Project · on the record since 2025 · discussed in 4 transcribed meetings

Asian Festival on Main

The Asian Festival on Main is an annual outdoor festival held in historic downtown Fairfax City, organized by the Old Town Fairfax Business Association (OTFBA) and originally created in 2021 by Wendy Wong, co-owner of the Standard Barbershop, in partnership with several sponsors. 7 separate matters touch this project; each has its own status.

Project

Sweet Mile

Apr 7, 2026City Council · item 1a
Discussion on Third Party Event Sponsorships
Identified as one of eight third-party events currently supported by the City, discussed in the context of reviewing the City's event sponsorship approach.
minutes agenda

Project

Ride of the Patriots

Apr 7, 2026City Council · item 1a
Discussion on Third Party Event Sponsorships
Identified as one of eight third-party events currently supported by the City, discussed in the context of reviewing the City's event sponsorship approach.
minutes agenda

Project

Labor Day Car Show

The Labor Day Car Show is a recurring community event in Fairfax that has long been associated with organizer Jeff Greenfield. It is one of eight third-party events currently supported by the City of Fairfax, five of which involve road closures.

Apr 7, 2026City Council · item 1a
Discussion on Third Party Event Sponsorships
Identified as one of eight third-party events currently supported by the City, discussed in the context of reviewing the City's event sponsorship approach.
minutes agenda

Project

Fairfax City Pride

Apr 7, 2026City Council · item 1a
Discussion on Third Party Event Sponsorships
Identified as one of eight third-party events currently supported by the City, discussed in the context of reviewing the City's event sponsorship approach.
minutes agenda

Project

Fairfax Juneteenth

Apr 7, 2026City Council · item 1a
Discussion on Third Party Event Sponsorships
Identified as one of eight third-party events currently supported by the City, discussed in the context of reviewing the City's event sponsorship approach.
minutes agenda

Project

Fiesta Fairfax

Apr 7, 2026City Council · item 1a
Discussion on Third Party Event Sponsorships
Identified as one of eight third-party events currently supported by the City, discussed in the context of reviewing the City's event sponsorship approach.
minutes agenda

Project

Turkey Trot

Apr 7, 2026City Council · item 1a
Discussion on Third Party Event Sponsorships
Identified as one of eight third-party events currently supported by the City, discussed in the context of reviewing the City's event sponsorship approach.
minutes agenda

Other mentions

Mar 13, 2025Parks and Recreation Advisory Board · item 9
Stakeholder Updates
Kelly O'Brien announced the Asian Festival on Main will take place on May 18th.
minutes agenda
Feb 12, 2026Parks and Recreation Advisory Board · item 5h
Community Member Updates
Kelly O'Brien reported that the Asian Festival on Main is scheduled for May 17th; the Old Town Fairfax Business Association is requesting to expand the festival by one block and over 250 vendor applications have been received.
minutes agenda

In full

Attendance has grown each year, making it one of the largest Asian festivals in the DMV region. The festival was held on May 18th in 2025 and was scheduled for May 17th in 2026 — described in a May 2026 mayoral proclamation as the sixth annual festival and "the largest Asian Festival on Main to date." The 2026 edition saw strong interest, with over 250 vendor applications received and the OTFBA requesting a one-block expansion of the festival footprint. The festival is one of eight third-party events currently supported by the City of Fairfax, and was discussed in that context at a April 7, 2026 City Council work session on third-party event sponsorships, where Council favored a hybrid approach and asked staff to return for a follow-up — a framework that one council member noted could help the festival and the city budget more predictably going forward.

Status

Still open

The City Council has not yet formally voted on the third-party event sponsorship framework (hybrid of options 2 and 3); staff was directed to return to a future City Council meeting for a follow-up — the outcome of that follow-up is not yet recorded.
The OTFBA's request to expand the festival by one block has not been recorded as formally approved or denied.
Post-event 'after action' discussion on the 2026 festival was scheduled for May 27, 2026 — no outcome from that meeting is recorded.

What members have said

Kelly O'Brien
O'Brien (stakeholder representative) announced the 2025 festival date of May 18th at the March 13, 2025 PRAB meeting, and at the February 12, 2026 PRAB meeting reported on the 2026 festival (scheduled May 17th), including the OTFBA's request to expand by one block and the receipt of over 250 vendor applications.
Catherine S. Reed (Mayor)
At the May 12, 2026 City Council meeting, Mayor Reed issued a proclamation declaring May 2026 as Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Heritage Month and encouraged the community to celebrate at the Asian Festival on Main on May 17th, calling it the largest Asian Festival on Main to date.
unnamed council member (2026-04-07 work session)
At the April 7, 2026 work session, one council member expressed appreciation for the OTFBA volunteers who built the Asian Festival on Main, calling it 'one of the marquee events in this city,' and voiced optimism that a sponsorship framework would help the event and the city budget more predictably going forward.
unnamed council member (2026-05-26)
At the May 26, 2026 meeting, a council member who described themselves as relatively new to the city said they were impressed by the Asian Festival on Main, praised it as well-run with great attendance, and noted an after-action meeting was scheduled for the following morning to review both the festival and the antique car show.

Positions as recorded in meeting minutes; votes without recorded comment aren’t summarized.

Discussion timecouncilcommission

Apr ’25

Apr ’26

May ’26

Discussed alongside

Topics that come up in the same meetings.

George Snyder Trail2 meetings Old Town Hall2 meetings Sherwood Community Center2 meetings Van Dyck Park2 meetings Parks Foundation2 meetings Thaiss Park2 meetings