The arrival of September means that it’s time for two of Reston’s most fun events: the Lake Anne Jazz Festival and the Reston Multicultural Festival. Both are Modern Reston favorites! Other highlights this month include the Herndon Labor Day Festival, ChalkFest, Dulles Day, and some of the last summer concerts.
Here’s what’s happening in September in the Reston area of Northern Virginia, including Herndon, Great Falls, and Vienna.
The Reston Multicultural Festival brings three stages of entertainment to Lake Anne on September 24th.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2016
Food Truck Thursdays
11am-2pm: Reston Town Square Park, Reston Town Center
On the first Thursday of each month, a variety of food truck vendors provide lunch and dessert options.
Take a Break Concert Series – Chris Vadala Quartet
7-9pm: Lake Anne Plaza, Reston
Bring lawn chairs or a picnic blanket and enjoy music by the lake. This week’s concert features bebop jazz. FREE.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2016
SummerStage at Reston Station – Holly Montgomery Band
6:30-8:30pm: Reston Station Plaza, Reston
Bring the family for a live concert with food trucks, pop-ups, and children’s activities. This week’s concert features a rock band performing classics and originals. FREE.
Goodbye Summer Campfire
6:30-8:00pm: Walker Nature Center, Reston
Get a jump start on your Labor Day holiday with some fun around a crackling campfire. Roast a hot dog and make a s’more. Stomp your feet, sing some songs and enjoy the last weekend of summer. $7/$9, preregistration required.
Even if you don’t usually listen to jazz, we still highly recommend the excellent Lake Anne Jazz Festival on September 3rd.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2016
Lake Anne Jazz Festival
1-9pm: Lake Anne Plaza, Reston
This annual event is a Modern Reston favorite! Enjoy waterfront blues, funk, R&B, and jazz performed by seven performing artists.
Chalk Drawing Workshop
11am-1pm: Reston Town Center Pavilion
Prepare for ChalkFest with this free workshop led by by chalk artist Patrick Owens.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2016
Concerts on the Green: Alan Scott Band
6-8pm: Great Falls Village Centre Green
Bring a picnic blanket and chairs for an evening of live music in a grassy park setting. This week’s concert features danceable rock. FREE.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2016
Herndon Labor Day Festival
11am-5pm: Herndon Town Green, 777 Lynn Street, Herndon
The annual Labor Day Festival features unlimited Virginia wine tastings, craft beers, great music, a craft show, food vendors, and lawn games.
Mr. Knick Knack! Children’s Performance
10:30-11:15am: Reston Town Center Pavilion
This popular musician performs weekly to a crowd of children and their grownups. FREE.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016
Zoosday
4-7pm: Reston Town Center Pavilion
On Tuesday evenings in the summer, the Pavilion turns into a petting zoo with kid-friendly activities such as Legos and Play-Doh. FREE.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2016
Dog Days of Summer
4-7pm: Reston Town Center Pavilion
On Wednesday evenings in the summer, the Pavilion turns into a dog park with toys, treats, wading pools, and giveaways. FREE.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2016
Theater: “Catch Me If You Can” Opening Night
NextStop Theatre Company, 269 Sunset Park Drive, Herndon
This upbeat musical comedy will be playing at the NextStop Theater through October 9. Tickets start at $25.
SummerStage at Reston Station – Chaise Lounge
6:30-8:30pm: Reston Station Plaza, Reston
Bring the family for a live concert with food trucks, pop-ups, and children’s activities. This week’s concert features jazz, big band, swing, and pop. FREE.
Reston Town Center’s ChalkFest will fill Market Street with color on September 10th.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2016
ChalkFest
8am-4:30pm: Reston Town Center
The public is invited to create chalk drawings on Market Street. There will be prizes for professional artists, amateur artists, families and kids. Register online.
RA’s Community Yard Sale
8:30am-12pm: Reston Association, 12001 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston
95 families will be selling a variety of items. Register online to reserve a space for selling.
Virginia Indian Festival
10am-4pm: Riverbend Park, 8700 Potomac Hills St., Great Falls
The festival includes eight American Indian tribes from Virginia including the Rappahannock dancers and drummers. Enjoy hands on activities and live demonstrations including American Indian storytelling, shooting bow and arrows, throwing spears, and making stone tools. Assist in building a dugout canoe and visit a marketplace of American Indian crafts, pottery and jewelry. Pre-register $6 through 9/6, $7 at door.
Opening Reception: “Line Curve and Color” at ArtSpace Herndon
7-9pm: ArtSpace Herndon
The show features one photographer and three sculpture artists with a unified theme of the beauty of architecture—specifically exemplifying lines, curves, and colors. FREE.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2016
Book Talk: “Robert Simon: In His Own Words”
2-3:30pm: Reston Regional Library
Local author Kristina Alcorn spent two years interviewing Robert Simon and recording the little known stories of his life. Join her as she recounts her journey with Reston’s beloved founder and the writing of her book. Free, register online.
Concerts on the Green: Mike Terpak Blues Explosion
6-8pm: Great Falls Village Centre Green
Bring a picnic blanket and chairs for an evening of live music in a grassy park setting. This week’s concert features blues. FREE.
9/11 Ceremony at the Great Falls Freedom Memorial
7-8:30pm: 9830 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls
This ceremony remembers the victims of the attacks of 9/11/01, especially the six citizens of the Great Falls community who died when Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon. FREE.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016
Mr. Knick Knack! Children’s Performance
10:30-11:15am: Reston Town Center Pavilion
This popular musician performs weekly to a crowd of children and their grownups. FREE.
Reston Presents: Traditional Chinese Arts and Culture
7-9pm: Reston Community Center at Lake Anne, Reston
This lecture and slideshow will demonstrate Chinese art and culture. FREE, registration required.
Young kids will love the petting zoo and toys in the RTC pavilion on Tuesday afternoons.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2016
Zoosday
4-7pm: Reston Town Center Pavilion
On Tuesday evenings in the summer, the Pavilion turns into a petting zoo with kid-friendly activities such as Legos and Play-Doh. FREE.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2016
Dog Days of Summer
4-7pm: Reston Town Center Pavilion
On Wednesday evenings in the summer, the Pavilion turns into a dog park with toys, treats, wading pools, and giveaways. FREE.
Lecture: The Early History of Tysons Corner
7pm: Reston Community Center at Lake Anne, Reston
Learn about the role of real estate speculation and the evolution of the Tysons landscape, as dairy farms, orchards, and gravel pits became shopping centers and high-tech office buildings. The program will be presented by Shelley Mastran, geographer and Chair of the Reston Historic Trust.
The Clips Beer & Film Tour returns to Reston Town Center on September 16th. (Photo by Mike Pritchard)
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2016
Clips Beer & Film Tour
7pm: Reston Town Center Pavilion
A coast-to-coast show brings New Belgium beer offerings paired with inspiring short films, traveling tricks and contests. Attendance is FREE. Proceeds from beer sales benefit Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling.
Opening Reception: Shih Chieh Huang: “Synthetic Transformations” at GRACE
6-9pm: Greater Reston Arts Center, Reston Town Center
Art installation by New York multi-media artist and TED Talk fellow features a magical, immersive environment in a blend of movement, sound, and illumination. On exhibit through November 19. FREE.
SummerStage at Reston Station – Shag
6:30-8:30pm: Reston Station Plaza, Reston
Bring the family for a live concert with food trucks, pop-ups, and children’s activities. This week’s concert features British rock from the 1970s-2000s. FREE.
Chillin’ on Church
6:30-9:30pm: Church Street, Vienna
Enjoy a street party with beer, food trucks, music, and kids’ activities. FREE.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2016
Dulles Day 5K and Plane Pull
Dulles Airport
It’s a party on the runway! Get a team together and try to pull an Airbus in the annual Dulles Plane Pull. Other events include a 5K on the runway, a car show, a kids’ truck pull, and aircraft displays.
Stride Forward 5K and Family Health Fair
8:30-11:30am: Reston Town Center
This 5K and Tot Trot raise money to help families with children who have serious health problems such as cancer, diabetes, autism, kidney disease, scoliosis, and arthritis. The fair will include 30 booths with fun activities, refreshments, education and giveaways.
Chesapeake Dock Dogs Demonstration
1-4pm: Lake Anne Plaza, Reston
World champion dogs from the Chesapeake Dock Diving Dog Club will dazzle spectators once again with their leaps and jumps into the lake. Dog treat samples and raffles will be available. FREE.
Oktoberfest Kickoff at Tysons Biergarten
1-6pm: Tysons Biergarten, 8346 Leesburg Pike, Tysons
This family-friendly and dog-friendly festival marks the beginning of Oktoberfest season. There will be a ceremonial tapping of the keg, along with live music, games, a moon bounce, face painting, free gifts from Germany, and of course, beer. Admission is FREE, register online.
Wild Life: A Night of Personal Storytelling About All Things Wild
8-10pm: Walker Nature Center, Reston
The Better Said Than Done storytellers will share entertaining stories about wildlife, being wild, and living life. Beer, wine and snacks are available for purchase. Tickets are $15.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2016
Herndon Kids Triathlon
8am: Herndon Community Center, 814 Ferndale Avenue, Herndon
This event is designed for any youth, ages 6-16, regardless of athletic ability. Register online.
Concerts on the Green: Vinyl Invention
6-8pm: Great Falls Village Centre Green
Bring a picnic blanket and chairs for an evening of live music in a grassy park setting. This week’s concert features a cover band playing hits from the 1970s to today. FREE.
Summer may be winding down, but Mr. Knick Knack is still performing weekly at RTC for the kids.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2016
Mr. Knick Knack! Children’s Performance
10:30-11:15am: Reston Town Center Pavilion
This popular musician performs weekly to a crowd of children and their grownups. FREE.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2016
DATA Live More Block Party
11am-2pm: Reston Town Center Pavilion
Discover how to live more by making a better commuting choice! Exhibits, games, refreshments; win a RTC Shopping Spree; sign up for the 2016 Live More Commuter Challenge; and join the Live More WalkAround. FREE.
Zoosday
4-7pm: Reston Town Center Pavilion
On Tuesday evenings in the summer, the Pavilion turns into a petting zoo with kid-friendly activities such as Legos and Play-Doh. FREE.
Design and Wine: Colorful Knots
7-9pm: ArtSpace Herndon
Jewelry artist Sandi Volpe will show you how to hand knot a fun colorful bracelet or necklace with a variety of beads. $30, register online.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2016
Dog Days of Summer
4-7pm: Reston Town Center Pavilion
On Wednesday evenings in the summer, the Pavilion turns into a dog park with toys, treats, wading pools, and giveaways. FREE.
SummerStage at Reston Station – Battery Lane
6:30-8:30pm: Reston Station Plaza, Reston
Bring the family for a live concert with food trucks, pop-ups, and children’s activities. This week’s concert features a band performing covers and originals. FREE.
One of the area’s best annual events is the Reston Multicultural Festival, taking place on September 24th.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2016
Reston Multicultural Festival
11am-6pm: Lake Anne Plaza, Reston
This festival is another Modern Reston favorite! The festival features live music and dance performances, a naturalization ceremony, an international book fair, arts and crafts, an art exhibit, and food from around the world. FREE.
Grand Opening: National Museum of African American History and Culture
All weekend: The National Mall
A festival and and dedication ceremony will mark the grand opening of this historically significant new Smithsonian museum. Museum admission is FREE but requires reservations. The festival is open to the public.
Aslin Beer Company Anniversary Party
11am-2pm, 2:30-5:30pm, or 6-9pm: Aslin Beer Company, 257 Sunset Park Drive, Herndon
This local brewery is celebrating its first anniversary. Attendees will receive a 10oz Aslin anniversary glass, 15 tasting tickets good for 15 (5oz pours), an anniversary t-shirt, and Aslin JuiceBomb sunglasses. Tickets are $100.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2016
Reston Perfect 10 Race
8am: South Lakes High School, Reston
Choose to run 10K or 10miles. All finishers will receive a medal. Register online.
NatureFest
1-5pm: Runnymede Park, 195 Herndon Parkway, Herndon
Explore various nature stations throughout the park including butterflies, bees, life in the meadow, web of life, and much more. Live animal shows throughout the day. FREE.
Walk to End Alzheimers
3pm: Reston Town Center
Join in and unite in a movement with the Alzheimer’s Association to reclaim the future for millions. Register online.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2016
Mr. Knick Knack! Children’s Performance
10:30-11:15am: Reston Town Center Pavilion
This popular musician performs weekly to a crowd of children and their grownups. FREE.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2016
Zoosday
4-7pm: Reston Town Center Pavilion
On Tuesday evenings in the summer, the Pavilion turns into a petting zoo with kid-friendly activities such as Legos and Play-Doh. FREE.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2016
Dog Days of Summer
4-7pm: Reston Town Center Pavilion
On Wednesday evenings in the summer, the Pavilion turns into a dog park with toys, treats, wading pools, and giveaways. FREE.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2016
SummerStage at Reston Station – Moonshine Society
6:30-8:30pm: Reston Station Plaza, Reston
Bring the family for a live concert with food trucks, pop-ups, and children’s activities. This week’s concert features blues and rock. FREE.
Wine & Design
7:00-9:30pm: Walker Nature Center, Reston
Paint, canvas, brushes and even a glass of wine will be provided while our experienced instructor guides you step by step through a painting. At the end of the night, take home your masterpiece. $46/$56, preregistration required.
Photography by Charlotte Geary
Related articles:
- Weekend Highlight: The Lake Anne Jazz and Blues Festival
- Photo Gallery: A Celebration of Diversity at the 2014 Reston Multicultural Festival
- Reston Multicultural Festival Art Exhibit: “Art Mirrors Culture”
- Photo Gallery: Reston Town Center’s Colorful ChalkFest
- A Perfectly Relaxed Summer Night at a Great Falls Concert on the Green
- There’s a New Weekly Petting Zoo and Children’s Play Area at Reston Town Center
- Take Your Dog for an Evening on the Town on Wednesdays this Summer