While the cold temperatures settle in, Christmas trees and greenery have become a hot commodity in the area.

Farms, markets and Christmas shops are open around the Reston, Herndon and Falls Church area, ready to provide the centerpiece of the family home for the holidays.

The Reston Farm Garden Market has five locations to pick up Christmas trees, greenery, wreaths and accessories. These include its main location in Reston (10800 Baron Cameron Ave.), as well as spots in Herndon (2551 John Milton Drive) and Fairfax (3089 Nutley Street).

The market is open daily from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Dec. 24 at each location. The trees range in height from 4 feet to 12 feet, and are offered in three types of fir: Concolor, Douglas and Fraser.

Prices range from $89.99 and up for Douglas Fir, $49.99 and up for Fraser Fir, and a Concolor Fir is $69.99.

The market offers online shopping for pickup or delivery, within 10 miles of any of the five locations.

Krop’s Crops (11110 Georgetown Pike) in Great Falls is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. The 20-acre farm features a variety of pre-cut Noble Firs, Fraser Firs and Douglas Firs that range from 5 to 14 feet.

Delivery of pre-cut trees is available upon request.

The farm also sells poinsettias, wreaths and other holiday decorations. Its “choose-and-cut” section of trees is temporarily closed this season.

Sexton Christmas Trees has its Great Falls lot open behind the post office at 10001 Georgetown Pike. The lot will have Fraser Firs up to 12 feet, and wreaths, garland and other Christmas decorations available.

The lot’s hours (weather permitting) are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

The Merrifield Garden Center’s Christmas Shop is open in three locations, including Falls Church (8131 Lee Highway), Fairfax (12101 Lee Highway) and Gainesville (6895 Wellington Road). The garden center is completely open for customers to shop.

The center features an abundance of varieties and the sizes range from tabletop to 15 feet. The varieties include different firs, such as Fraser and Turkish, as well as different pines and a spruce variety. Additionally, wreaths, garlands, artificial trees and other decorative options are available.

The store hours are from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday.

Meadows Farms offers a variety of holiday greenery at 21 locations, including Falls Church (6461 Arlington Boulevard) and Herndon (11254 Leesburg Pike). Both the Falls Church and Herndon locations are open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

Meadows Farms has cut Christmas trees from tabletop to 12-foot options, and a large selection of pine roping, poinsettias and wreaths available.

Photo via Reston Farm Market website

As fall descends on the area, the Reston Farm Garden Market is set to bring its annual Fall Festival back to the community.

The festival will be held each Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and is planned to begin on Friday, Sept. 25, and run through Nov. 1 at the Reston Farm Garden Market (10800 Baron Cameron Avenue)..

The hours for the festival will run from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. daily. The festival days will be broken into five 90-minute ticketed sessions with a 30-minute period between each to allow for staff to clean and sanitize the area.

Tickets are $20 per child, which includes the entry for one adult. An additional ticket for one more parent or guardian will cost $5. Siblings or children age 2 and under are free with a paid child’s ticket. All tickets must be purchased in advance online at the garden market’s website.

The festival will include a variety of activities, including several moon bounces, an inflatable corn maze, a petting zoo and train rides. Additionally, local food trucks will be a part of the event during the weekends.

“We are so excited to have been able to pivot successfully during the pandemic and equally excited to be able to offer the Fall Festival to our supportive community,” a statement read from Lowell and Bonita Weinstein, owners of the Reston Farm Garden Market.

In addition to disinfecting play areas between sessions, COVID-19 safety practices will include a limited number of guests per timed session, as well as temperature checks prior to entry. Face masks will be required for all guests 10 years of age or older.

The Garden Market will remain open for full-service business during the festival, and will not require a ticket.

Photo courtey John Lovaas

The Reston Chorale is presenting a self-guided tour of private gardens on Saturday, June 1 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The third annual event, which is called Gardens of Note, will also feature pop-up performances by members and friends of The Reston Chorale and a Hidden Lane Garden Party at the end of the day.

Tickets, which are $22, can be purchased online in advance or in-person at the following locations:

• Mayflowers (11959 Market Street)
• Chesapeake Chocolates, Wine, Gifts & More (11426 Washington Plaza W)
• The Wine Cabinet (1416 North Point Village Center)
• Reston Farm Market (10800 Baron Cameron Avenue)

Prices rise to $25 on tour day. All proceeds benefit The Reston Chorale.

Visitors will pick their first stop after receiving a list of the gardens on this year’s tour. Tickets will then be exchanged for a program guide with a tour map and more information.

The event concludes with a Hidden Lane Garden Party at 4 p.m., which features light refreshments, guided tours of the property, and ensemble performances by The Reston Chorale. The party is hosted by Hidden Lane Residential Landscapes on their grounds.

This year’s gardens of note were selected by tour organizers and garden specialists:

• The Agnew garden in North Point
• The Over and Vongsavat gardens at Lake Anne
• The Horr garden and West Market
• Pond in Reston Town Center
• Fannie Mae gardens and ponds
• Reston Association Garden Plots in Hunters Woods

Attendees can also purchase the perennial of the year — wood betony — at the event.

Photo via Carol Nahorniak

With Easter Sunday on the horizon, there are plenty of local options for egg hunts and celebrations. The Town of Herndon is hosting its annual egg hunt on Saturday at 777 Lynn Street.

Preregistration is $9 until 5 p.m. today (Friday) and $10 the day of the event. Three egg hunts are planned, with the first beginning at 9:45 a.m. Other activities include quilt crafts, decorating a mural, a petting zoo, photo opportunities with the Easter Bunny, and more.

Parking is free and the event will be held rain or shine. More information is available online.

Tomorrow (April 20)

• Reston Farmers Market (8 a.m.) — The market, which is located at Lake Anne Plaza (1609 Washington Plaza), kicks off with an offering of fruit, veggies, breads and snacks to satisfy your taste buds.
• Growing Healthy plants with Smart Pots (9 a.m. to 2 p.m.) — In this free educational workshop, attendees will learn about to grow healthy plants with smart pots. It’ll be held at Reston Farm Market (10800 Baron Cameron Avenue).
• Bookworms Club (11 a.m.) — Young readers are invited to take part in this free book club where a new theme will be explored each week at Reston Regional Library (11925 Bowman Towne Drive). Readers can join at any time
• Fix-it Clinic (2-4 p.m.) — Bring bikes, small appliances jewelry, and fabric items for minor repairs at the library’s first fix-it clinic. The event is taking place as several libraries, including Herndon Regional Library and Reston Regional Library.

Sunday (April 21)

• One-on-one Computer Help (all day) — Need some help with your device? You can make a one-hour appointment with a tech volunteer. Just make sure the device is fully charged (and don’t forget your password).
• Restoration Church Egg Hunt  (10:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.) — The church (1501 Becontree Lane) will offer an egg hunt, face painting, food, games and more.  Two services will take place in the morning before the big event.

Photo by Annie Spratt 

Do you need a holiday tree?

The Christmas Tree Market at the Reston Farm Market (10800 Baron Cameron Ave) will sell trees until 5 p.m. on Dec. 24.

Locals can also purchase ornaments, holiday gift baskets and treats.

Last week, Reston Farm Market announced it would donate 20 trees to the Next Steps Family Program, an 18-unit emergency shelter for families experiencing homelessness, managed by FACETS.

The trees were delivered last Thursday (Dec. 13) to the three community centers that FACETS operates.

The Reston Farm Market provides fresh, locally-sourced produce, dairy and other farm-fresh goods. It will close for the season from Dec. 25 to March 15, but customers can still order firewood products online for delivery.

Photo via Reston Farm Market 

Fire displaces 30 Reston residents on Saturday — A fire on the 1600 block of Becontree Lane on Saturday displaced 30 people. Local firefighters rescued two people who were in the building and residents rescued two others who were in the vicinity. All injuries were not life-threatening. We’ll have an update for you on the incident later today. [Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department]

No room to park at Wiehle-Reston East — Parking at the Wiehle-Reston East garage, which was once plentiful, has now become scarce. Citations by the county for illegal parking are also on the rise. [The Washington Post]

Crystal City and Amazon HQ2 — Amazon.com Inc. is moving forward with discussions about bringing HQ2 to Crystal City. Talking points include how to move employees into Arlington County neighborhoods and the bid also includes sites in the adjacent Potomac Yard neighborhood in Alexandria. [The Washington Post, Washington Business Journal]

Fall festival extended to tomorrow — The Reston Farm Market has extended its fall festival to Tuesday. The festival includes a train ride, moon bounces and other activities. [Reston Farm Market]

Photo by Marjorie Copson

Changes to Wiehle-Reston Metro service — From 5-6 a.m. this week, Silver Line service to Wiehle-Reston East begins at Stadium-Armory. Customers between Largo and Benning Road should use Blue Line Service, then transfer to the Silver Line at Stadium. [Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority]

Safety tips for Halloween — As the day of trick-or-treating approaches, here are some safety tips to keep in mind for kids. [Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department]

Planning by South Lakes JROTC — Students leaders at the JROTC program outlined their goals and plans for the year recently, including a planned Veterans Day dinner for area veterans on Nov. 16. [Fairfax County Public Schools]

A feature on Reston Farm Market — “The legendary Reston Farm Market brings the magic of celebrating time-honored fall fun to families. With an eye toward community focus, owner Bonita Weinstein strives every day, but especially when all things pumpkins rule Reston, to offer opportunities for everyone.” [The Connection]

Metropolis at CenterStage tonight — “Percussionist Tom Teasley performs his original live music accompaniment to a screening of Fritz Lang’s classic science fiction film Metropolis. In a futuristic city sharply divided between the working class and the city planners, the son of the city’s mastermind falls in love with a working class prophet who predicts the coming of a savior to mediate their differences.” [Reston Community Center]

Photo by Mark Bramer

Reston Farm Market will celebrate its first anniversary in September at Reston Farm Market (10800 Baron Cameron Avenue).

Although the program has not yet been finalized, several activities are already planned, including a balloon artist and face painting by Trist’n Shout Entertainment.

The anniversary event will take place on September 22 (Saturday) from 1-3 p.m. The original market dates back to 1976 and later expanded to 2.5-acres on Mack Crippen’s dairy farm. At its height, it occupied 9,000 square feet on roughly 16 acres.

Since then, the market downsized due to encroaching suburban development and restrictions by the Fairfax County Zoning Department. The anniversary event marks the market’s first year under new ownership.

File photo

What to do with 47 acres — The development team behind Reston Town Center North will present their plans for the 47-acre project to Reston Association’s Design Review Board tonight. Plans affect the local library and homeless shelter. [Reston Association]

Did someone say chocolate? — On Saturday, the Reston Farm Market will feature a milk and chocolate milk sampling from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the market. [Reston Farm Market]

Leidos named “best for vets” — “Military Times named the company one of the “Best for Vets Employers for 2018.” The annual list recognizes the top 100 U.S. companies across 30 industries committed to supporting military veterans and their families through culture, recruitment, and company policies. ” [PR Newswire]

Yesterday’s storm damages Reston home — A home in Reston was damaged yesterday night. No one was home at the time. [FOX 5]

Morning newsletter resumes — After a brief hiatus, we’re bringing our a.m. newsletter, a handwritten selecgion of news to start your day, back. Expect an update between 6:15 and 6:25 a.m. every weekday.

Flickr pool photo by vantagehill

Reston’s multicultural heritage will be celebrated this weekend at Lake Anne Plaza.

The community’s annual Multicultural Festival, sponsored by Reston Community Center and Reston Association, is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. It will include “music, entertainment, dress, food, and cultural treasures from all over the world,” according to information provided by RCC.

The entertainment lineup includes more than a dozen performers on two stages — the World Stage and the Global Stage — as well as at RCC’s Lake Anne facility. The “Global Market” will feature jewelry, clothing and more from around the world.

For more information about the event, contact Kevin Danaher, RCC’s community events director, at 703-390-6166.

There is plenty else scheduled to take place this weekend in the area as well. Get out there and have some fun on this last full weekend of September!

(Editor’s Note: This is just a limited list of all the events taking place in the Reston area this weekend. If you have an event you would like to ensure is listed on the website, be sure to submit it to our Events Calendar.)

• Herndon High School (700 Bennett St.) will present its annual Showcase of Bands all day Saturday. South Lakes High School’s band will perform at 6:15 p.m., and Herndon’s band will play at 8:15.
• Café Montmarte (1625 Washington Plaza N.) will be the host of a comedy performance presented by Funny Friend Productions, beginning at 8 p.m. Saturday. Performers will include Robin Rex, Franqi French, Sumedha Ahuja Bahri, Kevin Skington, Wendy Wroblewski, Gil Segev, Leon Scott, Dan Kaufman and Steve Coltrain. Door charge will be $10.
• The grand-opening event for Reston Farm Market (10800 Baron Cameron Ave.) will take place from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday. The fun will include train rides, moon bounces, the petting zoo, face painting and more.
• The JamBrew series continues tonight in Herndon. Aslin Beer Co. will be pouring frosty mugs, Weird Brothers Coffee will be offering tasty drinks, Nordic Knot Pretzels will provide tasty snacks, and there will be much more. Live music will be offered from DJ Barf Dog, Queens Over Kings and Sub-Radio. The free event is slated for 6-10 p.m. at the Herndon Town Green (777 Lynn St.).
• Lake Anne Brew House (11424 Washington Plaza W.) will host a performance by Grammy-nominated musician Cedric Watson from 3-5 p.m. Sunday.
• South Lakes High School’s undefeated varsity football team will play at home tonight at 7 p.m. against Centreville. A pre-game party at the stadium (11400 South Lakes Drive) is scheduled to start at 5:45 p.m., featuring burgers, hot dogs, barbecue, ice cream and more.
• “Sue Wrbican: Well Past the Echo” will be on view at Greater Reston Arts Center (12001 Market St.) through Nov. 18.
• Pulitzer Prize-winner display “Disgraced,” exploring Muslim assimilation and identity in America, will be performed at NextStop Theatre Company (269 Sunset Park Drive, Herndon) tonight at 8 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday at 7 p.m.; and at a 2 p.m. Saturday matinee. Tickets range in price from $17.50 to $55.
• Pediatric Specialists of Virginia will have their Stride Forward 5K and Family Health Fair on Saturday from 8:30-11:30 a.m. at Reston Town Center.
• The Walk to End Alzheimer’s is Sunday, from 1:30-5 p.m. at Reston Town Center.
• Many restaurants and bars in Reston will have live music this weekend. These include Crafthouse (1888 Explorer St.) every Friday and Saturday night from 10 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.; and Tavern64 (1800 Presidents St.) every Friday from 6-10 p.m.
• Kalypso’s Sports Tavern (1617 Washington Plaza N.) will have live music from Lawn Dart Incident tonight from 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.; and DJ Kram will play Top 40 hits during those hours Saturday night.

File photo from 2015 Reston Multicultural Festival

Bonita Weinstein and her husband, Lowell, took over ownership of the Reston Farm Market (10800 Baron Cameron Ave.) on Aug. 1 and immediately realized they had a lot of work to do.

“When we took on this project, I just thought ‘Yeah, we’ll get in there and we can do it quickly,'” Weinstein said. “We’ve been working on this place for a month now.”

The full renovation project at the business near Leesburg Pike is still in progress, as crews could be seen on the site Thursday morning working to set the new patio and continuing to revamp the barn’s interior. Bonita said they are getting ready for a “soft opening” Tuesday, with a grand-opening celebration scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 23.

A website that celebrates the “original” Reston Farm Market gives some information about its history. It opened in 1976 and was under the guidance of its founder, Hall Kern, through 1997. It has been owned by several different people since, Weinstein said, and she and her husband are hopeful they will usher in its return to prominence.

“In recent years, the reviews weren’t so great,” she said. “It was run down, but my husband said, ‘We can make it nice [again].'”

The Weinsteins are owners of Seasonal Celebrations garden centers. They have nine locations in the region, including in the Fox Mill and Sugarland Crossing shopping plazas. Bonita said they have high hopes of bringing the success they’ve had with those stores to the Farm Market.

“When people come here, they’re going to be shocked that it’s totally different,” Weinstein said. “We’ve put a lot of money into revamping this place.”

The renovated market will sell fresh produce from local farmers, pies, dairy products, garden supplies and more. Fall decorating supplies including pumpkins and gourds will be available, as will mums and firewood. Christmas trees will be sold when the season arrives.

Kids’ favorites including train rides, moon bounces and an expanded petting zoo will also be on the premises. Parking for the property has been expanded, Weinstein said, and Hoggmeister BBQ will provide a food truck on the weekends.

“This place is going to be totally different from what it has ever been,” she said. “I think this place is going to be extraordinary, I really do.”

The grand-opening event Sept. 23 will include a DJ, face painting and more. Food trucks will provide items for purchase, including ice cream, Weinstein said.

The Reston Farm Market is scheduled to be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day beginning Tuesday. Weinstein said it will be open through December, and will reopen in March for the spring season.

For more information, call 703-759-0000.

The Reston Farm Market & Country Store is now open under new management, which hopes to return the stand at Route 7 and Baron Cameron Avenue to its good, old days.

The market, first opened in 1976, enjoyed a brisk business until a few years ago, particularly in fall, when it offered pumpkins and kids activities.

Managers Lexi and Justin Stalcup have brought in a kid-sized train, a moon bounce and a potbellied pig named Foxy to appeal to shoppers with children.

The market is also selling fresh flowers and plants, locally grown produce and other farm stand items.

The market, located at 10800 Baron Cameron Ave., is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Justin Stalcup said he hopes they will stay open year-round.