By Patricia Hall, Fairfax Family Fun Let freedom ring! As much as possible, anyway! To say that the year 2020 is unusual would be a great understatement. In late winter, when the COVID-19 coronavirus began spreading in the United States, no one imagined than keeping social distance and quarantining for a few weeks would become months, with not just spring but summer activities cancelled. And here we are, right before the Fourth of July. What Continue Reading...
Memorial Day events in Northern Virginia and Washington, DC
Memorial Day Events 2019 Memorial Day weekend is here, a time for our country to remember and honor the brave men and women who sacrificed their lives to protect our freedoms. Being so close to the nation's capital gives us a very easy opportunity to visit meaningful places to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice. See below for special events taking place in Washington, DC, and Northern Virginia to honor our military, as well celebrations Continue Reading...
Memorial Day traditions: Ride of the Patriots & Rolling Thunder
By Patricia Hall, FairfaxFamilyFun.com Thousands of motorcycles will roar into town this weekend, as happens on Memorial Day Sunday each year, going down Fairfax Boulevard en route to Washington, DC, where they will join hundreds of thousands more bikes at Rolling Thunder. It's quite a sight -- and fun and exciting to watch -- but its purpose is heartfelt: to honor our soldiers. Ride of the Patriots is a local motorcycle ride related to Continue Reading...
Kick off the season at the Wolf Trap Summer Blast-off!
By Patricia Hall, FairfaxFamilyFun.com Summer is almost here, and that means many of us will be enjoying fun concerts and other shows at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts in Vienna. On Sunday, May 26, 2019, you can kick off summer at Wolf Trap's annual Summer Blast-off, a FREE community event that includes music and fireworks! The annual tradition takes place every Sunday before Memorial Day. Since the following Monday is a Continue Reading...
Udvar-Hazy Center celebrates 15th anniversary
One of Northern Virginia's most popular attractions is celebrating a special birthday: The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center turns 15 years old this Saturday! The annex of Smithsonian's Air & Space Museum in Chantilly opened its doors to the public on December 15, 2003. Since then, nearly 20 million people from all over the world have walked through its doors. To celebrate, the museum is hosting a day full of special talks, exhibits, and Continue Reading...
Annual reenactments in the Mid-Atlantic
By Patricia Hall, FairfaxFamilyFun.com Just about everywhere you go in Virginia, you will find reminders of battles, mostly from the Civil War. Historical markers, battlefields, and commemorative events abound, and it’s no wonder: with more than 2,000 "military events" recorded in Virginia during the Civil War, the commonwealth, in all its regions, is rich in military history. Attending a reenactment is a great way to connect with history to Continue Reading...
National Museum of the Marine Corps debuts new kids’ area
By Patricia Hall, Fairfax Family Fun The National Museum of the Marine Corps (NMMC) in Triangle, Virginia, has been undergoing renovations and expansion, and is ready to debut its newest area, dedicated to the youngest visitors! The museum opens its new Children’s Gallery on Saturday, November 18, 2017, with special activities from noon to 2 pm. The Children’s Gallery mimics the Museum’s theme of U.S. and world history as seen through the Continue Reading...
You’re invited: Celebrate Fairfax County’s 275th Anniversary!
By Patricia Hall, Fairfax Family Fun Happy Birthday, Fairfax County! Our beloved hometown celebrates its 275th anniversary, and to mark the milestone, the county is hosting a full day of fun on Saturday, June 17, 2017. That signature celebration, the biggest event in honor of the occasion, takes place on the grounds of the historic Fairfax Courthouse. From 10 am to 4 pm, guests can enjoy special exhibits, living history, performances, and Continue Reading...
Memorial Day in The Little City: Falls Church festival
Memorial Day in the Washington, DC, area means many opportunities to honor the day and remember the fallen, including remembrance ceremonies at Arlington Cemetery and various monuments, plus a big parade downtown. On Monday, May 29, 2017, that also means the return of the annual Falls Church Memorial Day Parade and Festival celebrated each year. The City of Falls Church hosts this all-day event with special activities: Along with a tribute Continue Reading...
Celebrate George Washington’s birthday!
Happy Birthday, George Washington! Soon we'll celebrate the birthday of our nation's first president, and while the federal holiday of Washington's birthday is now more popularly known as "Presidents Day," celebrating the birthdays of both Washington and Abraham Lincoln, in Northern Virginia, the party is mostly about George. After all, it was right here where Washington made his home, and his Mount Vernon Estate just south of Alexandria is one Continue Reading...
