The Weekly Planner is a roundup of interesting events over the next week in the Herndon and Reston area.

We’ve searched the web for events of note. Want to submit a listing? Submit your pitch here!

Monday, Nov. 22

• Tot Time (9:30-10:15 a.m. and 10:30-11:15 a.m.) — Have kids up to age 4 get time to play at Reston Community Center Hunters Woods. Games, toys, books and music are provided. Free. Reservation required.

Tuesday, Nov. 23

• “In Between: Phantom Algorithms Joining Worlds” (9 a.m. to 9 p.m.) — Check out a new art exhibit at Reston Community Center Lake Anne featuring the work of D.C.-based artist David Alexander and his two children. The art will be there through Nov. 28.

Wednesday, Nov. 24

• F2G Bootcamp (6-7 p.m.) — FITNESS2GO gives a class to help burn fat and build muscle.  Cost is $22.

Thursday, Nov. 25

• Thanksgiving Run/Walk (9 a.m.) Get together for an informal 5K trail run and 2-mile walk at Lake Fairfax Park. Free.

Friday, Nov. 26

• Holiday Parade & Tree Lighting (11 a.m.) — The annual Reston Holiday Parade’s 30th celebration helps kick off the season with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and the couple will return for a Fountain Square Tree Lighting at 6 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 27

• Best of Foley Academy of Irish Dance 2021 (11-11:30 a.m.) — Watch a compilation video on Zoom of performances from Reston Founder’s Day, the Foley Academy Spring Recital, Reston Multicultural Festival and more. Registration required.

Sunday, Nov. 28

• Holiday Lights on the Farm (5:30-7 p.m.) — View a decorated Frying Pan Farm Park while driving through. Cost is $20 in advance and $25 at the door.

Photo courtesy of Melissa Gifford

Reston Town Center is celebrating the 30th anniversary of its annual holiday parade.

The half-mile, one-hour parade along Market Street is set to take place on Nov. 26 at 11 a.m. Santa and Mrs. Clause will lead the parade in a carriage. They’re expected to return to light the tree at Fountain Square at 6 p.m. that day.

Horse-drawn carriage rides will continue from 6-10 p.m, the proceeds of which will benefit local charities.

While most of the parade returns to pre-pandemic norms, RTC will not distribute parade bell “out of an abundance of caution for the safety of our parade visitors, participants and volunteers,” according to a statement.

“We hope to continue this popular tradition in the coming years when social distancing is not an issue,” the statement read.

Parking is free that Friday.

Once again, the parade has been nominated for USA Today’s annual national ranking of holiday parades. Voting for the ongoing ranging is open online.

So far, Reston’s parade is fifth on the leaderboard. The tradition began in 1991 and features antique cars, musicians, dancers, floats and other special guests.

Photo via Reston Town Center

Reston Holiday Parade Nominated Again on USA Today’s “10 Best” List — “Reston Holiday Parade, voted one of USA Today’s “10 Best” each year since 2016, is nominated again for the fourth year in a row. The USA Today poll is now open for 2019… The “10 Best” winners will be announced on Friday, December 13.” [Reston Town Center/USA Today]

Registration for 2020 Reston-Herndon Little League Now Open — Registration is now open for next year’s programs. Currently, the organization is offering a $25 off discount for early bird registration. [Reston-Herndon Little League]

Photo via vantagehill/Flickr

Later this month, people in Reston have the chance to celebrate the holidays with a day of festivities.

The Reston Holiday Parade is set to take place on Friday (Nov. 29) in the Reston Town Center (11900 Market Street) and includes family-friendly events that are scheduled to take place throughout the day.

Festivities will kick-off with a half-mile parade beginning at 11 a.m., which will last an hour and feature “Macy’s-style balloons, musicians, dancers, antique cars, characters, community groups, dignitaries, special guest emcees,” according to the event website.

Children will be given bells along the parade route.

The route will run along Market Street and finish up with Mr. and Mrs. Clause, which kids will have the opportunity to interact with later.

People can enjoy mini train rides, street entertainment and take photos with Mr. and Mrs. Clause from noon until 4:30 p.m, following the parade.

At 6 p.m. there will be a Fountain Square tree lighting and sing-along, followed by horse-drawn carriage rides from 6:30 until 10 p.m.

All proceeds from the paid activities will benefit local charities.

Photo via Reston Town Center

The votes are in.

The annual Reston Holiday Parade nabbed fifth-place nationwide in a USA Today holiday parade contest, according to results released today.

Reston’s slot put it ahead of the Scottish Christmas Walk Parade in Alexandria, Va. and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York.

Last year, the parade in Reston ranked sixth place. In 2016, it came in fourth overall.

Top honors went to America’s Thanksgiving Parade in Detroit. The city has been hosting the parade since 1924, according to USA Today. 

The complete rankings are as follows:

1. America’s Thanksgiving Parade – Detroit
2. Sparks Hometowne Christmas — Sparks, Nev.
3. Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade — Gatlinburg, Tenn.
4. Ford Holiday River Parade — San Antonio
5. Reston Holiday Parade — Reston, Va.
6. Scottish Christmas Walk Parade — Alexandria, Va.
7. Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade — Newport Beach, Calif.
8. Mayor’s Annual Christmas Parade — Baltimore
9. Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade — New York
10. San Diego Bay Parade of Lights — San Diego

USA Today said a panel of experts whittled down a long list of nationwide events to come up with the initial top 20, which were put up to readers’ votes to determine the top 10 holiday parades in the country.

Photo via Lesnick Photo

It’s the first day of winter — The odds are slim for a snowy Christmas but rain later next week and then a major blizzard may be on the horizon. [Reston Patch]

Drumroll for USA Today’s “Best Holiday Parade” rankings — At noon USA Today will unveil where Reston’s holiday parade fell on this year’s rankings, which are decided by voters. For memories, check out the video below from the Reston Association. [USA Today]

Assistant children’s librarian closes one chapter in her life — Marcia Wine, 71, retired in mid-November from her job at the Reston Regional Public Library. [Reston Connection]

People read these books the most in 2018 — Fairfax County has released the top books checked out of the county’s public libraries. John Green’s “Turtles All the Way Down” and Margaret Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale” made the list. [Fairfax County]

Locals have one week left to vote Reston’s holiday parade to the top of USA Today’s nationwide ranking.

The contest has Reston competing against other parades in towns and cities across the country, including Sparks, Nev.; Gatlinburg, Tenn.; San Antonio; and Detroit.

USA Today’s 10Best Editors and Local Experts nominated 20 places that “bring holiday cheer in the form of festive floats, dancing elves, Santa and his sleigh and millions of twinkling lights,” according to the website.

The annual event in Reston Town Center is known for its Macy’s-style parade of balloons, musicians, dancers and more. This year’s parade took place on Nov. 23.

Last year, Reston landed in sixth place on USA Today’s list. Philadelphia claimed the top spot, followed by Detroit; Baltimore; Annapolis, Md.; and Charlotte, N.C.

In 2016, Reston held the fourth-place slot, putting it one spot ahead of the nationally-televised Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York.

Voters can cast one ballot per day until voting ends on Monday (Dec. 10) at noon.

USA Today will announce the top 10 winning events, determined by the votes, on Dec. 21.

Photo via Reston Town Center

This Friday (Nov. 23), the Reston Town Center will host its annual Reston Holiday Parade.

The parade starts at 11 a.m. at the Reston Town Center (11900 Market St) and will feature a Macy’s-style parade of balloons, musicians, dancers and more.

The Reston Holiday Parade lasts for one hour and will travel a half-mile along Market Street. Before the parade starts, thousands of jingle bells will be handed out to the crowd to help welcome Santa and Mrs. Claus.

After the parade, visitors are invited to take photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus and enjoy a mini-train ride until 4:30.

At 6 p.m., a tree lighting ceremony will be held at Fountain Square, followed by horse-drawn carriage rides around the Reston Town Center.

The parade has been a Reston tradition since 1991.

The 28th annual Reston Holiday
Parade returns to Reston Town Center on Nov. 23 (Friday) at 11 a.m., bringing a flurry of festive activities for participants.

Sissy Sheridan, a 14-year-old stage and screen actress born and raised in Reston, will act as the event’s grand marshal, leading the parade in a chauffeur-driven convertible.

She is known nationally for her popular children’s series, “Chicken Girls” and she also hosts the Nickelodeon show “DIY with Me,” as well as Netflix’s “Maniac,” which also stars Emma Stone and Jonah Hill.

Until January, Sheridan will appear in “Billy Elliot” at Signature Theatre in Arlington. After the event at around noon, Sheridan will be available for a meet and greet with fans in Fountain Square.

USA Today Travel named it one of the best parades in 2016 and 2017. It includes Macy’s-style balloons, marching bands, dancers, antique cars, characters, as well as Santa and Mrs. Clause in a horse-drawn carriage. More than 1,400 performers are scheduled to participate in the one-hour, half-mile parade along Market Street. This year, the guest emcees are Angie Goff and Doug Kammerer of NBC News4.

The complete schedule for the parade and events planned for that day is available online.

Photo via Sissy Sheridan

The annual Reston Holiday Parade came in sixth nationwide, thanks to people who voted for the country’s top 10 holiday processions in a USA Today contest, according to results released this week.

Reston’s sixth-place slot put it ahead of the Alexandra Holiday Boat Parade of Lights in Alexandria, Va. Last year, the parade in Reston ranked fourth overall.

Top honors went to Mummers Parade in Philadelphia, one of the longest running traditions in the country. The parade, which roots back to the 1800s as a celebration of the New Year, includes a colorful procession along Broad Street that features performances by comics, string bands and fancy brigades, according to USA Today.

The complete rankings are as follows:

1. Mummers Parade – Philadelphia
2. America’s Thanksgiving Parade – Detroit
3. Mayor’s Annual Christmas Parade – Boston
4. Eastport Yacht Club Lights Parade – Annapolis, Md.
5. Novant Health Thanksgiving Day Parade – Charlotte
6. Reston Holiday Parade – Reston, Va.
7. Christmas Ship Parade – Portland, Ore.
8. Alexandria Holiday Boat Parade of Lights – Alexandria, Va.
9. Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade – Fort Lauderdale
10. McDonald’s Thanksgiving Parade – Chicago

USA Today said a panel of experts whittled down a long list of nationwide events to come up with the initial top 20, which were put up to readers’ votes to determine the top 10 holiday parades in the country.

File photo.

Holiday Open House at Reston Historic Trust and Museum — The nonprofit organization is hosting an open house on Saturday, Dec. 2 from 10 a.m. to noon. The event will include exhibitions, Reston-inspired gifts, hot chocolate and cookies. Author Watt Hamlet and illustrator Jill Ollison Vinson will also be on-site for a book signing of their book “Reston A to Z.” [Reston Historic Trust and Museum]

Tennis Courts Closures In Effect — The Glade and North Hills clay courts closed for the tennis season on Monday. For more information about Reston Association’s tennis facilities, visit the association’s website. [Reston Association]

Reston Town Center Gears Up for Holidays — On its website, Reston Town Center provides a complete guide of local holiday events, including Toys for Tots, Reston’s holiday parade and tree lighting.  [Reston Town Center]

File photo.

As holiday festivities begin, the 27th annual Reston Holiday Parade is set for Nov. 24 at 11 a.m. The half-mile parade will include Macy’s-style balloons, music, dance, community groups, antique cars and more.

The parade, which takes place along 11900 Market St. will also welcome the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus in a horse-drawn garage. Jingle bells will be distributed to people along the route of the one-hour parade.

Between 12:30 and 4:30 p.m., Santa and Mrs. Claus will be available for photos. Mini-train rides will also run during this time.

The Clauses will then participate in a tree lighting and sing along between 6 and 6:30 p.m. Horse drawn carriage rides will also be offered to the community following the lighting until 10 p.m. Proceeds from photos and rides will benefit local charities, according to Reston Town Center.

USA Today readers ranked the parade the fourth best holiday parade in the country last year. The parade has taken place since 1991, rain or shine.

To register as a volunteer, visit RTC’s website.

File photo.

The annual Reston Holiday Parade came in fourth nationwide, thanks to people who voted for the country’s top 10 holiday processions in a USA Today contest.

Reston’s fourth-place slot put it one spot ahead of the nationally-televised Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, according to the contest results that were announced this afternoon.

Top honors went to the Eastport Yacht Club Lights Parade in Annapolis, followed by the Twinkle Light Parade in Albuquerque and the H-E-B Thanksgiving Day Parade in Houston, respectively.

USA Today said a panel of experts whittled down a long list of nationwide events to come up with the initial top 20, which were put up to readers’ votes to determine the top 10 holiday parades in the country. Voting took place over the past month and closed on Thursday.

Rounding out the winning top 10 were events in Calistoga, Calif.; Chicago, Fort Lauderdale; Portland, Ore.; and Disney World in Orlando.

Photos via Reston Town Center

The annual Reston Holiday Parade is in the running for one of the nation’s best holiday processions — and locals can cast their votes with USA Today to help the community clinch the top spot.

The Reston Holiday Parade will bring larger-than-life inflatable floats, musicians, local dignitaries and Santa Claus himself to Reston Town Center at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 25.

Although the parade is the main attraction, Reston Town Center will turn the entire day into a holiday celebration, with ice skating in the pavilion, a tree lighting ceremony, mini train rides, a ballet performance and photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Kids who arrive early get commemorative jingle bells to ring during the festivities.

Twenty parades across the country are in the running as the nation’s best holiday processions. As of this afternoon, Reston is at No. 6, behind parades in Annapolis, New York City, Albuquerque, Houston and Calistoga Springs, Calif.

USA Today is accepting votes online until Monday, Dec. 5, at noon.