Home Government Departments Community Services Recreation & Parks Special Events

2010 Special Events
The Recreation & Parks Division hosts numerous free events that attract thousands of people from all over the region. There's something for everyone all year-round in the City.

Easter Egg Hunt
Saturday, April 3, 10 a.m.
Rain Date: Monday, April 5, 4 p.m.
The Easter Egg Hunt is held Easter weekend each year in Cherry Hill Park (312 Park Avenue). In addition to scrambling for eggs, children ages 11 and younger participate in a make-your-own-candy-bag craft project and have a chance to meet and take pictures with the Easter Bunny. This event is free to all participants.

Art Show
Friday, April 23, 5-7 p.m.
Saturday, April 24, Noon-4 p.m.

Residents, employees, and Recreation & Parks art class participants of all ages are invited to submit original artwork to the show held every April. Photography, paintings, and drawings are displayed for exhibition and sale at a free reception held at the Community Center (223 Little Falls Street).

Civil War Day
Saturday, May 15, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Civil War Day is held each year on a Saturday in May at Cherry Hill Park. This living-history event depicts the Falls Church homefront during the Civil War. Activities include drilling and firing demonstrations, living history presentations, a Civil War music concert, box lunches, free admission to the Civil War era Cherry Hill Farmhouse, and more.

Dance Recitals
Saturday, June 5, 10 a.m. & 12 a.m.
Saturday, June 12, 11 a.m., 2 p.m. & 4:30 p.m.
Hundreds of students participate in the annual spring recital. The children range in age from 2-16. Dance recitals are typically held in May of each year at the George Mason High School Auditorium (7124 Leesburg Pike). This event is free to the public.

Memorial Day Festival and Parade
Monday, May 31, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
For more than a quarter of a century, the City has hosted an annual Memorial Day Festival and Parade on Memorial Day. Festivities include a Veterans ceremony at the Falls Church Veterans Memorial, a Don Beyer 3K Fun Run, live entertainment, contests, food and craft vendors, and a lively parade down Park Avenue.

Farmers Market
Saturdays, Year-Round
Located just minutes from Washington, D.C. and Metro accessible from the East and West Falls Church Metro stations, Falls Church City's Farmers Market has something for all. Open year-round on Saturdays, the Market is open from 9 a.m. to noon the last Saturday in December through April and from 8 a.m.-noon May through the third Saturday in December in the Falls Church City Hall parking lot (300 Park Avenue). The Market features fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables, cheeses, meats, baked goods, and plants. The Fairfax County Master Gardeners also staff a booth at the market to answer gardening questions.

Tinner Hill John Jackson Blues Festival
Saturday, June 12, 1-8 p.m.
The Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation and the City of Falls Church host the annual Tinner Hill John Jackston Blues Festival each June. The Festival celebrates the hill where the first rural branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was founded. The Festival features a variety of music from the Afro-Brazilian, urban, gospel, and blues genres; traditional African-American cuisine and craft vendors; and the annual E.B. Henderson "Dear Editor" awards. For more information, call 703-241-4109 or contact the Tinner Hill Foundation via e-mail.

Summer Concerts in the Park
Thursdays, June 17 & 24, July 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, August 5, 7 p.m.
The Recreation & Parks Division and the Village Preservation and Improvement Society host an annual Summer Concerts in the Park series held in Cherry Hill Park (312 Park Avenue) beginning the third week in June and continuing through the first week of August. The series features local musicians of various genres every Thursday evening.

All concerts begin at 7 p.m. and are free to the public. In the event of rain, concerts will be held in the Falls Church Community Center located next to the Park at 223 Little Falls Street.

Independence Day Fireworks Celebration
Sunday, July 4, Entertainment 7 p.m.; Fireworks 9:30 p.m.
The City sponsors an annual July 4th Independence Day Celebration at George Mason High School (7124 Leesburg Pike). Entertainment begins at 7 p.m. with fireworks at 9:30 p.m. In the event of rain, the event is scheduled for July 5, at the same time and location. The event is free to the public. No alcohol, personal fireworks, or smoking permitted on school grounds.

Sunset Cinema
Fridays, September 3, 17 & 24, 8 p.m. or dusk  
Sunset Cinema in the Park is held on Fridays every September in Cherry Hill Park (312 Park Avenue). Free film screenings of various family friendly movies are shown throughout the summer evenings. Moviegoers are encouraged to bring blankets, bug spray, and picnics. In the case of inclement weather, screenings will take place at the Falls Church Community Center located next to the park at 223 Little Falls Street.

Fall Festival and Taste of Falls Church
Saturday, September 11, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
The annual Fall Festival and Taste of Falls Church is held each September in Cherry Hill Park (312 Park Avenue). Features include live entertainment, pony rides, amusement rides, crafters, businesses and civic organizations, and cuisine from City kitchens. The children's activity tent offers face painting and craft projects. Admission is free to the public, but amusement rides require the purchase of one or more tickets. The Fall Festival is held rain or shine!

Farm Day
Saturday, October 9, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Farm Day is held on one Saturday every October in Cherry Hill Park (312 Park Avenue). This family event features blacksmith demonstrations, horse-drawn hayrides, pumpkin painting, scarecrow making, and a petting zoo. Children can learn basic farming skills such as corn-shelling, beekeeping, and apple butter making. Tours of the historic Cherry Hill Farmhouse and Barn are also offered.

Halloween Carnival
Saturday, October 30, 6-8:30pm
The free Halloween Carnival is held each year at the Community Center (223 Little Falls Street). The carnival has been a popular event for children for more than 30 years. Infants through sixth graders are invited to enjoy carnival games, a moon bounce, face painting, crafts, a haunted house, movies, candy, and a live creepy creature show featuring the spookiest reptiles in nature.

Veterans Day Ceremony
Thursday, November 11, 11 a.m.
Each year the Recreation & Parks Division honors veterans with a ceremony held at the Falls Church City Veterans Memorial (223 Little Falls Street). This tribute recognizes all those who served in the armed forces.

Holiday Craft Show
Saturday, December 4, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Sunday, December 5, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Children's Holiday Shoppe, Saturday, December 4, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Deck the halls during the holiday season with special gifts from the annual Holiday Craft Show. More than 60 crafters show their wares at the Community Center (223 Little Falls Street) selling unique handmade items and baked goods during the first weekend in December.

Admission to the craft show costs $1 per person; children under 12 receive free admission. Lunch is sold each day of the event and children are invited to a breakfast with Santa, a puppet show, and craft activities. Reservations are required for children's activities.

The Falls Church Community Television station also films videos of children with Santa at a cost of $10 per video. Children can also visit the Children's Holiday Shoppe at Cherry Hill Farmhouse to purchase inexpensive holiday gifts $5 and under. Volunteers are on hand to help children make their purchases and wrap their gifts.

Middle School New Year's Eve Extravaganza
Friday, December 31, 7 p.m.-1 a.m. 
Held every New Year's Eve from 9 p.m.-1 a.m., more than 100 middle school students ring in the New Year at the Community Center's Teen Center and gym. The New Year's Eve party offers a DJ, door prizes, food, games, and amusement rides! 

Watch Night
Friday, December 31, 7 p.m.-Midnight
Bring in the New Year with the annual, free, New Year's Eve "Watch Night" celebration held from 7 p.m. to midnight near the crossroads of Broad and Washington streets. The celebration is cosponsored by the City of Falls Church and the Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation. "Watch Night" is named after the ancient African tradition of "watching" in the New Year.

A range of entertainment offerings appeals to adults, children, families, and individuals looking for fun small-town festivities. Children's entertainment includes magicians, storytelling, face painting, and the Moon Bounce. Children, teenagers and adults can show their skills on the karaoke stage or at digital dance revolution. Live music and City restaurants are open for business within the entertainment center.

No reservations required. For those driving into the City, plan to park a few blocks away in public lots or along the street. Free parking is available at the Presbyterian Church (200 block of East Broad Street).