(14-Adult) Learn about how African Americans contributed to the Continental Army in 1775 and how James Lafayette spied for George Washington. Learn the stories of Black Virginians, free and enslaved, who fought for freedom—theirs and the nation’s.

(All Ages) In honor of Black History Month, the Frying Pan Baptist Meetinghouse will be open select Saturdays in February from Noon-2 p.m. Interpretive signage will be posted throughout the site for guests to read about the Black history of the Meeting House and stories of the people from the community. Stay for just a few minutes or a couple hours. Registration is free but required to attend.

(4-Adult) Decorate candy canes made by our Blacksmith. Explore holiday traditions and finish with hot cocoa and candy canes.

(Adults) December in the late 1800s might have included a Ladies Housekeeping Society tea hosted by Mrs. Harrison. The halls of Huntley will be decked and we’ll share some Christmas history with you as you enjoy teas, scones, fruit and a light savory.

(16-Adult) Fairfax was as divided as the nation in 1861. Yet these divisions help to explain how Huntley endured the war. This program will examine Huntley through the Civil War through the experiences of the Mason family, their neighbors, and an occupying army. Includes a tour of Historic Huntley.

(6-Adult) Celebrate National Cocoa Day by learning the history of chocolate in Virginia while drinking delicious hot cocoa. Then create some winter craft ornaments to take home.

(6-12 yrs.) Did you know that Huntley Meadows Park was once part of George Mason's holdings? Discover this forgotten Founding Father as you make your own candle, learn the cursive alphabet, write with a quill pen, and decide the future of the Virginia colony.

(10-Adult) Taste different colonial teas at the historic Cabell's Mill and learn about the role tea played in the colonies. The program will include a tour of the Mill and the grounds weather permitting.

(16-Adult) Join us for an instructional workshop on the origins and science behind cultured food and fermentation. We will learn how to make kombucha and kimchi and taste homemade yogurt and cashew cheese. We will also review a brief history of fermentation, how fermentation happens and why it is an important homesteading skill to have today both for your personal health and the environment.

(Adults) Join a historian for a tour of Huntley that examines the relationship of the Mason family to slavery and recovers insights into the lives of the Humphrey family and other enslaved people whose labor maintained Mason wealth and social status.

(6-Adult) Learn about the artifacts that tell us about Green Spring’s past. Do a hands-on artifact assembly with pottery shards using archaeology tools and tips. Decorate your own teacup based on historical styles before having tea and treats as you discuss what your cup’s patterns can tell you about the past. Children must be accompanied by an adult registered in the program.

(6-Adult) Delve into the history of the American Chestnut and learn about efforts to revitalize what was once an iconic North American tree. Enjoy a fire while cooking and sampling chestnuts from an American Chestnut relative. Program is held at the Woodland Stewardship Education Center. All participants, including accompanying adults, must register and pay for the program.

(14-Adult) African Americans' labor, experience, and knowledge were crucial to 19th-century grist milling. Explore a historic mill as you discuss the contributions of African American millers in Fairfax County.

(6-Adult) Explore Sully's heirloom garden and learn how early Americans used herbs in cooking, medicine and housekeeping. This program links to the VA250 and Fairfax250 commemoration.

(6-Adult) Discover the traditional methods of preserving food before refrigerators were available. Try your hand at pickling and take home some tasty skills. This program links to the VA250 and Fairfax250 commemoration.

(16-Adult) View the interior of the 1784 Historic House to discover fascinating ways it was adapted over time, reflecting changing needs, lifestyles and technologies spanning three centuries. A hidden doorway, a rotated staircase, repurposed historic woodwork and a major mid-20th century renovation all reveal how much a home can tell us about human history.

(14-Adult) Few things improved the daily life of the farm family more than the radio. Learn how radio technology advanced during both World War I and II and listen to famous moments in radio history. Join us for a tour through history by hearing and seeing the antique radios from that time.

(7-13 yrs.) Discover more about life in 18th century Virginia as we dive into primary sources and stories from the past at Sully Historic Site. Practice analyzing historical documents, make your own ink, and write your very own historical document.

(4-Adult) Celebrate the holiday season by making your own holiday card. Explore the history of holiday greetings in the historic house and finish with hot cocoa.

(4-Adult) Explore the history of wrapping paper as you enjoy making your own while sipping a hot beverage.

(8-Adult) Can you save history before the clock runs out? Imagine a local landmark is slated for demolition, and only your team can prove its link to the legendary double agent James Armistead Lafayette. This program links to the VA250 and Fairfax250 commemoration.

(14-Adult) A uniquely American symbol, the apple pie is really a medley of ingredients from far away and pie-making traditions from long ago. Explore the culinary roots of apple pie to discover an all-American dish that perfectly reflects this “melting-pot” nation. Hear about the historical importance of apple orchards in American agriculture and on Green Spring Farm. Afterwards, stay for apple pie and socializing. This program links to the VA250 and Fairfax250 commemoration.

(14-Adult) Explore fascinating methods used by historians and scientists to reconstruct faces of known and unknown people from the past. As we mark Black History Month, consider the many faces of Green Spring that we will never know due to historical bias and inequality, and how some sources reveal meaningful details. Refreshments served.

(3-Adult) Celebrate the Lunar New Year with the Fairfax County Park Authority. Enjoy an evening filled with festive traditions, including hands-on crafts and cultural games, delicious samples of Asian cuisine and live performances featuring martial arts, dance and music. Discover the history and stories behind this vibrant holiday as we welcome a new year together. Registration closes Friday, February 19, at 11:59 p.m. Children must be accompanied by an adult also registered in the program.

(4-Adult) Crank ice cream and try using ice tongs, as you discover how ice was harvested and stored in this 19th century farm. All participants, including accompanying adults, must register and pay for the program.

(4-Adult) The sap is rising and the maple trees are tapped. Bundle up for the weather and watch and learn how sap is boiled down into delicious, sweet syrup over an open fire. Sample the delicious combination of maple syrup over cornbread, made from Colvin Run cornmeal. While supplies last. This is an outdoor event, please dress appropriately.

(7-13 yrs.) Supplement your historical studies with a fun day of exploring, interpreting and making maps. Try your hand at orienteering, learn about different types of maps from around the world and take home a personalized map of your life.

(Adults) Enjoy an afternoon tea circa 1830 much as Betsey Mason would have with the gleam of polished silver and proper tea etiquette. Sample a menu of tasty treats appropriate to the period in an historic setting as you brush up on your tea history. Includes a tour of Historic Huntley.

(2-5 yrs.) Explore Colvin Run Mill with your toddler or preschooler through STEAM activities, hands-on history, crafts, stories, and games. Adults must participate with children. Prepaid reservations required. A different program each week: 9/14: Discover Waterwheels; 10/5: Making and Drinking Apple Cider; 10/19: Fall Colors; and 11/16: Giving Thanks.

(3-Adult) Bring your child to the mill and celebrate Valentine’s Day with this heart-themed tea party. We’ll have tea, savory and sweet treats and play 19th century parlor games. Children must be accompanied by a registered adult.

(12-Adult) Learn about the lives and legacy of the people enslaved at Sully Historic Site from the 1700s to the Civil War. This tour includes a walk into the original outbuildings, Sully House and representative housing for the enslaved. Sully is on the National Register of Historic Places and is part of the National Park Service Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. The tour is held weather permitting. This program links to the VA250 and the Fairfax250 commemoration.