Interactive Gaming Experience Opening First VA Location

UPDATE: Opening Moved to August: Activate Set To Open First Virginia Location At Sterling's Cascades Marketplace

STERLING, VA — As the revitalization of the Cascades Marketplace continues, an active gaming experience will be one of the shopping center's latests openings.

Activate is expected to open on Thursday, July 24 at Cascade Marketplace (20964 Southbank Street, Suite 120, Sterling, VA). This will be the first Activate location in the DC region, while the next closest is in Baltimore. Activate, founded in 2017 and headquartered in Winnipeg, Canada, has grown to 40 locations internationally in Canada, the U.S. the United Kingdom and Dubai.

"We’re so excited to make our Virginia debut in the dynamic DMV region," said Adam Schmidt, co-Founder and CEO of Activate. "We’re excited to bring something totally new to the area: an experience that combines tech, teamwork and physical gameplay in a way that keeps people coming back."

The interactive experience offers a mix of physical activity and gaming for players of all ages. Groups of two to five will collaborate in cooperative mode or play against each other in competitive mode in the interactive gaming rooms. Progress on the challenges is logged through Activate's RFID wristbands. New games and challenges will be added regularly.

The Sterling location will be 9,212 square feet. Hours will be 9:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays to Thursdays, 9:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays to Saturdays and 9:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays. Check back for the launch of bookings at playactivate.com/sterling.

Cascades Marketplace is in the midst of filling vacancies with new businesses and transforming one of its blocks. According to The Burn, Paris Baguette is ready to open its doors later this week. Brasserie Royale, the second restaurant from the Local Provision owners, opened earlier in July. Around the businesses, crews are working on sidewalk improvements on Cranston and Southbank Streets to make Cascades Marketplace more pedestrian friendly.

Another major change has been the former Skyzone that closed last year has been demolished to make room for future stacked townhouses and regular townhouses. The Villas at Cascades stacked townhouses next to the shopping center are also making progress, with Supervisor Juli Briskman (D-Algonkian) noting in a video update that the first buildings could be occupied in September.

SEE ALSO: Shopping Center Under Revitalization Set To Gain New French Restaurant