Looking for Halloween inspiration? If you want to make something unique for your jack-o-lantern this year, get inspiration from thousands of carved pumpkins at THE GLOW: A Jack O’Lantern Experience this month. The huge outdoor display, which made its Northern Virginia debut last in 2017, returns to Lake Fairfax Park for all of October. Now through October 28, 2018 (on Thursday through Sunday nights), stroll through the park to see more Continue Reading...
Herndon Festival: Four days of free fun
By Patricia Hall, FairfaxFamilyFun.com One of Northern Virginia's biggest community festivals is this weekend: the Herndon Festival! This four-day event, celebrating its 38th year, combines a carnival with music, art, fireworks, and more. The Herndon Festival takes place Thursday through Sunday, May 31-June 3, 2018, in downtown Herndon. The festival includes carnival rides, live entertainment on multiple stages, an arts and crafts show, Continue Reading...
Celebrate Black History Month at local events
February is Black History Month in the United States and Canada, a time to remember important people and events in African-American history. Here are some celebrations and special events taking place in or near Fairfax County and Washington, DC, in 2018. Sat., February 3 (exhibit through March 2) – Manassas, VA Ayeye: A Retrospective of Black History Month To commemorate Black History Month, the Center for the Arts has scheduled an Continue Reading...
Celebrate Fairfax brings back favorites, adds new features
By Patricia Hall, FairfaxFamilyFun.com It's almost here: Northern Virginia's largest community festival, a three-day celebration with an incredible amount of fun! The Celebrate Fairfax Festival, June 9-11, 2017, features dozens of concerts with local and celebrity bands, dancing and other live entertainment, kids' activities, unique fun, animals to pet and watch perform, nightly fireworks, and more. The event, celebrating its 36 year, takes Continue Reading...
Kennedy Center Open House celebrates JFK’s 100th birthday
By Patricia Hall, Fairfax Family Fun This coming Memorial Day Monday, May 29, President John F. Kennedy would have turned 100 years old. To celebrate him, his namesake concert venue is opening its doors to the community for a completely free and full day of fun. The Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, is hosting an open house this Saturday, May 27, with a wide variety of performances inside and out. The event will feature live music, art, Continue Reading...
Family travel: Three days in Manchester, Vermont
This post is part of our series highlighting family travel in Manchester, Vermont. Also see our post on the Wilburton Inn and historic Hildene. By Patricia Hall, Fairfax Family Fun There's never enough time. If you travel as we do -- wanting to see as much of an area as possible -- there is just never enough time to see it all. Even if you are highly organized. Even if the place you are visiting was supposed to be a relatively quiet little Continue Reading...
Historic Hildene: Our visit to the Lincoln family home
This post is part of our series highlighting family travel in Manchester, Vermont. Also see our post on the Town of Manchester and our review of the Wilburton Inn. By Patricia Hall, Fairfax Family Fun A trip to the Manchester area in southern Vermont is not complete without a visit to Hildene. Located on 400 acres in Manchester Village just outside of town, this historic home will appeal to people of different interests and ages. The Continue Reading...
A hotel with art and a heart: review of the Wilburton Inn
Thanks to the Wilburton Inn for hosting us during Spring Break! This post is part of our series highlighting family travel in Manchester, Vermont. Also see our post on the Town of Manchester and our review of historic Hildene. By Patricia Hall, Fairfax Family Fun “We’ll make you feel right at home.” Some inns, bed-and-breakfasts, and even some hotels may like to make that claim, but it’s a hard feat to completely pull off. When you are Continue Reading...
Tot Rock Fest & Del Ray Play Date = fun free day for kids
Grown-ups, you can keep your Coachella and other big festivals... young kids have a festival of their own, and this one -- with music, other live entertainment, and a good cause, and all free -- is right here at home! Local children's musicians Rainbow Rock have taken their annual Tot Rock Festival and joined others to host a community event that is all about local kids but also helps children in other places through music and more The free Continue Reading...
No fooling: National Capital Area Cake Show returns April 1-2
By Patricia Hall, FairfaxFamilyFun.com If you love cakes -- making them, eating, them, or both -- check out the annual National Capital Area Cake Show. The event is a bit of everything: expo, training session, and competition, all related to cakes. The two-day event (the weekend of April 1 and 2, 2017) is a volunteer-run event "with a common goal of sharing the beauty of sugar art." This year's event has three themes: Wedding Cakes Continue Reading...