Holiday Happenings By Keith Loria
T
he COVID-19 pandemic has created a lot of challenges and misery in 2020, and questions still linger about when it will be safe to return to normal activities and start seeing friends and family regularly again. With the holiday season upon us, the impact of the pandemic is being felt a little bit stronger, and people are trying to find ways to celebrate and take part in some of their favorite holiday traditions. The problem is, many have already been cancelled due to safety concerns. That means, no Scottish Christmas Walk Weekend in Alexandria this year, no Christmas in Middleburg celebration and even the Jingle on Lake Anne in Reston is taking the year off. But don’t despair. We’ve found plenty of fun things that people can do during the holidays to keep traditions alive and keep
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people from having a Blue Christmas. Meadowlark Gardens Winter Walk of Lights at the Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna will once again be presenting a spectacular holiday light display, and is not letting COVID ruin the festive favorite. Enjoy a half-mile walk through a dazzling garden trail adorned with thousands of sparkling lights featuring outdoor themes and animated displays spread along a paved, wheelchair and stroller-accessible trail. Even when the weather is chilly, the Winter Walk is a fun way to bundle up and celebrate the holidays with family and friends. To protect the health and safety of employees and guests, the Meadowlark Botanical Gardens is following social distancing standards recommended by the Center for Disease Control. Meadowlark’s Winter Walk of Lights is open nightly Nov. 11 through Jan. 3, 2021.
Fairfax will be holding its annual Festival of Lights and Carols with socially-distant caroling and a Christmas tree lighting at Old Town Square, 10415 North St., beginning at 5:30 p.m. S’mores and hot cider will be available. A holiday market will accompany the festival during the weekend. While the City of Fairfax’s 34th Annual Holiday Craft Show has been canceled, those behind the show are planning a virtual craft show so people can still talk with artisans and get some great gifts for the holidays. As of press time, details were still being worked out, but it was believed it would be held sometime in late November. For information, visit www.fairfaxva.gov. The 30th Annual Reston Holiday Parade is currently scheduled to take place at the Reston Town Center from 11 a.m. to noon on Nov. 27. The day will include plenty of “community, charity and cheer” and will include a visit from Santa Claus himself. VIVARESTON.COM
