Weekend Planner: Fall Festivals, Firefighters and More

Let Patch help you plan your weekend with our list of local events happening this Friday through Sunday. 

Cool Cow Stand-Up Comedy

• Where: Workhouse Arts Center, Lorton
• When: Friday, Oct. 26 at 8 and 10 p.m.
• Why Go: Featuring stand-up comedians Danny Rouhier and Jared Stern.  Due to the nature of the material, this show is intended for adults only.
• Price: Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door

Into the Woods

• Where: GMU Center for the Arts, Fairfax
• When: Friday, Oct. 26 at 8 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 27 at 2 and 8 p.m.; Sunday, Oct. 28 at 4 p.m.
• Why Go: In this popular Stephen Sondheim musical, characters from Grimm’s Fairy Tales face the consequences of their actions.
• Price: General Admission: $20; Students, Faculty, Staff, Seniors and Groups: $15

Annandale Fall Festival and Parade

• Where: Safeway parking lot on Little River Turnpike, Annandale
• When: Saturday, Oct. 27 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Why Go: The day begins with a parade traveling down Columbia Pike to the festival grounds.  The festival itself will feature an arts and crafts market, live entertainment, food, moon bounce, face painting, bungee jumping and more.
• Price: Admission is FREE – see website for details.

“We’ve Been Burned: Alexandria Firefighters During the Civil War” Walking Tour

• Where: Friendship Firehouse Museum, Alexandria
• When: Saturday, Oct. 27 at 1 p.m.
• Why Go: Learn about the lives of firefighters in Union-occupied Alexandria during the Civil War.  The walking tour will visit four of the five local firehouses from that era.
• Price: Adults $6; Children ages 10-17: $4 – Reservations Required

A Toast to the Animals

• Where: Paradise Springs Winery, Clifton
• When: Saturday, Oct. 27 from 2:30 – 6:30 p.m.
• Why Go: This year’s event will feature a “Dog Bar”, as well as live music, vendors and a silent auction to benefit the Humane Society of Fairfax County.
• Price: Admission is $45 at the door

Re-enactment of John Carlyle’s 1870 Funeral and Footsteps to the Past Historical Haunts Tour

• Where: Carlyle House Historic Park, Alexandria
• When: Saturday, Oct. 27 from 6 – 9 p.m.
• Why Go: Re-enact John Carlyle’s funeral, including a procession to the Old Presbyterian Meeting House and mock internment at the cemetery.  The Historical Haunts Tour will run every 15 minutes leaving from Market Square. 
• Price: Tickets are $15 per person

Fall Harvest Family Days

• Where: George Washington’s Mount Vernon, Alexandria
• When: Saturday, Oct. 27 and Sunday, Oct. 28 from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Why Go: Featuring wagon rides, wheat treading demonstrations, straw bale maze, apple-roasting, period entertainment and more.  Enjoy a Potomac River cruise at half price this weekend only.
• Price: Adults: $15; Children ages 6-11: $7; Children under 5: FREE

5th Annual Autumn Arts and Crafts Show

• Where: South Run RECenter, Springfield
• When: Saturday, Oct. 27 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 28 from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• Price: Adults: $3; Children 12 and under are FREE

• Why Go: More than fifty artisans will display handmade apparel, glasswork, jewelry, pottery, woodwork and more.  Kids are invited to play in the free Kids Zone while their parents shop.

Open-Hearth Cooking Class

• Where: Gunston Hall, Lorton
• When: Saturday, Oct. 27 and Sunday, Oct. 28 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• Why Go: Learn how to prepare 18th century recipes over an open hearth.
• Price: $125 per person – Registration Required

Charity Used Book Sale

• Where: Old Town Alexandria
• When: Through Oct. 29 from 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
• Why Go: The sale of used books, CDs, DVDs and LPs will benefit Books for America, a DC-based charity that supports reading programs and provides books to schools, shelters, prisons and more. 
• Price: Most items priced from $1 - $3

Cantorial

• Where: The Little Theatre of Alexandria
• When: Saturday, Oct. 27 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 28 at 3 p.m. (shows run through Nov. 17)
• Why Go: This humorous and heart-warming story, written by Ira Levin, is about a couple who renovate an abandoned synagogue only to find it haunted by the synagogue’s late cantor.
• Price: Tickets are $20

Library Events:

• Friends Fall Book Sale at Chantilly Regional Library, Chantilly.  Friday, Oct. 26 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 27 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Sunday, Oct. 28 from 1 – 4 p.m.
• Fun Flicks at Pohick Regional Library, Burke.  Friday, Oct. 26 at 10:30 a.m.  For all ages.  FREE – Registration Required.
• Wag a Tale at Kingstowne Library, Alexandria.  Saturday, Oct. 27 beginning at 10:30 a.m.  For ages 5-12.  FREE – Registration Required.
• Wheee! at Centreville Regional Library, Centreville.  Saturday, Oct. 27 at 11 a.m.  For ages 3-5.  FREE – Registration Required.
• Writers Group at Centreville Regional Library, Centreville.  Saturday, Oct. 27 at 1:30 p.m.  For adults.  FREE.
• Virginia Search and Rescue Dog Demonstration at Martha Washington Library, Alexandria.  Saturday, Oct. 27 at 2 p.m.  For ages 8 and up.  FREE – Registration Required.
• Referendum, Reception and Redskins at Pohick Regional Library, Burke.  Sunday, Oct. 28 from 3 – 4:30 p.m.  For adults.  FREE.

Nature Highlights:

• Basic Gardening: Easy to Grow Shrubs at Green Spring Gardens, Annandale.  Friday, Oct. 26 at 1:30 p.m.  For adults.  $10 - $12 per person – Registration Required.
• Floral Design: Green is In at Green Spring Gardens, Annandale.  Saturday, Oct. 27 at 1 p.m.  For adults.  $35 - $37 per person – Registration Required.
• Fall Color Hayrides at Mason Neck State Park, Lorton.  Saturday, Oct. 27 and Sunday, Oct. 28 at 1 and 4 p.m.  $3 per person or $8 per family; weekend parking is $4 per vehicle – Reservations Recommended.
• Why is That Leaf Yellow and That One Red? at Mason Neck State Park, Lorton.  Saturday, Oct. 27 and Sunday, Oct. 28 at 3 p.m.  Weekend parking is $4 per vehicle.
• Lizards at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park, Chantilly.  Sunday, Oct. 28 at 10 a.m.  For ages 7 and up.  $5 - $7 per person – Registration Required.
• Fall Color Hike at Mason Neck State Park, Lorton.  Sunday, Oct. 28 at 10 a.m.  Weekend parking is $4 per vehicle.
• Family Backyard: Toad Abodes at Hidden Oaks Nature Center, Annandale.  Sunday, Oct. 28 at 1:30 p.m.  For ages 3-12.  $15 - $17 per person – Registration Required.