Picnic Reservations
Thank you for your interest in a Fairfax County Park Authority park for your picnic! We are proud of our parks and are confident that you will enjoy your day. Keep in mind sites are in great demand, so make your reservation early.
To make a reservation, please book online, fill out the web form, or submit an application. Once payment is received, a Sales Receipt (Picnic Permit) will be issued by email.
- BookOnline: For immediate permitting of select facilities and timeslots (available for rentals 10 or more days in advance)
- Note: Special Requests may take additional time for the approval process. For rentals with no additional requests or issues, final permits will be issued 7-10 business days in advance of the reservation date.
- Web Application: Please fill out the web form, this request will be sent directly to the Picnics Department.
- Note: Do NOT include payment information – once the form is received and reviewed you will be contacted to confirm availability, to collect payment information, and complete the reservation process.
- Download and complete the Picnic Area/Picnic Shelter Application and submit one of the following ways along with the appropriate payment.
- Mail: FCPA Picnic Department – 12055 Government Center Parkway, Suite 105, Fairfax, VA 22035-5500
- Note: Do NOT mail cash payments; checks can be made out to "FCPA Picnics"
- In person: Monday-Friday 9:00 am to 4:00 pm – 12055 Government Center Parkway, Suite 105, Fairfax, VA 22035-5500
- Note: Contact us in advance for updated office hours and staff availability.
- Fax:703-653-6672
- Note: Please include payment information on faxed applications.
- Mail: FCPA Picnic Department – 12055 Government Center Parkway, Suite 105, Fairfax, VA 22035-5500
Web Forms or Applications may take up to 3-5 business days to process. Without a Sales Receipt (Picnic Permit) the reservation is not confirmed. The Picnic Department does not accept reservations over the phone. The Picnic Department stops accepting applications for the upcoming weekend Thursdays at 4:00 p.m.
*Full dayreservations available 9 a.m. – Sunset. Rental fee is per day, single use rate.
**Half dayreservations available Monday-Friday ONLY from 9:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. or 3:30 p.m. – Sunset . Rental fee is per half day, single use rate. TIME SLOTS ARE NOT NEGOTIABLE.
¹ Prime ratesapply Friday, Saturday, Sunday & Holidays.
² Non-Prime ratesapply Monday through Thursday.
*Hourly reservationsavailable Sunrise – Sunset (Ellanor C Lawrence Amphitheater #AMP). Rental Fee is per 4-hour minimum time slot, single use rate. This unit is not web bookable. To book the Amphitheater, please submit a picnic application.
¹ Prime rates apply Friday, Saturday, Sunday & Holidays.
² Non-Prime rates apply Monday through Thursday.
*Hourly reservationsavailable Sunrise – Sunset (Volleyball Court #LAVB). Rental Fee is per 1-hour minimum time slot, single use rate. This unit is not web bookable. To book a Volleyball Court, please submit a picnic application.
*Full dayreservations available 9 a.m. - Sunset. Rental fee is per day, single use rate.This unit is not web bookable. To add a Sports Bag to your reservation, please contact the Picnic Department.
Burke Lake Shelter A
Seating Capacity: 192
Maximum Capacity: 250
Tables: 20 (Exact amount may vary)
Grills: 3
Electricity: Yes
Prime¹ Full Day*: $375
Non-Prime² Full Day*: $260
Non-Prime² Half Day**: $165
INFLATABLES AND AMPLIFIED MUSIC ARE NOT PERMITTED AT THIS SITE. There are Entrance Fees for non-county residents on weekends and holidays only (no charge on weekdays), April through late October.
Amplified Announcements may be permitted in this area.
Food Truck may be permitted in this area.
Burke Lake Shelter B
Seating Capacity: 192
Maximum Capacity: 250
Tables: 20 (Exact amount may vary)
Grills: 3
Electricity: Yes
Prime¹ Full Day*: $375
Non-Prime² Full Day*: $260
Prime¹ Half Day**: $260
Non-Prime² Half Day**: $165
INFLATABLES AND AMPLIFIED MUSIC ARE NOT PERMITTED AT THIS SITE.
Amplified Announcements may be permitted in this area.
Food Truck may be permitted in this area.
There are Entrance Fees for non-county residents on weekends and holidays only (no charge on weekdays), April through late October.
Burke Lake Shelter C
Seating Capacity: 192
Maximum Capacity: 250
Tables: 20 (Exact amount may vary)
Grills: 3
Electricity: Yes
Prime¹ Full Day*: $375
Non-Prime² Full Day*: $260
Prime¹ Half Day**: $260
Non-Prime² Half Day**: $165
INFLATABLES AND AMPLIFIED MUSIC ARE NOT PERMITTED AT THIS SITE. There are Entrance Fees for non-county residents on weekends and holidays only (no charge on weekdays), April through late October.
Amplified Announcements may be permitted in this area.
Food Truck may be permitted in this area.
Burke Lake Picnic Area #2
Seating Capacity: 100
Maximum Capacity: 100
Tables: 19 (Exact amount may vary)
Grills: 5
Electricity: No
Prime¹ Full Day*: $170
Non-Prime² Full Day*: $100
Prime¹ Half Day**: $100
Non-Prime² Half Day**: $65
INFLATABLES AND AMPLIFIED MUSIC ARE NOT PERMITTED AT THIS SITE.
Amplified Announcements may be permitted in this area.
Food Truck may be permitted in this area.
Picnic Areas 1 & 3 are not reservable and are available daily first come, first serve from sunrise to sunset.
There are Entrance Fees for non-county residents on weekends and holidays only (no charge on weekdays), April through late October.
Burke Lake Volleyball Courts 1-4
Rental Fee: $30/hr with Picnic Reservation
Rental Fee: $35/hr without Picnic Reservation
GRILLING, FOOD TRUCKS, INFLATABLES, AND AMPLIFIED SOUND ARE NOT PERMITTED IN THIS AREA.
There are Entrance Fees for non-county residents on weekends and holidays only (no charge on weekdays), April through late October.
Contact Picnic Department for availability
Burke Lake Shelter D (Ice Cream Parlor Shelter)
Seating Capacity: 30
Maximum Capacity: 30
Tables: 4 (Exact amount may vary)
Grilling is Prohibited
Electricity: No
2-hr Time Slot*: $110
FOOD TRUCKS, INFLATABLES, AND AMPLIFIED SOUND ARE NOT PERMITTED IN THIS AREA.
There are Entrance Fees for non-county residents on weekends and holidays only (no charge on weekdays), April through October.
*Two-Hour time slot reservationsavailable 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (Two-Hour Small Shelter DU #D11) and 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. (Two-Hour Small Shelter DU #D130) and 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. (Two-Hour Small Shelter DU #D4PM). Rental Fee is per 2-hour time slot, single rate use. TIME SLOTS ARE NOT NEGOTIABLE.
Burke Lake Shelter E(ICE CREAM PARLOR SHELTER)
Seating Capacity: 30
Maximum Capacity: 30
Tables: 4 (Exact amount may vary)
Grilling is Prohibited
Electricity: No
2-hr Time Slot*: $110
FOOD TRUCKS, INFLATABLES, AND AMPLIFIED SOUND ARE NOT PERMITTED IN THIS AREA.
There are Entrance Fees for non-county residents on weekends and holidays only (no charge on weekdays), April through October.
*Two-Hour time slot reservationsavailable 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (Two-Hour Small Shelter DU #E11) and 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. (Two-Hour Small Shelter DU #E130) and 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. (Two-Hour Small Shelter DU #E4PM). Rental Fee is per 2-hour time slot, single rate use. TIME SLOTS ARE NOT NEGOTIABLE.
Burke Lake Shelter F(ICE CREAM PARLOR SHELTER)
Seating Capacity: 30
Maximum Capacity: 30
Tables: 4 (Exact amount may vary)
Grilling is Prohibited
Electricity: No
2-hr Time Slot*: $110
FOOD TRUCKS, INFLATABLES, AND AMPLIFIED SOUND ARE NOT PERMITTED IN THIS AREA.
There are Entrance Fees for non-county residents on weekends and holidays only (no charge on weekdays), April through October.
*Two-Hour time slot reservationsavailable 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (Two-Hour Small Shelter DU #F11); 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. (Two-Hour Small Shelter DU #F130); and 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. (Two-Hour Small Shelter DU #F4PM). Rental Fee is per 2-hour time slot, single rate use. TIME SLOTS ARE NOT NEGOTIABLE.
Burke Lake Amphitheater
Maximum Capacity: 100 Prime¹: $25/Hr* (4-Hr minimum)
Electricity: Yes
Non-Prime²: $15/Hr* (4-Hr minimum)
FOOD, FOOD TRUCKS, AND INFLATABLES ARE NOT PERMITTED IN THIS AREA.
Amplified Sound or Announcements may be permitted in this area.
There are Entrance Fees for non-county residents on weekends and holidays only (no charge on weekdays), April through late October.
Burke Lake Sports Bag
Sports Bag rental includes: 1 Volleyball, 5 Frisbees, 1 Bocce set, 2 Footballs, 1 Basketball, 1 Kick ball, 1 Soccer ball, 2 Wiffle balls, 1 Wiffle ball bat, 1 Pump with pin. Note: Sports Bagsare not available without a picnic reservation.
Rental Fee: $25*
