The City of Fairfax’s brand-new Old Town Square will make its debut Saturday, May 2, with two special events. First, at 9 a.m., will be the official ribbon-cutting on the City’s new gathering place that features decorative fountains.

Then, from 2-7 p.m., the Derby-Q barbecue, bourbon and brews festival will be held there in celebration of the annual Kentucky Derby. This community event will feature food, music and fun in the City’s downtown.

Designed to bring more people to that area, Fairfax’s $4 million Old Town Square project includes an interactive water feature as well as a cascade water feature; two parking lots with permeable, brick-paver parking; and a two-tiered plaza.

It also boasts a memorial garden area; ADA-compliant, brick, pedestrian walkways; storage sheds with a connecting pergola; preservation and enhancement of the existing Kitty Pozer Garden; plus landscaping and lighting. And City Mayor Scott Silverthorne has high hopes for it.

“You can feel the positive momentum we are experiencing in our historic downtown,” he said. “New and cool niche business are locating here, our restaurants are crowded and our community’s long history and love of the arts will help with local tourism.”

“Our new park, Old Town Square, will be the crown jewel in our downtown,” continued Silverthorne. “It has been over a decade in the making and completes the City's open-space initiative goals that were voter approved in November 2000 by a 2-1 margin. It will quickly become a destination for weddings, concerts, special events and for children of all ages to enjoy the outdoors.”

At its inaugural event, Derby-Q, there’ll be a variety of barbecued-food vendors on hand, as well as a Beer Garden and tastings of bourbon and Scotch whiskey for people age 21 and over. The running of the Kentucky Derby will be shown on a big screen at 6 p.m.

Providing the music will be live blues bands. Kicking things off from 2-4:30 p.m. will be Moonshine Society. Noted saxophonist Ron Holloway helps give the group its signature sound of modern blues with hints of rock and Southern soul. For the last three years in a row, it was voted one of “D.C.’s Top Four Favorite Bands” by the Washington Area Music Assn. (WAMA).

Then, playing onstage from 4:30-7 p.m. will be Clarence “Bluesman” Turner. A genuine blues performer from Washington, D.C., he has a “down-home,” guitar-driven blues style. He, too, is an award-winner, having captured the D.C. Blues Challenge and the Blue Ridge Blues Challenge.