Fun with the Kids This Weekend

Looking for something to do Saturday or Sunday? Easter egg hunts in Northern Virginia begin in earnest this weekend, with three scheduled for Saturday! Unfortunately, rain’s in the forecast, so check for rain dates!


WEEKEND

Bivouacs and Battlefields: Fauquier County’s Civil War Landscape
Fauquier High School Auditorium
705 Waterloo Road, Warrenton
Saturday and Sunday 8:30 am-5 pm FREE
Discovering Fauquier County’s Civil War History has been recently re-energized by the work of local historians and neighborhood groups in anticipation of the 150th anniversary of the war in 2011 and in honor of Fauquier County’s 250th anniversary in 2009. This symposium will bring to life the historical significance of the countryside we live in.
The lecture series will start at 8:30am, break for an hour at lunch, and feature Robert K. Krick, Bud Hall, Garry Adelman, Childs Burden, and Kris White as speakers. The lecture will conclude with a special 3-D presentation by Bob Zeller that will be entertaining for children of all ages. For more information contact Kimberly Abe at (540) 347-8660 or e-mail: eugenehankinson@aol.com.

Fairfax Follies
Lord Fairfax Community College
173 Skirmisher Lane, Middletown
Saturday shows 1 and 6 pm; Sunday show at 6 pm FREE
This show features family entertainment with singing, dancing and skits celebrating the best of the last 30 years of follies. Before the show we have live entertainment, free ice cream, cake walks and hand and face painting in the cafeteria. Pre-show activities on Saturday take place at noon and 4:30 p.m.; Sunday pre-show activities begin at 4:30 p.m. For more info visit www.lfcc.edu or call (540) 868-7194.

Shades of Beauty
Potomac Falls High School
46400 Algonkian Pkwy, Sterling
Saturday and Sunday, 2 p.m. shows
To kick off its 2009 performance season, the Loudoun Ballet Company is pleased to announce an exciting and mesmerizing new Spring production, “Shades of Beauty.” The production features a creative and visually stunning medley of ballet scenes from select ballets such as Princess Aurora and the fairies from “Sleeping Beauty” and the Company’s debut of the classic ballet scene “Kingdom of the Shades” from “La Bayadere”. In addition, new, creative original work choreographed by LBC’s artistic staff will be featured to enthrall and delight audiences of all ages in the Loudoun community. Advance tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for students; tickets at the door are $15. For more info visit www.loudounballet.org or call 703-771-8074.


Saturday, March 28

Runnymede Park and Sugarland Run Annual Stream Clean-up
Meet at the entrance to Runnymede Park between 8 am-Noon FREE
We need your help to collect winter trash that has been washed into Runnymede Park and along Sugarland Run! Volunteer for an hour or all morning and get free hot dogs and cookies for your efforts. We recomment that you wear long pants and sleeves, old boots and gloves. For more info call 703-435-6810.

Recycling Roadshow
Unity of Fairfax Church
2854 Hunter Mill Road, Oakton 10 am-5 pm FREE
Fairfax County residents may shred up to 5 medium-sized boxes of personal documents at no charge. All shredded documents will be recycled. Also, residents may bring compact fluorescent lights for recycling (no long tubes or broken bulbs will be accepted). There are no fees for these services. For more inifo call (703) 324-5052.

Annual Easter Egg Hunt and Marshmallow Harvest
Great Country Farms
18780 Foggy Bottom Road, Bluemont 10 am-5 pm
Bring your Easter basket and participate in one of 3 egg hunts with more than 3,000 eggs filled with treats. Do marshmallow peeps grow on trees? Follow our maze to find and gather peeps, then roast a few on the bonfire with Farmer Bob. Ride the cow train, see our spring chicks and baby animals, check out the greens and spring plantings in the greenhouses, take a hayride, and rejoice in spring! Egg hunts: 1 pm for children under 3; 1:30 pm for ages 4-6, 2 pm for ages 7-10. Admission is $6 per person, free for kids younger than 2. Cow train ride is $2 extra. For more info visit www.greatcountryfarms.com.

DYI Workshop: Yard Mobile
All participating Lowe’s stores 10-11 am FREE
Get your kids ready for Spring! Bring your kids to Lowe’s and they can build this fun Yard Mobile! To register, visit www.lowesbuildandgrow.com.

Civil War Living History Event
Merchant Park at Weems Botts Museum
3944 Cameron St., Dumfries 10 am-5 pm FREE
Historic Dumfries hosts this educational, family-friendly and fun event that allows you to explore Civil War camp life. For more info call 703-221-2218. Handicapped-accessible.

Women’s History Day
Fairfax Museum and Visitor Center
10209 Main Street, Fairfax 10 am-2 pm FREE
Meet the late environmentalist Rachel Carson through the performance of a re-enactor at 11 a.m. at the museum. Take a free guided walking tour of the Ratcliffe-Allison House and Kitty Pozer Garden, stepping off at 2 p.m. from the museum. Other activities include painting flower pots and a gallery scavenger hunt.

Go Fish
Lake Accotink Park
7500 Accotink Road, Springfield 10 am-Noon
Join us for fishing and fun at and receive a free one-day trout fishing pass. Learn the wildlife-friendly catch-and- release fishing technique. Find out about fish species and environmental issues, Bring your own pole and tackle or borrow one of ours; barbless hooks only. The cost is $15 per child; accompanying adult free. This program is suited for children age 7and older. Reservations are required; call 703-569-0285.

Children’s Book Fair
Lyceum, Alexandria’s History Museum
201 South Washington St., Alexandria 11 am-4 pm FREE
Join children’s book publisher Usborne at this special event for kids and adults! Usborne will be offering dozens of selections focusing on social studies and other educational areas. Kids can play “Museum Detective” on a scavenger hunt of The Lyceum and enjoy other free activities like storytelling, crafts, and hands-on artifact stations. Stimulate your child’s curiosity at this fun family event.

“Kite Flight” at Three Fox Vineyards
10100 Three Fox Lane, Delaplane 11 am-5 pm
Come take part in our 1st Annual “Kite Flight”. Have fun, win prizes, and help charity (Women Build – Habitat for Humanity) Bring your own kite or get one of ours on-site when you come. Fun for all ages and a great way to relax and just live life! For more information call (540) 364-6073 or visit www.threefoxvineyards.com.

Easter Eggstravaganza
Frying Pan Farm Park
2709 West Ox Road, Herndon Starting at noon
Discover spring on the farm, enjoy an egg hunt and meet farm animals in the petting area. For children age 4 and under, please specify time including a first and second choice: noon, 12:45 p.m. or 1:30 p.m. The hunt for children age 5 to 7 is at 2:15 p.m. Prepaid reservations are required. The rain date is 3/29. The cost is $6 per child. To reserve, call 703-437-9101.

Homebrewing Workshop
Lovettsville Library
North Light St., Lovettsville 1 pm FREE
Learn the basics of brewing theory, the ingredients and equipment needed for homemade beer, and the processes of simple and advanced brewing techniques.

Bluebird Predator Guard Make It, Take It Workshop
Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve (Education Annex)
21085 The Woods Road, Leesburg 1-3 pm
Learn how to make your own Stovepipe Bluebird Predator Guards to help protect birds from snakes and other predators. All materials provided. Cost is $15 for materials required. Registration required; sign up online or contact Elizabeth Evans at 540-822-5438.

ThumbKnits Knitting Club
Potomac Library
2201 Opitz Boulevard, Woodbridge 1-3 pm
Michele Hirata, from the world of Fat Thumb, will teach you to knit or help you improve your technique. Supplies are provided.
For ages 5-12. Limit 15. Please register in person or by phone beginning one week before each program; call 703-494-8126.

Introduction to Wildflowers
Hidden Pond Nature Center
8511 Greeley Blvd, Springfield 1-2:30 pm
View spring wildflowers in a PowerPoint presentation and learn about wildflower field guides and good wildflower trails. Then look for them in the woods. Reservations are required. The cost is $6 per person. To reserve, call 703-451-9588.

Easter Egg Hunt
Sully Historic Site
3650 Historic Sully Way, Chantilly 1-3 pm
Children ages 3 to 7 years can bring baskets and hunt for filled Easter eggs in the fields. Hunts are set for 1:30 or 2:30 p.m. Find the special egg and claim your prize. Participate in an egg roll. Visit baby animals, create an Easter craft to take home, and indulge in yummy treats. Reservations are required. The rain date is April 4. The cost is $5 per child. To reserve, call 703-437-1794.

Tea Traditions
Historic Green Spring
4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria 2-3:30 pm
Should the teapot spout face the host or the guest? Should I hold my pinky out when I lift my teacup? Learn protocol and etiquette and look at the origins of teatime traditions. The cost is $18 per person and includes a traditional cream tea (tea served with scones, cream and jam). To register, please call 703-941-7987.

Happy Birthday Clifton!
Clifton’s Town Park 2-4 pm
Come sing Happy Birthday to Clifton at a birthday party thrown for the town by the Clifton Betterment Association. The CBA will provide cake and beverages at the Town Park. Let’s have a fun spring afternoon and celebrate our town. For more info call (703) 988-0685 or visit www.cliftonva.us.

Fun with Your Digital Camera
Hooray for Books
1555 King St., Ste. 101, Alexandria 2:30-3:30 pm
Our friends at Tisara Photography know how to take a great picture, and they’ll teach you how to make the most of your digital camera in a one-hour workshop for ages 6 and up. Space may be limited, so call (703) 548-4092 for reservations!

Kids Crazy for Classics: A Musical Puppet Show
Loudoun County Extension Office Program Room
30B Catoctin Circle SE, Leesburg 2 pm FREE
The Rust Library sponsors Carnival of the Animals by Camille Saint-Saens, performed by local high school musicians with the help of puppets. Recommended for all ages.

Laughing Pizza
McLean Community Center
1234 Ingleside Ave. 2 pm
Ages 4+. Laughing Pizza is a real family band that creates original pop music for kids and their parents. Dad, Billy, and mom, Lisa combine their skills as award-winning song-writers with their multi-instrumentalist daughter, Emily, to create fun, inspiring music for the whole family. For ages 4 and older. Tickets are $14, $10 for McLean Community Center district residents. For more info, visit www.mcleancenter.org.

Family Movies!
Lovettsville Library
12 North Light St., Lovettsville 3 pm FREE
Take the family to waatch Disney’s animated futuristic film, WALL-E, rated G, 97 minutes.

Fighters Tournament
C3 Cyberclub
44710 Cape Court #118, Ashburn Starting at 3 pm
We’ve all been waiting for it and now it’s here Street Fighter 4 at the premier C3 gaming center. Battle it out Join the ranks of America’s finest Street Figther Video game champions at C3 Cyber Club. Test your skills against players all over the East Coast at our monthly Fighters Tournament! There is a $10 venue fee and $10 per game fee. For more info call (703) 729-0985 or visit www.c3cyberclub.com.

Bull Run Swamp Stomp
Bull Run Regional Park
7700 Bull Run Drive, Centreville 7 pm FREE
Join NVRPA on a night hike and search for the fascinating amphibian life of Bull Run Regional Park. Find spring peepers, woods frogs and more. Rubber boots and warm clothes recommended. Adults and children age 6 and older. Please call 703-528-5406 to make a reservation and get directions.



Sunday, March 29

Animal Tricksters
Hidden Oaks Nature Center
7701 Royce St., Annandale 1-2 pm
From 1 to 2 p.m. at , families will view live animals, specimens and a slideshow and hear an American Indian story to discover how nature equips different animals to get a meal or to keep from becoming another critter’s feast. Prepaid reservations are required. The cost is $5 per child. To make a reservation, please call 703-941-1065.

Loudoun Symphonic Winds presents Around the World in 60 Minutes
Franklin Park Performing & Visual Arts Center
36441 Blueridge View Lane, Purcellville 3 pm
The Loudoun Symphonic Winds has become one of the area’s most exciting musical ensembles since its formation in 1993. Our goal is to give the Loudoun community and its neighbors an opportunity to play and hear the best of yesterday’s and today’s concert band music. All proceeds from this special fund- raising event benefit the Loudoun Community Band, Inc. Admission is $12 for adults, $10 for students. For more info visit www.franklinparkartscenter.org.