Fairfax Spotlight on the Arts Opening Night & Art Contest 2026!

Join us as Fairfax Spotlight on the Arts: Illumination 250 celebrates the opening of the 2026 Festival! This year's festival will showcase the art scene in Fairfax City from April 24 - May 3!

Featured at Opening Night, Friday, April 24 at 7pm at The Sherwood Center:

• The third annual Spotlight Art Contest, sponsored by Capital One Hall, where you can vote for the Community Choice Award ($500) winner and where the New York Life Grand Prize, Second Place and Student Art Award prize winners will be announced!
• Musical entertainment by Cristian Perez & Munit Mesfin
• The Sweet Adelines performing fan-favorite tunes celebrating America
• Singer/songwriter Lua Songer-Johnson, a senior in the Fairfax Academy/MCT program
• Piano performance by Spotlight's Ruth Haycock Piano Scholarship Recipeints from George Mason Universtiy
• Cocktails & Lite Fare
• and celebrating our Honorary Chairpersons, Matt Carlin and The Honorable Ellie Schmidt, both steadfast supporters of the arts in Fairfax City!

Save the date now for this lovely evening of music, refreshments, and your chance to select the Community Choice Award art contest winner!

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