Weekend: Parents Night Out and Trail Tales Kick Off

Looking to get out and have some fun in Arlington? Here are some events coming up this weekend as well as later this summer so you can plan ahead. Information courtesy of Arlington Department of Parks and Recreation.

Parents Night Out

Enjoy a night out on June 13, 6-10 p.m. at Walter Reed Community Center while your child, ages 4-11 have a blast thanks to the Teens Making a Difference Club (T-MAD). Your child will enjoy an evening of games, art and fun. The TMAD Club is sponsored by the Department of Parks and Recreation and teaches high school youth leadership skills. Teens created this program as one way to help parents and give back to their own community. Register here.

Trail Tales Kick Off – Free Event

Join us at Long Branch Nature Center, Saturday, June 14, 10a.m.-noon for some summer reading fun to celebrate our new park program, Trail Tales. We will walk along our trails and read the book Woodlice by Siân Smith, do crafts and meet the real life critter from our book with park naturalists. Sponsored by Arlington County Libraries and the Friends of Libraries. For more information visit the event page.

Operation Rescue Ready

June 26, 9a.m. - 5p.m.: the perfect day for disaster! Teens are invited to Thomas Jefferson Community Center to participate in an adventurous, hands-on, emergency response scenario alongside Arlington’s public safety and emergency response teams and the American Red Cross. Partake in a real-time disaster drill, hands only CPR training, info sessions. Learn more about careers in fire rescue, police and Red Cross and walk away better prepared for an emergency situation. This exciting day will impart safety awareness, emergency response training, career development and more. For more info call 703-228-4729 or to register visit registration.arlingtonva.us.

Fort Barnard Playground Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony

Join the County Board and members of the community on Saturday, June 21 at 2 p.m. to celebrate the newly reconstructed playground at Fort Barnard Park. At the event, kids can enjoy face painting, balloon art and a scavenger hunt! The renovated park features play equipment, picnic shelter, accessibility from Pollard Street and around the playground, site furnishings, site drainage improvements and enhanced plantings which will all be implemented according to current playground safety guidelines and ADA standards. For more info visit parks.arlingtonva.us.

Shade Demonstration Garden 25th Anniversary Celebration

VCE Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia (Arlington/Alexandria) will celebrate the garden located in Arlington’s Bon Air Park, Saturday, June 21, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the park. The celebration will feature special activities for children as well as exhibits and presentations by 4-H/Junior Master Gardeners, Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment, Arlington Regional Master Naturalists, the Beekeepers Association of Northern Virginia, MGNV Tried and True Plants, Monarch Waystation and Tree Stewards. For more information, visit mgnv.org/events.

Bon Air Memorial Rose Garden Rose Rooting Demonstration

Sunday, June 22, 9-11 a.m. join Arlington Rosarians (rose experts) at 850 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA, for an outdoor hands-on demonstration on rooting roses. By sure to bring your pruners! Perfect opportunity just in time for summer!

Annual Arlington Volunteer Celebration

We are excited to show our appreciation for our Volunteer Arlington team! Whether you have volunteered or just want to pat our crew on the back, join us on June 23 at Arlington Mill Community Center from 6-7:30 p.m. All volunteers and their guests are welcome! Register today to attend.

Firefly Festival

Celebrate summer’s natural night lights, June 29, 7:30-9:30 p.m. at Fort C.F. Smith. Have fun and learn all about the critters that light up the night. Events include: bug hunts, games, crafts, walks and talks about fireflies. Bring your picnic blanket and dinner to enjoy as we wait for the sun to go down and the lights to come out. Cancelled if raining. For info call 703-228-6535. $7/person. To register visit registration.arlingtonva.us.