resources and a high-quality public education.
Tinner Hill Music Festival
When: Aug. 21, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Where: Cherry Hill Park, 312 Park Ave., Falls Church City
The daylong music festival returns to The Little City with a full lineup that includes NOLA brass band Bonerama (featuring multiple trombones); The B.B. King Blues Band Experience with Michael Lee of “The Voice”; The Legendary Wailers featuring Junior Marvin; East of the River Steel Band; Robbin Kapsalis and Vintage #18; Richmond’s Twin Brothers Band; singer-songwriter Eric Scott; and local kid-favorite Rocknoceros. Plus food and art vendors, fun family activities, a vaccine tent and more. Tickets $35-$45 for adults; $5 for children.
Climb UPton
When: Now through Nov. 5
Where: Upton Hill Regional Park, 6060 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington
Make the most of those waning days of summer while releasing your inner ninja warrior. Take the kids and test your skills at Climb UPton, a new, 90-element climbing course featuring ladders, balance bridges, cargo nets, zip lines and other contraptions. Mandatory harnesses and helmets are provided for each 2-hour session, and the apparatus offers three levels of difficulty for participants 5 and older. The climbing course is located in Upton Hill Regional Park, next to the Ocean Dunes Waterpark (which is open through Labor Day). Upton Hill is also home to an 18-hole mini golf course, batting cages, a concessions stand, a playground and walking trails. Climbing tickets $19.95 – $49.95.
We Can’t Predict Tomorrow
When: Through August 28
Where: Arlington Arts Center, 2550 Wilson Blvd., Arlington
Nine artists respond to the relentless tumult of the Covid-19 pandemic in this exhibition organized by guest curator Amanda Jirón-Murphy. Themes such as quarantine and isolation are intertwined with issues of social justice, climate change, and the intense longing for sanctuary, community and shared experiences. But the takeaways aren’t desolate. Collectively, the works by artists James Balo, Nakeya Brown, Tommy Bobo, Leigh Davis, Guarina Lopez, Lex Marie, Jackie Milad, Jared Nielsen and Bahar Yürükoğlu also offer paths to healing and rediscovering joy.
Yacht Rock Revue: The Hot Dads in Tight Jeans Tour
When: August 22, 8 p.m.
Where: Wolf Trap, 1551 Trap Road, Vienna
Need an escape? Like maybe a trip back in time to 1979? Throw on some bell bottoms, head to Wolf Trap and sing along to your favorite soft rock hits by Hall & Oates, Fleetwood Mac, George Benson, Kenny Loggins, Michael McDonald and Lionel Ritchie. Plus a few obligatory one-hit-wonders (we’re looking at you, Pina Colada Song.) Tickets start at $27.