Schedule
*8 a.m.: Reston Town Center retailers and Ice Skating Pavilion open early
*8 a.m.: Gingerbread Man Mile – Fun-run and races for kids, toddler through high school age, to benefit Children’s National Medical Center. Registration and information: http://www.prraces.… ">http://www.prraces.…
*11 a.m.: 24th Annual Reston Holiday Parade – Theme for 2014: “Home for the Holidays.” Market Street will be draped in red, white and blue to reflect the American spirit and offer a big welcome to members of the military and their families and friends.
*12:30 – 4:30 p.m.: Visits and Photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Any donation for a 5 x 7” photo will benefit South Lakes High School Chorus.
*12:30 – 4:30 p.m.: Mini-Train Rides. All aboard! All donated proceeds will benefit a local charity. Departure point is in front of Talbots on Market Street.
*5 p.m.: Frosty Follies. Music and dance performance by Metropolitan School of the Arts, on Market Street in front of the Christmas tree.
*6 p.m.: Tree Lighting and Sing Along. Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive in a horse-drawn carriage to magically light up the huge Christmas tree in Fountain Square, followed by traditional holiday songs led by The Reston Chorale and brass quintet.
6:30 – 10 p.m.: Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides. All proceeds benefit a local charity. Pick-up location is in front of Talbots on Market Street. $5 per person; children 5 and under ride free with adult.
*All day: Ice Skating Pavilion – Public skating on the glass-sheltered ice rink is open every day from early November until March, including all holidays. Hotline: 703-709-6300, and more information at http://www.restonto…">www.restontowncente….
Holiday Gingerbread Village – This annual display can be viewed in the lobby of the Hyatt Regency Reston throughout the holiday season.
See all event schedules and details at http://www.restonto…">www.restontowncente….
Reston Town Center presents the 24th annual Reston Holiday Parade, the highlight of a day filled with fun for the whole family, Friday, Nov. 28. Stepping off at 11 a.m. the one-of-a-kind, one-hour parade along Market Street will launch the festive season along with many more activities and entertainment. Since 1991 the Reston Holiday Parade has been an annual tradition on the day after Thanksgiving, rain or shine, at Reston Town Center, 11900 Market Street, Reston. More information and the full day’s schedule are available at www.restontowncenter.com/holidays. General information for Reston Town Center is available by calling 703-579-6720.
The Reston Holiday Parade features Macy’s-style balloons, musicians, dancers, antique cars, characters, community groups, dignitaries, Washington Nationals Racing Presidents, special guest emcees, and much more, as well as the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus in a horse-drawn carriage. Celebrating “Home for the Holidays” this year, the parade will have an Americana theme, offering a big welcome to members of the military and their families. Before the 11 a.m. parade starts, thousands of American flags and jingle bells will be handed out to spectators lining the route.
Grand Marshals for this year’s Reston Holiday Parade were selected as an extra welcome and honor for members of the military:
*Grand Marshal – The Cowart Family. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Kris Cowart, his wife Nicole, and daughter Lizzie are from Baton Rouge, La. and reside in Springfield, Va. as Colonel Cowart serves in Washington, DC.
*Junior Grand Marshal – Nathan Rulona. South Lakes High School student, Rulona is the Battalion Commander of the JROTC program, leading 151 students while maintaining a GPA of over 4.0 in the IB diploma program.
The Reston Holiday Parade attracts approximately 10,000 spectators from near and far to see at least sixty (60) groups, amounting to more than 500 participants in the procession. Special guest emcees, Angie Goff and Doug Kammerer of NBC4 Washington, will announce the parade from two VIP grandstand locations on Market Street. After the parade, Santa and Mrs. Claus will stay for visits and photos until 4:30 p.m. and will return to light up the huge Christmas tree at 6 p.m. The tree lighting attracts a gathering of approximately 5,000 people to Fountain Square for a half-hour Sing Along of traditional Christmas songs. Horse-drawn carriage rides begin at 6:30 p.m.
The Reston Holiday Parade is also supported by balloon sponsors, Reston Community Center, Reston Town Center Association, and The Wise Investor Group.
Hundreds of volunteers assist in making this community event a success. Those who wish to sign up to help with the parade can find the tasks and registration form at RestonTownCenter.com/holidays. For other inquiries, email rtc@myerspr.com.