Welcome to March, and the arrival of spring! Here’s what’s happening in Reston, Herndon, and surrounding areas this month. Highlights include the Mini Maker Faire, a sock hop, and Easter egg hunts.
The Mini Maker Faire brings its showcase of innovation to Reston on March 13, 2016.
THROUGH MARCH 12, 2016
Reston Players Present: Mary Poppins
CenterStage, Reston Community Center at Hunters Woods, Reston
Lovable chimney-sweep, Bert, introduces us to the troubled Banks family in 1910. Young Jane and Michael have sent many a nanny packing before the Practically-Perfect Mary Poppins teaches the children how to value each other again with a little common sense and their magical adventures! Even grown-ups can learn a lesson or two from the nanny who advises that Anything Can Happen If You Let It. Mary Poppins is an enchanting mixture of irresistible story, unforgettable songs, breathtaking dance numbers, and Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious stagecraft! Tickets are available online.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 2016
Lúnasa with Tim O’Brien
8pm: CenterStage at RCC Hunters Woods, Reston
Lúnasa returns to the CenterStage with special guest Grammy-winner Tim O’Brien for an evening of American and Irish music. Tickets are $25-$50.
SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 2016
Grow Your Health Festival
9am-5:30pm: Fairfax High School, 3501 Rebel Run, Fairfax
This festival will celebrate home gardening, sourcing organic and local food, and nutrition and wellness. They will show a documentary film; offer class instruction on gardening and nutrition; and host an exhibit hall. This is a family event that includes education and entertainment for children of all ages. Tickets are $10-$15.
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: Shells, Mobiles, and paper plate aquariums. FREE, no reservations required.
GRACE Art Family Day
12-3pm: Greater Reston Arts Center, Reston Town Center, Reston
Greater Reston Arts Center opens its doors and blocks off St. Francis St. to celebrate Youth Art Month for a with free day of family art making and exploration in the gallery. Registration required via RCC activity number 402646.
Sock Hop Party at Cafe Montmartre
7:30-10:30pm: Cafe Montmartre, Lake Anne Plaza, Reston
Enjoy an entire evening of music from the 1950s and early 60s performed by the Moonlight Cabaret Singers. Along with the show’s great dance music there will be audience sing-a-longs, a Name That Tune contest, a 50s-60s radio/TV jingle quiz, and a visit from Karnac the Magnificent. Café Montmartre will be decorated for a Sock Hop, and the audience is encouraged to wear clothing of the era. Reservations required.
SUNDAY, MARCH 6, 2016
Reston 10 Miler
8am: South Lakes High School, Reston
Celebrate the end of winter with a ten-mile run through the trails and streets of Reston. Registration is $40-$50.
ArtSpace Herndon will host a Design and Wine class on March 8, 2016.
TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016
Design and Wine: Mixed Media Ocean Fish and Seahorses with Melanie Stanley
7-9pm: ArtSpace Herndon, 750 Center Street, Herndon
Draw, paint, and collage a one-of-a kind mixed-media under-the-sea masterpiece. Melanie will show you how to use different kinds of art tools and tools as you use a variety of materials to create a one-of-a-kind piece of art for your home. Registration is $30. [see our earlier article]
THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2016
The Cartography of Northern Virginia
7-9pm: Reston Museum, Lake Anne Plaza, Reston
Reston Historic Trust chair Shelley Mastran will provide information on the early road systems and settlements of northern Virginia, with a view to how the landscape changed over time.
Lucky Leprechaun 5K
8:30am: Reston Town Center, Reston
This 5K course loops around the Town Center, and returns for a St. Patrick’s Day-themed after party at World of Beer. There will be a free short kids fun run at 9:30 a.m. Registration available online.
Spring Flea Market
9am-1pm: RCC Hunters Woods, Reston
Shop for used small appliances, books, jewelry, clothing, tools or toys, or reserve a vendor booth to sell your own.
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: St. Patrick’s Day Leprechauns made of folded paper. FREE, no reservations required.
You can try hands-on technology projects at the Mini Maker Faire on March 13, 2016.
SUNDAY, MARCH 13, 2016
NoVa Mini Maker Faire
Langston Hughes Middle School and South Lakes High School, Reston
This annual event is a celebration of the Maker movement, a technology-influenced community of innovators. Engineers, woodworkers, artists, and craftspeople will gather to exhibit their latest inventions and creations. Instructional classes will also be available. [see our earlier article]
Ice Breaker 5K
8:30am: 200 Spring Street, Herndon
Celebrate the end of winter with this 5K race through a scenic section of the Herndon Parkway and Sugarland Run Trail. Registration is $20.
Nowruz Festival
11am-5pm: Tysons Corner Center, Tysons
Hundreds of Persian-American artists, musicians, singers, dancers and traditional players will assemble to ring in the Persian New Year (Nowruz). More than 75 vendors will offer traditional foods, jewelry, crafts, books and other traditional products. FREE.
Photography Showcase
2-4pm: Jo Ann Rose Gallery, RCC Lake Anne, Reston
Photography by the newest Gallery member, Chris Kayler. Lyrical and evocative.
Whether your idea of fun is a parade, a 5K, a music festival, or cheap green beer, this area has plenty of St. Patrick’s Day options for you.
THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2016
St. Patrick’s Day celebrations around town
Refer to our schedule of 2016 St. Patrick’s Day events in Reston, Northern Virginia, and DC
FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2016
“Emerging Visions” Exhibit Opening
6-8pm: Greater Reston Arts Center, Reston Town Center, Reston
Exceptional work from students at local high schools, created in response to their engagement with GRACE curators. Exhibit runs from March 15 through April 2.
Family Flashlight Egg Hunt
7:30-9pm: Glyndon Park, Vienna
Enjoy a family evening of searching for eggs and prizes, in the dark. Bring flashlights. $3 per family member.
Introduce your kids to fishing at the free Kids Trout Fishing Day on March 19, 2016.
SATURDAY, MARCH 19, 2016
Kids Trout Fishing Day
8am-12noon: Snakeden Branch Stream between Soapstone Dr. and Lake Audubon, Reston
Kids aged 2-12 and their parents will be provided with fishing equipment, and volunteers will be on hand to teach techniques. Snakeden Branch Stream will be stocked with hundreds of trout. Adults are not permitted to fish during this event. FREE. [see our earlier article]
Herndon Easter Egg Hunt
9:30am: 777 Lynn Street, Herndon
Bring your basket for a morning of egg hunting, games, arts and crafts, a petting zoo, music, and a photo opportunity with the Easter Bunny. Admission is $9.
EGGnormous Egg Hunt
10am: Browns Chapel Park, Reston
Carnival games, entertainment, moon bounces, prizes, and a strolling magician will be featured along with an ever-popular egg hunt. Ages 1-8. 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: Hole books, each page has a cut out to the next page as the story continues. FREE, no reservations required.
Old-Fashioned Egg Roll and Easter Fun
10:30-11:30am: Freeman House,131 Church Street NE, Vienna
Enjoy an old-fashioned egg roll at the Historic Freeman House. Children 12 and under and their parents are welcome to stop by and participate in an egg roll and visit with the Easter Bunny. FREE.
Jazzart Concert: Victor Haskins Jazz Trio
7-9pm: ArtSpace Herndon, 750 Center Street, Herndon
Visionary world-class trumpet and electronic wind instrument player Victor Haskins will perform. Complimentary hors d’oeuvres and soft drinks provided; wine and beer for suggested donations. Tickets are $10-$15.
Several local parks and communities are hosting Easter egg hunts in March.
SUNDAY, MARCH 20, 2016
Lake Fairfax Park Egg Hunt
11am-3pm: Lake Fairfax Park, Reston
Hunt for eggs filled with treats and treasures on the grounds at Lake Fairfax Park. Pre-paid reservations required.
Great Falls Children’s Spring Festival
1:30-4:30pm: Great Falls Village Centre, Great Falls
Celebrate springtime with a festival for children ages 1-10. There will be 9 inflatables including moonbounces, a giant slide, and obstacle course, as well as face painting and games. An egg hunt begins at 4pm, with 8000 eggs. Admission is $10 for each child.
THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 2016
Screening and Talk at the Environmental Film Festival: Another Way of Living
6:30-8:30pm: National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW, Washington DC
In her film, recent Peabody Award winner and director Rebekah Wingert-Jabi chronicles the journey of Reston’s founder Robert Simon and his dream to make his utopian vision a reality, and celebrates the continued success of Reston’s development. Presented as part of the Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital. Tickets are $10-12.
FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2016
Film Night at the Walker Nature Center: Bears
7pm: Walker Nature Center, 11450 Glade Drive, Reston
In an epic story of breathtaking scale, Disneynature’s documentary showcases a year in the life of a brown bear family as two cubs are taught life’s most important lessons. Fast-moving action and real life suspense are captured in one of the planet’s last great wildernesses-Alaska. Reservations requested. Contact [email protected] or call 703-476-9869. $5 donation requested.
SATURDAY, MARCH 26, 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: Spring texture collages (for Easter). FREE, no reservations required.
Reston Zoo Eggs-travaganza
10am-3pm: Reston Zoo, Reston
Join friends and family for a day of Easter fun, with an egg hunt, baby animals, and more. Zoo admission includes: Easter egg hunt, face painter, safari wagon ride, safari slide, bounce house, and Easter Bunny photo opps. Admission is $12-$13.
SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 2016
Reston Zoo Eggs-travaganza
10am-3pm: Reston Zoo, Reston
Join friends and family for a day of Easter fun, with an egg hunt, baby animals, and more. Zoo admission includes: Easter egg hunt, face painter, safari wagon ride, safari slide, bounce house, and Easter Bunny photo opps. Admission is $12-$13.
Photo credit: Charlotte Geary
Related stories:
St. Patrick’s Day 2016 Events in Reston, Northern Virginia, and DC
Easter Events in the Reston Area
Celebrate Innovation at the NoVa MiniMaker Faire
RA’s Inside Scoop on Fishing in Reston, and Their Free Kids’ Trout Fishing Day
A Creative Night Out at ArtSpace Herndon’s Design and Wine
A Tale of Two Easters (and Two Lambs) at Kalypso’s Sports Tavern
