Centreville residents won’t have to travel far this weekend to enjoy all the sights and sounds a country fair. The 63rd annual Fairfax County 4-H Fair takes place Saturday and Sunday at Frying Pan Farm Park in Herndon, and it promises to be bigger and better than ever. The carnival portion of the fair also takes place on Friday. “We consider ourselves the Fairfax County fair,” said Tawny Hammond, manager of Frying Pan Farm Park, “You’ll feel like you’re at a country fair when you’re here.” The 4-H Fair is the culminating event for the 20 4-H clubs in Fairfax County that involve youth in …

This weekend, kick off the unofficial start to summer at the Viva! Vienna! Memorial Day Festival in downtown Vienna.   The annual family fun event, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Vienna, allows residents of Vienna and the surrounding area to celebrate the strength of their community and the holiday weekend while also raising money for the Rotary Club to distribute back to local charitable and educational groups the following year.   This weekend Viva! Vienna! is expected to raise at least $140,000 and attract tens of thousands of visitors from the Northern Virginia region.   In addition to …

Bull Run Regional Park will welcome more than 50 Virginia wineries at the 30th Annual Vintage Virginia Wine Festival. The summertime event features over 350 selections of the Commonwealth’s finest wines. Home to nearly 3,000 acres of vineyards, Virginia has become the seventh largest wine producing region in the United States. Vintage Virginia Wine Festival guests will have the opportunity to sample wines from each of the state’s five distinct wine growing regions.   While wine tasting events are open exclusively to adults over 21, activities and entertainment will be provided for guests of …

Last Friday, May 6, marked the start of the seventeenth season of Friday Night Live! (FNL), arguably among the most popular outdoor concert series in the Washington, DC area.   Held weekly during the late spring and summer on the Town Green in Herndon, Friday Night Live! features a great selection of local and east coast bands. Though most acts are classic and modern rock cover bands, FNL also hosts groups that play funk, reggae, and original music.   Friday Night Live! has welcomed over 230,000 fans in its first 16 years and is expected to usher in thousands of patrons from throughout …

Nestled in the rolling hills of the Leesburg, Virginia countryside lays Oatlands Historic House and Gardens, a 360-acre eighteenth century plantation property now home to some of the area’s most beautiful gardens and exciting social events.   Oatlands offers something for everyone. Visitors can tour the estate’s circa 1804 mansion, explore the four and a half acre terraced garden, enjoy an old-fashioned afternoon tea, or watch a heritage baseball game.   “The list goes on and on for ways to enjoy Oatlands,” said Executive Director Andrea McGimsey, “Many come here to walk and relax and take in…

Residents of Fairfax County have likely visited Fairfax Corner, one of the area’s premier shopping, dining, and entertainment venues, on more than one occasion. This Saturday and Sunday, the development’s picturesque, tree-lined avenues will be filled with impressive displays of artwork as part of the Fairfax Fine Arts Festival.  The festival, managed by Paragon Fine Art Events, is one in a series of over a dozen prestigious art shows that will tour the East coast this year. Festival Director Bill Kinney uses the words “fine art” to distinguish the work of the artists he oversees. “This is …

Any Northern Virginian who hears the words ‘Cox Farms’ most likely thinks of the famed Cox Farms Fall Festival, complete with hayrides, a pumpkin patch, rope swings, giant slides and corn mazes.  But this local, family-owned business provides fun for the whole family and a getaway from busy suburban life throughout the year.   “My favorite thing about working at Cox Farms is the seasonality,” said Bob Richard, the marketing director. “We are a different business in the spring than we are in summer, fall, or at Christmas. We change with the seasons.”   Cox Farms’ Centreville Corner Market …

Tucked away near the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains is The Winery at La Grange, a rustic local treasure Winemaker and Managing Partner Chris Pearmund calls “The Gateway to Virginia Wine Country.”  “We try to provide a resource for the community,” Pearmund said, “Wineries are far more than a place to buy wine; they’re a place to learn about wine and the agricultural aspects of producing wine.”  “There’s also a lot of value in the historical side of it [wine production],” he added.  The Winery at La Grange opened in September 2006 on the grounds of the historic La Grange farm in …

For an April weekend escape, consider setting aside time to visit one of Northern Virginia’s hidden gems: historic Occoquan.   This quaint riverfront town is located roughly 19 miles from Centreville near I-95 and offers a rich selection of boutiques, other small businesses, and specialty restaurants overlooking the water.  A diverse blend of architectural styles contributes to Occoquan’s unique character. “Occoquan’s got an eclectic mix of the old and the new,” said Mayor Earnest Porta.   “We’re a traditional mid-eighteenth century colonial riverfront town in our founding and we have several…

If you’re seeking an outdoor sanctuary as the weather gets warmer, look no further than Meadowlark Botanical Gardens. Located in the Vienna, Virginia countryside, the public park features 95 acres of beautiful lakes, trails, hills, and gardens.   Meadowlark is home to three native plant collections: the Potomac Valley Collection, the Virginia Native Tree Collection, and the Virginia Native Wetland Collection. All are maintained in support of the International Agenda for Botanic Gardens in Conservation.   “Our whole mission is tied into conservation, education, and aesthetics,” said Manager …

In nearby Old Town Manassas, just beyond the Route 28 and Route 234 junction, rests the charming Bennett House Bed & Breakfast. The innkeepers are Jean and Curtis Harrover, a married couple who moved into Bennett House in 1968.  In the spring of 1995, after their children had graduated from college, the Harrovers opened up their approximately 100-year-old home as a bed and breakfast. Bennett House is conveniently located near the Virginia Railway Express and is within walking distance of many Old Town shops and restaurants. While Bennett House provides many traditional bed and breakfast …

Chances are you’ve driven past it countless times without even realizing it. The constant rush of traffic near the intersection of Route 28 and Interstate 66 is a distraction from the small body of water nestled in the woods nearby.   There lies Walney Pond, a one-acre manmade containment pond on the grounds of Ellanor C. Lawrence Park. Though it’s manmade and near a busy highway, Walney Pond proves to be an unexpectedly peaceful nature reserve.  “It is a tranquil spot, a suburban oasis,” said John Shafer, the Assistant Park Manager and Walney Visitor Center Manager.   It’s also teeming with …

Spring may be just around the corner, but we’ve got a few more weeks of cold weather to endure. Why not spend one of winter’s last weekends in a cozy log cabin?  Bull Run Regional Park has six log cabins available for rental year round. Each unit has both heating and air conditioning, which makes for what Campground Supervisor Ann Cole calls “comfortable camping” during any season.  Cabin furnishings include a double bed (guests bring their own linens), two bunk beds, a table and chairs, a refrigerator, and a microwave. A grill, picnic table, and fire pit are among the outdoor amenities …

Whether you’re looking to escape the pressure of a hectic work week, squeeze in some alone time, or simply pamper yourself, you’ll discover the relaxation you crave—and deserve—at Life Time Fitness LifeSpa and Salon.   Not a Life Time member? Not a problem. Many Centreville residents are unaware that the upscale spa and full-service salon is open to all and offers incredible deals on skin, hair, nail, and body care.  The spa offers complimentary refreshments at check-in and clients unwind with a eucalyptus neck wrap in the waiting area. With each service, spa guests also receive a consult and…

Wednesday is "hump day" for a lot of people, bringing with it all the stress of the work week. Here's one place to go relax! Dahn Yoga in the Centreville Crest shopping plaza offers instruction in yoga and other mind-body techniques. It stresses a curriculum of "brain education," offers stretching exercises, breathing postures and "brain wave vibration," which is a moving meditation that helps center the mind and promote health and well-being. Ki Gong and DahnMuDo are offered as well, which are martial arts designed to strengthen muscles and improve balance.