Written by Kirstin Hawthorne

Northern Virginia is a great place to be in the spring, with plenty of outdoor activities and cultural events to enjoy. Here are the top five things our team suggests you make time for this spring:

1. Hike in Shenandoah National Park: Shenandoah National Park is in the Blue Ridge Mountains and offers beautiful hiking trails for all levels of hikers. The park is known for its stunning views of the mountains and valleys in the spring when the wildflowers are in bloom.
2. Visit Mount Vernon: Mount Vernon, the historic home of George Washington, is located on the banks of the Potomac River. In the spring, the gardens are in full bloom and visitors can take a guided tour of the estate.
3. Take a bike ride on the W&OD Trail: The Washington and Old Dominion Trail is a 45-mile paved trail that runs from Shirlington to Purcellville. The trail is perfect for biking, walking, or jogging and passes through beautiful scenery, including parks, streams, and farmland.
4. Attend a Washington Nationals baseball game: The Washington Nationals 2023 opening day is March 30 features 52 total games (26 home and 26 away). Watching a game on a sunny spring day is a great way to spend an afternoon. Go Nats!
5. Fly a kite at Hains Point: Watching the planes take off from National Airport and go right over your head is exhilarating for both adults and kids alike. Make a day of it by either biking here, or driving, and packing a picnic and a kite.

 

In addition to our favorites, here are some annual events that are highly anticipated each spring:

ART & LOCAL FESTIVALS

1. Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, DC: The National Cherry Blossom Festival is a celebration of the arrival of spring and the blooming of the cherry trees around the Tidal Basin. It includes cultural events, music performances, and a parade. March 20 – April 16 | Washington, DC
2. Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival: The Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival is a two-day event held in Reston, Virginia, featuring over 200 artists from around the country. Now called the Tephra ICA Arts Festival, and includes live music, food vendors, and children’s activities. May 20-21 | Reston, VA
3. Arlington Festival of the Arts: This outdoor art festival hosts original works from artisans in the art of sculpture, pottery, jewelry, photography, mixed-media, and paintings.
   April 29 -30| Arlington, VA
4. Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival: This classic hometown festival spans 10 days and is full of fun activities. Participants can enjoy carnival rides, a parade, a car show, a wine festival, races, golf and tennis tournaments, pickleball games, and the coronation of the Queen Shenandoah. April 28-May 7| Winchester, VA
5. Purcellville Music and Arts Festival: This music festival features live music and dance performances across three stages. There are also featured artists, food and craft vendors. April 30| Purcellville, VA

 

FARMERS MARKETS

Looking forward to veggies on the grill, fresh flowers on the counter, and honey to help stave off those pesky allergies?  April showers not only bring May flowers, but they mark the start of the much-anticipated farmers markets.  These seasonal markets provide locally grown and sourced foods, that support area farmers.  Most markets, but specifically those in Fairfax County, encourage vendors to use local ingredients when making their products, and they are limited to selling homemade and homegrown items.    Visit here for Trip Advisor’s list of the top 10 best farmers markets in our area.  April – December | Various locations in NoVA

 

GARDEN FESTIVALS & TOURS

1. Leesburg Flower and Garden Festival: The Flower and Garden Festival is held on the streets of historic Leesburg. It hosts over 125 plant sellers, landscapers and other vendors as well as live music, entertainment, a beer garden, food, and activities for kids.  April 15-16| Leesburg, VA
2. Festival of Spring: Burnside Farms’ infamous Festival of Spring features a pick-your-own extravaganza of tulips and daisies. Wear your walking shoes and enjoy a full day here by packing a picnic and enjoying the breathtaking scenery. Dates determined by weather| Nokesville, VA
3. Walk on The Hill: This annual event offers self-guided tours through approximately 50 participating yards and gardens in Vienna’s historic Windover Heights neighborhood. A one-of-a-kind way to spend an afternoon with live entertainment, exhibits, and refreshments.  April 30| Vienna, VA
4. Historic Garden Week: For one week, all across Virginia, nearly 50 member clubs will host unique tours through both private landscapes, public gardens and historic sites. Celebrating it’s 90^th year since inception, guests will have the opportunity to see more than 1,000 floral arrangements created by Garden Club of Virginia chapters during these tours. April 15-22 | Various Locations Across VA (including Alexandria, Fairfax, Leesburg and Winchester)

 

WOLFTRAP & THEATER IN THE WOODS

A true treasure nestled in the woods of Vienna, Wolf Trap is the only national park in the US  dedicated to the performing arts. The park is home to three performance venues: The Filene Center, which is an outdoor amphitheater with seating for up to 7,000 people; The Barnes at Wolf Trap, which is an intimate indoor venue that can accommodate just over 300 people; and the Children’s Theater in the Woods, which offers performances and activities for children.  Wolf Trap hosts a wide range of performances throughout the year from puppet shows to classical opera, appealing to the young and young-at-heart. If you haven’t had an opportunity to visit, you should visit here for a full list of upcoming events.  You won’t regret it!  Performance season May – September | Vienna, VA