Fairfax City is celebrating, and the public is enthusiastically invited to the 43rd annual Fairfax Fall Festival. It’s this Saturday, Oct. 12, from 10 a.m.-8:30 p.m., and the fun includes crafts, food, beer gardens, children’s rides and activities, and three stages of live entertainment.

Admission is free, and people of all ages will find much to enjoy. Vendors will end at 5 p.m., but the carnival continues until 8 p.m. And a concert in Old Town Square, at University Drive and North Street. will wow the crowd from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Featured will be the Bruce Springsteen tribute band, Bruce In The USA.

More than 400 crafts booths and displays will line both sides of University Drive and Main Street, and a business expo will be on Sager Avenue. There’ll be professional lumberjack shows on University Drive near Armstrong Street, throughout the day, including interactive lumberjack camps for children. Also in that area will be Touch-a-Truck. Presented by Fairfax City Parks & Recreation, it will enable children to see and explore various work vehicles up close.

A WIDE VARIETY OF FOOD will be available at two food courts – one at University Drive and Sager Avenue, and the other at University Drive next to the SunTrust Bank parking lot at 4020 University Drive. In addition, three beer gardens will be at the Main Stage at University Drive and South Street, in Old Town Square, and at University Drive and Sager Avenue

The Children’s Stage in the SunTrust Bank parking lot will feature Rocknoceros, McGrath Academy of Irish Dancers, Eric Energy, Peter McCory – The One Man Band, Crickett the Entertainer and Bach2Rock. Carnival rides and face painting will be in that area, too.

The Main Stage, at South Street and University Drive, will host a karaoke championship and the band, Supervixen. Old Town Square performers will be the band, Big Bad Juju, the Main Street Community Band and Rob Hornfeck. A petting zoo, mechanical bull and baseball-pitch game will also be there. In addition, Earp’s Ordinary at 10420 Main St., will have three live bands performing throughout the day.

Old Town Hall, at 3999 University Drive, will host Fall for the Book, highlighting children’s authors and hands-on activities. And on the porch, Paint Your Own Pottery will offer painting fun for children.

There’s an open house at Fire Station 3, 4081 University Drive, 10-5 p.m., including Sparky’s Harvest Bash, educating children on fire prevention and safety. Fire trucks will be on display; also planned are live rescue demonstrations, a firefighter challenge course for children, free cider and popcorn, and a special appearance by Sparky the fire dog.

Open houses will also be at the City of Fairfax Museum and Visitor Center, 10209 Main St., from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and the Ratcliffe-Allison-Pozer House, 10386 Main St., from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Historic Blenheim and Civil War Interpretive Center, 3610 Old Lee Hwy., will offer an interpretive walking trail from noon-4 p.m., plus tours of the historic home’s first floor and a guided tour of the site at 1 p.m.

FESTIVAL PARKING is at The Judicial Center parking garage B on Page Avenue and the Old Town Village parking garage (Chain Bridge Road between Whitehead and North Street). In addition, handicap-accessible shuttle buses will travel to the festival from Fairfax High, 3501 Rebel Run, and GMU’s Rappahannock Parking Deck, 4400 University Drive, and back again, from 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

Handicapped parking is at City Hall, 10455 Armstrong St. (accessed via Chain Bridge Road) and Old Town Village parking garage on Chain Bridge Road. Pets are discouraged at the festival.

First Aid stations are at the entrance to Old Town Hall and at Fire Station 3 on University Drive. For more festival information, call 703/385-7858 or see www.FairfaxFallFestival.com.

Entertainment Schedule

Main Stage

11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.: Karaoke Ch a.m.pionship

2:30 p.m. – 5 p.m.: Supervixen

Old Town Square Stage

11 a.m. - 12 p.m.: Main Street Community Band

1 p.m. - 3 p.m.: Big Bad Juju

3:30 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.: Rob Hornfeck

Late Night Concert

5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.: Bruce In The USA

Children’s Stage

10:30 a.m.: Rocknoceros

11:45 a.m.: McGrath Academy of Irish Dancers

12:30 p.m.: Eric Energy

1:45 p.m.: Peter McCory – The One Man Band

2:45 p.m.: Crickett the Entertainer

4 p.m.: Bach2Rock