Weekend Pick: Reston’s Founders Day

Reston founder Bob Simon turns 101 years old Friday.

Come out to wish Simon — and Reston — a happy birthday at the annual Founders Day celebration at Lake Anne Plaza Saturday.

The free events, hosted by the Reston Historic Trust and Museum, run from noon to 3 p.m. at Lake Anne Plaza.

State, local and national elected officials will participate in a game of “Random Reston,” which will be emceed by Chuck Veatch. There will also be musical entertainment, the dedication of the plaza’s newest commemorative bricks, as well as birthday cake.

Simon, who envisioned a “new town” with European-style village centers and high-density housing in what was then a Virginia pasture, turns 101 on April 10.

There will also be a raffle, which will benefit the Reston Historic Trust & Museum Endowment Fund. The RHT is raffling off a pair of “inside out” diamond hoop earrings valued at $2,500. The earrings, donated by Aspen Jewelry Designs, contain 50 diamonds weighing 1.01 carats.

Raffle tickets are $10 each, 3 for $25 or 7 for $50. They can be purchased  in advance at the Reston Museum at Lake Anne Plaza, online at restonmuseum.org or at the Wine Cabinet at North Point Village Center. The drawing will follow the celebration. You do not have to be present to win.

Other events of note this weekend:

Reston Association will host the 12th annual Nature House Fund Run 5K on Saturday. The race will benefit Nature House at the Walker Nature Education Center and The Friends of Reston.

Race start time is 8 a.m. at Walker Nature Center, 11450 Glade Dr.

The course is run on mostly RA’s paved walkway. Walkers and children are welcome, but pets and strollers are not permitted.

To register and see the course map, visit the race website.