Stories and sprinklers on the Town Green in summertime draw in preschoolers and young school children. Photo by Donna Manz.
From toddler to teen, 20-something to Social Security, there are activities and events in Vienna to please any age demographic. Most, unbelievably, are free. You see neighbors, friends and fellow-club members. You can be active or passive. You can even dance through sprinklers if you are a child, although, a prancing 80-year-old would be a delight to see.
From May through August, the Town Green becomes the place to be on Friday and Sunday nights. The free concerts, from classic rock to jazz and bluegrass, provide live musical entertainment from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. unless noted otherwise.
On June 20, Rocknoceros led off the children’s Wednesday evening concert series. Occasionally, the Town Green hosts open mic night on a Saturday evening.
What makes the Town Green concerts so small town-ish is that families, friends, couples and teens spread out over the lawn, frequently armed with picnics.
Local businesses, nonprofits and individuals sponsor the concerts. If inclement weather arises, call the weather line at 703-255-7842 or the Vienna Community Center at 703-255-6360 two hours before the event for cancellation information.
The upcoming events include:
June 27, Louis the Magician; June 29, Cletus and Lori – Folk; June 30, open mic night; July 6, FLYNN – Celtic; July 8, Chris Polk Band - Blues/Classic Rock; July 11, Emy Tseng - Brazilian Jazz; July 13, Black Sombrero Brass - Herb Albert Tijuana Brass Tribute Band; July 15, Richard Walton Group – Jazz; July 18, Oh Susanna - Children’s Entertainment; July20, Sarah Bennett Swanner - Soulful Blues; July 21, open mic night; July 22, Vienna Community Band; July 25, Ed McDade - Interactive Song and Story The Rhythm and Rhyme of American Folk Music; July 27, Kitty and The Fat Cats - Rockabilly, Blues and Jazz Band; July 29, NOVA Brass Ensemble - 5:30 p.m.; Village Jazz Band - 6:30 p.m.; August 3, Kingsley Winter Band – Rock; August 5, Wayne Tympanik -Jazz/Dixieland; August 10, Mama Tried – Bluegrass; August 12, Redstone - Classic Rock; August 17, Clarence Buffalo - Soulful Rock; August 18, open mic night; August 19, Blaskapelle "Alte Kameraden" - Bavarian Band
July 4th Independence Day celebration - festival and fireworks display
While Memorial Day weekend may kick off summer activities, it really is the 4th of July and Independence Day festivities and events that highlight a Vienna summer season.
The Town of Vienna sponsors its annual 4th of July festival on the grounds of the community center and baseball field from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Vienna’s Independence Day celebration climaxes with fireworks at Southside Park.
The daytime festival includes a marketplace of arts and crafts, food and drink, music, family games, children's entertainment, antique and classic car display. At about 9:20 p.m., fireworks blast off at Southside Park. For more information, call 703-255-6360.
Movies in the Park
The next-best thing to a drive-in movie is a movie in the park … Glyndon Park, that is.
Come to Glyndon Park in Vienna to watch your favorite family movies. All movies will be rated G. Everyone is welcome to bring lawn chairs or blankets or just sit in the grass and enjoy their favorite movie with the whole family. Parents and family members are required to stay with their children. In case of inclement weather, call 703-255-7842 two hours before show time for event information.
Show Dates and Times
July 20 - 8:45 p.m. - The Lion King; Aug. 24 - 8:45 p.m. - Kung Fu Panda 2
Tots and Teens On The Green
Wednesdays, 2 to 3 p.m. Vienna Parks and Recreation’s Club Phoenix Teen Center hosts the 3rd Annual Tots and Teens on the Green. This event is open to children of all ages and led by Teen Center staff and summer volunteers. Each event is free and takes place on the Vienna Town Green.
In case of inclement weather, call the rain line at 703-255-7842 for cancellation information. Parents are required to stay with their children throughout the program.
Dinosaur Day, July 11 - crafts, games and a dinosaur egg hunt; Sports Day, July 18; Princesses and Superheroes Day, July 25; Dress-up, games, and arts and crafts; Nature Day, August 1; A Rockin Obstacle Course Party, August 8
Summer Stories and Sprinklers
Wednesdays, June 27 through Aug. 15, 1 p.m. Vienna Town Green.
Children sit on the grass and listen to stories at the Historic Vienna Little Library located behind the Freeman Store, 131 Church Street NE from 1 to 1:30 p.m. At 1:30 p.m. the Town of Vienna turns on the sprinklers watering the Town Green grass and children run through the sprinklers.
This event is free and children of all ages are welcome, although it is preschoolers who dominate. Sponsored by Historic Vienna, Inc.
Vienna Youth Theatre
In August, the Vienna Youth Players present "Footloose," a musical set in a small farming town.
Performances run on Aug. 2, 4, 10 and 11 at 7:30 p.m. and on Aug. 12 at 1 p.m.
Tickets for adults under 65 are $14. Students and seniors 65 and over pay $12.
Tickets go on sale July 9 at the Vienna Community Center.
Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts
Wolf Trap is a hundred acres of the sound of music. In the summer, under stars, world-renown artists come to Wolf Trap to perform. From rock to opera, swampfest to musical theatre, the Filene Center showcases almost every musical genre in existence. The lawn is a favorite spot to picnic, lie back and listen to the performances, but, when it rains, lawn seats are pretty mushy.
Prices for performances vary.
On summer mornings, the venerable Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods presents musical performances geared to young children, from DinoRock to puppetry and ethnic beats. Mature shade trees surround the theatre’s bleachers and it’s not unusual to see kids dancing around. Families and summer-campers come from throughout the Metro region.
For more information on Wolf Trap’s summer schedule, go to http://www.wolftrap.org/ or http://www.wolftrap.org/Education/~/media/2D964B8F90E04AFBBCE77BB2BC986350.ashx for schedule and details of The Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods.
Tickets available at the Box Office and online at www.wolftrap.org/woods. All shows start at 10:30a.m., Tuesdays through Saturdays. Children under 2 are free admission.