Locals who want to get rid of some of their leftover Halloween candy will have a chance to do so while earning a little bit of extra cash next week.
The office of Reston orthodontist Stephan Tisseront plans to hold its annual Halloween Candy Buy-Back event at 11720 Plaza America Drive.on Monday, Nov. 7, from 12-4 p.m.
For every pound of candy the office collects, $1Â will be paid to the donor and another $1 will be donated to Children’s National Medical Center. Then, nonprofit Operation Shoebox will ship all donated candy to U.S. military troops overseas.
The event will also include hot apple cider, a raffle and a station where attendees can write letters of gratitude and draw pictures to send to soldiers overseas.
This is the 11th annual Halloween candy buy-back event at Dr. Tisseront’s office.
Previous Tisseront Candy Buy-Back/ Reston Now file photo
It’s that frighteningly fun day of the year when kids and adults alike get to wear their worst — or best — faces around town. So who’s ready for some trick-or-treating today?
A couple of things to know: Trick-or-Treating is not organized by Reston Association or Fairfax County, so there are no “official” hours or rules. Generally, trick-or-treaters show up around the time it gets dark, so plan on manning the candy bowl from about 6:30 to 9 p.m.
Weather forecast: low-50s, partly cloudy, cool and breezy.
Fairfax County has these safety tips for a fun Halloween:
- Don’t let the excitement of Halloween allow your children to ignore the normal safety precautions: Do not talk to strangers;Â do not go into homes or cars of people they do not know;Â and do not approach animals they do not know. Make sure children know their name, phone number and address and to provide this information to a police officer in an emergency or if they are lost.
- Younger children should have an adult with them while older children should provide their route and when they expect to return. If possible, provide a cell phone for your children.
- Children should only visit homes that have their porch lights on.
- Inspect your children’s candy before they eat it. Although food tampering is rare, it’s safest to eat only those candies that are individually wrapped and not homemade, unless you know the families who have prepared the homemade treats.
- Have flashlights or glowsticks for children and/or for the accompanying adult.
- Adults are reminded not to drink alcohol and drive.
Photo courtesy of Don Renner
While Halloween is not until Monday, there are likely to be lots of celebrations this weekend. That’s why the Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP) is offering free cab rides from Saturday, Oct. 29 at 10 p.m. until Sunday, Oct. 30 at 6 a.m.
WRAP, which offers its SoberRide on many holidays, including St. Patrick’s Day and New Year’s Eve, says the program is as a way to keep local roads safe from impaired drivers during this traditionally high-risk period.
WRAP has a release with everything you need to know:
During this eight-hour period, area residents ages 21 and older celebrating with alcohol may call the toll-free SoberRide® phone number 1-800-200-TAXI (8294) and be afforded a no-cost (up to a $30 fare), safe way home. AT&T wireless customers can dial #WRAP for the same service.
Last year, 412 persons in the Washington-metropolitan area used WRAP’s Halloween SoberRide® program rather than possibly driving home impaired. The charity also offers its SoberRide® program on St. Patrick’s Day, Cinco de Mayo, Independence Day and the winter holidays this year starting on December 16th and operating through and including New Year’s Eve.
Local taxicab companies throughout the Washington-metropolitan area provide this no-cost service to local residents age 21 and older who otherwise may attempt to drive home after drinking.
SoberRide® is offered in the: District of Columbia; throughout the Maryland counties of Montgomery and Prince George’s; and throughout the Northern Virginia counties of Arlington, Fairfax, (eastern) Loudoun and Prince William.
“The scary fact is that over half (52%*) of all U.S. traffic deaths during Halloween involve drunk drivers,” said Kurt Gregory Erickson, WRAP’s President.
Participating taxicab companies include: Alexandria Yellow Cab; Barwood; Fairfax Yellow Cab; Loudoun Yellow Cab; Northern Virginia Checker Cab; Red Top Cab; Silver Cab of Prince George’s County; Yellow Cab of D.C.; and Yellow Cab of Prince William County.
Since 1993, WRAP’s SoberRide® program has provided 65,219 free cab rides home to would-be drunk drivers in the Greater Washington area.
More information about WRAP’s SoberRide® initiative can be found atwww.soberride.com.
Roer’s Zoofari (formerly The Reston Zoo) is holding a fall festival with a twist this weekend and next.
Oct. 22-23 and Oct. 29-30 are Roer’s Giraffe-Tober Fest. For a $20 admission, visitors can meet Roer’s newest animal, Waffles the giraffe, and participate in some fall farm fun, including:
- Pick-Your-Own Pumpkin Patch
- Kids Zone w/Bounce House
- Giraffe Feeding
- Safari Wagon Ride
- Scarecrow Competition
- Carnival Games
Giraffe-Tober Fest’s Kids Zone is sponsored by the Russian School of Mathematics. Part of the proceeds will go to giraffe conservation efforts.
Roer’s is also holding a trick-or-treat event Oct. 29 to 31.
Kids can come “enjoy a very-not-scary Halloween at the zoo” from 5 to 7 p.m. The bounce house will be open, and there will be games and trick-or-treating. Adults and kids under 2: Free; $10 for kids over age 2. Half price for season pass holders.
Roer’s Zoofari, which was purchased and renamed in March, is located at 1228 Hunter Mill Road.
Purchase advance tickets to Giraffe-Tober Fest online.
Photo:Â Waffles the Giraffe and a young visitor/Credit: Roer’s Zoofari
You know you want to show off your pet in a Halloween costume.
Here’s where you can do that: Lake Anne Plaza is holding its annual Howl-o-Ween party on Sunday, Oct. 29 from 1 to 3 p.m.
The day will feature a pet costume contest (1:30 p.m.), a pet parade, a live DJ, a pet friendly beer garden, “yappy” hour specials from 1 to 5 p.m.; and tricks and treats from Lake Anne Merchants.
The event is free and will be held rain or shine.
Gather the kids and their costumes and head to Herndon’s Frying Pan Park Thursday for some Halloween fun.
The non-spooky event for children ages 3 to 8 will be chance to show off your Halloween costume and get a jump on treats in “trick or treat.”
The party is from 6 to 8 p.m. on Oct. 13 in the indoor barn area. There will be games. wagon rides, and a small pumpkin to take home.
The cost is $10 per child. Reservations are required. Sign up online.
Frying Pan Farm Park is located at 2709 West Ox Rd, Herndon, VA. For more information, call 703-437-9101 or visit Frying Pan Farm Park.
Photos courtesy Fairfax County Park Authority
Lake Fairfax Park is ready for tots to enjoy some Halloween fun at the Preschool Pumpkins in the Park Festival on Oct. 15.
There will be outdoor activities and food to enjoy from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
No pumpkin festival would be complete without a pumpkin to take home. Get a pumpkin with your $7 admission. Don’t want a pumpkin? The cost is $4 per person.
Register in advance on the Lake Fairfax Park website.
While the calendar has not even flipped to October, it’s time to think Halloween.
Tickets for Reston Association’s annual Halloween House & Trick or Teat Trail — geared toward young children — go on sale Monday, Oct. 3.
This event usually sells quickly. So if you want to attend plan on buying tickets early next week.
Here is what you need to know:
RA dresses up the Walker Nature Center (11450 Glade Dr.) for non-scary Halloween fun for kids ages 3 to 10. The event is rain or shine. Come in costume!
Tickets: $10/person.
Click on the dates below to get to the online ticket site starting Monday.
Friday, Oct. 28, 7:30-8:45 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 29, 6-7:15 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 29, 7:30-8:45 p.m.
For more information, call 703-476-9689 or email [email protected].
Halloween 2015 fell on a Saturday, which meant there was a full slate of parties and family events around Reston.
At Lake Anne Plaza, costumed pets paraded on the waterfront at the second annual Howl-o-ween. At Reston Town Center, hundreds of children, their parents — and even more — pets roamed Market Street for daylight Trick-or-Treating at participating stores.
Hopefully, you had a safe and fun holiday too.
Photos by Sweet Memories Photography (Lake Anne) and Don Renner (Reston Town Center)
Halloween is Saturday — do you have plans?
If you are staying home to hand out candy, expect trick-or-treaters when it gets dark (about 6 p.m.) until about 8 p.m., though there are no official parameters.
Reston Now has been running events for adults and kids all week. Here are a couple more if you are still searching to get your spooky on.
Kalypso’s Sports Tavern at Lake Anne Plaza will have a live band on Friday and a DJ on Saturday. Come out the hear the Vandelays Friday beginning at 9:30 p.m. Saturday night is Kalypso’s “All Hallow’s Eve” Party with DH Ortiz from 9:30 p.m. to close. Saturday’s party will also feature a costume contest and prizes.
Herndon microbrewery Aslin Beer Company is hosting a Halloween costume party on Saturday. A prize for best costume will be awarded at 7 p.m.
The NextStop Theatre’s production of Deathtrap is happening Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. If you wear your Halloween costume to this Ira Levin thriller, you receive a free treat from concessions plus a chance to win NextStop prizes. Tickets: $35.
South Lakes High School’s Theatre Arts Department is presenting its annual “Fright Night” at 7 p.m. Friday and 1 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $6 for students and $8 for adults, available online or at the door. The content appropriate for all ages.
Other events:
Daytime Trick-or-Treating at Reston Town Center
Dr. Tisseront’s Candy Buy Back
Meow-lo-ween at Fairfax County Animal Shelter
Howl-o-Ween at Lake Anne Plaza
Know of any other Halloween happenings? Tell us in the comments below.
Halloween at Aslin Beer Co./Aslin Beer via Facebook
At the Fairfax County Animal Shelter, a black or orange cat (or a mixture of both) is waiting for you.
The shelter — which has reached maximum cat capacity — says adoption fees will be half off for all “Halloween-colored” cats (including all cats with even a speck of orange or black) through Saturday, Oct. 31.
Cat adoption fees usually run $50-175, depending on age of the cat.
On Saturday, visitors will pull a rubber duckie out of the pool to see what their adoption fee discount will be on any other shelter animals. The discount will be a minimum of 50 percent, but pull the right duckie and your adoption fee could be waived entirely.
Also on Saturday, kids (and adults) can decorate a felt ghost to take home or hang at the shelter, and kids in costume can pull a treat from the prize bucket.
For more information, call 703-830-1100 or visit the shelter online.
Reston Town Center has an easy and safe way for little ones to take part in the typically after-dark Halloween fun.
It is daylight Trick-or-Treating, and it takes place Saturday, Oct. 31 from 12 to 4 p.m.
Costumed children can visit participating retailers and the Information Center (next to BRB by the pavilion) for treats and goodies on Halloween afternoon. Look for the pumpkin flyer in the window.
The whole family can also enjoy a spooky, magical performance for all ages by Turley the Magician at 1 p.m. in Fountain Square.
If you are facing a Halloween candy overload next week, here is a way to unload some, give back, have some fun and even earn a little money.
Reston orthodontist Stephan Tisseront is holding his annual Halloween Candy Buy-Back event on Monday from 12 to 4 p.m.
If you bring leftover candy to the event, $1 per pound will be donated to Children’s National Medical Center; $1 per pound will be given back to the candy donor; and all candy will be sent to U.S. military troops overseas.
This is the 10th annual post Halloween candy buy-back at Dr. Tisseront’s office.
Since Monday is a school holiday, there will also be carnival like fun for all ages, including Hot Apple Cider, Temporary Tattoos, Balloons, and a raffle for prize at 3:45 p.m.
Tisseront Orthodontics is located at 11720 Plaza America Dr. The event will be outside, in the plaza in front of the office.
Previous Tisseront Candy Buy-Back/ Reston Now file photo
Halloween is this Saturday. Planning on partying?
You can get a free and safe ride home thanks to the Washington Regional Alcohol Consortium’s (WRAP) Halloween SoberRide program.
Here is what you need to know:
SoberRide program will be offered from 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31 until 4 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 1. You must be 21 or older.
To receive a free cab ride home (up to a $30.00 fare), please call 800-200-8294 (TAXI). AT&T customers may dial #WRAP from their wireless phones.
Riders are responsible for any fare over $30.
All requests for SoberRide service must be called to and dispatched from 1-800-200-8294. Do not call a taxi company directly for SoberRide service as the ride will not be covered under this program.
You cannot reserve a SoberRide or schedule a pickup in advance. To receive a ride, you must call 1-800-200-8294 (TAXI) during the program hours. A SoberRide call operator will direct your request to the correct participating cab company.
WRAP’s SoberRide has helped to ensure greater Washington, DC residents have a safe way home on high-risk holidays. Since 1993, WRAP has provided over 62,773 safe rides home on holidays such as St. Patrick’s Day, Cinco de Mayo, December party season/New Year’s, Independence Day and Halloween.
You know you want to dress your dog up in a Halloween costume.
If you are, you can take Fido over to Lake Anne Plaza on Saturday — Halloween afternoon — for the second annual Howl-o-Ween at Lake Anne.
The Lake Anne merchants are sponsoring the free party, which is open to everyone (even without pets).
The party runs from 1 to 3 p.m. on the plaza, rain or shine.
Activities Include a pet costume contest (at 1:30 p.m.); a pet parade; a live DJ; games for pets and people;Â “Yappy” Hour at restaurants; and tricks, treats and prizes from Lake Anne Merchants.
Photo: Dog costume from Halloweencostumes.com
