Monday, October 31, 2011
A family prepares for a fun and festive Halloween night
I have to admit that I’ve never been a really big Halloween person. Except for my college years when it always meant some really cool parties, the only thing I’ve ever really loved about it is that after it’s over, my favorite holidays (Thanksgiving and Christmas) are just around the corner. My kids on the other hand love it. About a month prior they’ll get excited and start contemplating their costumes. They’ll dig through our downstairs closet where past costumes are stored, hoping to put together this year’s look. When I was a kid, I used to design my own costume and remember how much fun it was. My mom saved all of her old prom dresses, so I usually ended up being some type of princess or gypsy. My brother made his own costumes …
Burke and Springfield Area Halloween Activities
- THE NEIGHBORHOOD FILES
- Cari Nelson
-
Monday, October 31, 2011
Are you wondering how you can make your Halloween extra fun? Patch has got you covered with a list of events happening in the Burke area on Monday, October 31st. Burke Community Church Harvest Festival Burke Nursery & Garden Centre Pumpkin Playground “Creepy Nights on Calamo” Trick-R-Treating at Springfield Mall and Mall-O-Ween at Fair Oaks Mall Trick-or-Treat at the City of Fairfax Police Department
Dogs in costumes, kids and applause
On Saturday, the Greenspring Retirement Community in Springfield was crowded with costumed Shetland Sheepdogs, Australian Terriers and Yorkies. The annual Halloween parade is usually standing-room-only, and even with unseasonal snow there was still a healthy crowd. There are more than 2,000 residents in the Greenspring Community. The parade, which was held at the Hunters Crossing Conference Center, was sponsored by the Dogs of Greenspring resident club. It also featured a presentation by Sharon Tarlono and her dog Chuck Wagon from nonprofit Canine Partners for Life. Chuck helps Sharon with everyday activities like bringing her a ringing cell phone and shopping at the grocery store. Enjoy the photos!
38.76588
-77.196413
7430 Spring Village Dr, Springfield, VA
/articles/greenspring-celebrates-howloween
/locations/5706270
The West Springfield Dance Team brings their horror brand of dance to 'The View' for Halloween.
The West Springfield High School Dance Team (WSDT) brings their spooky style to ABC's The View on Halloween, October 31. The group will perform as part of the 11 a.m. show's annual spooky Halloween spectacular. This summer WSDT gained national recognition as they progressed through to the top 10 on America's Got Talent. WSDT, a competition team of 17 dancers, is coached by choreographers and creative directors Tara Perez and Jason King. WSDT won a second consecutive national dance team championship last spring.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Scary stories for Halloween and beyond.
It's the time of year for ghosts, goblins and scary stories. Many times scary stories are based on fact, just taken beyond. As author Stephen King said at Fall for the Book, when he's writing a book he thinks of the worst that can happen. Virginia Outdoors shared a scary story based on truth. In Medieval Europe death from lead poisoning was common. But the symptoms of lead poisoning -- a deep coma with very shallow breathing and a nearly undetectable heartbeat -- were sometimes mistaken as death. To prevent someone from being buried alive, at times the mourners would bury put a string in the hand, leading out of the coffin and attached to a bell above ground. If the bell rang after burial, that person was "saved by the bell." Vicki …
38.80192
-77.264171
Lake Braddock Secondary School
9200 Burke Lake Rd, Burke, VA
/articles/saved-by-the-bell-and-other-scary-stories
259591
/locations/5703579
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Burke Lake annual Halloween event draws big crowds.
The 31st Annual Ghost Train at Burke Lake Park leaves the station October 29 and 30. The ride over 1.75 miles of track passes scenes depicitng children's stories. Back at the station, there's a moon bounce and carousel, and cotton candy. "It's good, clean, family fun," said Brian Laws, operations manager for Fairfax Park Authority. The Halloween celebration is organized each year by the Fairfax County Park Authroity in partnership with students from Northern Virginia Community College's Program Planning class. The Ghost Train runs from 10 to 6 on Saturday and Sunday. The last ticket is sold at 4:15, and the last train leaves at 5:15. Train tickets are $4.50. Tickets for the carousel are $1.75. Children under two ride free. Donations …
38.75835
-77.307179
Burke Lake Park
7315 Ox Rd, Fairfax Station, VA
/articles/ride-the-ghost-train
1236782
/locations/5683651
Friday, October 28th through Sunday, October 30th
Take your pick from a variety of local events happening this weeked. If you’re interested in some early Halloween fun, check out our list of activities taking place at a high school, park, or rec center near you! High School Varsity Football Home Games at Thomas Jefferson HS, Lake Braddock SS, South County SS, and Robinson SS Youth Bicycle Rodeo - UPDATE: CANCELLED DUE TO THE WEATHER ECHO Annual Children’s Concert Lucky Dog Animal Rescue Adoption Event Ethan Bortnick Benefit Concert for Children’s National Medical Center Weekend Halloween Events:
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Heidi Klum will choose the Grand Prize winner from our favorite photo
Which kid in America has the most creative Halloween costume in the pumpkin patch? That's what we intend to find out with your photos and the help of celebrity judge Heidi Klum, who will select the Grand Prize winner. Patch will whisk the winner to New York or Los Angeles for a three-day, two-night trip for two that includes a meet and greet with Heidi, plus a donation of $1,031 to a local charity of the winner's choice. Nine runners up will also get a $1,031 donation from Patch to a local charity of their choice. Full contest rules are here. We have stopped accepting entries for the contest, but we'd love for you to continue sharing your Halloween photos on Patch! Simply click the green Submit Your Photos button (above or below), and …
Whether you're including them in costume, or closing them in a quiet room, these tips will help ensure a Happy Halloween for you and your pet.
Children and adults enjoy Halloween. Not so all dogs and cats. Halloween can be frightening and dangerous for pets. Some of our furry friends enjoy being part of the merriment and festivities. They're extroverted and adventurous, or maybe just tolerant. But your pet may be shy or uncertain about the people knocking on your door, and the strange noises they hear Halloween night. Avoid heartache and disaster. Considering the following. Costumes If your pet likes to dress up, or tolerates having clothing attached to them, by all means make them part of the fun. But beware of anything that binds or constricts anywhere on the body, any small foreign bodies that could be ingested, and anything that could be toxic if swallowed. Think about …
38.794783
-77.272754
Burke Pet Nutrition Center
9546 Burke Rd, Burke, VA
/articles/pets-and-halloween
259572
/locations/5672884
38.775185
-77.263029
PETCO
9230 Old Keene Mill Rd, Burke, VA
/articles/pets-and-halloween
259738
/locations/5672885
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
If you’re a parent who wants to take a stand against excessive Halloween candy, you have a lot of options. But is the effort worth it?
All my mother would ever buy to give out at Halloween were plain Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Bars. Her theory was that any leftovers could be melted down and poured over ice cream. I always lobbied for something more exotic, my fear being known as the house with the most boring candy. I never got my way, but as I got older I started to see the wisdom of her thinking. At least a plain milk chocolate bar wasn’t laced with the artificial colorings and flavorings we now see so much of in candies. It was (at least back then) plain and simple. Most parents, if you live in a neighborhood the size of mine, lay in a hefty supply of candy to give out to trick-or-treaters. We’re not always that discerning about what goes out of our bowl and into the …
Mandy
7:00 am on Tuesday, November 1, 2011
I've never been a huge Halloween person either but last night when I took my little ones trick-or-treating for the first time I got so excited when I came to a house that was really decorated up! So fun that people do this. As for the extra candy - that is what office-kitchens are for! Take it in and see it disappear in no time :-) more ›