2023-12-04 10:11:06
ARTS & Entertainment SEE IT, HEAR IT, TOUCH IT, FEEL IT! Marvel at masterpieces in museums and galleries or join a class to make your own. Take in a touring Broadway production or watch a local dance troupe grace a smaller stage. Whatever moves your artistic soul, you’ll find it here. WOLF TRAP Grab a blanket, gather the family and get ready for an unforgettable night enjoying massively popular acts at this epic outdoor venue in Vienna. How epic? Wolf Trap is America’s only national park dedicated to the performing arts. CAPITAL ONE HALL Plan your trip around your favorite band or comic’s upcoming concert at Capital One Hall in Tysons. This state-of-the-art facility hosts year-round comedy shows, live music and rousing Broadway performances. Did we mention there are even more entertainment options, like live music and mini-golf, on its rooftop park? WORKHOUSE ARTS CENTER Get hands-on with expert-led workshops at the renowned Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton. The grounds of this historical former prison today hosts galleries, art and dance studios, an intimate theater, a museum and acres of art-filled spaces to explore, plus great seasonal events. ARTSPACE HERNDON See a painter’s palette of creative expression at ArtSpace Herndon to peruse the latest local exhibitions. Then, wander over to Friday Night Live! and jam out to free summer performances on the Herndon Town Green. THE STATE THEATRE Grab a cocktail and walk around a regional time capsule of local music at The State Theatre in Falls Church, just minutes from downtown DC. DO-IT-YOURSELF EXPERIENCES Rally the kids and walk in for paint-your-own pottery at Clay Cafe Studios in Falls Church or get inspired yourself at a paint-and-sip wood sign workshop at Board & Brush in Fairfax. You can even dip into a unique candle-making experience at Paddywax Candle Studio in Reston or make your own perfume at DIY Scent Studio in Fairfax. LEGO® DISCOVERY CENTER Anyone can build their own masterpiece at the new LEGO® Discovery Center in Springfield. Let your child’s imagination run wild as they construct star-scraping spaceships, embark on hero adventures and hone their skills in the LEGO® Workshop. Just don’t let them have all the fun! ART AROUND TOWN AS YOU WALK THROUGH THE STREETS IN FAIRFAX COUNTY’S COMMUNITY SPACES, YOU’LL COME ACROSS EYE-CATCHING INSTALLATIONS EVERYWHERE. Stroll around Vienna to observe stoic statues and massive murals or pop into local galleries. Then take a seat to appreciate the magnificence of the town’s painted bench tour. Enter a new dimension at Thoreau’s Ensemble, an unassuming underpass in Reston that features some 700 path drawings from 650 community participants. Afterward, marvel at the towering surrealist art feat, Buoyant Force, located in Reston Town Center. Stop by the Hidden Oaks Nature Center in Annandale to find a whimsical wood sculpture carved from a lightning-struck poplar tree. SCAN FOR A TOUR OF RESTON’S PUBLIC ART! FAIRFAX COUNTY, BY DESIGN THE UNIQUE BEAUTY OF OUR REGION LIVES IN THE LANDSCAPES AND STRUCTURES THAT SHAPE IT. VISIT THESE MUST-SEE ARCHITECTURAL GEMS THAT REVEAL THE AREA’S MAGNIFICENCE. Step into a living piece of art and history at the legendary Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Pope-Leighey House in Alexandria. Be sure to schedule a tour for an immersive experience. The National Museum of the United States Army at Fort Belvoir captures the nearly 250-year history of the U.S. Army in a striking, impossibleto- ignore stainless steel structure that reflects (literally) the landscape that precedes it. And if you’re flying in or out of Washington Dulles International Airport, build in some extra time for a little nonstop fun exploring its rotating art exhibits. SCAN FOR A VIRTUAL TOUR OF MORE ATTRACTIONS! EXPLORE MORE WITH @AUSTINGRAFF Don’t overlook the area’s “inspiring art and tight-knit neighborhoods,” traveler Austin Graff advises. Scan the QR code for his top travel tips! FOLLOW ME IN #FXVA SHOW-STOPPING Stages Catch an up-and-coming artist on an intimate stage or rock out with thousands of like-minded individuals. Here are just a few of several you’ll find throughout the area. 1 In addition to being the home of the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra, the Center for the Arts at George Mason University also hosts a rotating lineup of dance troupes, pop groups, opera arrangements and other can’t-miss performances. 2 Spend the evening at Jammin Java, a community staple in Vienna for dinner and a show. Catch everything from country crooners to rock ‘n’ rollers to classical collectives. 3 Escape into the trees to uncover the hidden Children’s Theatre-in-the- Woods on the grounds at Wolf Trap. Here, kids can become mesmermized by interactive performances.
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