Whether you live in Arlington, Virginia or are thinking of moving here this site is for you. Presented by Elizabeth Bouchard, Arlington native and longtime real estate professional.
The annual Rosslyn Jazz Fest is typically held on the second Saturday in September at Gateway Park. Admission is FREE but registration is recommended due to capacity limits at the park. Visit the Rosslyn Events page and search for Jazz Fest to see more information about this year’s event.
Arlington is best known for Arlington National Cemetery which is also the site of Arlington House – the “Custis Lee Mansion”. The mansion has recently been restored and is open to the public. Try to time your visit to see the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiiers which occurs every half hour from April 1-Sept 30 and every hour the rest of the year. Other highlights include the Eternal Flame at John F. Kennedy’s Grave, the Memorial to Women in Military Service, Memorials to the Space Shuttle Challenger and Space Shuttle Columbia and the Memorial Amphitheatre where special events are held on certain holidays.
Memorial Day weekend is an especially good time to go. More than 250,000 flags placed on the gravesites just prior to Memorial Day by every available soldier in the 3rd infantry in a tradition known as “Flags In”, and a Memorial Day Observance is held at the amphitheatre. In December, volunteers from Wreaths Across America put a wreath at every headstone. Check the website for specific times and details.
Summer is a great time of year to visit one of the Arlington Farmer’s Markets. The largest is located in the County Courthouse parking lot and is held Saturdays from 8 AM -noon from mid-April to December and from 9 AM to noon the rest of the year. Find produce, freshly-baked bread, homemade pasta, pastries, mushrooms, cheese, soaps, flowers and other wonderful products. But there are markets in nine different locations in Arlington. Here is the complete schedule.
FARMERS’ MARKETS
Arlington’s Farmers’ Market(Courthouse)
Saturdays, 8 a.m. – noon April-Dec, 9-1 Jan-March
Ballston Farmers’ Market
Thursdays, 3 – 7 p.m. April-mid November
Cherrydale Farmers’ Market
Saturdays, 8 a.m. – noon
Columbia Pike Farmers’ Market
Sundays, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Year Round
Fairlington Farmers’ Market
Sundays, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. May-November
Lubber Run Farmers’ Market
Saturdays, 8 a.m. – noon April-November
Rosslyn Farmers’ Market
Wednesdays, 3 – 7 p.m. May-October
Westover Farmers’ Market
Sundays, 8 a.m. – noon, May-November 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Dec-April
Thank you to all the fans of 365 Things to Do in Arlington, Virginia and 365 Things to Do in Northern Virginia on Facebook and the related pages on my websites, All Around Arlington and 365NoVA, I have now completed 365 posts about my hometown of Arlington and another 365 about the greater Northern Virginia area. I have shared information about restaurants and bars, fairs and festivals, parks and sporting events, historical sites, monuments and memorials, shops, art galleries, theatres, and music venues. Some of you have asked, “What is next?” It shouldn’t end here. There are too many more places to explore in this great community.
I won’t commit to posting on each site every day now, but I won’t limit posts to one a day either. In the past, I tried to have only one post per venue unless it was a special event, but now I may make repeat posts for the same place if, for example, a popular band is playing at a music venue, a restaurant I have written about before is having a special dinner, or an art gallery has a new exhibit I think might be of interest to our readers. I will also repeat a previous post for an annual event so I can update it with current information. I will try to visit more of the places I haven’t been personally so I can give a firsthand review and take my own photographs. I may incorporate reader polls, photo contests, and announce deals. And I will be filling in the gaps on the websites which don’t have all 365 posts yet. These sites allow you to search by keywords so I encourage you to visit them as a resource when you are looking for something to do.
What I ask in return is that you interact with the site. “Like” a post if it’s one of your favorite places, or someplace you have never been but you would like to try. Comment on posts. Share them. Make suggestions. These sites will only be made better with more interaction from you. And support your local businesses. To borrow a phrase from Dale Chumbley whose site about Vancouver, Washington inspired me, “Get out, explore and enjoy our community!”
Elizabeth Bouchard
Some time ago I started a Facebook page with 365 Things To Do in Arlington where I put a new post each day of something to do in the area. After several months I realized I should also include that list on this site as a permanent resource. Although some of the items on Facebook were date specific many of these events happen on an annual basis so I have tried to make them more generic here. If you “Like” the Facebook page and turn on notifications for that page you will receive regular updates in your news feed of things to do in Arlington.
Please check with the websites to get the most accurate information though as dates change, restaurants and shops close and new ones take their place, and certain events may be discontinued. Feel free to offer suggestions – you can include local restaurants, night life, music venues, attractions, parks, hiking trails, shops, fairs and festivals, special events or any other ideas of what makes Arlington, Virginia such a great place to live, work and visit.
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