FREE Holiday Events in the Northern Virginia Area 2011

There are so many events going on this holiday season in the Northern Virginia area.
I’ve highlighted the FREE things do with your family this season.
Here is a link to a long list of events that included paid admissions.  Click HERE.

Dec 2, West Springfield Elementary School Address: 6802 Deland Drive, Springfield, VA
Times: 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m
Contact: Jan Buetow
Admission: Admission to the vendor fair is free to the public.
Please join us for our first annual Holiday Vendor Fair! While you shop for holiday goodies know that you are helping to support our elementary school and some of the local businesses and artisans in the area. Vendors will feature various items that will help with your hectic holiday shopping by providing over 20 booths of various specialties in one convenient location. Whether you are looking for home accessories, kitchen wares, candles, scrapbooking supplies, clothing, purses, books, jewelry or some surprises — we will have it! Come and enjoy an evening of holiday shopping at West Springfield Elementary School.

Dec 3, Old Town Fairfax Address: Main Street, Fairfax, VA
Times: See Website for Details
Phone: (703) 385-7858
Admission: FREE
The first Saturday in December, the Parks & Recreation Department holds its annual Festival of Lights & Carols. Activities will include Lunch with Santa (tickets need to be purchased from the Parks & Recreation office, limited number available), illumination of the street trees on Main Street in the downtown Historic District and lighting of the City tree. Lunch with Santa is held in Old Town Hall and the lighting of the City tree will be held in the Kitty Pozer Garden located behind Old Town Hall (3999 University Drive) in Old Town Fairfax. There is no charge to attend the lighting of the City tree.

Dec 3, Historic Clifton
Address: Main Street, Clifton, VA
Times: 4pm-7pm
Contact: Jennifer Chesley
Admission: FREE

Begin celebrating the Holiday Season at Clifton’s Annual Candlelight Tour on Saturday, December 3rd.  All festivities take place in the Historic Town of Clifton, VA.   The Holiday Horse Parade and Contest, sponsored by the Clifton Horse Society, begins at 2 p.m.  Following the Parade and Contest, visit our Town shops and restaurants.  The Candlelight Homes Tour begins at 4 p.m. and includes five lovely Holiday Homes, two Churches with live music, the Clifton Caboose and the Masonic Acacia Lodge.  Also, enjoy the Dickens Carolers strolling around Town. Tickets are for sale in the Town of Clifton at A Flower Blooms, NOVA Music and T&K Treasures.  Also at Picket Fence in Burke and Banner’s Hallmark in Centreville.

Dec 3, Historic Clifton Address: Main Street, Clifton, VA
Times: 2pm-4pm
Admission: FREE
The Holiday Horse Parade, sponsored by Clifton Horse Society, includes festive horses and riders decorated for the Holidays.  They will parade down Main Street then Chapel Street for the contest.  Photos taken with Santa, by Robyn Witschey, will be available in Ayre Square on Main Street.

Dec 3, Truro Church Address: 10520 Main Street, Fairfax, VA 22030
Times: 10:00am to 3:00pm
Phone: (703) 608-2231
Admission: Free Admission
Hosted by the Giving Circle of HOPE- Honor special people in your life by giving gifts that benefit others through local non-profit organizations. Make a donation to a special cause in their honor and receive an attractive card with a description of the charitable donation to give to your friend or loved one. Fair trade items will also be available for purchase. Gifts That Give Hope fairs give you the opportunity to choose meaningful gifts for people on your gift list while helping others who are not on anyone’s gift list.

Dec 3, Frying Pan Farm Park Address: 2709 West Ox Rd., Herndon, VA
Times: 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Phone: (703) 437-9101
Admission: Free
Enjoy strolling carolers, holiday music, warming fires, storytelling and children’s activities! Tour the decorated farm house, watch a blacksmithing demonstration and visit with the beekeeper. Purchase s’mores kits to make at a warming fire. Join farmers, friends and officials at 1:00pm for greetings, a holiday musical performance and drawing for 5 free turkeys. Get up close and personal with resident farm animals. See English and Western-style horseback demonstrations and watch dog agility trials. Pony rides available for $5. Photos with Santa in his sleigh for $5. Children’s Holiday Shopping in the Country Store from 12:30-3:30pm. Gifts are available in a wide range of prices.

Dec 3, Lake Anne Plaza Waterfront Address: 1609 Washington Plaza, Reston, va
Times: 11am-3pm
Lake Anne Waterfront will kick off the holiday season on Saturday, December 3, 2011 with the return of Jingle on Lake Anne – a Holiday Celebration taking place from 11:00AM-3:00PM. Community organizers and plaza retailers will host a variety of festive activities ranging from the ever popular special visit from Santa (arriving on a lake barge), strolling carolers, a petting zoo, wine tastings, merchant specials, children’s crafts, cookie decorating, holiday arts & crafts market, holiday entertainment and much more. The day will be filled with activities and holiday delights for all ages. The holiday event is sponsored and hosted by Lake Anne Merchants. Event Schedule: 11:00AM-3:00PM – Holiday Arts & Crafts Market Petting Zoo Cookie Decorating (until 2PM) Children’s Crafts Plaza Activities 12:00PM-2:00PM – Santa Arrival/Departure (Santa’s arrival time is 12PM Sharp) EVENT DETAILS What: Lake Anne Plaza – Jingle on Lake Anne When: Saturday, December 3, 2011 Where: Lake Anne Plaza (Waterfront) – 1609 Washington Plaza, Reston, VA 20190 Time: 11:00AM-3:00PM Website: www.lakeanneplaza.com Cost: Free, Rain or Shine

Dec 3, Herndon Town Square Address: 730 Elden Street, Herndon, VA
Times: 5pm
Contact: Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce
Phone: (703) 437-5556
Admission: Free
Carols, tree lighting and a visit from Santa.

Dec 4, Historic Freeman House and Museum

Address: 131 Church Street N.E., Vienna, VA
Times: Readings at 1:30pm and 3pm
Phone: (703) 938-5187

Historic Vienna, Inc. invites grade school children and their parents to a reading of “Lucy’s Cave” at the Little Library on the grounds of the Freeman Store, 131 Church Street, NE, Vienna, on Sunday, December 4 at 1:30 pm.  The story takes place in Vicksburg in 1863 and materials will be available to make a Civil War craft.  For information call 703-938-5187

Dec 4, Civil War Interpretive Center at Historic Blenheim

Address: 3610 Old Lee Highway, Fairfax, VA
Times: noon-4pm
Phone: (703) 591-6728
Admission: FREE

Visit a Civil War camp during winter and learn about holiday customs from reenactors.

Dec 4, George Mason University Harris Theater Address: 4400 University Drive, Fairfax, VA
Times: 7 PM
Phone: (703) 993-1380
GMU’s guitar ensemble presents their concert.

Dec 4, Herndon Community Center Address: 814 Ferndale Avenue, Herndon, VA
Times: 11am – 6pm
Contact: Herndon Parks and Recreation
Phone: (703) 787-7300
Admission: Free
At this 33rd annual show, more than 100 arts and craft vendors offer unique gifts, decorations and handmade items. Refreshments available. Admission and parking are free.

Dec 4 – 11, Fair Oaks Mall

Recurring weekly on Sunday
Address: 11750 Fair Oaks Mall, Fairfax, VA
Times: Sunday December 4 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Sunday, December 11 from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Phone: (703) 359-8300
Admission: Free admission (Photos with Santa and photo at the Ice Throne cost extra)

Dogs and cats, great and small are invited to have their photo taken with Santa! Fair Oaks Mall will offer guests four opportunities during the holidays to have their pets’ pictures taken with Santa. Dog lovers, mark your calendars!

• Sunday, November 20 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.;
• Sunday December 4from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.;
• Sunday, December 11 from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Set against the enchanted Ice Palace, the spectacular 1,200-square foot centerpiece of the Fair Oaks Mall holiday celebrations, dogs and cats with their owners will have the opportunity to pose for commemorative professional photos with Santa. For those purchasing a special photo package that includes 16 photos of various sizes, a hi-res portrait CD and complimentary 8×11 photo book from Snapfish, Fair Oaks Mall will donate $10 to the Fairfax County Animal Shelter.

Dec 4 – 10, Historic Freeman House and Museum

Recurring weekly on Sunday, Saturday
Address: 131 Church Street N.E., Vienna, VA
Times: Sunday, December 4 and Saturday, December 10 from 1 to 3 pm.
Phone: (703) 938-5187
Admission: FREE

Santa Claus will visit with children at the Freeman Store, 131 Church Street, NE, Vienna on Sunday, December 4 and Saturday, December 10 from 1 to 3 pm.  Assisted by his elves, Santa will be upstairs in his traditional chair beside the Christmas tree, making for a perfect holiday photo.  The Freeman Store will be decorated with fresh greens and arrangements courtesy of the Ayr Hill Garden Club.  Free and open to the public.  For information call 703 938 5187

Dec 4, Franconia United Methodist Church Address: 6037 Franconia Road, Alexandria, VA
Times: 4 – 6 PM
Contact: Ese
Phone: (703) 971-5151
Admission: Free – Donations
We invite you to join us for a special concert from the Celebration Singers on Dec 4 at 4 PM. They will perform “A Christmas Portrait”, singing many Christmas songs you all know and love. Franconia United Methodist Church is located at the corner of Beulah and Franconia, next to the Franconia Elementary School, convenient to the Fairfax Connector routes 231, 232, and 310. Our church is handicapped accessible, and assisted listening devices are available.

Dec 4, Wolf Trap Filene Center

Address: 1551 Trap Road, Vienna, VA
Times: 4pm
Phone: (703) 255-1900
Admission: FREE

Kick off the holiday season with family and friends at Wolf Trap’s 2011 Holiday Sing-A-Long! This annual musical celebration hosts a performance by the United States Marine Band and a Sing-A-Long of Christmas carols and Hanukkah songs with choir and vocal groups from the metropolitan Washington area.

Wolf Trap will be participating in Toys for Tots by collecting new, unwrapped toys at the entrance to the Filene Center before the Sing-A-Long. Donations are strictly voluntary and not a requirement. Admission is free and no tickets are required. Parking is free but limited so please plan on arriving early.

Bring a candle and join the tradition of exiting the Filene Center with a candlelight processional during the last verse of “Silent Night.” There will also be a “Jing-A-Long” during the singing of Jingle Bells so remember to bring a candle, a bell, and a new, unwrapped toy!

Dec 7, U.S. Geological Survey Address: 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, VA
Times: Wednesday, December 7, 2011, 7:00-8:00 PM
Contact: Melanie Gade
Phone: (703) 648-4748
Admission: FREE and Open to the Public
The 21st century brings a new set of water resource challenges. Even in normal water years, water shortages and use conflicts have become commonplace in many areas of the United States –– especially competition among crop irrigation, growing cities and communities, and energy production. Over the next 10 years, the USGS plans to conduct a new assessment of water availability and use. This national Water Census will address critical aspects of recent Federal legislation, including the need to establish a national water assessment program. FREE and Open to the Public Follow this event live @USGSLive Requests for accommodations (i.e. sign language interpreting) require notice at least two weeks before the event. Please email [email protected] or call 703-648-7770.

Bobbi Brown Mega Event