Illustration by Shane Rebenshied
Best Annual Charity Event
NVTRP Ride to Thrive Polo Classic
6429 Clifton Road, Clifton, NVTRP.org, 703-764-0269
An afternoon filled with food, drink and semi-professional polo raises proceeds for the annual operating budget of Northern Virginia Therapeutic Riding Program, an equestrian center dedicated to serving community members with disabilities, youth-at-risk and recovering military personnel. Last year, 600 people attended the event and raised a total of $150,000.
second place: The Enchanted Forest, Junior League of Northern Virginia, Falls Church, JLNV.org, 703-442-4163
third place: ILH Ladies Board Rummage Sale, Leesburg, LadiesBoard.org, 703-771-2985
Best Art Event
Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival
11900 Market St., Reston, RestonArts.org, 703-471-9242
Marking 27 years, the outdoor event hosted by the Greater Reston Arts Center (GRACE) has now expanded into a three-day festival to accommodate the 200 artists and up to 50,000 visitors who participate each year.
second place: Art on the Avenue, Alexandria, ArtOnTheAvenue.org, 703-683-2570
third place: Art of the Piedmont Art Auction and Reception, Middleburg, ArtOfThePiedmont.org, 540-687-5210
Best Art Gallery
Torpedo Factory Art Center
105 N. Union St., Alexandria, TorpedoFactory.org, 703-746-4570
Located on the Potomac Riverfront, the Torpedo Factory Art Center is home to the nation’s largest collection of open working artists’ studios. The munitions-plant-turned-art-mecca opened in 1974 to house seven galleries and two workshops, in addition to its 82 open studios. Visitors can observe artists plying their craft and purchase original works directly from them.
second place: Caton Merchant Family Gallery, Candy Factory, Manassas, Center-For-The-Arts.org, 703-330-2787
third place: Greater Reston Art Center, RestonArts.org, 703-471-9242
Best Charity
Northern VA Therapeutic Riding Program
6429 Clifton Road, Clifton, NVTRP.org, 703-764-0269
Since 1980, NVTRP has benefitted thousands through equine-assisted activities held on its 17-acre farm, which houses 14 horses. Serving individuals with varying disabilities—including military personnel recovering from mental health issues and PTSD—the organization’s programs provide physical, social and emotional benefits through therapeutic riding.
second place: Paws for Seniors, Bealeton, PawsForSeniors.org, 540-748-8177
third place: Serve Our Willing Warriors, Haymarket, WillingWarriors.org, 571-248-0008
Best Family Entertainment
Old Town Alexandria
221 King St., Alexandria, VisitAlexandriaVa.com, 703-746-3301
Trekking down cobblestone streets from one attraction to the next is part of the Old Town experience. The Alexandria Colonial Tours’ Kids Scavenger Hunt guides families along George Washington’s footsteps, deciphering clues that lead to historic sites and museums, such as the Carlyle House and Ramsey House Visitor Center.
second place: Hylton Performing Arts Center at George Mason University, Manassas, HyltonCenter.org, 703-993-8794
third place: Campbells Frozen Custard, Woodbridge, CampbellsCustard.com, 571-285-1711
Best Food Festival
Taste of Reston
11900 Market St., Reston, RestonTaste.com, 703-707-9045
The largest food festival in the region, this two-day event hosts 60 restaurants, vendors, craft breweries and wineries, and features four stages for live entertainment. Previous Taste of Reston booths have showcased a wide variety of foods from raw oysters and Peruvian-inspired dishes to all-American boneless wings and mini cannoli.
second place: Taste of Falls Church, FallsChurchVa.gov, 703-248-5027
third place: Chocolate Lovers Festival, Fairfax, ChocolateFestival.net, 703-385-7949
Best Movie Theater
Angelika Film Center Mosaic
2911 District Ave., Fairfax, AngelikaFilmCenter.com, 571-512-3301
Featuring eight auditoriums, the Angelika Film Center invites moviegoers to nibble on unusual concessions—toasted caramel popcorn, kimchi hot dogs and edamame, to name a few—while viewing throwbacks like The Princess Bride or new indie flicks like the The Seagull.
second place: Alamo Drafthouse One Loudoun, Ashburn, Drafthouse.com, 571-293-6808
third place: Regal Virginia Gateway Stadium 14 & RPX, Gainesville, RegMovies.com, 844-462-7342
Best Museum
Manassas Museum
9101 Prince William St., Manassas, ManassasMuseum.org, 703-368-1873
This spring an immersive exhibition called Annie’s Porch: This Was Manassas opened in honor of the late Ann Harrover Thomas, a well-known local storyteller. Friends and family would gather on Thomas’ front porch during times of war and civil unrest to hear tales of their community.
second place: National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, Chantilly, AirAndSpace.si.edu, 703-572-4118
third place: National Museum of the Marine Corps, Triangle, USMCMuseum.com, 703-784-6107
Best Music Venue
Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, Filene Center
1551 Trap Road, Vienna, WolfTrap.org, 703-255-1900
Located in the only national park established solely for the performing arts, the 7,000-seat amphitheater at Wolf Trap hosts more than 80 shows each summer. The casual, outdoor venue invites guest to picnic on the meadow before enjoying performances from top national acts, including Barry Manilow, who plays the venue June 8-9, and Reba McEntire, who is scheduled for July 1.
second place: The Birchmere, Alexandria, Birchmere.com, 703-549-7500
third place: Jiffy Lube Live, Bristow, LiveNation.com, 703-754-6400
Best Performing Arts Company
Manassas Ballet Theatre
9004 Mathis Ave., Manassas, ManassasBallet.org, 703-257-1811
Artistic director Amy Grant Wolfe’s son, Colin, lost his life in Iraq. In 2014, inspired by interviews with Colin’s fellow marines and commanders, Wolfe debuted an original one-act performance commemorating her son’s life. Today, Colin: Son, Marine, Hero has expanded into a full-length ballet, and is the closing performance for the 2017-2018 season, scheduled for May 18-20.
second place: Signature Theatre, Arlington, SigTheatre.org, 571-527-1860
third place: Gainesville Dance Center, Haymarket, GainesvilleDanceCenter.com, 703-257-5000
Best Special Event Venue
Hylton Performing Arts Center
10960 George Mason Circle, Manassas, HyltonCenter.org, 703-993-8794
This 85,000-square-foot venue on the campus of George Mason University comprises Merchant Hall, an elegant opera house that seats more than 1,000 and features a 100-foot stage and orchestra pit, the more intimate 240-seat Gregory Theater perfect for cabaret and chamber performances, and other spaces of varying size making it the region’s go-to destination for arts performances of all types.
second place: Harris Pavilion, Manassas, HarrisPavilion.com, 703-361-9800
third place: Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, Vienna, NoVaParks.com, 703-255-3631
