Edited by Sophia Rutti
1‘National Treasure’ Tour
Explore Mount Vernon with a modern twist: Go behind the scenes to see the locations that appeared in the 2007 film “National Treasure: Book of Secrets.” Get a full dose of American history with a dash of Hollywood. The tour is $5 plus general admission, which is $17 for adults and $9 for children. / Throughout March
22015 Saint Patrick’s Day Parade
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a parade that is going to bring out the Irish green in Alexandria. The day will start with a classic car show and a dog show before the parade begins. This year’s theme is “The Women of Ireland.” / March 7
3‘Flights of Fancy’
Throughout March // Listen to a reading of a children’s story in the Udvar-Hazy Air and Space Museum next to the SR-71 Blackbird in the Boeing Aviation Hangar every Tuesday and Wednesday. The story will be read twice a day and will be followed by an exciting, hands-on activity for visitors aged 2-8. /
4Northern Virginia Teen Book Festival
Let the young adult fiction-reading nerd in you come out for the day and enjoy a local event with more than 20 YA authors. There will be author panels and breakout sessions as well as a keynote speech from Matt de la Pena, author of “The Living.” Be sure to bring a pen and get your books signed, and when you’re all fiction-ed out, go and enjoy everything Arlington has to offer. / March 7
5‘Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo’
An exciting spoof on classical ballet, this all-male cast is a wild departure from traditional productions. Have dinner in McLean then go and watch male ballerinas dance en pointe and both mock and exemplify their own art form. Tickets range from $45-50. / March 5
6‘The Secret Garden’
Enjoy a hauntingly beautiful storyline with the music to match in NextStop Theatre’s “The Secret Garden.” This musical centers on an orphaned child who is sent to live with her reclusive uncle on his vast and empty Yorkshire estate. There, she beings to understand her family’s past. Appropriate for all audiences. Tickets start at $34. / March 26 through mid-April
7Star Gazing at Great Meadows
Get out of the suburban smog for a few hours and gaze up at the stars in picturesque Great Meadows park. The Northern Virginia Astronomy Club will provide telescopes so the whole family can enjoy a close-up view of the night sky. / March 14
8Old Town Farmers’ Market in Alexandria
Spring is coming, so wake up early and head out to the oldest farmers market in the country. Enjoy fresh seasonal produce, baked goods, cut-flower stands and crafts. Afterward, enjoy old town Alexandria, get some brunch and let the day take you from there. / Saturdays year-round
9Kids’ Trout Fishing Derby
Bring out your inner sportsman and get fishin’. You can learn how to bait, cast, hook and cook your freshly caught dinner. If you’re not the fishing sort, bring a picnic and relax away from the action while the anglers learn their new trade. Advanced purchase tickets are $6, or you can purchase them for $10 the day of. / March 14
10Blossom Kite Festival
Watch creative and colorful kites take flight during the National Cherry Blossom Festival and pick your favorites. Check out the competition and demonstration field to see some fancy kite flying, go to the family field and fly kites of your own, browse the activity tents or head out to the public field. / March 28
(March 2015)
