It’s that time of year: pumpkin patches, costume parties and other fall fun as Halloween approaches. Here is a look at some Reston-area events coming up in the next few days:
Thursday, Oct. 16
Fall Carnival Fun on the Farm and Boo-Stravaganza — Kids ages 3 to 8 and their families are invited to Frying Pan Park (2709 West Ox Road, Herndon) for games, rides and tasty fair food. Admission is FREE, but there is a fee for carnival attractions. The event is from 6 to 8 p.m.
Come to the Indoor Arena Barn dressed in your favorite costume for Boo-Stravaganza. Enjoy fun, games, a wagon ride, treats, and a small pumpkin. The cost is $10 per child for Boo-Stravaganza, and reservations are required.
The celebration for all ages  continues at Frying Park Thursday through Sunday with Fall Carnival Fun:
- Thursday, Oct. 15, 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.
- Friday, Oct. 16, 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.
- Saturday, Oct. 17, 12 p.m. – 10 p.m.
- Sunday, Oct. 18, 12 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Free parking and admission. Games, rides, and fair food. Rides take 3-5 tickets each. Regular ticket price is $1 each or 24 tickets for $20. Discount unlimited-ride passes available for use Thursday evening 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. and Sunday afternoon 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 17
Halloween Family Fun Day — Reston Community Center Hunters Woods is hosting this event for the whole family. Come dressed in your favorite costume, and enjoy performances by
- Peter McCory, a one-man band, 12:15 p.m.
- Bob Brown Puppets, 1:15 p.m. perform “Monster Madness”
Kids under 8 can try their skill at winning candy and prizes when they play carnival games until 2 p.m.
All children must be accompanied by an adult guardian (age 18 and older) throughout the day. The event is free.
Pumpkins in the Park Festival — Lake Fairfax Park is holding this event for all ages from 9 to 1 p.m. There will be activities for the whole family like a burlap sack slide, face painting, class demonstrations, carousel rides, food and outdoor fun. Tickets are $4.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Reston Association’s family friendly Halloween House and Trick-or-Treat Trail returns Oct. 23 and 24 — but get ready to purchase tickets tomorrow.
Tickets go on sale for this popular event at 9 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 1. They almost always sell out the first day.
At the annual event, Nature House is turned into Halloween House, and a cast of (non-scary) costumed characters lines the nearby Trick or Treat Trail. There are also live animals, jack-o-lanterns and carnival style games.
Trick-or-treat bags are included in the price of admission. Cider, popcorn, cotton candy and light bands will be on sale. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
For more information, call 703-476-9689 and press 5.
There will be three sessions. Click on your preferred date to purchase tickets ($10 per person for attendees over age 18 months).
Trick-or-Treaters will be out soon, on the hunt for all things sugar.
Just for fun, we’re asking what’s your Halloween treasure? You know, the one you would trade with your brother or you will still, 40 years later, swipe from your own kids’ bags if they are not looking.
For a reality check, check out Lifehacker.com’s healthiness ranking of popular candy.
Take our poll. If we missed one of your favorites, add it in the comments.
Halloween is not just for little ones — especially when the holiday falls on a weekend.
So leave the Trick-or-Treating to the kids. Reston Now has some ideas for some adult-level fun nearby on Oct. 31.
Paolo’s at Reston Town Center is having an adult costume contest from 10 p.m. to 2 p.m. There will be a DJ, dancing and cash prizes for first-, second- and third-place winners.
Morton’s at Reston Town Center is offering a “No Tricks, All Treats” four-course meal Friday for $35 per person. There will be a variety of food choices, including a 6 oz. Filet Mignon, Honey Chili Glazed Salmon and Baked Five-Onion Soup.
The Reston Community Players will perform You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, with special $10 tickets for the 8 p.m. show Friday.
Lake Anne Plaza will host a HOWL-O-WEEN celebration from 6 to 8 p.m. Pets and their owners are encouraged to come in costume for contests, games, music and “yappy” hour specials at Lake Anne restaurants.
Jimmy’s Old Town Tavern in Herndon will host its 18th annual Halloween Bash. The fun starts at 9 p.m. There will be a DJ and dancing with no cover charges. Also, a $150 prize for “best costume,” scary scream contests and more.
If you are going to celebrate with a Halloween ale or two, remember the SoberRide program will be offering free rides homes from 10 p.m. on Oct. 31 to 4 a.m. on Nov. 1. Call 800-200-8294 (TAXI). AT&T customers may dial #WRAP from their wireless phones.
- You must be 21 or older to use the SoberRide service
- 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.
- Riders are responsible for fares over $30.
Know of any other area public parties or specials? Tell us in the comments.
Photo: Will Hoover via Flickr
Lake Anne Plaza will be filled with ghosts and witches, firefighters and ladybugs on Friday, Oct. 31.
Costume size: small, with room for a tail.
The plaza is holding a HOWL-O-WEEN celebration from 6 to 8 p.m., where pets and their owners — who are also welcome to come in costume — can celebrate the holiday.
Among the fun:
Pet Costume Contest (starting at 6:30PM)
Music
Games (for pets and people)
“Yappy” Hour at Restaurants
Treats/Tricks/Prizes from Lake Anne Merchants
HOWL-O-WEEN is free and will be held rain or shine.
Taco dog costume/Credit: Youluckydog.com
What to do with the overflowing bag of Snickers, Twix, Skittles and Lemonheads in your house?
Well, eat some of it of course. But if there is just much too much candy, Reston orthodontist Stephan Tisseront will buy it from you to benefit good causes.
Dr. Tisseront will hold his annual Halloween Candy Buyback Monday, Nov. 4, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. event in front of his office at 11720 Plaza America Dr.
Bring your leftover candy to be weighed. The office will give $1 to you and $1 to Children’s National Medical Center in D.C. The donated candy will also be shipped to troops overseas through Operation Shoebox.
This is the eighth annual buyback event for Tisseront Orthodontics. Last year, the office collected 1,396 lbs. of candy and donated $3,464 to Children’s.
For every pound donated, patrons will earn a ticket for a raffle for an iPod shuffle. More candy = more chances.
Check out Tisseront Orthodontics for more information.
(Photo courtesy of Tisseront Orthodontics)
It’s Oct. 31 – you know what that means. It’s Halloween! Who is ready for some trick-or-treating?
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: mid-60s, but be on the lookout for a few raindrops.
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; do not go into homes or cars of people they do not know; 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 Reston Association
Fairfax County Public Schools in-house TV network, Red Apple 21, visited Reston’s Sunrise Valley Elementary School recently to showcase its annual Storybook Pumpkin Festival.
The event, organized by librarian Katie Pieruccini, challenges students to make a pumpkin look like a favorite children’s literary character.
The pumpkins will be on display for several more weeks in the school library.
(Photo by Nancy Cole)
Get into the Halloween spirit — and help others at the same time — on Wednesday.
Members of South Lakes High School’s International Thespian Society will be participating in a nationwide community service project “Trick or Treat So Kids Can Eat” from 3 to 8 p.m.
The ITS members will be collecting canned food and other non-perishables outside of Giant at Fox Mill Shopping Center. Food will be donated to Cornerstones’ food pantry, so donations will go directly to helping local families.
So if you are headed to Giant tomorrow afternoon, think about picking up a few items. Just hand them off to the costumed characters out front.
