THE HISTORY OF THE ARLINGTON COUNTY FAIR: FROM COMMUNITY GARDENS TO A BELOVED VIRGINIA TRADITION
Every summer, thousands of residents and visitors gather at the Thomas Jefferson Community Center in Arlington, Virginia, for one of Northern Virginia's most anticipated community celebrations, the Arlington County Fair. Today, the fair is recognized as one of the largest free events on the East Coast, attracting more than 150,000 attendees with carnival rides, live entertainment, competitions, educational exhibits, and local vendors. Yet its beginnings were remarkably modest, rooted in a shared desire to celebrate community, gardening, and local talent.
Embracing Arlington Arts is hosting a booth at this year’s fair for the second year in a row. We welcome our friends and partners to volunteer at the fair booth August 14-16, 2026. We are offering an opportunity for arts groups to promote their season, openings, and special events. Please contact carlos@embracing-arlington-arts.org to register for the booth.
The fair has a long history in the County, and we are sharing some highlights from its humble beginnings.
A Grassroots Beginning
The Arlington County Fair traces its origins to 1976, when members of Arlington's Community Garden Program and the local 4-H organization began discussing ways to showcase the fruits of their labor. Community gardeners had planned a simple "Harvest Day" where residents could display vegetables, flowers, preserves, and handmade crafts. As more community groups became involved, the idea quickly expanded into something much larger county fair designed specifically for Arlington's urban environment.
The nonprofit Arlington County Fair, Inc. was incorporated in 1976, laying the groundwork for the county’s first official fair the following year. Unlike traditional agricultural fairs in rural communities, Arlington’s event would celebrate urban life while preserving many classic fair traditions.
The First Fair - 1977
The inaugural Arlington County Fair opened on August 26, 1977, at the Thomas Jefferson Community Center, where it remains today. Organized entirely by volunteers, the three-day event featured competitions in gardening, baking, photography, crafts, painting, flower arranging, clothing, and home arts. Educational displays, demonstrations, games for children, and exhibits from community organizations rounded out the festivities.
One notable feature was absent: there were no carnival rides or midway attractions. Instead, the fair focused on celebrating local creativity, education, and civic engagement. Newspapers at the time described Arlington's event as one of America's few true "urban fairs," blending the atmosphere of a traditional county fair with the character of a densely populated suburban community near the nation's capital.
Rapid Growth During the 1980s
The fair's popularity grew rapidly during its first decade. By the early 1980s, hundreds of exhibitors participated annually, and attendance continued to climb. Organizers expanded the entertainment lineup to include bluegrass bands, jazz ensembles, folk dancers, barbershop quartets, karate demonstrations, aerobics exhibitions, and performances representing Arlington's increasingly diverse population.
As attendance increased, the fair gradually introduced carnival rides and midway games, transforming the event into the family attraction familiar today. While livestock—common at rural county fairs—appeared only occasionally in the early years, Arlington instead emphasized educational exhibits, cultural programming, local organizations, and community participation.
A Celebration of Arlington's Diversity
One characteristic that has distinguished the Arlington County Fair throughout its history is its reflection of the county itself. Located just across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., Arlington is one of Virginia's most diverse and densely populated communities. Rather than focusing primarily on agriculture, the fair showcases Arlington's neighborhoods, cultures, schools, businesses, nonprofit organizations, artists, and civic groups.
Each year visitors can enjoy international food vendors, local performances, youth competitions, educational exhibits, arts and crafts displays, pie-eating contests, children's activities, and community demonstrations. Themes adopted over the years—including "Arlington: Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow" and "The Many Faces of Arlington"—have celebrated both the county's history and its evolving identity.
The Modern Fair
Today, the Arlington County Fair is jointly organized by Arlington County Government and the volunteer-driven Arlington County Fair Board. Admission remains free, helping make the event accessible to residents and visitors alike. While rides, games, and food are available for purchase, the fair continues its founding mission of educating, entertaining, and bringing together the community.
The Thomas Jefferson Community Center is transformed each summer into a lively festival featuring competitive exhibits, concerts, demonstrations, carnival rides, children's programming, local businesses, nonprofit organizations, and environmental initiatives such as zero-waste efforts.
Preserving a Community Tradition
Although Arlington lacks the farms and livestock traditionally associated with county fairs, its annual celebration has become a tradition every bit as meaningful. What began as a small exhibition of vegetables and homemade crafts has evolved into one of Northern Virginia's signature community events while maintaining its volunteer spirit and emphasis on local participation.
Nearly five decades after its first ribbon-cutting ceremony, the Arlington County Fair remains a testament to what can happen when neighbors come together to celebrate creativity, service, and community. It continues to honor its humble beginnings while evolving to reflect the changing character of Arlington County itself, a modern urban community that has created a county fair unlike any other in Virginia.
THE BENEFITS OF UNION MEMBERSHIP IN THE ARTS
The performing arts are built on creativity, collaboration, and dedication. Behind every successful production, arts exhibit, concert, or film project are actors, stage managers, designers, technicians, musicians, and craftspeople who devote countless hours to their craft. Arts unions play a vital role in supporting these professionals by protecting their rights, improving working conditions, and helping them build sustainable careers. In the United States there are two major theater unions: Actors' Equity Association (Equity) and the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE). According to Equity’s website the union represents more than 51,000 professional stage actors and stage managers. Equity positions live theater as an essential component of society and advances the careers of its members by negotiating wages, improving working conditions and providing a wide range of benefits, including health and pension plans.
IATSE is the largest labor union for behind-the-scenes entertainment workers. This includes stagehands, carpenters, electricians, hair and makeup artists, and wardrobe workers. Professional musicians are represented by the American Federation of Musicians with a membership of 70,000 members and the Writers Guild of America supports the work of screen and broadcast media with a membership base of 6,000.
An overview of the benefits of union membership includes:
A broad overview of the benefits of union membership includes:
Fair Wages and Benefits
One of the primary advantages of theater union membership is access to collectively negotiated wages. Rather than accepting whatever compensation an employer offers, union members work under contracts that establish minimum pay rates based on the type of production, venue, and job responsibilities.
In addition to fair wages, many union agreements provide access to valuable benefits, including:
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Health insurance
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Retirement and pension plans
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Paid breaks and overtime protections
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Workers’ compensation coverage
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Disability and life insurance options
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These benefits help arts professionals achieve greater financial stability in an industry that can often be unpredictable.
Safe Working Conditions
Theater, concerts, and film projects frequently involve physically demanding work, including heavy scenery, complex lighting systems, pyrotechnics, aerial performances, and long rehearsal schedules. Union contracts establish safety standards that employers are expected to follow.
These protections may include:
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Safe work practices
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Reasonable rehearsal and performance hours
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Required meal and rest breaks
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Qualified supervision for hazardous work
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Procedures for reporting unsafe conditions
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By promoting workplace safety, unions help reduce injuries while allowing artists and technicians to focus on delivering exceptional performances.
Professional Representation
If disputes arise regarding contracts, compensation, discrimination, harassment, or workplace conditions, union members are not left to handle these issues alone. Most unions provide experienced representatives who assist members in resolving conflicts through established grievance procedures.
This representation helps ensure that contracts are enforced fairly and that members have access to knowledgeable advocates when workplace issues occur.
Industry Standards
Theater unions establish professional standards that benefit both workers and employers. Standardized contracts clarify expectations regarding rehearsal schedules, performance requirements, travel, housing, and compensation.
These consistent standards reduce misunderstandings and create more predictable working relationships across the industry.
Career Development
Many unions invest in their members’ professional growth by offering:
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Continuing education programs
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Workshops and master classes
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Safety certifications
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Networking events
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Mentorship opportunities
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Audition and career resources
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These programs help members develop new skills and remain competitive as theater technologies and production methods evolve.
Networking Opportunities
Membership often connects theater professionals with a broad community of artists, technicians, producers, and employers. Union meetings, educational events, conferences, and industry gatherings provide opportunities to build relationships that can lead to future employment and creative collaborations.
In an industry where reputation and professional connections matter, these networking opportunities can be invaluable.
Access to Union Productions
Many professional theaters, concert venues, studios, and touring productions hire performers and crew under union agreements. Membership may provide access to auditions, job postings, referral systems, or hiring opportunities that are limited to union members or require union affiliation.
While membership does not guarantee employment, it can increase access to productions operating under professional labor agreements.
Advocacy for the Arts
Beyond serving individual members, theater unions advocate for policies that strengthen the performing arts industry. They often work with legislators, arts organizations, and community leaders to support funding for the arts, improve workplace protections, and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout the profession.
These efforts help create a healthier environment for current and future generations of theater professionals.
Financial Security
A career in the arts industry can involve periods of intermittent employment. Union-sponsored pension plans, retirement savings options, health benefits, and negotiated compensation provide an added measure of financial security throughout a member’s career.
These long-term benefits can make a significant difference as artists transition through different stages of their professional lives.
Building a Stronger Theater Community
The arts are inherently collaborative, and unions reinforce that spirit by encouraging solidarity among members. Collective bargaining gives theater professionals a unified voice when negotiating with producers and employers, helping to ensure fair treatment across the industry.
Strong unions also contribute to higher professional standards, benefiting audiences, employers, and communities alike by supporting the talented individuals who bring live performances to life.
Union membership offers far more than a contract—it provides a framework for professional growth, workplace protection, financial stability, and collective advocacy. While joining a union may not be the right choice for every theater professional, many members find that the benefits of representation, negotiated wages, healthcare, retirement security, safety protections, and career development make membership a valuable investment in their future.
As the arts industry continue to evolve, unions remain an important force in ensuring that the people who create art can build rewarding, sustainable careers while maintaining the high standards that audiences have come to expect.
PARTNER WITH US!
CORPORATE SUPPORT SPOTLIGHT
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Embracing Arlington Arts is spotlighting our sponsor A Life Well Drunk which offers luxury wine experiences around the globe and exclusive tastings and pouring events. Join John Sporing, the founder of a Life Well Drunk, as he takes wine lovers around the globe including South Africa, France, Chile, Argentina, California and Oregon. VIsit www.alifewelldrunk.com to learn about the 2026-2027 wine tour destinations.
2026 CORPORATE SPONSORS
Opportunities for corporate sponsorship are open, and we encourage local businesses and allied groups to consider becoming a supporter of Embracing Arlington Arts. We certainly could not be as successful or effective as we have been or continue to be without the support of our partners. And we offer many opportunities to acknowledge these generous supporters. Support the second most downloaded theater podcast in the country. For more information, follow this link.
SUPPORT US
If you would like to support the work of Embracing Arlington Arts by making a donation, here’s how:
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Make tax-deductible contributions online
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Tax-deductible contributions by check made payable to Embracing Arlington Arts and send it to Embracing Arlington Arts, 2104 North Kenmore Street, Arlington, VA 22201
Every dollar helps us help artists and arts organizations in so many ways. Thank you in advance!