By Julie Reardon

The Fireworks

If your idea of fireworks fun is to head away from Washington D.C. toward the country, Great Meadow in The Plains offers some big booms as spectacular as those fireworks, but in a rural setting. There is an admissions fee of $50 per car, but it covers all occupants so if your idea is to save money, pack the car with friends and a picnic. Food trucks will be available onsite with a variety of offerings and gates open at 5 pm July 4th.  Pre-fireworks activities include Fair Games, Face Painting, Mini Golf, Concessions & Vendors, Music, Various Demonstrations and Exhibitions, music in the Beer Garden; Color Guard, Flyovers, National Anthem and other family activities that may include a polo exhibition, Tug-O-War games and pony stick races.  Don’t forget your party lid: at about 8:30 judges will award prizes for best hat and best tailgate. Photo courtesy of Great Meadow

​The Concerts

Enjoying live music concerts outdoors during the lazy, hazy midsummer days close to home needn’t cost a king’s ransom.  Since the demise of the beloved Bluemont Concert series, that brought quality music to rural locations for 40 years, Tally Ho Theater in Leesburg has stepped up to the plate to offer a variety of live music weekends in Loudoun County. You can check out the acts for July and August at on their website at www.TallyHoTheater.com for the complete list. Our pick is the Toots and the Maytals celebration on July 14th.  Go immerse yourself in some island reggae sounds for the ultimate summer experience. The Tally Ho Theater is a depression era movie hall renovated into an Art Deco style and lends itself beautifully to music and theater. It’s located at 19 W. Market St. in Leesburg.

The Airshow

The Flying Circus Airshow near Bealeton has delighted young and old alike with daring expert pilots performing stunts in vintage biplanes, vintage plane rides and hot air balloon rides for many years. A parachute jumper opens the show, a wing-walker hangs upside down from the biplane’s wing, and more. Bring the family and a picnic and enjoy the show; gates open every Sunday in July at 11 and the show starts at 2:30 p.m. The Flying Circus Airshow has been a major Southern Fauquier attraction for both locals and visitors. It’s located at 5114 Ritchie Road (off Routes 17 & 644), Bealeton, and admission is $10 per adult (plane and hot air balloon rides extra).  For more information, call (540) 439-8661 or visit: www.flyingcircusairshow.com. Photo courtesy of Flying Circus Aerodome and Airshow

The County Fair

July also opens the country fair season, and the Fauquier County Fair will be held July 17 through July 20. In addition to the farm animal, poultry, horse and crafts exhibits, there are rides, contests, rodeos, camel and pony rides, and for the adult kids, a mechanical bull, plus live entertainment each night. Contests include hot dog, pizza and watermelon eating competitions, barnyard beauty pageants, lawn mower rodeos and races, frozen T shirt contests, and more—anyone can enter most of them. The fairgrounds are located at 6209 Old Auburn Road in Warrenton and this “Old Fashioned” fair is great entertainment, food and fun for the family. Admission varies by day but generally $10 per adult days; $15 nights; children are less. For a complete schedule of events, and additional information, visit  www.fauquierfair.org.