Spring is here, the flowers are blooming, and events calendars are filling with fun options. Event highlights this month include a capella festival, a pirate festival, several film screenings, and a week-long celebration of Reston’s founder, Bob Simon, on what would have been his 102nd birthday. Here’s what’s happening in the Reston area of Northern Virginia for the month of April.
Reston’s founder Bob Simon attended his final Founder’s Day celebration last year. This year the event on April 9, 2016 will honor his memory and his vision for Reston’s future.
APRIL 1, 2016
April Fool’s Day at Reston Town Center
All day: Fountain Square, Reston Town Center, Reston
Head to Fountain Square for RTC’s annual April Fool’s Day prank. FREE.
SingStrong A Cappella Festival
South Lakes High School Arts Center, 11400 South Lakes Drive, Reston
This weekend-long music festival will feature a cappella performances by groups from around the world. Events include a cappella classes, concerts, and competitions. Profits support the Alzheimer’s Association and local music programs. Tickets are available online. [see our earlier article]
Frankie and Betty Rock n Roll at Kalypso’s
9:30pm: Kalypso’s Sports Tavern, Lake Anne, Reston
Laugh along this April Fool’s Day with Frankie and Betty performing tongue-in-cheek rock and roll.
SATURDAY, APRIL 2, 2016
Nature House 5K
8am: Walker Nature Center, Reston
Support the Walker Nature Center with this fundraising 5K. All ages are invited to run or walk one of the most scenic races in the area. Enjoy refreshments, door prizes and medals after the race. Registration is $25 for adults and $15 for kids.
Mighty Mile Kids’ Race
8am: Reston Town Center
This race offers kids the opportunity to challenge themselves to finish a mile, beat their time, or race their friends. Kids ages 6-14 will run 1 mile, the 4-5 year olds will run 1/2 mile, and the little ones can run a Tot Dash. Registration is $10-$20.
Watershed Clean-Up Day
9am-12pm: Various Fairfax County Parks
Join together to clear the earth’s arteries by removing tires, bottles, cans, and other debris carelessly dumped in local waterways. A great community service project for service groups, students, families, and individuals.
Reston Art Gallery – Free Saturday Kids Program
10am-12pm: Reston Art Gallery, Lake Anne Plaza, Reston
Bring your kids aged 3-11 years for a weekly kids’ program. This week’s project: April Fool’s Day Drawings. FREE, no reservations required.
SingStrong A Cappella Festival
South Lakes High School Arts Center, 11400 South Lakes Drive, Reston
This weekend-long music festival will feature a cappella performances by groups from around the world. Events include a cappella classes, concerts, and competitions. Profits support the Alzheimer’s Association and local music programs. Tickets are available online. [see our earlier article]
The SingStrong a capella festival returns to Reston during the first weekend of April.
SUNDAY, APRIL 3, 2016
SingStrong A Cappella Festival
South Lakes High School Arts Center, 11400 South Lakes Drive, Reston
This weekend-long music festival will feature a cappella performances by groups from around the world. Events include a cappella classes, concerts, and competitions. Profits support the Alzheimer’s Association and local music programs. Tickets are available online. [see our earlier article]
Lecture: Reston: From New Town to Metro
7:30pm: Greater Reston Arts Center, Reston Town Center, Reston
This lecture will explore Reston’s place in the New Town movement, its growth, and its regional and national importance today, traversing cultural, architectural, and historical currents. Speaker Roger K. Lewis, FAIA, is a practicing architect, urban planner, author and journalist. Champagne and dessert reception to follow. $10 suggested donation.
TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 2016
Film: Levitated Mass
7:30-9pm: CenterStage at Reston Community Center at Hunters Woods, Reston
This film is the story of a 340-ton solid granite boulder that crawled through Southern California neighborhoods on a 206-wheeled trailer. Tens of thousands of people came out to watch the megalith travel through their communities to its final resting place over a 456-foot-long negative space formed by a concrete slot. FREE.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2016
Lecture: The Future of the American Suburb: Lessons from Reston
7-9pm: Reston Community Center at Lake Anne, Reston
Patrick Phillips, CEO of Urban Land Institute, will speak about the special characteristics of Reston that have been influential in shaping other suburban communities across the U.S. FREE.
THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 2016
Best of Reston Awards Gala
5:30-10pm: Hyatt Regency Reston
This annual business and social event honors individuals, organizations, businesses and partnerships in the greater Reston/Dulles community that make distinctive differences in the lives of others. Individual seats are $200, benefitting Cornerstones charities.
Dance Performance: The Rhythmic Circus
8pm: CenterStage at Reston Community Center at Hunters Woods, Reston
The Rhythmic Circus, who competed in this past season of America’s Got Talent, is known for transforming its tap shoes into new instruments of rhythm. THis innovative performance company infuses its unpredictable blend of hard-hitting tap, high-spirited humor, and finger-snapping tunes into one amazing show. Bring the whole family. Tickets are $20.
The annual Founder’s Day event celebrates Reston’s history, and will take place on April 9, 2016. This year a ferris wheel will be added to the celebration.
Founder’s Day 2016
10am-4pm: Lake Anne Plaza, Reston
Join the Reston Historic Trust and Museum as we celebrate Robert E. Simon, Jr. and our community. The expanded Founder’s Day event will feature activities for all ages and will focus on the past, present, and future of Reston. Founder’s Day will feature a 50-foot ferris wheel — the ride will offer patrons the chance to see Reston’s first plaza from a new perspective. Additional activities will include face painting, children’s art projects, and musical entertainment for all ages provided by local artists and schools.
Documentary Screening: Fun, Beauty, Fantasy: Reston’s Public Art
10-11am and 2-3pm (screenings every 15 minutes): Reston Community Center at Lake Anne, Reston
This short documentary (15 minutes), which was directed by Rebekah Wingert-Jabi, includes historic footage and information about the sculptures and fountains at Lake Anne and Reston Town Center, as well as the mosaic work at the Glade Drive underpass. FREE.
Reston Art Gallery – Free Saturday Kids Program
10am-12pm: Reston Art Gallery, Lake Anne Plaza, Reston
Bring your kids aged 3-11 years for a weekly kids’ program. This week’s project: Hot tray crayon art. FREE, no reservations required.
Art Exhibit: Joyful Color in Reston By Joan S. Kelly
1-4pm: Reston Art Gallery and Studios, Lake Anne Plaza, Reston
According to painter Joan S. Kelly: ““My paintings will feature the beauty of diverse areas in Reston: The old and new, active and quiet areas, the trails, woods and lakes, and the arts and community spirit, that are all an inherent part of ‘this place called Reston.’” FREE.
Art Exhibit Opening Reception: New Forms and Horizons: Abstract Art and Sculpture
7-9pm: ArtSpace Herndon, 750 Center Street, Herndon
Featuring contemporary landscape artist Jorge Luis Bernal and sculptor Eric Garner. Both artists use wood as a canvas, but Bernal creates soft flowing paintings and Garner creates patterned 3-D sculptures. Exhibit will be on display April 5 – May 1, 2016. FREE.
SUNDAY, APRIL 10, 2016
Runners Marathon of Reston
7:30am: South Lakes High School, Reston
The 4th annual Runners Marathon and Half Marathon takes place on a gently rolling and scenic route through Reston, utilizing roads and Reston’s extensive paved path system. The event also includes a free to all participants pre-race pasta dinner and post-race food and music. And it’s a Boston Qualifier, for those of you who are competitive. New for this year is a four-person Marathon Relay. Funds will benefit the Reston Runners Community Fund to support local high school athletes. Registration is $95-$200.
Film: A Gift to Bob’s Community
2-4pm: Hyatt Regency Reston at Reston Town Center, Reston
Celebrate the life of Robert E. Simon, Jr. with the Audubon Quartet, a short film about his extraordinary life created by Storycatcher Productions, and stories of his times and experiences. Light refreshments will be served. FREE, but reservations are required.
Mercury Fountain Celebration
4:30pm: Reston Town Center, Reston
Join the community to turn on the Mercury Fountain for the 2016 season. Music, refreshments, family fun, and a brief dedication. FREE.
Outdoor Documentary Screening: Another Way of Living: The Story of Reston, VA
7:30pm: Reston Town Center Pavilion, Reston
Washington West Film Festival will present this outdoor screening of director Rebekah Wingert-Jabi’s film about our community’s beloved founder, Robert E. Simon, Jr. and the creation of Reston. Please come with blankets or chairs to sit on and bring the entire family. FREE.
TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 2016
Design and Wine: Spring Wine Glasses with Cheryl Wilson
7-9pm: ArtSpace Herndon, 750 Center Street, Herndon
Find your passion in the beauty of spring and decorate wine glasses with acrylic paint. There will be plenty of ideas, samples, and templates to help you design beautiful glasses for spring. Registration is $30. [see our earlier article]
Riverbend Park’s annual celebration of its spring wildlflowers takes place on April 16, 2016.
SATURDAY, APRIL 16, 2016
Bluebells at the Bend Festival
10am-2pm: Riverbend Park, Great Falls
At Riverbend Park, early spring each year is marked by the blossoming of fields of beautiful bluebells. The park will celebrate these flowers’ arrival with live music, wildflower walks, live animals, and wagon rides. $5 per person, no registration necessary. [see our earlier article]
Lake Anne Brew House Grand Opening
10am-11pm: Lake Anne Brew House, Lake Anne Plaza, Reston
Reston’s eagerly-awaited nanobrewery will open its doors to the public with a big party. A ribbon-cutting will take place at noon. Food will be available from Kalypso’s, Clyde’s, and the Bratwurst King. [see our earlier article]
Reston Art Gallery – Free Saturday Kids Program
10am-12pm: Reston Art Gallery, Lake Anne Plaza, Reston
Bring your kids aged 3-11 years for a weekly kids’ program. This week’s project: Fun with Sizzix: cutouts used in your own creative ways. FREE, no reservations required.
Pirate Fest at Lake Fairfax Park
11am-7pm: Lake Fairfax Park, Reston
This festival celebrates Virginia’s seafaring past. Dress up as a pirate for the costume contest, and experience the life of a sailor with activity stations, music, and private boat tours. The event is recommended for kids age 4 and up. Admission is $10, boat rides are $4, and the Pirate Feast is $10. Preregistration is required.
FRIDAY, APRIL 22 – MAY 7, 2016
Reston Players Present: Our Town
CenterStage, Reston Community Center at Hunters Woods, Reston
The Reston Players will close their season with Thornton Wilder’s theatrical masterpiece. Performance dates are April 22, 23, 29, 30, May 1, 6, and 7. Tickets are $18-$21.
SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 2016
Reston Art Gallery – Free Saturday Kids Program
10am-12pm: Reston Art Gallery, Lake Anne Plaza, Reston
Bring your kids aged 3-11 years for a weekly kids’ program. This week’s project: Jeweled ice cream spoons. FREE, no reservations required.
Diva Central Event
12-6pm: Reston Community Center at Lake Anne, Reston
Diva Central is Reston Community Center’s annual prom dress giveaway. This incredible one-day event is open to any current high school student who is in need of a prom dress, shoes, jewelry and other accessories. Everything is absolutely FREE. Limit one dress per person.
B. B. King Tribute Concert featuring Slam Allen
7:30-10pm: ArtSpace Herndon, 750 Center Street, Herndon
Come enjoy this captivating and soulful blues performer as he pays tribute to one of the most accomplished and celebrated musicians of all time, BB King. Tickets are $20 for adults, children 12 and under are free.
SUNDAY, APRIL 24, 2016
Comedy Dog Act: Mutts Gone Nuts
11am and 3pm: CenterStage at Reston Community Center at Hunters Woods, Reston
Scott and Joan Houghton and their hilarious pack of pooches have created a family-friendly, comedy dog thrill show with high-flying Frisbee dogs, tight-wire dogs, dancing dogs, magic dogs, and Sammie the Talking Dog! Tickets are $5-$10.
Paws and Claws Pet Resource Expo
12-2pm: Reston Community Center at Hunters Woods, Reston
This expo will provide information from local businesses on pet care, training, nutrition, emergency situations, day care, and more. Pets are not permitted inside the building (except service animals). FREE.
SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 2016
Reston Art Gallery – Free Saturday Kids Program
10am-12pm: Reston Art Gallery, Lake Anne Plaza, Reston
Bring your kids aged 3-11 years for a weekly kids’ program. This week’s project: Mother’s Day Project Floral Tube Necklaces. FREE, no reservations required.
Bike Safety Rodeo
1pm-4pm, Lake Newport Pool, Reston
RA’s Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee, The Reston Bicycle Club, and Safe Routes to School host an annual Bicycle Safety Rodeo. Children will complete eight safety stations and earn their bicyclist’s license. No registration required. FREE.
Related stories:
The SingStrong A Cappella Festival Comes to Reston This Weekend
RA, Lake Anne Redevelopment Partners and JBG Approve Monorail
Photo Gallery: Candlelight Vigil in Memory of Bob Simon
The Wild and Wonderful Virginia Bluebells at Riverbend Park
“The HeART of Reston”: Artists Reveal Their Thoughts About Reston in Words and Images
Photo credit: Charlotte Geary