Discover Fauquier
June/July 2026
21
around the library to win a
small prize.
There are some unique
options for adults and
history enthusiasts as well:
G e n e a l o g y &
Revolutionary Records:
The library provides free
a c c e s s t o p r e m i u m
databases that are essential for Revolutionary War research. You can use
the library computers or log in from home with your Fauquier County library
card number.
·
Fold3 Library Edition: This is a premier military history database.
You can use it to fi nd pension fi les, service records, and stories of
those who served.
·
Gale Genealogy Connect: This offers a large collection of
genealogical reference books, including specifi c volumes on the
American Revolution and colonial history.
The Virginiana Room (Warrenton Branch):
Often called the "treasure chest" for local
historians, this houses unique primary
sources, including digital versions of the
Fauquier County Minute Books starting from
1759. You can look at the actual written
summaries of local meetings held during the
years leading up to the Revolution.
To learn more, visit
fauquierlibrary.org.
The Main Event: "The Big Boom" at Great
Meadow
Independence Day 2026 isn't just a holiday;
it's a quarter-millennium milestone. The
Great Meadow Foundation is preparing a
celebration worthy of the moment, and you
won't want to miss it!
As a long-time, beloved tradition, this festival in The Plains draws 10,000+
attendees annually, bringing together neighbors from across the region for
a day of patriotic spirit. This year's celebration promises to be bigger and
better than ever:
·
Spectacular Fireworks + Drones: The return of the high-tech drone
show alongside a massive fi reworks display.
·
Hometown Talent: Live music featuring local American Idol star Mike
Parker.
·
Vendor Village: A vibrant market fi lled with food, drinks, and local
merchants.
·
Family Fun: A dedicated Kids Fun Zone, petting zoo, games, family-
friendly activities, and entertainment for all ages.
The gates open on
July 4 at 4:00 p.m. with activities beginning at 4:30 and
the big show at 9:00 p.m. Learn more at
gmjuly4th.com.
So many activities--all of them great. Let's all fi nd a way to celebrate!
If you're looking for the heart of the action this summer, look no further
than the immediate surroundings in Fauquier County. From the sprawling
fi elds of The Plains to the historic streets of Warrenton and
beyond, here is your defi nitive guide to summer events that
mark the nation's semiquincentennial anniversary.
Community Events
Check out these events that celebrate both local culture and
national history.
Consider heading to the Oak Spring Garden Foundation in
Upperville, where you can explore Oak Spring's gardens and landscapes
through self-paced walking tours. In addition to the elegant formal walled
garden and crabapple arbor, check out the new poster exhibit, "George
Washington and a Nation of Farmers," created to celebrate America's 250th
anniversary and the role Washington played as America's founding farmer.
For tickets to this timed-entry event held on
June 26 & 27, visit osgf.org.
You won't want to miss the Warrenton Town Limits Festival at the Warrenton
Aquatic and Recreation Facility (WARF) on
June 26. This rain-or-shine event
kicks off at 4:00 p.m. with vendor tents, food trucks, moonbounces, and of
course, fi reworks when the sun goes down.
Start off
July 4 with some casual fun at the time-honored Warrenton Kids &
Pets Parade, beginning at 10:15. Kids, bikes, wagons, and pets will be
decked out in red, white, and blue, parading down Main Street to the
courthouse, where the Fauquier Community Band will provide festive music.
America's 250th Birthday in the Parks: Head to Northern Fauquier Community
Park on
July 4 anytime from 7:00 a.m.8:00 p.m. for a host of family-friendly
celebratory activities. You can also swing by C.M. Crockett Park, where
concessions will be giving away red, white, and blue "Freedom Pops!"
Activities for Children (and Adults!)
Fauquier is making sure the next generation learns their history through play
and creativity.
Fauquier County Parks & Recreation
Check out the American Anniversary Day Camp in three locations: Cedar
Lee Middle School, Vint Hill Community Center, and Marshall Community
Center. Held from
June 29July 3 from 7:30 a.m.5:30 p.m. (8:00 a.m.4:30
p.m. in Marshall), this camp, like the red, white, and blue, is tried and true!
Participants ages 512 will enjoy patriotic crafts, games, and hands-on
activities--the perfect way to learn, create, and have a blast while learning
about our nation's history. The cost is just $215 per child.
Celebrate the nation's 250th at Fauquier County Parks with your own
"passport." Stop by Monroe Park on
June 24 from 11:00 a.m.3:00 p.m. to
pick up your Passport to the Parks, enjoy light refreshments, and take part
in fun educational activities highlighting our nation's history. Then during the
week of
June 29July 5, go on a Walk and Read at Northern Fauquier
Community Park, where an All American story will be displayed by the
walking path on the park's west end. Registration for the passport is required
by June 22; no registration is needed for the Walk and Read.
For more information and to register for camps or the Passport to the Parks,
visit
fauquiercounty.gov and under the Government tab, choose "Parks &
Recreation" and scroll down to the GoodTimes newsletter.
Library Activities
Children of all ages can enjoy the Patriotic Picture Hunt from
June 29July
3 during regular library hours at all library branches. Simply pick up an
answer sheet at the youth services desk and hunt for hidden patriotic images
By Nancy Griffi n-Bonnaire
Celebrating America's 250th in Grand Style