Weekender Newsletter

Friday, March 15 - Sunday, March 17

Family Skate and Dance Night: St. Patrick's Day

Saturday, March 16, 6-9 p.m.

Skate and dance the night away and enjoy a variety of music at the Franconia Rec Center. Enjoy pizza, popcorn, snacks, drinks and festive decorations to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Make sure to wear green and shamrocks and look out for the all the friendly leprechauns. 

Weekend-Long Events

St. Patrick's Day Activities and Celebrations

Friday-Sunday, Times Vary

Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with a variety of events and activities that showcase Irish culture, heritage and traditions. See more in this list curated by Visit Fairfax. 

Free Seed Library: Winter Herb Garden

Friday-Sunday, All day

Grab up to three seed packets per visit to start a spring garden at the John Marshall Library. Donate unused seeds for others in the community to enjoy.

Friday, March 15 Events

Campfire Fridays  Join us at our parks for an evening campfire the whole family can enjoy. Explore the wonders of our natural world through nature walks, interactive activities and animal presentations. End the evening with s'mores. Hidden Pond Nature Center (6:30-8 p.m.) Lake Accotink Park (7-8 p.m.)

Coffee, Cookies, Crafts and Conversations (2:30-4:30 p.m.)

Join us once a month for coffee, cookies, crafts and conversation at the Great Falls Library. Bring your own sewing, knitting, crocheting, quilting or embroidery projects and connect with others.  

Movie Matinee: A League of Their Own (3:30-6 p.m.)

Celebrate Women's History Month with us by watching A League of Their Own at Kings Park Library. The true story of the first women's professional baseball league developed during WWII.

Lego Club (4:30-5:30 p.m.)

Lego fans, join us at the John Marshall Library for our monthly Lego Club. Bring your imagination and create something special. Legos will be provided but participants may bring their own.

Saturday, March 16 Events

Women's Work in the 19th Century (noon-3 p.m.) Throughout history, the labor of women, like those who lived and worked at Colvin Run Mill, was invaluable to families, communities and the nation. Try some of the tasks 19th century women did at home and in the labor market including baking, candle making, sewing and washing clothes the old-fashioned way.

Geocaching Adventures (10 a.m.-noon)

Join us for a tour of caches throughout the county at Burke Lake Park. Hunt for hidden treasures throughout our park system using a GPS. Join one class or sign up for them all! Equipment provided.

Garden Talk - Cacti and Succulents, Stuck on Them (10:30-11:30 a.m.)

Extension master gardeners will show you the wonderful world of cacti and succulents at Green Spring Gardens. These plants come in a wide range of colors, textures and shapes. Not only are they beautiful, but they're also easy to grow.

Cultural Explorers: Purim (10:30-11 a.m.)

Celebrate Purim at the Reston Regional Library. Purim is a Jewish holiday marked by joyous activities. Dress up in your favorite costumes, share food with friends, give charity to those in need, have a festive meal with loved ones and read a story of Queen Esther.

Women's History Stories on Saturday Morning (10:30-11 a.m.)

Start your weekend off at the Woodrow Wilson Library and enjoy stories about famous women in history.

Family Fun - Backyard Birding (1-2 p.m.)

Learn about Virginia bird species on a hike around the grounds of Green Spring Gardens. Using binoculars, learn tips and tricks to identify our feathered friends. Decorate your very own birdhouse to continue the adventure at home.

Learning to Sketch in Nature (2-3:30 p.m.)

Join a park naturalist for a short hike at Lake Accotink as we capture nature using pencil and paper. Improve your sketching and nature journaling and practice shading, form and other skills. Paper and pencils will be provided, but you may bring your own materials.

Community Plant Swap (2-4 p.m.)

Bring your cuttings, seeds, seedlings, transplants and plant and garden supplies for a community plant swap at the City of Fairfax Regional Library.

Leprechaun Trap STEAM Hour (2-4 p.m.)

Build a trap to catch a leprechaun on St. Patrick's Day at the Kings Park Library. 

Sunday, March 17 Events

St. Patrick's Day Science (1 and 3 p.m.) Come and explore some green, leprechaun science that seems like magic at the Hidden Oaks Nature Center. We'll discover what those tricky leprechauns have up their sleeves and make green snow, green slime worms and other exciting explorations.

Beginning Birdwatching (9-10 a.m.)

Learn bird identification tips by sight and sound and how to make your yard more attractive to native species at Lake Accotink. Borrow binoculars for a view of our outdoor bird feeding stations. 

Foley Academy of Irish Dance Performance (11 a.m.-noon)

Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with a performance by this talented group of young dancers as they present classic and modern dance routines at the Reston Regional Library.

SoberRide on St. Patrick's Day (noon-12 a.m. Monday, March 18)

Get a free Lyft ride home on St. Patrick's Day from SoberRide. 

An Afternoon with Mark Twain (2-3:30 p.m.)

Join Mark Twain live and in-person for an afternoon of literary fun and entertainment at the Chantilly Regional Library.

Upcoming Events

Ides of Bark  Sunday, March 24, 1-4 p.m. Bring your best canine friend out to Ides of Bark at Grist Mill Park. Enjoy a day filled with games, prizes, vendors and family fun. Learn more.

Lights Out Fairfax Saturday, March 23, 8:30-9:30 p.m. Participate in Light Out Fairfax by turning off outdoor lights for one hour. Embrace the darkness and enjoy the beauty of the stars. Learn more.

Weather and Event Status

Weather and other reasons may impact the events listed above. View the weather forecast.

Be sure to check the links for each event's status. You may also view department operating status information. 

View additional events.

To request this information in an alternate format, call 703-324-3187, TTY 711.