The annual Reston Winterfest at Brown’s Chapel Park is making its return this year from December 4 to 6. The event will be full of festive winter activities like a walk-through light trail, a vendor village, and live music.
This annual winter wonderland, hosted by the Reston Association and sponsored by the Reston Community Center, is now in its third year. The festival promises to be “bigger, brighter, and more magical than ever before,” according to a news release.
Guests can walk through a 0.5-mile light trail with thousands of lights and several decorative displays and stop by a firepit to roast marshmallows. The Grinch and Santa will also stop by for a visit to take pictures with children. Throughout the weekend, several local community and school group ensembles will also perform live music.
Food and drink options include grilled cheese sandwiches from Big Cheese and empanadas from Colombian Station. Lake Anne Brewhouse and Lake Anne Coffee House and Wine Bar will have beer, wine, and mulled wine for adults. Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee will have coffee beverages to keep you warm.
Over 30 artisan vendors will line up in the Vendor Village offering a variety of items perfect to gift for this upcoming holiday season. Mountain Mist Glasswork will offer stained glass suncatchers, Sunny Doodle Garden will have freeze dried goods and treats for furry friends, and Violet Ridge Farm and Forage will offer jams, jellies, salsa, fruit butters, and more.
Along with all of the family-friendly festive activities, the festival will also include an Enchanted Forest full of 60 decorated trees, each decorated by different businesses, community groups, and families from the surrounding Reston community. The groups decorate their trees to represent their mission. For example, in 2024 the Friends of Reston Regional Library’s decorated its tree with ornaments representing several children’s books.
Once Winterfest is over, trees from the Enchanted Forest go to families in need in the Reston area. The forest is sponsored by the Friends of Reston, a nonprofit that supports the Reston Association through charitable and educational activities and fundraises for community projects.
Tickets to Reston Winterfest are $10 for children, $20 for adults, and free for Reston Association members.
Feature image courtesy Reston Association
