Hey gang, Matt here!

Cherry blossoms are in full swing across the DMV! Some are already in bloom while others are on the way. If you’re interested in checking out the blossoms at a new location, or perhaps you’re looking to avoid the crowds and traffic in Washington, this week’s edition features locations across Fairfax County where you can see cherry blossoms this year.

For the food lovers, we have details about the tasty Oysters & Sausage Fest in Chantilly. Plus, where a local park is reopening and how kids can cast a line and reel in the big one in Herndon this weekend.

P.S.: Did you receive this edition from a friend? Sign up for Out & About Fairfax for FREE here and join us on Instagram if you really like what you see.

In this week’s newsletter:

• Where to find cherry blossoms in Fairfax County

• Oyster & Sausage Fest in Chantilly

• Charlie Berens, Trisha Paytas headline shows at Capital One Hall

• Kids Trout Fishing Derby, McLean Central Park reopens

• Play ball! The Nationals kick off MLB season Thursday at home vs. Phillies

See you Out & About! 👋

Cheers,
Matt

A message from us

Things To Do

Cherry blossom season is here — we feature blossom-themed events and list where you can find cherry blossoms in Fairfax County. 🌸

• Blossom Bash at Tysons Corner Center

  • Paint PenFed Plaza Pink during the Blossom Bash at Tysons Corner Center on Sunday, March 30 from 11:00a.m.-3:00p.m. Enjoy cherry blossomed-themed events, fun and food with local restaurants and retailers, face painting, festival parade entertainment, and more.

    • 1961 Chain Bridge Rd., Tysons

• Where to Find Cherry Blossoms in Fairfax County

  • Not interested in heading into D.C. for the cherry blossoms? We pulled together a few spots around Fairfax County where you can enjoy the sights of Spring.

    • Meadowlark Botanical Gardens — The Vienna park and events space is a great spot to see cherry blossoms, which are set to hit peak bloom in the first week of April, according to their Instagram announcement on Wednesday.

      • Biking? Hit the Washington & Old Dominion (W&OD) Trail near the Gardens to see more blossoms from a unique perspective.

    • Reston’s Van Gogh Bridge — Van Gogh Bridge on Lake Anne provides a great spot for scenic photos.

    • In the southern part of the county? Swing by the waterfront in Old Town Alexandria along Wolfe St. to check out more blossoms.

• Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus at EagleBank Arena

  • The circus comes to town in Fairfax for a week’s worth of shows starting on Friday, March 28. “The Greatest Show on Earth” brings together 50 high-flying and exhilarating acts for an action-packed two-hour show. The shows run through April 6. Showtimes and ticket prices are in the link above.

    • 4500 Patriot Circle, Fairfax

• Community Yard Sale in Fairfax

  • Head over to the Fairfax County Government Center on Saturday, March 29 from 9:00a.m.-12:00p.m. for the Fairfax County Mothers of Multiples Community Yard Sale. Moms and moms-to-be can find deals on baby items, furniture, toys, clothing, and more. This event is free and open to the public.

    • 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax

• Farmer’s Markets Around Fairfax County

  • With Spring officially upon us, we have pulled together a list of year-round farmers markets in Fairfax County to help you out. (We’ll let you know when more farmers markets open up later this spring.)

    • Oakton — Saturdays from 9:00a.m.-1:00p.m.

    • Falls Church — Saturdays from 9:00a.m.-12:00p.m. (winter hours)

    • Fairfax (Mosaic District) — Sundays from 10:00a.m.-2:00p.m. (winter hours)

    • Great Falls — Saturdays from 9:00a.m.-1:00p.m.

    • Reston — Wednesdays from 2:00p.m.-6:00p.m.

      • Did we miss a market that’s currently open? Send us an email — [email protected]

• National Pet Adoption Week

  • From March 24-30, PetSmart is hosting National Adoption Week for our four-legged friends. On Saturday, March 29 from 12:00p.m.-4:00p.m., the PetSmart in Springfield will hold an adoption event where fees will be waived for all cats and dogs adopted this day. This event will be held together with the Brandywine Valley SPCA.

    • 6535 Frontier Dr., Springfield

Food & Drink

Breweries are hosting events around the region, and a popular stir-fry and “honeybars” find another new home in our area! 🍽️

• Oyster & Sausage Fest in Chantilly

  • As the team at Mustang Sally Brewing calls it, this event is a “Big Shuck’N Deal” for this weekend’s Oyster & Sausage Fest. The Chantilly brewery is teaming up with King Street Oyster Bar and Eugene’s Sausage & Fries for a one-of-a-kind event on Saturday, March 29 from 11:00a.m.-7:00p.m.

    • 14140 Parke Long Ct., Ste. A-C, Chantilly

• “Halfway to Oktoberfest” at Shipgarten

  • Enjoy a wide variety of food and drink, and get ready for the stein hoisting competition at Shipgarten for this weekend’s “Halfway to Oktoberfest” event. The fun runs Saturday, March 29 from 1:00p.m.-6:00p.m.

    • 7581 Colshire Dr., McLean

• Live Stand-up Comedy at Fair Winds Brewing Company

  • Some of the top comedians in the DMV come together for a night of laughs at Fair Winds Brewing Company in Lorton on Friday, March 28. Show starts at 7:00p.m. and tickets — $15 in advance or $20 at the door — include your first beer.

    • 7000 Newington Rd., Suites K&L, Lorton

• Port City Brewing Company’s “Jokes on Tap”

  • Alexandria’s Port City Brewing Company hosts their free comedy night for the final time in 2024 on Saturday, March 29 . Doors open at 7:00p.m. with sets starting at 7:30p.m. Food trucks will be on hand.

    • 3950 Wheeler Ave., Alexandria

• New honeygrow Location Opens in West Springfield

  • The Philadelphia-based chain honeygrow opened their latest restaurant in Fairfax County, this time in West Springfield, on March 21. The restaurant offers stir-fry, salads, and desserts known as “honeybars.” They have other Fairfax County locations in Tysons, Reston, Fairfax, and Alexandria.

    • 8424 Old Keene Mill Rd., West Springfield

Go Out & About Together

Music, Arts, & Entertainment

Laughs, music, and “Matilda” all hit the stage this weekend! 🎶

• Comedian Charlie Berens Headlines Capital One Hall

  • Comedian, best-selling author, and Emmy-winning journalist Charlie Berens performs at Capital One Hall for one-show only on Sunday, March 30 at 6:00p.m. Berens, famous for his Midwest-focused humor, has amassed over 9 million social media followers. Tickets start at $35.

    • 7750 Capital One Tower Rd., Tysons

    • MORE: On March 28, Trisha Paytas brings her “The Eras of Trish Tour” to Capital One Hall. Learn more here.

• George Porter, Jr. & Runnin’ Pardners

  • The music legend and his band take over Wolf Trap on Friday, March 28 at 8:00p.m. The famous sounds of Porter’s basslines come to life for one show only. Tickets start at $48.

    • 1635 Trap Rd., Vienna

    • NEWS: More Wolf Trap summer shows go on sale on Friday, March 28 at 10:00a.m. ET. Check out the calendar here.

• Herndon Middle School’s Performance of “Matilda Jr.”

  • Students from Herndon Middle School will hold its performance of “Matilda the Musical Jr.” for three shows of the Roald Dahl classic starting on Friday, March 28. General public tickets are $12 and student tickets are $5.

    • 901 Locust St., Herndon

• Snow White at Creative Cauldron

  • The famed play comes to life in a bilingual performance at Creative Cauldron in Falls Church this weekend. The show started earlier this week and runs Fridays-Sundays through April 6. Tickets are $18 for students and $20 for adults.

    • 127 E. Broad St., Falls Church

Families & Kids

From the pond to the park, a busy weekend is ahead for kids and families across the area!🎣

• Kids Trout Fishing Derby

  • Cast a line in Herndon this weekend for the Kids Fishing Derby on Saturday, March 29 from 8:00a.m.-12:00p.m. Kids can learn how to bait a hook, cast a line, and even cooking their freshly caught fish with the help of Trout Unlimited. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 day-of. The event is for ages 2-15 and will be held on Sugarland Run Trail.

    • 397 Herndon Parkway, Herndon

• Grand Reopening of McLean Central Park

  • The long-awaited grand reopening ceremony of the McLean Central Park is set for on Saturday, March 29 at 10:00a.m. This particular event is a ceremony, but we wanted to share the great news for the McLean community, which will enjoy a “more vibrant and accessible park experience.”

    • 1468 Dolley Madison Blvd., McLean

• Kids Give Back 7th Anniversary Celebration

  • The Vienna-based non-profit is hosting a March Madness-themed fundraiser on Friday, March 28 at Patsy’s American in Tysons. Enjoy cocktails, food, silent auctions, and more. Tickets and times are in the link above.

    • 8051 Leesburg Pike, Tysons

• Campfire Safety for Families

  • Families can enjoy a night in the outdoors and learn how to properly and safely make a campfire. This event will be held at Huntley Meadows in Alexandria on Friday, March 28 at 6:00p.m. Ages 4+ and parents can register online. Cost: $10.

    • 3701 Lockheed Blvd., Alexandria

• Preschool Nature Nuts at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens

  • A fun way for kiddos ages 2-4 to think spring and learn about plants. The little ones can decorate a plant pot to take home, as well. The fun is set for Thursday, March 27 from 10:30a.m.-11:30a.m. Online registration is required, tickets are $10.

    • 9750 Meadowlark Gardens Ct., Vienna

Sports & Recreation

Each weekend, we run down the schedule as our local pro and college sports teams take the field (or court, ice, etc.) if you’re interested in hitting the big game.

News & Notes

• Fairfax County will host its “Going for the Green Tournament” on next Saturday, April 5 at Pinecrest Golf Course in Alexandria. Learn more here.

• A historic season for the George Mason Women’s Basketball team came to end on Saturday with a loss to Florida State in the NCAA Women’s Tournament.

• The season also ended on Saturday for the GMU Men’s Basketball team with a loss in the NIT against Bradley University at EagleBank Arena.

Home Games

• ⚾️MLB: Philadelphia Phillies at Washington Nationals

  • Thursday, March 27 at 4:05p.m., Nationals Park, Washington, D.C.

• 🏀NBA: Indiana Pacers at Washington Wizards

  • Thursday, March 27 at 7:00p.m., Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C.

• ⚽️NWSL: Bay FC at Washington Spirit

  • Friday, March 28 at 8:00p.m., Audi Field, Washington, D.C.

• ⚾️MLB: Philadelphia Phillies at Washington Nationals

  • Saturday, March 29 at 4:05p.m., Nationals Park, Washington, D.C.

• 🏀NBA: Brooklyn Nets at Washington Wizards

  • Saturday, March 29 at 7:00p.m., Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C.

• ⚽️MLS: Columbus at D.C. United

  • Saturday, March 29 at 7:30p.m., Audi Field, Washington, D.C.

• ⚾️MLB: Philadelphia Phillies at Washington Nationals

  • Sunday, March 30 at 1:35p.m., Nationals Park, Washington, D.C.

• 🏒NHL: Buffalo Sabres at Washington Capitals

  • Sunday, March 30 at 3:00p.m., Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C.

• 🏈UFL: Birmingham Stallions at D.C. Defenders

  • Sunday, March 30 at 3:00p.m., Audi Field, Washington, D.C.

Fairfax County Fun Fact of the Week

Did you know: Interstate 66 (I-66) was first proposed in 1956, but the first portion of I-66 did not formally open until late 1961. It connected Centreville in Fairfax County to Gainesville in Prince William County.

We Want to Hear from You!

Want to get your neighbors Out & About?

If you have an event you would like to feature in the newsletter, or if you’re a business looking to advertise with us, send us an email! —> [email protected].

Did you receive this edition from a friend? Sign up for Out & About Fairfax for FREE here.

Thanks for reading! See you next week.

Matt Knoedler
Publisher, Out & About Fairfax