After the Fall Festival, Downtown Fairfax's Season Heads Back to Old Town Hall

"For October 16, 2026 ONLY, the performance will be at the Stacy C. Sherwood Center." The line sits under an asterisk on the City of Fairfax Cultural Arts page, below the listing for the Bonita Lestina Old Town Hall Performance Series. The word "ONLY" suggests the series expects to be back in its own building after one more night away.

The 50th Annual Fall Festival filled downtown on Saturday, October 10, with more than 400 vendors. The rest of the season is less obvious, because it's spread across three places: Old Town Square, the Sherwood Center on Blenheim Boulevard, and an Old Town Hall that may be about to reopen. If you know which events are at which venue, you can plan the next two months.

Why the Arts Calendar Left University Drive

Old Town Hall at 3999 University Drive went up in 1900. It's a contributing structure in the City of Fairfax National Register Historic District. After a structural failure in 2020, the city decided the building needed more than stabilization. The current Phase 2 covers restoration of the exterior wood and masonry, repairs to windows and doors, accessibility upgrades, and replacement of old mechanical and electrical systems. The project costs $3.9 million in total. A U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development grant covers $2.1 million, and the city's General Fund pays the other $1.8 million.

The building has been closed since April 2025. In February, FFXnow reported that the closure moved the Chocolate Lovers Festival's Taste of Chocolate to the Sherwood Center, and that the renovation was "on track to finish this summer." Summer came and went. The city's project page still says "Under Construction" and gives "Fall 2026" as the expected completion.

No reopening date has been announced. The best evidence is the city's own event listings. The performance series' November shows are listed at Old Town Hall, not at Sherwood. The free Early Childhood Arts Program is scheduled at Sherwood from September through December 2026 and at Old Town Hall from January through May 2027. That's a planned return on a city timetable, so treat it as a schedule and not a ribbon cutting.

October Runs Through Sherwood and the Square

Until the hall reopens, the Stacy C. Sherwood Center at 3740 Blenheim Boulevard is the arts venue downtown. This month's indoor programs are all there.

The Rotary Gallery is showing AB EX FFX, an abstract expressionist exhibit and sale curated by The Rogue Art Project. It runs September 21 through December 18, and the free opening reception is Wednesday, October 14, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Two days later, on Friday, October 16, the Alfred Yun Quartet plays the performance series' one-night-only show at Sherwood. The program is jazz inspired by Korean culture, drawn from his album Voice and Phenomenon. Series doors open at 7:30 p.m. and the music starts at 8.

Friday, October 23, has two events at the same time. ARTScreen, the city's free Friday film series with complimentary popcorn and refreshments, shows "Knives Out" at Sherwood. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the film starts at 7. Across downtown, Rock the Block runs from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Old Town Square, 10415 North Street, with Groovalicious on stage. Both start at 6:30 p.m., so you'll have to choose between them.

The Calendar, Venue by Venue

Here are the season's main stage, screen and square events through early December, in date order, with the venue for each. The Halloween, market and holiday events are covered in the sections below.

ARTScreen is staying at Sherwood. The city lists the film series there from October through April, so the restoration doesn't affect it. The performance series is the one moving back. Its full name is the Bonita Lestina Old Town Hall Performance Series, and it's in its 37th season. If Old Town Hall is ready by November 6, the series returns to the building it's named for. If the work runs long, check the iMusical listing for a venue note like the one the city added for October 16.

Halloween Week Fills Main Street

The last full week of October is mostly outdoors, and most of it is on or near Main Street. The Old Town Fairfax Business Association calendar lists Haunting for Candy at Old Town Square on Sunday, October 25, from 4 to 6 p.m., with free Halloween games and treats. The day before, OSA Martial Arts at 3848 Blenheim Boulevard is hosting a Halloween Party from 4 to 6 p.m.

Saturday, October 31, has five things on the calendar:

1. The Fairfax Saturday Farmers' Market's last day of its May 9–October 31 season, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 10500 Page Avenue.
2. Tours of the Ratcliffe-Allison-Pozer House at 10386 Main Street, noon to 2 p.m.
3. A Spooky Drag Brunch at Commonwealth Brewing Co., 1 to 3 p.m.
4. Wright Adventure Company's Fairfax City Ghost Tour, a downtown walking tour with slots at 7 and 9 p.m. The listing doesn't give a meeting point, so confirm it when you book.
5. Trick-or-treating that evening. The city's 2026 details for its Trick-or-Treat Trail hadn't been posted when this was written, so watch fairfaxva.gov for the date.

Commonwealth Brewing gets things started sooner. Cozy at Commonwealth, on Saturday, October 17, brings in local vendors and a fall coffee-flight special. The day after Halloween, the Fairfax Main St. Market sets up vendors along Main Street between Chain Bridge Road and University Drive. It runs Sunday, November 1, from noon to 4 p.m., centered on 10417 Main Street.

The Fairfax Museum and Visitor Center at 10209 Main Street changes exhibits around the same time. Indigenous Perspectives closes October 24, and The Civil War runs November 11 through December 4. The museum lists public hours of 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday, October 24, is the last day to see Indigenous Perspectives.

The Restaurant Map Changed While the Hall Was Closed

If Old Town Hall reopens in November, the surrounding blocks will look a little different. In July, FFXnow reported that Ornery Beer Company would close its brewpub at 3950 University Drive on Sunday, July 26, after nearly eight years. The Herndon location is staying open. So the hall's next opening night will be the first one in years without the brewpub on University Drive.

Along Fairfax Boulevard, the changes are coming in. Moe's Southwest Grill at 10955 Fairfax Blvd. closed July 31. According to FFXnow, Roll Play, a fast-casual Vietnamese restaurant, is building out the space and aiming to open in November. If both schedules hold, the hall's return and Roll Play's opening land in the same month, but both are still targets. FFXnow also reported in July that Chin's Xi'An Style Restaurant planned to open its third location this August inside 99 Ranch Market at 10780 Fairfax Blvd. Confirm it's open before you go.

The summer Fairfax City Restaurant Week, August 20–30, gave a good snapshot of the downtown dining scene. Participating restaurants included Commonwealth Brewing Co., Ned's New England Deck, Patriot's Pub & Grill, and Yanzi Noodle House. Commonwealth shows up on that list and again on this fall's calendar, with Cozy at Commonwealth on October 17 and the drag brunch on Halloween.

December Closes on the Square and at Blenheim

The season ends with a run of holiday events. The 40th Annual Holiday Craft Show comes first, on November 21 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and November 22 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Fairfax High School, 3501 Lion Run. The Festival of Lights and Carols takes over Old Town Square on Saturday, December 5, from noon to 6 p.m., with the tree lighting at 5:30. One week later, Historic Blenheim hosts A Historic Holiday on Saturday, December 12, from noon to 3 p.m. It's free, and no registration is needed.

By then the restoration's timing should be settled. If the Bokor / Snedecor / Hill concert takes place at 3999 University Drive on November 20 as listed, the hall will have hosted two shows before the tree lighting. The Early Childhood Arts Program's move back in January would then be the last step in the return.

At Capitol Z Homes, we follow downtown Fairfax closely, from the Old Town Hall restoration to the restaurant changes on Fairfax Boulevard and University Drive. If you're thinking about what your home near Main Street or Old Town Square is worth this season, ask for a free home valuation. We'll bring local context to the conversation.