Thousands are expected to swarm Fairfax City Sunday night for First Fairfax, a celebration originally marking the small city’s bicentennial that’s now entering its third year.
Three square blocks of the city will be converted to a massive family-friendly street party, replete with entertainers, dancing, horse-and-carriage rides and fireworks, said event spokeswoman Joanna Ormesher. The downtown area will be shut down for traffic beginning at 6 p.m.
The event has emerged as a popular year-end activity for Fairfax’s historic Old Town.
The original First Fairfax in 2004 drew about 10,000 guests, according to Ormesher.
“As long as the weather stays in our favor, I think it will be not far from the same figure this year and probably more,” she said.
Among the many entertainers, the city will host Bob Brown Puppets, the Black Cat Blues Band and magician The Great Zucchini.
The event is unaffiliated with, but akin to, “First Night” in other cities — with the notable exception that it doesn’t cost anything to attend. Event planners, according to Ormesher, have decided to steer clear of the popular brand of New Year’s Eve celebration.
“We’ve not bought into this national scheme that says you have to pay to join us,” she said. “First Night is a trademark name. We are not First Night.”
