Gum Springs Community Day
Mount Vernon District
Gum Springs Community Day Event Overview
Gum Springs Community Day, an annual free event, celebrates the vibrant history of the oldest African American community in Fairfax County and one of the nation’s oldest—Gum Springs. With over 2,500 residents, including 500 descendants of the original families, the community marked its 190th anniversary in 2023, creating a memorable occasion that strengthens bonds and preserves the unique heritage of this historic neighborhood.
In 2022, Celebrate Fairfax joined the planning committee, bringing valuable event expertise, resources, and educational programming to enhance the celebration. The event featured a diverse array of activities such as carnival rides, lively music, and moving speeches by descendants. Exhibitors from county agencies, nonprofits, and local businesses played a crucial role by offering resources and information on various topics including health services, sustainability, volunteer opportunities, voting rights, public safety, and emergency preparedness. This comprehensive gathering not only honors the history of Gum Springs but also contributes significantly to its vitality, fostering a strong sense of community among its residents.
Thank You Event Participants!
Thank you to the following agencies, organizations, performing groups, and local businesses who worked in partnership with us to create a fun, free, informative, and interactive community event for all! Click on any group to learn more:
Co-Hosts
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors – Mount Vernon District Office
Fairfax County Neighborhood & Community Services
New Gum Springs Civic Association
Fairfax County Agencies
Fairfax County Community Service Board
Fairfax County History Commission
Fairfax County Office for Children
Fairfax County Police Department
Fairfax County Public Works and Environmental Services
Exhibitors
Betty Graves and Family
Nonprofit Organizations
Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions
League of Women Voters of the Fairfax Area
Mount Vernon Democratic Committee
Southeast Fairfax Development Corporation
Virginia Williams High School Career Association, Inc.
Performers
Sponsors
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated
Fairfax County Health Department
Friends of Little Hunting Creek
Greater Morning Star Apostolic Church
Gum Springs Community Center Advisory Board
Harvest Assembly Baptist Church
Ivy Foundation of Northern Virginia
Long Land Company, LLC
Mimi & Will Friedman
Mount Vernon Democratic Committee
Pride of Fairfax County Lodge #298
Psi Alpha Alpha Chapter of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
Impact Outcome Areas
Our work strives to support the 10 Community Outcome Areas included in the Fairfax County Strategic Plan (learn how here!). Gum Springs Community Day supports 6 of these outcome areas:
This free event brought the Mount Vernon community together to enjoy culture and recreation while interacting with neighbors and community groups. In turn this allowed Celebrate Fairfax to support the development of an enjoyable local community. Additionally, this creates relationships so community members can access the amenities that promote healthy neighborhoods and support residents facing vulnerability.
Attendees have the opportunity to meet, develop relationships, and get information and resources from county agencies and departments, nonprofit organizations, and local small businesses. For these exhibitors, this opportunity to interact is also provided to them at no cost. The impact areas encompassed by the exhibitors include access to health services, sustainability, volunteer opportunities, voting rights, public safety, and emergency preparedness.