| | NATURE, HISTORY AND HORTICULTURE IN FAIRFAX COUNTY | | | December 2022, Vol. 22, No. 12 | | | Enjoy the Holiday Season With the
Fairfax County Park Authority | | | | |
| | Seasonal Events at the Parks The Park Authority has rounded up its seasonal fun into a handy list of holiday happenings in the parks, including programs and events, winter break camps, fine arts classes, gift ideas, family fun programs, events for children, tips, and more! Check out the “Seasonal Events in the Parks” page for the highlights! | | | | | |
| | Winter Wonderland at Burke Lake Park Enjoy Burke Lake's Winter Wonderland on the weekends of Dec. 3-4, 10-11, or 17-18. Ride the Holiday Express, take a spin on the Carolers' Carousel, play Gingerbread Man Golf, or warm yourself by the fire and cook s'mores. Visit with Santa and enjoy hot chocolate and candy canes. Passes are $15 per person through the Wednesday before the event or $20 if purchased on the day of event. Register here for Winter Wonderland. On select Fridays and Saturdays, Burke Lake's train station will magically transform into the Celebration Station with festive lights. Train rides are scheduled every 20 minutes. Walk-up tickets may not be available, so please purchase your tickets in advance. Each ticket includes one train ride and one carousel ride. Winter Wonderland and Celebration Station are sponsored by the Fairfax County Park Foundation.
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| | Holiday on the Farm Come celebrate an evening of wagon rides, indoor activities, food, animal interactions, campfires and more! Bring the whole family and see Frying Pan Farm Park as you never have before, with hundreds of beautiful lights. Tickets are $10 a person. Open Fridays and Saturdays, Dec. 2-3 and Dec. 9-10. There are still a few timeslots available, so sign up soon. Holiday on the Farm is sponsored by the Fairfax County Park Foundation and the Friends of Frying Pan Farm Park. | | | | | |
| | Storybook Trails
How high can a squirrel jump? Where do chipmunks live? What’s the difference between a squirrel and a chipmunk? Find out as you walk the Storybook Trail at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park. Your child will love running like a squirrel from sign to sign along this .15 mile path to read a story about a squirrel and a chipmunk in their natural habitat. To find out how the squirrels and chipmunks collect acorns for winter, check out the new Storybook Trail at Hidden Oaks Nature Center. Both stories are available in English, español, and 한국어. | | | | | |
| | Visits with Santa
On Saturday, Dec. 3 at Historic Sully: Enjoy A Visit with Santa and take a picture with him in front of a real open-hearth fire. Then, make a festive ornament to deck your own halls and enjoy some refreshments. All attendees must register, including accompanying adults. On Saturday, Dec. 10 or Sunday, Dec. 11 at Colvin Run Mill: experience old-fashioned holiday fun with a visit with Santa at the Mill. Tour the Miller's House decorated for the holidays, roast a marshmallow, and enjoy cocoa, festive music and children's crafts. Most families spend about an hour at this event. | | | | | |
| | Winter Family Fun at Green Spring Gardens Looking for a fun way to spend time outdoors with the whole family? Check out these upcoming programs at beautiful Green Spring Gardens: - Garden Exploration - Secrets of Winter, Saturday, Dec. 10. Explore the corners of the garden that are often overlooked but full of stories to tell! In this session we will discover how nature flourishes and evolves even in the cold of winter.
- Family Fun Excellent Evergreens, Saturday, Dec. 17. Learn about the wonderful world of evergreen trees and plants that really stand out this time of year. Enjoy a seasonal walk through the gardens and make an evergreen craft to decorate your home.
- Winter Solstice Celebration in the Garden, Wednesday, Dec. 21. Celebrate the rebirth of the sun and the beginning of winter. Learn about one of the most ancient rituals in the world with legends, crafting and games.
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| | Unique Gift Ideas from the Park Authority
The Fairfax County Park Authority is your one-stop shop for fun, unique and even hand-made gifts. Here are just a few suggestions: | | | | | |
| | Did You Know? The Park Authority Offers Winter Break Camps - Wild Art Winter Camp for kids 6 to 12 years (Dec. 19-22 at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park): Explore plants and animals through nature hikes and fun projects involving printmaking, painting, sculpting, drawing, storytelling and comic making. Build a nature journal to take home.
- Animal Vets Winter Camp for kids 6 to 12 years (Jan. 26-27 at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park): Feed the critters, check their health, weight and size, and record findings in your vet notebook. Enjoy hiking (weather permitting), making animal crafts, and playing games.
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| | Honor Someone Special With a Holiday Card For the person who seems to have everything or is difficult to surprise, consider making a donation to the Park Foundation in their honor. A gift for parks made in a loved one’s name is the perfect way to celebrate the holidays. Follow these three steps: 1. Contribute $50 or more in the honor or memory of a loved one to the Fairfax County Park Foundation (contributions donated to the Park Foundation are tax-deductible).
2. Provide the name and mailing address of the individual(s) to be notified, or have it mailed to yourself for personal presentation.
3. Indicate whether the gift is made for a special occasion or in someone’s honor or memory. (You may designate your favorite FCPA park or make an unrestricted gift to help FCPA parks in general.)
The Park Foundation will mail a beautiful card to share your commemorative gift!
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| | Other December Happenings - Sundays, Dec. 11 and 17 at 3 p.m.: Holidays at Walney Farm, E.C. Lawrence. Learn about food preservation for the new year, create a holiday ornament, play historic games, and enjoy treats around the campfire.
- Saturday, Dec. 17: A Very Mason Christmas at Historic Huntley. A Christmas celebration the Mason family might have enjoyed: Taste a non-alcoholic syllabub, make your own luminary, and create a holiday decoration.
- Friday, Dec. 30 at 1 p.m. or 2:15 p.m.: Holiday Concert – IONA at Sully. Enjoy one of the top-rated pan-Celtic groups in the world, featuring Scottish fiddling, percussion, and vocals. Refreshments served in the 18th century kitchen.
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| | This is a Fairfax County Park Authority publication. You are receiving this email because you subscribed to FCPA E-News. . If you have signed up for E-News, you will receive ResOURces when it contains information on the topics you requested. For additional info or questions, please email parkmail@fairfaxcounty.gov. For ADA accommodations and/or alternative formats, please call (703) 324-8695. Fairfax County Park Authority | Fairfax, Va. 22035 | (703) 324-8695 | Fax (703) 324-3996 | TTY 711 | Fairfax County Park Authority | Fairfax, Va. 22035 | (703) 324-8695 | Fax (703) 324-3996 | TTY 711 | www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/publications | | | | |
