Whatever December holiday you celebrate, there are events throughout Fairfax County to get you in the holiday spirit. The Connection covered multiple happenings on the weekend of Dec. 3 and 4. 

The weeks ahead are jam-packed with fun, including stunning light shows; check out the one at the Meadowlark Botanical Gardens. There is ice skating at Reston Town Center’s ice skating pavilion. 

WinterMarkt is happening in the Town of Herndon, and there is even a Candlelit Guided tour of Mount Vernon. Visit The Connection’s calendar and bulletin items and Visit Fairfax at https://www.fxva.com/blog/post/things-to-do-this-december-in-fairfax-county/  to learn more.

Holiday Homes Tour of Herndon

The tour began in 1979 as one of many events held to commemorate the town's centennial and has been an annual event since 1985. A volunteer group collaborates with the community to identify tour homes representing the diversity of community members, architecture, home ages, and holiday celebrations that illustrate how the town has changed over time and reflect everyday life and families.

Photo by Mercia Hobson/ The Connection

Docent Jabar Baig volunteers to oversee the tour’s “Bonus Home,” the privately-owned Arts Barn of Allen and Mercia Hobson. He welcomes tour participants Missy and Stephanie Barber of Herndon, Ann Greenwood of Vienna, Jade Rubin of Reston, and Andrea Wallenhorst of Herndon. "I love seeing all the local homes and the beautiful decorations as it makes me feel connected to the community,” said  Missy Barber, who attended the event.

Photo by Mercia Hobson/ The Connection

From left, members of the Herndon Fortnightly Club, Vicki Herman of Herndon, Georgianna Knotts of Herndon, Marcia McMahon of Reston, Mary Burger of Herndon, Yvonne Johnson of Herndon, and Cathy Foster, volunteer as docents at the home of Jordan and Melanie Tatum. As tour crowds dwindle, the docents take a break and join Jasbinder Singh, a former Herndon Town Councilmember, before giving him a guided tour of the residence.

Photo by Mercia Hobson/ The Connection

Rich and Cindy Michaelson of Herndon listen as docent Jeffrey Fairfield of the Rotary Club of Herndon-Reston gives insider information on objects in the home of Sheila Olem, mayor of the Town of Herndon. Olem’s son gave his mother a caricature of herself when she was first inducted into office as mayor, and the pennant is the one she received on the opening day of the Herndon Metro Station.

Photo by Mercia Hobson/ The Connection

The Tatem family receives the framed pen and ink drawings of their home by artist Pat Macintyre, who holds the artwork, during the after-tour party for event participants, volunteers, and supporters. Event co-chairs Keven LeBlanc and Susan Anselene flank the group.

Photo by Mercia Hobson/ The Connection

Co-chair of the Homes Tour committee, Susan Anselene (right), presents Reston artist Pat Macintyre, a highly esteemed and beloved arts advocate, with a framed piece of art showcasing photographs of a selection of the hundreds of original pen and ink drawings of houses that Macintyre has been creating for nearly four decades, to gift homeowners on the tour.

The 17th Annual Herndon Holiday Model Train Show & Caboose Open House

The Herndon Historical Society and Arts Herndon featured an N-Scale operating layout by the Northern Virginia NTRAK. 

Photo by Mercia Hobson/ The Connection

From left, John Dudzinsky, a retired community forester/arborist, holds Oshi, the traveling Pom, and joins Venkat Guntupalli, Anika Guntupalli, 5, Aanya Guntupalli 5, Sowjanya Kunala, and Jo Ormesher, president of Arts Herndon, with her sweet Corgi pup named 'Lilibet,'' after the late Queen Elizabeth.

JINGLE ON THE LAKE

Jingle on the Lake Christmas Festival, presented by the Lake Anne Washington Plaza Merchant Association 

The day-long holiday extravaganza featured the Grinch and Santa, who arrived on different decorated pontoon boats flanked by elves and dogs on paddleboards.

Photo by Mercia Hobson/ The Connection

Serenity Weber, 3, tells Fred Weber of Reston what she will ask Santa to bring to her, “a real T-rex.”

Photo by Mercia Hobson/ The Connection

The Vienna Singing Princesses are a group of Vienna-based students who perform together out of a shared passion for musical and theatrical productions. Meet Ice Queen Grace, Arabian Princess Eva, Ice Princess Kailyn, and Warrior Princess Haley.

Photo by Mercia Hobson/ The Connection

The Grinch arrives at Lake Anne in Reston before Santa.

Photo by Mercia Hobson/ The Connection

To see Santa, 6-year-old Cohen Coulomb of Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., traveled with his family to Lake Anne in Reston.  It made his day.

Photo by Mercia Hobson/ The Connection

Elves and dogs on paddleboards escort Santa to the pier.

Photo by Paul Grundy

Santa on the boat. First year Santa is George Broderick of Lake Anne, enjoying the role.

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Photos by Paul Grundy

Maureen Broderick, Santa’s actual wife, with Santa

Gifts from the HeART Shopping Event at Lake Anne

This is a holiday gift-shopping event with original artwork, ceramics, jewelry, and other one-of-a-kind items sold by the artists.

Photo by Mercia Hobson/ The Connection

Quilt-maker Preeti Harris displays her STEM-influenced work depicting a diversified group of children.

Town of Vienna, Cookies with Santa

The Vienna Community Center hosted Cookies with Santa on Sunday, Dec. 3. 

Photo via Facebook.com

Santa, his elves, and Rudolph took time out of their busy days to stop by as children made ornaments.

The Town of Vienna displays holiday lottery winners.

Photo via Facebook.com

The first-ever holiday display lottery winners for the Town of Vienna place their menorah and dreidel next to the Christmas tree on the Town Green. The winter solstice display should be up soon. The menorah lighting will take place on Dec. 10 at 5 p.m.