Weekender Newsletter

Friday, Feb. 13 - Monday, Feb. 16

Love is in the Air: Valentine's Day Events

Saturday, Feb. 14, Times Vary

Celebrate the day of love this weekend with events for kids, families and couples.

• Art of the Heart at Green Spring Gardens Park (1 p.m.) 

• Valentine’s Stargazing Stroll at Lake Accotink Park (4 - 5:30 p.m.) 

• Couples Evening at Hidden Oaks Nature Center (7 - 8:30 p.m.) 

Weekend-Long Events

Diva Central Dress Drive

Saturday and Sunday, Hours Vary

Donate formal dresses, shoes, jewelry, shawls, handbags and accessories to help local students create lasting memories. Drop off items at Reston Community Center Hunters Woods or Lake Anne. Items must be in good condition, less than five years old and dry cleaned.

Sully Historic Site Tour

Friday - Sunday, Times Vary

Learn about the history and importance of Sully Historic Site in Chantilly. Explore the lives of the people who lived and worked at this site from the 1700s to the 1950s. This guided tour covers the housing of enslaved people, the 1794 Sully house, the kitchen, the laundry and other historic structures.

Friday, Feb. 13 Events

Lunar New Year Celebration (noon - 2 p.m.) Kick off the Year of the Horse in style with a celebration at the Reston Community Center. Enjoy delicious food, exciting activities and chances to win prizes. Join us for a vibrant festival honoring rich traditions and welcoming a year full of prosperity and joy.

Drop-in Citizenship Test Prep (11 a.m. - noon)

Prepare for the civics portion of the U.S. naturalization test at George Mason Regional Library in Burke. We'll focus on basic knowledge of American government and history.

Focus on Fire Safety (2 - 3 p.m.)

Meet representatives from our Fire and Rescue Department for an informative discussion about fire prevention and the importance of fire escape planning at Oakton Library.

Chair Yoga for Adults (2:30 - 3:30 p.m.)

Find stability, alignment and integrity through seated stretches and safe movement at Great Falls Library. Sessions are taught by a certified yoga instructor. 

Saturday, Feb. 14 Events

Henrietta Lacks: A Life, Not a Lab Sample (4 - 5:30 p.m.) Learn about Henrietta Lacks as a mother, daughter, wife and woman at Dolley Madison Library in McLean. While HeLa cells have advanced medical research, this program focuses on Lack's life, her family, as well as questions surrounding consent, race and medical exploitation.

Open Hire Event – Alexandria (10 a.m. - noon)

Our Department of Neighborhood and Community Services is holding an open hire event for several positions at the Gerry Hyland Government Center in Alexandria. Bring several copies of your resume and interview for positions in School Age Child Care and recreation.

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide (10 a.m. - 2 p.m.)

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is offering free tax assistance at Herndon Fortnightly Library, prioritizing individuals over 50 with low to moderate income. IRS-certified volunteers can prepare your taxes or provide coaching. Appointments are required.

STEAM: Black Innovators (10:30 - 11:30 a.m.)

Learn about important contributions from Black inventors and scientists through crafts and experiments at Lorton Library.

Intergenerational T-shirt Bags (10:30 a.m. - noon)

Bring a t-shirt or choose one of ours and transform it into a no-sew bag at City of Fairfax Regional Library. Fabric markers will be available to decorate your bag.

Saturday Family Fun: Valentine's Day Family Bingo (2 - 3 p.m.)

Play Valentine's Day-themed bingo at Oakton Library. There will be prizes for everyone.

Shedding Light on History: Edwin B Henderson II and His Family's Civil Rights Story (2 - 3 p.m.)

Join us at John Marshall Library in Alexandria for a lecture by Edwin B. Henderson II, an accomplished historian, educator and founder of the Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation. Henderson will share the story of his family's multigenerational commitment to civil rights. 

Community Plant Swap (2 - 3:30 p.m.)

Bring your cuttings, seeds, seedlings, transplants and supplies for a community plant swap at City of Fairfax Regional Library. Please ensure plants and cuttings are pest-free.

Sunday, Feb. 15 Events

Maple Syrup Boil Down (11 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m.) Watch and learn as sap is boiled down into sweet syrup over an open fire at the Colvin Run Mill in Great Falls. Sample the combination of maple syrup over cornbread made from Colvin Run cornmeal. Registration is $8.

Black Dance: Housing the Past and the Present (10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.)

Lawrence M. Jackson, professor of dance at George Mason University, explains how Black dance sustains African cultural traditions and serves as a powerful affirmation of identity, resilience and independence at City of Fairfax Regional Library.