Things To Do: All Year Long
<b>ONGOING SUMMER AND FALL EVENTS
</b>Free concerts every Thursday (Wilson Blvd. and N. Oak Street) in Rosslyn, at 11:45 a.m.-1:30 p.m. from May through September. Call 703-522-6628 or visit www.rosslynva.org.
US Army Band Free Concerts. Held 7:30 p.m. at Kenmore Auditorium. Visit usarmyband.com for show dates.
Marine Corps and Iwo Jima Memorial Sunset Parades. Every Tuesday and Friday evening at the U.S. Marine Corps Memorial, the U.S. Marine Drum and Bugle Corps and the Silent Drill Team are featured. Sunset Parades June through August are at 7 p.m. Parking is available at Arlington Cemetery. Call 202-433-6060.
<b>ONGOING EVENTS
</b>Volunteer Work Day at Potomac Overlook Regional Park, 2845 N. Marcey Road, Arlington, from 10 a.m.-noon, on the first Saturday of each month. Help with the gardens or trails. Call 703-528-5406.
The Horticulture Hotline is available from 9 a.m.-noon, Monday-Friday, year-round at 703-228-6414. Home gardeners are also welcome to visit the Virginia Cooperative Extension Office at the Fairlington Community Center, 3308 S. Stafford St., during these hours.
Exhibition of works by local painters. Showings sponsored by the Arlington Artists Alliance, a nonprofit organization in support of art and artists in Arlington.
www.arlingtonartistsalliance.org. See Web site for location and dates.
The Crystal City Business Improvement District announces the movies in their 2011 outdoor movie series Crystal Screen: By The Numbers.
The schedule for Crystal Screen: By The Numbers is:
June 6, 2011 — “Air Force Oneâ€
June 13, 2011 — “Four Weddings and a Funeralâ€
June 20, 2011 — “The Sixth Senseâ€
June 27, 2011 — “District 9â€
July 4, 2011 — HOLIDAY (NO MOVIE)
July 11, 2011 — “10 Things I Hate About Youâ€
July 18, 2011 — “Oceans 11â€
July 25, 2011 — “Apollo 13â€
August 1, 2011 — “16 Candlesâ€
August 8, 2011 — “The 40-Year-Old Virginâ€
August 15, 2011 — “50 First Datesâ€
August 22, 2011 — “(500) Days of Summerâ€
August 29, 2011 — “2001: A Space Odysseyâ€
The festival is shown in one of Crystal City’s many welcoming green spaces, owned, managed, and donated for the festival by Vornado/Charles E. Smith.
The Big Red Caboose at Bluemont is open to visitors during the summer on Saturdays from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sundays from 1 p.m. -4 p.m. Free for all ages. The caboose is located at 601 N. Manchester St. Call 703-525-0168.
The Ballston Art Market returns to Welburn Square in May, offering original creations for home decor, gifts and personal use, including handmade jewelry, pottery, quilts, wearable art, giftware, watercolors, oil paintings and photography May through October. The monthly outdoor market operates from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. the second Saturday of every month. Different artists exhibit each month. A select panel juries the artists. Welburn Square is adjacent to the Metro station at 9th and N. Stuart streets near Ballston Common Mall. For directions and further information, call 703-228-0560 or 703-528-3527.
Ballston hosts a weekly Farmers Market in Welburn Square, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. every Friday from May through October. Welburn Square is located between N. Stuart and N. Taylor streets, across from the Ballston Metro Station. Call 703-528-3527 or e-mail ballstonvasquare.org/farmersmarket.
Clarendon Farmer's Market has locally produced breads and pastries, organic vegetables, flowers, soap, sorbet and more. Held Saturdays and Sundays from 8 a.m. to noon at Courthouse Parking Lot, 3195 North Wilson Blvd., Arlington. Also year-round on Wednesdays from 3-7 p.m. at Clarendon Metro Station. Visit www.Clarendon.org. Call 703-812-8881.
The Rosslyn Business Improvement District’s Farmers Market returns on Thursdays through October, from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Wilson Boulevard and North Oak Street in Arlington.
The market will give residents, visitors, and office workers the chance to buy fresh and local from regional vendors who have become Rosslyn favorites. Bread, farm-fresh fruits and vegetables, herbs, exotic teas, gourmet baked goods, specialty coffee, and Italian marinades and sauces will be available during the market.
Columbia Pike Homegrown Farmer’s Market. Another convenient farmer’s market located at Pike Park on Columbia Pike at S. Walter Reed Drive. Market is open every Sunday from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Call 703-892-2776.
Flea Market and Community Garage Sale. Run by the Arlington Civitan Club, the market is held the first Saturday of every month from 7 a.m.-1:30 p.m., April-November. The event is held at the I-66 parking garage at the corner of N. 15th and N. Quincy streets. Call 703-534-9268.
Arlington Farmer's Market. Fruits and vegetables, cut flowers, plants, meats, cheeses, milk, eggs, wine, honey, Christmas trees and more from as many as 30 producers. Located at the corner of N. 14th Street and N. Courthouse Road, near Courthouse Metro Station. Held from 8 a.m.-noon every Saturday. From January to April, the hours are 9 a.m. to noon. Call 703-228-3327.
<b>SEPTEMBER
</b>20th Annual Rosslyn Jazz Fest. Saturday, Sept. 11 from 1-7 p.m. Free. Features the Tierney Sutton Band, The Bad Plus, Jason Moran, Afro Bop Alliance and more. In Rosslyn’s Gateway Park, North Lynn Street and Lee Highway, Arlington. Visit www.arlingtonarts.org or www.RosslynVA.org or call 703-228-1850.
Speedy Tolliver Fiddler and Banjo Fest. Traditional fiddlers will perform in many styles in honor of fiddling legend Roy "Speedy" Tolliver. Sunday, Sept. 14 from 12-4 p.m. at Lubber Run Amph8itheatre, N. 2nd and N. Columbus St., Arlington (two blocks off Route 50 at N. Columbus, behind Arlington Forrest Shopping Center.) Call the Arlington County Office of Heritage Arts at 703-228-1899. Visit www.arlingtonarts.org.
Vintage Crystal. The Fourth Annual Vintage Crystal - A Taste of Wine and Jazz. Sept. 19 from 2-6 p.m. Event fee: $20 includes wine sips, food tastes, entertainment and commemorative glass). Vintage is held in the courtyard at 220 20th Street. The event will feature 30 wineries, 25 restaurants, Latin jazz, salsa dancing, wine tasting classes, tequila, and more.
Clarendon Day. The 13th annual street party held Saturday, Sept. 25 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m, Clarendon Day features the cuisine of local restaurants, the music of local bands, antiques and collectibles markets, and the art of area craft makers and artists. Visit www.clarendonday.org.
<b>OCTOBER
</b>College Fair. Sponsored by Arlington Public Schools at Ballston Commons Mall on second Wednesday in October. www.Ballston-common.com
Marine Corps Marathon. The annual marathon sponsored by the Washington Post begins and ends in Arlington at the Iwo Jima Memorial after running its course past Washington's monuments on Sunday, Oct. 31, beginning at 7:55 a.m. for wheelchair and hand cycle participants and 8 a.m. for runners. Call 800-RUN-USMC or visit http://www.marinemarathon.com/.
Arlington House. Free ticket entry system. Arlington House was the home of Robert E. Lee and his family for 30 years. The house is now a memorial to Lee and is open all year from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Robert E. Lee Museum and the grounds around the house are also open to the public. On the first Friday in October, the Arlington House opens its doors, giving visitors a chance to see the Arlington House and National Cemetery at night. Call 703-235-1530.
<b>FEBRUARY
</b>Mardi Gras Fat Tuesday Celebration. The Clarendon Courthouse Mardi Gras begins with a parade at 8 p.m. on Fat Tuesday, Feb. 8, marching up Wilson Boulevard from Danville Street to the Metro station at N. Highland Street.
<b>APRIL
</b>Flea Market and Community Garage Sale. The Arlington Civitan Club hosts a flea market the first Saturday of every month from 5 a.m.-1 p.m. between April and November. The event is at the Arlington County parking garage on N. 15th St. Call 703-228-3314.
<b>MAY
</b>Neighborhood Day. May 14, 2011, in Arlington includes countywide events, including neighborhood fairs and street festivals and concluding with a parade from the Clarendon Metro to N. Wayne Street. Multicultural festival in Courthouse Plaza, 2100 Clarendon Blvd. Call 703-228-3155 TTY: 703-228-4611.
Walk for the Animals. Saturday, May 14, 2011. A pledge walk for people and dogs to benefit the Animal Welfare League of Arlington as part of the Neighborhood Day activities. Call 703-931-9241, ext. 280, or awla.org.
Taste of Arlington. May 15, 2011, from noon to 5 p.m. in Ballston Common Mall. Amazing food from 40 Arlington restaurants. It is held on 4238 Wilson Blvd. Street festival with restaurants, entertainment, crafts, auction and more. Free admission. Visit www.TasteofArlington.com partnering with Neighborhood Day.
<b>SUMMER
</b> Summer Concert Series. Beginning in June at Lubber Run Amphitheater and continuing throughout the summer. Call 703-228-4712 for more information.
Netherlands Carillon Concerts. Beginning in early June and continuing through the summer on Saturdays, enjoy guest artists playing the 50-bell Carillon in free concerts at the Carillon on Route 50 and George Washington Memorial Parkway. Concerts are held in May and December 2-4 p.m. and in June, July, and August 6-8 p.m. Call 703-289-2500. See www.nps.gov/gwmp.
Rock at the Row Summer Concert Series. From June through the beginning of August, local rock, blues, and cover bands play on Thursday nights at Pentagon Row Plaza, located at Army Navy Drive and South Joyce Street. And yes, dancing is encouraged. Shows run from 7-9 p.m. Visit www.pentagonrow.com for more information. Call 703-413-6692
<cal>JULY
</b>County Fireworks. The Arlington County Department of Parks and Recreation sponsors an annual fireworks display on July 4 at Barcroft Park, 4100 S. Four-Mile Run Drive, beginning at dusk (approximately 9:15 p.m.). The display lasts about 45 minutes.
<b>AUGUST
</b>National Night Out. An annual event observed in all 50 states on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2011. Arlington County Police sponsors the event and encourages residents to turn on their porch lights and hold cookouts, ice-cream socials, flashlight walks and other activities that provide opportunities to get to know your neighbors. Call 703-228-4123.
Arlington County Fair. The annual Arlington County Fair takes place in mid-August at the Thomas Jefferson Community Center, 3501 S. 2nd St. The fair features exhibits, family entertainment, rides for children, food and entertainment. Shuttle buses leave from the designated Park and Ride areas regularly. For transportation and accessibility information, visit the Arlington County Fair Web site at www.arlingtoncountyfair.org.