(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.

(12-Adult) Discover how people of the past patched, stitched and darned to mend worn clothing. See and touch examples of mending techniques. Learn how to thread a needle, make basic stitches and sew on a patch to extend the life of your own garments. Materials will be provided.

(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.

(14-Adult) Learn about the history and importance of marigolds to different cultures and celebrations, including the joyful Mexican celebration, Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). Craft a marigold flower crown or a garland using blooms grown at Green Spring to take home. Afterwards enjoy horchata and other traditional Mexican treats as you socialize in the Historic House.

(6-Adult) Hike the trail and learn about the history of abandoned sites hidden from most visitor’s view. Follow trails of forested areas and Cain’s Branch waterway to learn about the life of early inhabitants who made Sully their home. This outdoor guided program does involve some walking over uneven terrain and along trails. Program is held weather permitting.

(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.

(All Ages) Bring up to eight people and learn how to use an old-fashioned cider press by making your own cider. Your group needs to bring approximately 100 apples of their choosing and tightly sealable containers for transporting approximately 2 gallons of cider. Participants will carry and press their own apples and cider. Dress accordingly. All participants will be contacted prior to their program with full details. Colvin Run Mill offers weekday timeslots, call 703-759-2771 for availability.

(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.

(4-Adult) Discover how sailors were fed during the War of 1812. Explore the mill as we grind grain using the power of the waterwheel. Meet members of Ship's Company, a War of 1812 reenactors' group and hear stories about life at sea. Make ship biscuits, also called hardtack. All participants, including accompanying adults, must register and pay for the program.

(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.