By Patricia Hall, FairfaxFamilyFun.com Damsel in distress? Not quite. You (and your kids) may associate Snow White as a young girl who ends up lost in the woods, poisoned by her evil stepmother, and brought back from a spell by a prince. That story, based on an 1812 Brothers Grimm tale and featured classic Disney film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (can you believe the movie turns 70 years old next year?), is not what you’ll find in Snow Continue Reading...
Yes, Virginia, there is a Foamhenge
UPDATE AUG. 31, 2016: It was just announced that Foamhenge has been taken down from its original location and will be moved to Northern Virginia. Foamhenge soon will reside at Cox Farms in Centreville, and will make its debut there in 2017. The original article below is from April 2016 following a recent visit to the original spot. By Patricia Hall, FairfaxFamilyFun.com The columns stand tall in an open field, forming a magical and Continue Reading...
NoVA Mini Maker Faire: A ‘Show and Tell’ for all ages
By Patricia Hall, FairfaxFamilyFun.com Technology and textiles, creativity and computers... if there's something you can think of and something you can make -- whether it's with your own hands or with a computer program -- chances are good that you will find it at a "maker faire," an event that showcases people's creations, from traditional artifacts to items made with the latest technologies. One such event is the annual NoVa Mini Maker Continue Reading...
Review: Mary Poppins by Reston Community Players
We were invited to see Mary Poppins on opening weekend. This made for a great "family date night!" See our review below, check out our tips to make the most of your visit, learn about some special events coming up, and don't miss your chance to win tickets for your family through our GIVEAWAY! By Patricia Hall, FairfaxFamilyFun.com Funny, feisty, and full of warmth, Mary Poppins is a classic tale that many of us grew up with and now happily Continue Reading...
Winter is Sweet with These Chocolate Festivals!
By Patricia Hall, FairfaxFamilyFun.com Happy 2016! Winter is sweet in Northern Virginia with these chocolate festivals coming up! These day-long events feature lots of scrumptious treats and family-friendly activities. They also benefit local small businesses and community organizations, so by indulging in sweets, you're also doing a sweet thing! To help you keep track of all the festivals, we've summarized them in one place... see our list Continue Reading...
Jingle on Lake Anne features Santa’s arrival by boat
One of the most festive, fun, family-friendly, and free community holiday events is coming up: Lake Anne Plaza in Reston hosts its annual Jingle on Lake Anne event on Saturday, December 5, 2015! Community organizers and plaza retailers will host various activities throughout the day. The expanded program, now from 8 am until 7 pm and beyond, includes fun options for kids, adults, and even pets. Among the activities are the popular and special Continue Reading...
DC Tour: United States Botanic Garden
By Patricia L. Hall, FairfaxFamilyFun.com Among Washington D.C.'s many museums lies one that is more "alive" than any other even though it is nearly 200 years old: the United States Botanic Garden. This living plant museum between Capitol Hill and the Smithsonian is dedicated to showcasing the diversity and value of plants and providing education on the earth's fragile ecosystems. Here you will find plants and flowers both familiar and Continue Reading...
DC Tour: Library of Congress
By Patricia Hall, FairfaxFamilyFun.com "We're going to a library, but we're not going to check out books. In fact, we won't even be too close to any books." That was my introduction to our son when, during a recent Washington, DC, "staycation," we decided to visit the Library of Congress. To a young child, the concept of a public library that's more than a library and not really public (not in the traditional sense, anyway), might seem odd. Continue Reading...
Review: ICE at Gaylord National ‘Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town’
By Patricia Hall, FairfaxFamilyFun.com The weather outside has NOT been frightful, as we've had a warm winter so far, but if you need chillier temperatures to get into the holiday spirit, you've always got the ICE! show at the Gaylord National! This annual event, a holiday tradition for many area families, features large and amazing ice sculptures in a specialty-built area that keeps the frozen artwork at nine -- yes, that's 9 -- degrees Continue Reading...
DC Tour: United States Capitol
By Patricia Hall, FairfaxFamilyFun.com With two days off from school, and the weekend preceding them, we had enough time for a vacation. With no plans made, though, we had, well... no plans. Now here I was with a four-day weekend, determined to make the most of it but with limited funds and time to pull off a real vacation. Enter: staycation! Living so close to Washington, DC, affords us with special opportunities to enjoy year-round Continue Reading...
