Before you know it, summer will be gone in the blink of an eye. Make the most of it before the seasons change by checking off everything on your end-of-summer bucket list. Sing along to The Sound of Music, take a ride on the Rappahannock Railroad Museum’s yellow train, or find a new restaurant for DC Restaurant Week. Here are nine ideas for how to spend the fleeting moments of summer.
Ride the Rappahannock Railroad Museum’s Yellow Train
Train-loving littles will be excited to board this restored open-air train made from pieces of motor cars and passenger cars once used by maintenance workers from different railroads. The approximately 2-mile trip runs at 10 mph, and usually runs only during fair weather. Many have spotted wildlife like deer, groundhogs, and snakes on their journey. The first train of the morning departs between 9 and 9:30 a.m. and runs about every 45 minutes to an hour. 11700 Main St., Fredericksburg
Visit a County Fair
Nothing says summer like a fair, and there are still two to check out in NoVA this month. The Prince William County Fair runs now through August 17 (don’t miss a Taylor Swift Tribute Act) and the Arlington County Fair (with Food Truck Alley) is August 14 to 18.
Find a New Family Favorite Spot at DC Restaurant Week
August 12–18
Dozens of local NoVA restaurants like Josephine, Laporta’s, Kelly’s Oyster House and Bar, and more are participating in DC Restaurant Week, which runs through August 18. Lunch and brunch are priced at $25 and $35, while dinners are $40, $55, or $65. Various locations
The Sound of Music Sing-A-Long at Wolf Trap
August 16, 7 p.m.
The hills (of Wolf Trap, at least!) will be alive with The Sound of Music Sing-A-Long. Start off with a vocal warmup and get a special interactive fun pack. Costumes are welcome and the show will be hosted by 97.1 WASH FM’s Chilli Amar. Wolf Trap: 1551 Trap Rd., Vienna
Chillin’ on Church in Vienna
August 16, 6:30–9:30 p.m.
Wind down summer with a block party at the Vienna Town Green. The food truck lineup for August includes DC Slices, KBBQBOX, The Roaming Coyote, and more. Sweets options include Ben & Jerry’s, Capitol Snow, and others. Craft beer and wine will be available for purchase. 144 Maple Ave. E., Vienna
The Leesburg Festival of Crafts and Kites
August 17, 11 a.m.–5 p.m.
Enjoy a coloring and painting tent for children to release their inner artist and check out a kite spectacular with kites of all shapes and sizes. Families are welcome to bring their own kites or grab one at the event to try their hand at flying it. Ida Lee Park: 60 Ida Lee Dr., Leesburg
Foodways: Preservation at Mount Vernon
August 17 and 18, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Learn about the food George and Martha Washington ate and how it was prepared circa the 18th century at this weekend event at Mount Vernon. Guests can learn about the role of the smokehouse and salt house in food prep and dive into learning more about the recent discovery of 18th century preserved cherries in the basement at Mount Vernon — and what they could have been used for. George Washington’s Mount Vernon: 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy., Mount Vernon
Pup Day at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens
August 21, 10 a.m.–7 p.m.
Lean into the “dog days” of summer when you take a stroll through the Meadowlark Botanical Gardens with your pup. Pup Days are the first and third Wednesdays of the month through October. Dog admission is $6, while humans are $8, with discounts for seniors and children. Garden admission ends at 6:30 p.m. 9750 Meadowlark Gardens Ct., Vienna
Camp Bookworm at Old Town Books
August 27, 6–7 p.m.
The inaugural Camp Bookworm, focused on author Katherine Marsh’s The Myth of Monsters: Medusa, concludes with an in-person discussion with Marsh in Old Town Books’ newly expanded kids and young teens section: Old Town Books Junior. 130 S. Royal St., Alexandria
Feature image courtesy Arlington County Fair
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