Rally the corgi has sniffed out the best Christmas events for kids in Fairfax for 2026, and here is what he found: 4 family events. The magic runs from November 14 (Fair Oaks Holiday Market) through December 26, with Breakfast with Santa at Dave & Buster's Fairfax (December 5) and Holiday Songs and Winter Stories (from December 19) along the way. We check every date on the host’s own website, and each listing links straight there. For the rest of the state, see our Virginia Christmas events for kids guide.
What Rally found in Fairfax
- 4 Christmas events for kids in Fairfax
- Meet Santa: 3 chances, including Fair Oaks Holiday Market (November 14) and Holiday Tree Lighting (November 27)
- Parades and tree lightings: Holiday Tree Lighting (November 27)
- Also on the list: 1 Christmas show, 1 Christmas market, 1 story time and 1 craft workshop
- Season: November 14 (Fair Oaks Holiday Market) to December 26 (Holiday Songs and Winter Stories)
- Every date checked on the host’s own site on Nov 10
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Ticketed and paid Christmas events for kids in Fairfax
Admission, tickets or a fee apply. Where a host has not posted a price yet, the listing says so.
Holiday market
Fair Oaks Holiday Market
- When: Saturday, November 14, 2026, 10 am to 8 pm
- Where: Fair Oaks Mall, 11750 Fair Oaks Mall, Fairfax, VA 22033 (opens in maps)
- Cost: No shopper admission price listed on the organizer's page
Expand to see the parent tip
KOJAM Events fills Fair Oaks Mall with artisan makers, local businesses and bakers for a one-day holiday market. Families can browse handmade goods and holiday treats through the day, and Santa makes a visit in the evening for photos.
The market is open Saturday, November 14, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at 11750 Fair Oaks Mall. The organizer's page gives two different times for Santa, 5 p.m. in one place and 6 p.m. in another, and the only prices it lists are for vendor spaces, not for shoppers.
Parent tip: Because the page lists Santa at both 5 and 6 p.m., aim to be there by 5 so you do not miss him either way. Shop earlier in the afternoon and save the photo for last.
- Host
- KOJAM Events (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- Fair Oaks Mall, 11750 Fair Oaks Mall, Fairfax, VA 22033 (opens in maps)
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
New Fairfax events every week
Rally researches Christmas events in Fairfax daily and updates this page with new events. Enter your email to get a weekly update with new events in Fairfax.
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Rally’s Christmas research
Rally the corgi has 3 more Fairfax events researched for you.
- New events every week We research new events daily and send you one email a week with the new ones we find in Fairfax.
- Exclusive access to free events Find the free Christmas events in Fairfax before they fill up.
- Unlock the filters Find Santa visits, free events and weekend plans in one tap.
- Rally’s Christmas Eve Express and a free advent calendar Get early access to Rally the corgi’s Christmas Eve tracker, plus a free digital advent calendar to count down to Christmas.
- One-tap add to calendar Save any event to your Google, Apple or Outlook calendar so you never miss it.
Coming up on this page
- 3 Santa
- 1 Lights
- 1 Shows
- 1 Crafts
Enter your email to get new Christmas events in Fairfax every week.
Tree lighting
Holiday Tree Lighting
- When: Friday, November 27, 2026, 5 to 8 pm
- Where: Mosaic District, 2905 District Ave, Fairfax, VA 22031 (opens in maps)
- Cost: No price listed on the organizer's page
Expand to see the parent tip
Mosaic welcomes the season with a tree lighting backed by music and dance performances that run all evening. Santa makes a grand entrance during the event, and after the ceremony he moves to the Target lobby for a meet and greet with visitors.
The event runs Friday, November 27, 2026, from 5 to 8 p.m. The Mosaic page does not give the exact time the tree is lit, and it lists no price or registration.
Parent tip: The Santa meet and greet happens in the Target lobby after the ceremony, so do not head home the moment the tree lights up. Since the page gives no lighting time, arriving close to 5 p.m. is the safe choice.
- Host
- Mosaic District (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- Mosaic District, 2905 District Ave, Fairfax, VA 22031 (opens in maps)
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
New Fairfax events every week
Rally researches Christmas events in Fairfax daily and updates this page with new events. Enter your email to get a weekly update with new events in Fairfax.
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Breakfast with Santa
Breakfast with Santa at Dave & Buster's Fairfax
- When: Saturday, December 5, 2026, 9 to 11 am
- Where: Dave & Buster's Fairfax, 11958 U Fair Oaks Mall, Fairfax, VA 22033 (opens in maps)
- Cost: $27.94 food only or $33.01 with game play, per person; under 2 need no ticket
- Ages: All ages; children must be with an adult
Expand to see the parent tip
Families get into Dave & Buster's before it opens to the public for a breakfast banquet of pancakes with toppings, scrambled eggs, potatoes, bacon, sausage and fruit, with unlimited soda and juice. Kids can take a photo with Santa, write him a letter and decorate holiday crafts. The higher ticket tier adds a $10 Power Card with three hours of unlimited video game play.
It runs Saturday, December 5, 2026, from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Fair Oaks Mall location. Tickets are sold in advance through Fever at $27.94 for food only or $33.01 with game play, tax and gratuity included. Everyone age two and up needs a ticket, adults included, and tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable.
Parent tip: Every adult needs a ticket too, so price out the whole family before you book. The unlimited play covers non-redemption video games only, so let kids know ahead of time that ticket and crane games cost extra.
- Host
- Dave & Buster's Fairfax (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- Dave & Buster's Fairfax, 11958 U Fair Oaks Mall, Fairfax, VA 22033 (opens in maps)
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
New Fairfax events every week
Rally researches Christmas events in Fairfax daily and updates this page with new events. Enter your email to get a weekly update with new events in Fairfax.
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Holiday story time
Holiday Songs and Winter Stories
- When: Sat December 19 and Sat December 26, 2026, 10:30 to 11 am (The library's page lists the program on two Saturdays, December 19 and December 26)
- Where: City of Fairfax Regional Library, 10360 North St, Fairfax, VA 22030 (opens in maps)
- Cost: No price listed; entrance tickets handed out at the Information Desk, first come, first served
- Ages: Birth to 5
Expand to see the parent tip
The City of Fairfax Regional Library gives its storytime a Christmas theme, with reading, singing and learning aimed at children from birth to age 5. It is a short half-hour session, and each child can bring up to two caregivers.
Sessions are listed for Saturday, December 19 and Saturday, December 26, 2026, from 10:30 to 11 a.m. There is no registration, but space is capped at 25 children. Entrance tickets are handed out first come, first served at the Information Desk 30 minutes before the program begins.
Parent tip: Only 25 children get in and tickets come out at the Information Desk at 10 a.m., so be in the building by then. The program lasts just 30 minutes, which suits babies and toddlers.
- Host
- Fairfax County Public Library, City of Fairfax Regional Library (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- City of Fairfax Regional Library, 10360 North St, Fairfax, VA 22030 (opens in maps)
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
New Fairfax events every week
Rally researches Christmas events in Fairfax daily and updates this page with new events. Enter your email to get a weekly update with new events in Fairfax.
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We check every event above on the host’s own page for the date, time and cost, plus the things parents ask about, like sign-ups and ages. Looking for a Santa train instead? Those are on our Virginia Christmas train rides page.
See every event on a December calendar
Plan your December
When each Fairfax Christmas event for kids happens
The first is Fair Oaks Holiday Market in Fairfax on November 14; the last runs to December 26. Each bar spans an event’s dates, not every hour in them, so check the host’s page for times.
- Fair Oaks Holiday MarketFairfax · Nov 14
- Holiday Tree LightingFairfax · Nov 27
- Breakfast with Santa at Dave & Buster's FairfaxFairfax · Dec 5
- Holiday Songs and Winter StoriesFairfax · Dec 19 to Dec 26
Looking further afield? Our Virginia Christmas events for kids guide lists every event we have found in the state, and we have city guides for Centreville, Chantilly, McLean and Manassas. The national search sorts every event by distance from your town.
A story for the drive home
A morning with Santa or an evening of holiday stories tends to end the same way: tired kids, a long drive and one more book before bed. Our picture book follows Rally the corgi on his first train ride to see his grand-paw-rents, and every page is painted by hand. If your family is spending December missing someone, it was written for that too. For the car, print our free corgi and train coloring pages.
A bedtime story after seeing SantaRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first ride on a California train, hand-painted in watercolor. $16.99 on Amazon, ages 0 to 8.
Buy on Amazon2026 Christmas events are coming in late November
More Christmas events arrive in late November. We add them here as soon as we confirm them.
The story of Christmas in Fairfax
Fairfax began as the Town of Providence, a rural crossroads that grew up around the Fairfax County courthouse in the early 19th century, and it is still the county seat today. At Christmas, families here can choose from a holiday market and a Santa breakfast at Fair Oaks Mall, a tree lighting at Mosaic and a holiday storytime at the regional library.
How Fairfax celebrates
Christmas around Fairfax is spread across several hosts. KOJAM Events brings a holiday market with artisan vendors and a Santa visit to Fair Oaks Mall on November 14, 2026, and Mosaic follows on November 27 with a tree lighting, performances and Santa's grand entrance. Dave & Buster's at Fair Oaks Mall holds what it calls its annual Breakfast with Santa on December 5, and the City of Fairfax Regional Library offers a Christmas-themed storytime on December 19. According to the city's Wikipedia article, Fairfax also holds a Festival of Lights and Carols in Old Town on the first Saturday in December, when the city Christmas tree is lit.
Fun facts about Christmas in Fairfax
Both the city and the county are named for Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron, who held a land grant of more than five million acres between the Potomac and Rappahannock Rivers. The Battle of Fairfax Court House, fought here on June 1, 1861, was the first land battle of the Civil War. Fairfax was incorporated as a town in 1874 and as a city in 1961, and the 2020 census counted 24,146 residents.
Traditions today
- Fair Oaks Holiday Market: KOJAM Events gathers artisan makers, local businesses and bakers at Fair Oaks Mall for a day of shopping capped by a visit from Santa.
- Holiday Tree Lighting at Mosaic: Music and dance performances surround the tree lighting and Santa's grand entrance, followed by a meet and greet in the Target lobby.
- Breakfast with Santa at Dave & Buster's: Families come in before the doors open to the public for a breakfast banquet, Santa photos, letters and crafts at an event the venue calls annual.
- Holiday Songs and Winter Stories: The City of Fairfax Regional Library gives its storytime for children up to age 5 a Christmas theme.
- Festival of Lights and Carols: The city's Wikipedia article says the first Saturday in December brings caroling, a yule log, hot mulled cider and the lighting of the city Christmas tree in Old Town Fairfax.
A fact for kids
In 1904 a trolley line connected Fairfax with Washington, D.C., which is 14 miles away. The oldest two-story building in town is a schoolhouse built in 1873 for $2,750, and today it is a museum.
Questions about Christmas in Fairfax
When was Fairfax, Virginia founded?
The area began as the Town of Providence, which served as the seat of Fairfax County in the early 19th century and grew around the courthouse. The first meeting of the Fairfax Court there was held on April 21, 1800. Fairfax was incorporated as a town in 1874 and as a city in 1961.
How did Fairfax get its name?
Both the city and the county take their name from Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron. He was a Scottish noble who, in the 18th century, controlled the Northern Neck Proprietary, a grant of more than five million acres lying between the Potomac and Rappahannock Rivers.
Is Fairfax a city or part of Fairfax County?
Fairfax is an independent city, separate from Fairfax County under Virginia law, yet it remains the county seat. A small piece of the county, covering the courthouse complex and the jail, sits inside the city as an exclave. The city lies 14 miles west of Washington, D.C.
Was there a Civil War battle in Fairfax?
Yes. The Battle of Fairfax Court House on June 1, 1861, is described as the first land battle of the Civil War, fought when a Union scouting party met local militia, with neither side gaining an advantage. A second battle followed on June 27, 1863, and the courthouse changed hands repeatedly during the war.
How many people live in Fairfax?
The 2020 census counted 24,146 people in the City of Fairfax. About 19.5 percent of residents were under 18, and roughly a third of the city's 8,800 households had children under 18 living in them.
What is the oldest building in Fairfax?
The former Fairfax County Courthouse is the oldest historic building in the city. The oldest two-story building is the Fairfax Public School, built in 1873 for $2,750, which became the Fairfax Museum and Visitor Center on July 4, 1992.
What happens at Christmas in Fairfax?
The season on this list starts with the Fair Oaks Holiday Market on November 14, 2026, and the Holiday Tree Lighting at Mosaic on November 27. December brings Breakfast with Santa at Dave & Buster's on December 5 and a Christmas-themed library storytime on December 19.
Does the City of Fairfax light a Christmas tree?
According to the city's Wikipedia article, Fairfax holds a Festival of Lights and Carols on the first Saturday in December. It describes caroling, a yule log, hot mulled cider, photos with Santa, the illumination of Old Town Fairfax and the lighting of the city Christmas tree. Check with the city for this year's details.
Is there a holiday craft show in Fairfax?
The city's Wikipedia article describes an annual Holiday Craft Show at Fairfax High School on the third Saturday and Sunday of November, with hundreds of craft vendors and attendance of about 8,000 to 10,000. Confirm this year's dates with the city before planning around it.
Who organizes Fairfax's Christmas events?
Each event has its own host. KOJAM Events runs the Fair Oaks Holiday Market, Mosaic puts on its tree lighting, Dave & Buster's Fairfax holds Breakfast with Santa with tickets sold through Fever, and Fairfax County Public Library runs the storytime at the City of Fairfax Regional Library.
Which Fairfax Christmas events are free?
No organizer page here uses the word free. The Mosaic tree lighting, the Fair Oaks Holiday Market and the library storytime list no admission price for visitors, while Breakfast with Santa at Dave & Buster's is ticketed, starting at $27.94 per person.
Sources
- Fairfax, Virginia, Wikipedia
- Fair Oaks Holiday Market, KOJAM Events
- Holiday Tree Lighting, Mosaic District
- Breakfast with Santa at Dave & Buster's Fairfax, Fever
- Holiday Songs and Winter Stories, Fairfax County Public Library
Keep the Christmas magic going: track Rally the corgi on Christmas Eve, print free Christmas coloring pages, learn how to say Merry Christmas in 100+ languages, find train museums to visit with kids, or browse Christmas events in every Virginia city.
Fairfax Christmas events for kids: questions parents ask
What are the best Christmas events for kids in Fairfax, VA to start with?
For a first outing, the Holiday Tree Lighting at Mosaic on Friday, November 27, 2026, from 5 to 8 p.m. combines music and dance performances with Santa's grand entrance. Families with children under 5 can add the Christmas-themed storytime at the City of Fairfax Regional Library on Saturday, December 19 at 10:30 a.m.
Are there free Christmas events for kids in Fairfax?
None of the organizer pages use the word free, but several list no admission price. The Mosaic tree lighting on November 27, the Fair Oaks Holiday Market on November 14 and the library's Holiday Songs and Winter Stories on December 19, 2026, show no cost for visitors. Breakfast with Santa at Dave & Buster's is the one event with a ticket price.
Where can kids meet Santa in Fairfax?
Santa appears at three events. He visits the Fair Oaks Holiday Market on Saturday, November 14, 2026, in the evening. He makes a grand entrance at the Mosaic tree lighting on Friday, November 27 and greets families in the Target lobby afterward. He also poses for photos at Dave & Buster's Breakfast with Santa on Saturday, December 5.
Is there a tree lighting or holiday show in Fairfax?
The Holiday Tree Lighting at Mosaic on Friday, November 27, 2026, is the main lights event on this list, with musical and dance performances running all evening between 5 and 8 p.m. The Mosaic page does not state the exact lighting time, so plan to arrive near the start.
Which Fairfax Christmas events need tickets or sign-up?
Breakfast with Santa at Dave & Buster's on December 5, 2026, requires advance tickets for everyone age two and up, adults included. The library storytime on December 19 has no registration, but only 25 children get in, with entrance tickets handed out at the Information Desk 30 minutes before the 10:30 a.m. start.
Are there Christmas events at Fair Oaks Mall?
Two events on this list are at Fair Oaks Mall. The Fair Oaks Holiday Market fills the mall with artisan vendors and bakers on Saturday, November 14, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Dave & Buster's at the mall hosts Breakfast with Santa on Saturday, December 5 from 9 to 11 a.m.
Are there Christmas train rides for kids near Fairfax?
Santa trains and holiday train rides have their own guide: Rally Takes the Train’s Virginia Christmas train rides guide. This Fairfax guide covers Santa visits, story times, light shows and other events off the rails.
How do you confirm these events?
We list an event only after we find this season’s date on the host’s own website or an official city or tourism calendar. We last checked every listing on November 10, 2026. Hosts change details, so always confirm on the host’s page before you go.
Event names belong to their hosts. Rally Takes the Train is a family picture book and is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by any host listed here. Confirm dates, times and prices on each host’s own site before you go.