Outdoor activities in Arlington Archives - Page 4 of 18

The 2012 Arlington County Fair Runs From 8/8 – 8/12

August 8, 2012 by Elizabeth

The 2012 Arlington County Fair begins Wednesday August 8th and will run through Sunday, August 12th at Thomas Jefferson Community Center. The theme for the 2012 fair is “Live Green, Learn Green” and is directly tied to Arlington County’s initiative to make our community a sustainable place to live, work, and play. The fair will feature competitive exhibits, carnival rides, food vendors, piglet races, pony rides, a kids court with face painting, inflatables, and other games and activities, entertainment including appearances by the Harlem Wizards, musical groups and outdoor movies.

Opening ceremonies will begin with entertainment from the US Army Brass Quintet at 6:00 Thursday, August 9th. For hours, schedule of performances and more information, visit the Arlington County Fair website.

Parking at the fairgrounds is prohibited but shuttles will run every 30 minutes each day during the Fair’s operating hours from the Ballston Metro, the Arlington Career Center, and the I-66 parking garage. Parking is complimentary at shuttle locations. A $2 round-trip fee is charged for shuttle services and will be collected upon arrival at the Fair grounds. Children 12 and under and seniors 65 and over ride for free. Onside ADA parking is available at the Fair site in the parking lot located directly in front of the Thomas Jefferson Community Center.

For a video of a previous Arlington County Fair, see below.

Celebrate the 4th of July at Long Bridge Park

July 2, 2012 by Elizabeth

New for 2012, a family friendly 4th of July celebration will be held at Long Bridge Park at 475 Long Bridge Drive in Crystal City beginning at 12 noon. The celebration will include food vendors, local arts and crafts vendors, free face painting, balloon art, moon bounces, a variety of games for all ages, and a view of the fireworks at the National Mall.

A family bike parade and bike decoration contest begins at noon at the esplanade entrance to the park at Crystal Drive. A local arts and crafts market will be open from 12-5 with food vendors set up from 12- 8 PM. Family activities and games will be going on throughout the day including moon bounces, face painting, balloon art, American flag tag relay, sneaker scramble, wacky waiter relay, three-legged race, sack races, tug-o-war, water balloon catch, red, white & blue tag, horse shoes, soccer, capture the flag, corn hole, bocce ball, speed ball, parachute games, hula hoops, croquet, triangle ball, and a monkey ring toss.

In addition to the family games and activities, the DC Social Sports Club @ Arlington is hosting its inaugural Summer Showcase Tournament at the 4th of July event. Tournaments and open play activities include Co-ed 6 v 6 Flag Football, Co-ed Grass Volleyball, Co-ed Outdoor Dodgeball, Field Day Challenges, Cornhole and Bocce. Participation is open to anyone 18 years or older.

Live music from The New Dominion Band and NoBetterOff will be playing from 6 to 9 p.m. on the mobile stage set up in the parking lot followed by the fireworks on the National Mall which are scheduled to begin at 9:15. Guests will be able to set up on the turf beginning at 8 PM to watch the fireworks.

Many Crystal City restaurants will also be offering special deals during the event.

There will be no on-site parking during the event. Complimentary shuttles will run continuously from 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. to and from the Crystal City Metro Station (in the bus bay area), Pentagon City Metro Station (at the bus stop at S. Hayes and S. 12th St) and the Shops at Crystal City (across from the Fed Ex Office).

Please note that the Arlington County Police Department will perform searches of bags and coolers. Alcohol, fireworks and grills are not permitted at the event and will be confiscated. Food, drink (excluding water), and spiked shoes are not permitted on turf fields.

For additional event information, call (703) 228-3329.

Take your family to the Twilight Tattoo at Henderson Hall

June 5, 2012 by Elizabeth

Twilight Tattoo is an hour-long military pageant featuring Soldiers from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) and The U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own.” Experience a glimpse into American history through performances by The U.S. Army Blues, vocalists from The U.S. Army Band Downrange, The Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, and The U.S. Army Drill Team. For the complete schedule and more information visit the Twilight Tattoo website.The performance is free and open to the public. Bleacher seating is on a first-come, first served basis. For more information on group reservations, contact the U.S. Army Military District of Washington at (202) 685-2888 or email ncr.webeventsmail@jfhqncr.northcom.mil.The performances begin at 7 PM. Pre-ceremony pageantry begins at 6:45 PM. on Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall in Arlington, Va. Most performances will be held at Summerall Field but the June 27th performance will be at Whipple Field. The 2012 Twilight Tattoo season will run through the entire summer. Performances are currently scheduled for each Wednesday evening except July 4th and a Tuesday performance on June 12th. Dates are subject to change.

Free Lunchtime Concerts in Rosslyn Begin This Week

June 5, 2012 by Elizabeth

Free concerts in 3 Rosslyn locations begin this week to quinch your thirst for mid-day music. They will run Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays throughout the summer from 11:45 – 1:30 at the following locations:

Tuesdays at Freedom Park

Enter on N. Kent St. or N. Lynn St.
June 5 – July 31
11:45 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Wednesdays at CentralSpace

Wilson Blvd. & N. Moore St.
June 6 – August 29
11:45 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
* No concert on July 4.

Thursdays at the Farmers Market
Wilson Blvd. & N. Oak St.
June 7 – October 25
11:45 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

rosslyn concerts — Photo Courtesy of Rosslyn BID and Rosslyn Renaissance

2012 Air Force Cycling Classic June 9th and 10th

June 4, 2012 by Elizabeth

The Air Force Cycling Classic Presents Outstanding Opportunity to Watch World-Class Cycling In the DC Area

Join thousands of spectators as cyclists soar through thrilling courses as The Air Force Cycling Classic returns to Arlington from June 9 – 10, 2012. Cheer from the sidelines as some of the world’s best cyclists speed past familiar landmarks, such as the Pentagon and Air Force Memorial, while they make their way from Clarendon to Crystal City during this cycling spectacular.

The two-day event features world-class professional races, amateur cycling, and special courses for kids – all here in the DC area. Presented by The Boeing Company, the cycling extravaganza kicks off in Clarendon on Saturday, June 9, 2012, and then moves to Crystal City on Sunday for a second day of riding and reveling.

Saturday, June 9, 2012
The weekend’s races begin in Clarendon on Saturday, June 9, with the Air Force Cycling Classic’s Clarendon Cup, an event that consists of various races throughout the day:

8:00 a.m.

Men’s Masters Amateur Race: For racers over 40. Cyclists must have a valid USA Cycling Category 1 – 4 racing license to participate.

8:55 a.m.

Men’s Elite Amateur Race: For elite amateurs holding a valid USA Cycling Category 1 – 3 racing license.

9:55 a.m.

Women’s Elite Race: For professional cyclists holding a valid USA Cycling Category 1 – 2 racing license.

11:35 a.m.

Kids’ Race: Free and open to all children, ages nine and under.

12:00 p.m.

Men’s Pro Race: This prestigious race, now in its 15th year, highlights some of the world’s top cycling professionals who will battle to complete 100 laps on a short, exciting course.

Sunday, June 10, 2012
Sunday events move from Clarendon to Crystal City, showcasing the vibrant shops and restaurants of the area with the non-competitive Crystal Ride, as well as a series of races that make up the Crystal Cup. The events of the day include:

7:30 a.m.

Crystal Ride: This amateur, non-competitive ride, sponsored in part by the Crystal City Business Improvement District, takes cyclists through a closed, 15km circuit in and around the Pentagon, Crystal City and the Air Force Memorial. Riders have the option to simply participate or use the ride to raise money for the Air Force Association’s Wounded Airman Initiative.

11:15 a.m.

Kids’ Race: Free and open to all children, ages nine and under.

11:30 a.m.

Men’s Pro Race: This race, including some of the top pros in the world, begins with a ceremonial start at the Air Force Memorial, immediately following an Air Force Flyover, though the official start takes place in Crystal City.

1:25 p.m.

Women’s Elite Race: For professional cyclists holding a valid USA Cycling Category 1 – 2 racing license.

2:30 p.m.

Men’s Elite Amateur Race: For elite amateurs holding a valid USA Cycling Category 3 racing license.

3:25 p.m.

Men’s Elite Amateur Race: For elite amateurs holding a valid USA Cycling Category 4 racing license.

*The Men’s Pro/1 and Women’s races are once again part of the USA Cycling’s National Criterium Calendar.

For more information email info@arlingtonsports.org or call (202) 966-0346 or visit the Air Force Cycling Classic Website here. Information provided courtesy of Scott Circle Communications.

Bike DC 2012

May 12, 2012 by Elizabeth

Bike DC, the annual Washington and Arlington Community Bike Ride, is being held Sunday, May 13th, 2012. From the Capitol and White House to Arlington Cemetery and the Air Force Memorial, from Pennsylvania Avenue to the George Washington Parkway, Bike DC is a non-competitive bike ride through the heart of our community and the heart of the nation. The entire route will be car-free, and this year includes a section of Rock Creek Parkway first time. The Full Ride is 24-miles long and begins at 7 am with a shorter 11-mile long Family Ride suitable for novice cyclists beginning at 7:15 am.

Registration is available online until 11:59PM Saturday, May12th and in person on the morning of the event near the ride start line at NW 3rd Street and Madison, on the Mall side of the U. S. Capitol, beginning at 6 a.m. Advance registration fees are $40 for adults on the full ride, $30 on the family ride, youths ages 13-19 $25 for the full ride, $15 for the family ride. In person registration is $10 additional. Children 12 and under may register for the family ride for free.

For route maps, registration or other information, visit BikeDC.net