Reston Historic Trust and Museum (RHT) invites the community to celebrate Robert E. Simon, Jr. and the community. In honor of Bob Simon, his vision, and his dedication to this place called Reston, RHT will host the annual Founder’s Day event on Saturday, April 9 from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. at Lake Anne Plaza. The expanded event will feature activities for all ages and will focus on the past, present, and future of Reston.
Founder’s Day will feature a 50-foot ferris wheel sponsored by Reston Association (RA). The ride will offer patrons the chance to see Reston’s first plaza from a new perspective and proceeds will benefit RHT and the Friends of Reston. Additional activities will include face painting, children’s art projects in cooperation with the Initiative for Public Art – Reston (IPAR), and musical entertainment for all ages provided by local artists and schools.
Entertainment will include performances by Mr. Knick Knack; students from Dogwood Elementary, Hunters Woods Cooperative Preschool, Sunrise Valley Elementary, and South Lakes High School; Beverly Cosham; the Reston Chorale and the Encore Chorale; Noteworthy; singer-songwriter Amy Cox; and local band Catchin’ Toads.
The event will also feature guided walks around Lake Anne Plaza in cooperation with IPAR and RA.
At noon there will be remarks by local elected officials Gerry Connolly, Ken Plum, Sharon Bulova, Cathy Hudgins, Beverly Cosham, and Ellen Graves. The remarks will be followed by a dedication of the Bob Simon Post Office, and new public art on the plaza sponsored by IPAR, and the new commemorative bricks on Lake Anne Plaza.
Local author Kristina Alcorn will also be signing copies of her newly-published book, “In His Own Words: Stories from the Extraordinary Life of Reston's Founder, Robert E. Simon, Jr.” from 2-4 p.m. during the event.
The event will be fun for the entire family. For more information, contact the Reston Historic Trust and Museum by phone at 703-709-7700, by email at restonmuseum@gmail.com, or by visiting www.restonmuseum.org.