Reston plans to kick off the holiday season with Winterfest, a three-day festival that will run each evening from November 30 through December 2 at Browns Chapel Park.
“Winterfest is a wonderful way to not only kick off the holiday season here in Reston, but also a chance for the community to come together and celebrate what makes Reston a great place to live and work,” said Laura Kowalski, director of recreation and environmental education for Reston Association, in a news release. “We want our members, and the entire Reston community, to enjoy this inaugural event that we hope will become an annual tradition.”
From 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. each day of the festival, you will be able to walk a 0.41-mile lighted trail through an Enchanted Forest of freshly cut, 6-foot trees that will be decorated with white lights. Sponsors will decorate the trees, and each will have a plaque with a message.
Plan to vote for your favorite tree theme, the most creative tree, and the one with the most originality. The trees, at the end of Winterfest, will be donated to families in need.
Of course, the lights won’t be the only thing at the new Winterfest event. There will be fire pits, musical performances, and food and drinks. Plus, Santa will be on hand, but you will need to register ahead of time for one of the 12 time slots to see him. The cost to see him is $20 for Reston Association members, $25 for non-members, and free for kids under 2.
And there will be the inaugural Vendor Village where you’ll be able to pick up a few gifts.
To attend Winterfest, you will need to register and pick a time slot. Browns Chapel Park: 1686 Browns Chapel Rd., Reston, free for Reston Association members, $18 for adult non-members, $8 for non-members who are 3–17
Feature image by sonyachny/stock.adobe.com
For more stories like this, subscribe to Northern Virginia Magazine’s Things to Do newsletter.