Valentine’s, Bollywood, Mardi Gras, and More: This Week’s Events

There’s plenty of fun for the whole family this week! Check out everything from Valentine’s Day carriage rides, to a new light show, to Bollywood night, model trains, a Mardi Gras extravaganza, and more.

Here’s our list of 10 events happening around Northern Virginia now through February 19:

Valentine’s Day Carriage Rides

Enjoy a horse-drawn carriage ride along the twinkling streets of Reston Town Center with your Valentine! Reservations are required for this experience and groups are limited to 5 people.

When: Monday, 2/13 and Tuesday, 2/14 from 4 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Price: $30 per group
Address: Reston Town Center, 11900 Market St., Reston, VA 20190
Find out more here.

Storytime: Playground of Sound at the Hirshhorn

What can you create with sound? Join the Hirshhorn Museum for a reading of Sounds Around Town by Wendy Pfeffer, and a close-look and listen to the artwork Light Gray with Middle C (Variation #2) by Jennie C. Jones. We’ll practice collaboratively creating sounds and making our own found sound artworks.

When: Wednesday, 2/15 from 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Price: Free
Address: Hirshhorn Museum, Independence Ave SW &, 7th St SW, Washington, DC 20560
See the event details on their website.

The Great Migration: An Illuminated Adventure at NOVA Wild

NOVA Wild, Reston’s new neighborhood zoo, is excited to welcome families from all over the DMV to celebrate their grand opening! This non-profit is marking its special milestone with a unique animal-themed light show called the Great Migration. Teaming up with Lumagica, NOVA Wild will host this special event starting this week through April 9. The Great Migration Light Show is designed to educate and inspire, with 800,000 LED lights illuminating displays that represent major wildlife migrations worldwide. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore 10 uniquely designed animal habitats and discover more than a mile of trails running through the property.

When: Begins Friday, 2/17 and runs every Thursday through Sunday through 4/9. Light show is open from 4:30 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Price: Tickets range depending on VIP experience. General admission for children ages 3-12 is $24, and general admission for adults is $35. There is also a family ticket package for $105.
Address: NOVA Wild, 1228 Hunter Mill Rd., Vienna, VA 22182
Read about the light show and purchase tickets here.

Bollywood Night at Dulles South

Dulles South invites all ages to this first-ever Bollywood Night this Friday, featuring music, dancing, a classic Bollywood Film, and more!

When: Friday, 2/17 from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Price: $5/guest
Address: Dulles South Recreation & Community Center, 24950 Riding Center Dr., South Riding, VA 20152
Find out more here.

Winter Luau at Claude Moore Recreation Center

Families and friends are invited to the Claude Moore Recreation & Community Center for a Winter Luau this February. Come have some summer fun in the middle of winter!

When: Saturday, 2/18 from 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Price: Free for children 2 and younger, $5 for adults and children 3+.
Address: Claude Moore Recreation Center, 46105 Loudoun Park Ln., Sterling, VA 20164
Click here to see the event listing.

Model Trains & Thomas at the Historic Vienna Train Station

Visit the Historic Vienna Train Station on February 18 for a special open house! Come see and hear HO-scale model trolleys and trains, including Thomas and some of his friends, on display and in operation. This is great family fun and an activity for the young and young at heart!

When: Saturday, 2/18 from 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Price: Free, but donations are welcome
Address: Historic Vienna Train Station, 231 Dominion Rd. NE, Vienna, VA 22180
More info can be found here.

Winter Family Festival at Shipgarten

Batman, Cinderella, and Spider-Man are making a special appearance at Shipgarten! Join the fun at Shipgarten’s free Winter Family Festival this Saturday! Play on the playground, jump in a moon bounce, get crafty in the Kid’s Corner, compete in festival events for prizes, take pictures in the photo booth, and more. There’s something for everyone!

When: Saturday, 2/18 from 1 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Price: Free
Address: Shipgarten, 7581 Colshire Dr., McLean, VA 22102
See all the event info here.

Presidential Family Fun Day at the National Portrait Gallery

Celebrate President's Day and all things presidential at the National Portrait Gallery's annual Presidential Family Fun Day! This year we celebrate President Abraham Lincoln with art activities, spotlight tours and more.

When: Saturday, 2/18 from 11:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Price: Free
Address: Kogod Courtyard, National Portrait Gallery, 8th St NW & G St NW, Washington, DC 20001
Find out more on their website.

Family Game Day at Labyrinth Games & Puzzles

Join Labyrinth for an exciting game family game day featuring the brand new UNO Ultimate, Marvel edition! Families may play any games they wish, but Labyrinth staff will be on hand to teach UNO Ultimate: Marvel. Per the Mattel website: "This premium version of UNO® features four card decks, each designed specifically for a popular, heroic character. Each player chooses to play as a character who has special powers that they can use on EVERY turn. A Danger Deck holds 'Event' and 'Enemy' cards to switch the balance of power!" All participants will get to take home a special pack of UNO Ultimate. Recommended age is 7+.

When: Saturday, 2/18 from 12 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Price: Free
Address: Labyrinth Games & Puzzles, 645 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, Washington, DC 20003
See the event listing here.

Mardi Gras Celebration and Parade

Bring a bit of New Orleans to the DMV! Come celebrate Mardi Gras with a free community-wide extravaganza featuring a lively parade down Wharf Street featuring ornate floats and stilt walkers, a dance party with live music on District Pier, and a special fireworks finale.

When: Saturday, 2/18 from 3 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Price: Free
Address: District Pier at The Wharf, 101 District Sq. SW, Washington, DC, 20024
Click here for the full schedule of events.