Hey gang, Matt here! It might be cold outside, but the events around Fairfax County are “hot” this weekend. It’s an exciting week for food lovers heading Out & About — from chocolate to Chinese food and more, we have you covered. It’s also an exciting weekend for music fans across all genres — we highlight some of the big shows around town. And, if you’re like me, you’ll want to see how the Washington Commanders fare this weekend in the NFL Playoffs — where you can catch the game.

In this week’s newsletter:

• McLean Chocolate Festival & Chinese New Year Festival

• Oakton Restaurant Week & weekend winery fun

• The Del McCoury Band headlines the weekend at Wolf Trap

• Ice-travaganza at Reston Town Center

• Commanders visit Philadelphia in the NFC Championship game, GMU hosts GW in NCAA women’s basketball

Let’s dive in!

Cheers,
Matt

A message from us

Things To Do

Whether you’re looking for something indoors or outdoors, chocolate festivals to Chinese New Year’s festivals, there is a little something for everyone Out & About this weekend. Let’s hit the road! 🚗

• McLean Chocolate Festival

  • Local chocolatiers take over the McLean Community Center for the 13th annual McLean Chocolate Festival on Sunday, Jan. 26 from 11:00a.m.-5:00p.m. Enjoy sweet treats, live entertainment, demonstrations, and much more. Admission is just $3 and includes a tote bag. Kids under 4 are free.

    • 1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean

• Mosaic District’s Polar Plunge

  • Brave the frigid temps for a good cause this weekend in the Mosaic District for the Polar Plunge. This fundraiser benefits Special Olympics Virginia. Be “cool” and dress up to win the costume contest for the fanciest plunger! Registration info and more can be found in the link above. The event runs Saturday, Jan. 25 from 12:00p.m.-2:00p.m.

    • 2910 District Ave., Fairfax

• Chinese New Year Festival

  • The Asian Community Service Center will host its 16th annual Chinese New Year Festival at Luther Jackson Middle School on Sunday, Jan. 26 from 10:00a.m.-5:30p.m. Enjoy cultural performances, delicious Asian cuisine, check out the parade and craft shows, and much more. Tickets range from just $2-$5.

    • 3020 Gallows Rd., Falls Church

• Herndon Community Center Open House

  • On Saturday, Jan. 25, the Herndon Community Center will hold an open house. Whether you’re new to town or a longtime resident, you’re invited to check out all the center has to offer — from swimming, fitness, zumba, basketball, and much more. This event is free and no advance registration is required.

    • 814 Ferndale Ave., Herndon

• Jurassic Quest at the Dulles Expo Center

  • Dinosaurs roar into the Dulles Expo Center as Jurassic Quest headlines a three-day event, starting Friday, Jan. 24-Sunday, Jan. 26. Check out life-size animatronic dinosaurs, meet trainers, enjoy the “The Quest” interactive adventure, a fossil dig, and much more. Tickets start at $22.

    • 4320 Chantilly Shopping Center, Chantilly

• Winter Night Hike in Reston

  • The Walker Nature Center in Reston is hosting a Winter Night Hike on Friday, Jan. 24 from 7:00p.m.-8:00p.m. Enjoy the sights and sounds of nocturnal animals and gazing at the stars under the crisp winter sky. Pre-registration is required, tickets range from $6-$8.

    • 11450 Glade Dr., Reston

Food & Drink

A series of winery events headline the local fun this weekend. Plus, a first in the Oakton food scene. Check it out! ⬇️

• Oakton Restaurant Week Continues through Sunday

  • The first-ever Oakton Restaurant Week continues each day through Sunday, Jan. 26. A dozen local restaurants have created specials for the week. You can check out the participants, locations, and their specials here.

• Charcuterie Building Workshop at The Winery at Bull Run

  • Learn how to make your own charcuterie board ahead of next month’s Big Game! Join a private instructor and sip on wine and mimosas as you learn what it takes to craft that special board. This event is 21+. Tickets are $65 per person and includes a drink and the charcuterie board. It’s scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 26 with the first session starting at 11:30a.m.

    • 15950 Lee Highway, Centreville

• “Sip & Savor” Wine and Food Pairing in Alexandria

  • The two-hour tasting at Alexandria’s Mason Social can give beginners and wine lovers alike a chance to learn something new. A sommelier will guide your palate through the evening’s pairings while you enjoy meats, cheese, fruits, and more. The event runs Thursday, Jan. 23 at 6:00p.m. Tickets are $24.

    • 728 N. Henry St., Alexandria

• Hike & Sip at Hemlock Overlook with Paradise Springs Winery

  • The first Hike & Sip of 2025 includes a four-mile moderate hike in Hemlock Overlook Regional Park followed by lunch and drinks at Paradise Springs Winery in Clifton. The two-hour hike begins on Sunday, Jan. 26 at 9:30a.m. The address below is for the parking lot for the trail head.

    • 13220 Yates Ford Rd., Clifton

• Chicken Salad Chick’s Guest Appreciation Day

  • The gourmet chicken salad restaurant, with locations in Fairfax and Falls Church, will be dishing up free scoops of their Classic Carol Chicken Salad for all customers on Thursday, Jan. 23. Loyalty app members will receive double points on any purchase, as well.

    • 13057 Lee Jackson Memorial Highway Unit 36, Fairfax

    • 7505 Leesburg Pike Suite 120A, Falls Church

• Chicken Soup 101 Cooking Class

  • Learn how to make chicken soup from scratch in this hands-on cooking class. From poaching and hand-pulling a whole pastured chicken to adding the finishing garnishes, chefs will assist you as you follow along with the recipe. The class runs Saturday, Jan. 25 from 11:30a.m.-1:30p.m. Tickets are $100.

    • 279 Sunset Park Dr., Herndon

Go Out & About Together

Music, Arts, & Entertainment

From the sounds of country and Americana to a Grammy-winning global percussion all-star show, there is something for everyone this weekend across Fairfax County. Let’s hit the high note! 🎶

• The Del McCoury Band visits Wolf Trap

  • The legendary bluegrass musician and his band will headline a five-night residency at The Barns at Wolf Trap. Tickets for the Friday, Jan. 24 and Sunday, Jan 26 shows remain. Each night features a different theme. Shows start at 8:00p.m. each night. Ticket prices and other details can be found in the link above.

    • 1635 Trap Rd., Vienna

• The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch — Live

  • Capital One Hall plays host to an out-of-this-world experience on Friday, Jan. 24 as The History Channel’s “The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch” shares stories and revisits evidence from some of their top investigations. The 90-minute show, headlined by some of the show’s top cast, will reveal never-before-heard details about their experiments and much more. Tickets start at $39.75. Showtime is 7:30p.m.

    • 7750 Capital One Tower Rd., Tysons

• Silkroad Ensemble at GMU

  • Grammy Award-winning music collective Silkroad Ensemble will perform at George Mason University’s Center for the Arts on Saturday, Jan. 25 at 8:00p.m. Enjoy an all-star percussion performance and storytelling through music and different musical traditions from India to Africa to Europe and more. Tickets start at $33, student discounts available.

    • 4373 Mason Pond Dr., Fairfax

• Tom Petty Tribute Band headlines The State Theatre

  • “Southern Accents,” a Nashville-based Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Tribute Band, comes to The State Theatre in Falls Church on Friday, Jan. 24 at 8:30p.m. Tickets are $18. A unique feature: the group consists of top Nashville studio and touring musicians.

    • 220 N. Washington St., Falls Church

• U.S. Army Woodwind Quintet Visits Fairfax

  • The U.S. Army Woodwind Quintet will perform at Fairfax’s Stacy C. Sherwood Community Center on Friday, Jan. 24 at 8:00p.m.

    • 3740 Blenheim Blvd., Fairfax

Families & Kids

Ice, ice, baby: Several family-friendly events are on the schedule this weekend, and yes, ice and ice cream are included. 🍦

• Ice-travaganza at Reston Town Center

  • This family-fun winter themed event features ice sculptures, live sculpting, an ice skating performance and more. You can enjoy free hot chocolate to keep you warm, as well. Ice-travaganza runs Saturday, Jan. 25 from 12:00p.m.-3:00p.m. at the Reston Town Center’s ice skating pavilion.

    • 1818 Discovery St., Reston

• Making Ice & Ice Cream in Chantilly

  • A fun, hands-on experience recreating how Americans made ice and ice cream in the 19th century. Hand-crank the ice cream and even use ice tongs! Join the fun on Sunday, Jan. 26 at 2:00p.m. in Ellanor C. Lawrence Park. Tickets are $9 per person.

    • 5040 Walney Rd., Chantilly

• Bricks by the Lake

  • Join the team at the Reston Museum and Reston Community Center for their family-friendly LEGO brick-building competition. Tickets are $50 and all proceeds benefit the museum. Check out the link above for more details and how to register. The fun runs Saturday, Jan. 25 from 11:00a.m.-2:00p.m.

    • 1639 Washington Plaza North, Reston

• Kids Volunteer Day next week

  • The local non-profit Kids Give Back is hosting Kids Volunteer Day on Wednesday, Jan. 29 from 9:00a.m.-3:00p.m. Students in Fairfax County Public Schools are scheduled to be off of school, giving parents and kids a chance to give back. Projects include writing letters to overseas military, assisting food insecure families, and more. Projects are intended for ages 6-12. Registration is required. Check out the link above for more details.

    • 8922 Little River Turnpike, Fairfax

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

• 🏈 Your Washington Commanders will take on the Philadelphia Eagles this Sunday, Jan. 26 at 3:00p.m. Can’t make it Philly for the game? You can join your fellow fans at one of the Commanders Rally Bars in Fairfax, Reston, or Springfield. Catch the game locally on Fox 5.

• 🏀 The Washington Wizards and the Washington Capitals both are on a West Coast swing through the weekend. 🏒

College & Pro

• 🏀 NCAAW: GW at George Mason

  • Saturday, Jan. 25 at 3:00p.m., EagleBank Arena, Fairfax

Fairfax County Fun Fact of the Week

Did you know: Colvin Run Mill in Great Falls is the sole surviving 19th century water-powered mill in the Washington, D.C. area. It was built between 1810-1811 and is now part of the Fairfax County Park Authority.

We Want to Hear from You!

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Thanks for reading! See you next week.

Matt Knoedler
Publisher, Out & About Fairfax