23 Days of Summer: Time for Campfire S’Mores

By Greg Hambrick

Campfire S’mores doesn’t require you to hike a mile into the woods with a thin sleeping bag that provides limited comfort on the hard ground. Today, Friday, Aug. 30, your family can toast S’mores over a campfire and head back to the comfort of home.

The last day of summer is Sept. 21. Or, you can look at it this way: The first day of fall is Sept. 22. Patch has found something for you to do each day as we count down until summer passes us by.

Check our events calendar to see what’s happening in our community, and add your own events!

Today, it’s “Campfire Friday” at Hidden Pond Nature Center in Annandale. From 7:30-9 p.m., families join a naturalist to search for nocturnal animals. The event concludes with a campfire, S’mores provided. The cost is $8 per person. Register at the parks authority site, or call 703-451-9588 for more info.

There are more campfire opportunities in the region before summer is over. Arlington will be hosting a “Family Fun Campfire” from 7-8 p.m. Saturday at Gulf Branch. Fairfax County Parks Authority regularly updates its list of campfire events. And campfire rentals are available at Belvedere Plantation’s Harvest Festival in Fredericksburg beginning Sept. 21, so you can send summer off and welcome fall.

Do you have a campfire event coming up? Share it with us in the comments section.

More Days of Summer:

• 24 Days of Summer: Time Enough for Free Music

More summer resources:

• Summer Style Still Trending: Floral

• End of Summer Getaway Ideas

• The MTV VMA’s Songs of the Summer

• Must-Have Summer Recipes

Days of Summer Submission Page

Event Calendar

Aug. 31, Outdoor Blues

Lake Anne Jazz and Blues Festival  http://reston.patch.com/groups/around-town/p/save-the-date-lake-anne-jazz-and-blues-festival-aug-31

2nd Annual 5K/1K Run (Good Shepherd Catholic Church)

When: Aug. 31 8 a.m.

Coverage/Directory: http://greateralexandria.patch.com/groups/around-town/p/good-shepherd-to-have-2nd-annual-5k-run

Prince William Community Band performs patriotic American Music -presented by the Center for the Arts' SummerSounds Concert Series-

When:Aug. 31, 6:30-8pm at the Harris Pavilion, 9116 Center St., Manassas

Coverage/Directory: Will appear on Manassas Patch later this week

Sept. 1, Capitol Concert

National Symphony Orchestra: Labor Day Capitol Concert

When: Sept. 1 8 p.m. at the U.S. Capitol

Coverage/Directory: http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/music-events/national-symphony-orchestra-labor-day-capitol-concert...

Sept. 2, International Festival

38th International Festival (Good Shepherd Catholic Church)

When: Sept. 2 noon-6 p.m.

Coverage/Directory: http://greateralexandria.patch.com/groups/giving/p/labor-day-good-shepherd-international-festival-returns-for-38th-year_717d21b8

Herndon Labor Day Festival

http://www.herndon-va.gov/Content/Parks_rec/SpecialEvents/Labor_Day_Festival/

Sept. 5, Wagon Ride.

Wagon Ride. Scavenger hunt for birds, butterflies and blossoms. (also, Sept. 18)

http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/Calendars/09-0513.htm

Sept. 6, Rocket Launch

http://www.orbital.com/NewsInfo/MissionUpdates/MinotaurV/index.shtml

http://greateralexandria.patch.com/groups/summer/p/minotaur-v-rocket-launch-nasa-heads-from-virginia-back-to-the-moon

Wine Fest 2013, https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=589402734452966&set=a.172862106107033.43895.172841996109044&type=1

When: Sept. 6, 5-8 p.m.

Coverage/Directory: http://woodbridge-va.patch.com/listings/wegmans-76703437

Sept. 7, Indian Festival

Virginia Indian Festival Returns to Riverbend Park

http://mclean.patch.com/groups/arts-and-entertainment/p/virginia-indian-festival-returns-to-riverbend-park

Fall Festival/Taste of Falls Church

When: Sept. 7, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Coverage/Directory: Will appear on Falls Church Patch later this week.

Doggy Swim at Great Waves Park

When: Sept. 7, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

http://westendalexandria.patch.com/groups/5-things/p/zoes-kitchen-update-meditate-at-the-library-dogs-invited-to-great-waves

4th Annual Doggie Paddle at Signal Bay Waterpark

When: Sept. 7 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Coverage/Directory: Advance story coming Sat. Aug. 31

Burke Centre Festival

When: Saturday, Sept. 7 and Sunday, Sept. 8

Coverage/Directory: (2013 guide will be posted this week) 2012 coverage: http://burke.patch.com/groups/local-connections/p/burke-centre-festival-opens-saturday

Sept. 8, Triathlon

30th annual Reston triathlon

Coverage/Directory: None yet; big splash next week. Annual real-deal regional triathlon

Sept. 9, Feed Animals

Feeding Day at E.C. Lawrence Park.

http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/Calendars/09-0913.htm

Sept. 11, 9/11 commemoration

When: 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 11 at the Courthouse Plaza, 2100 Clarendon Blvd.

Coverage/Directory: http://arlington-va.patch.com/groups/around-town/p/arlington-announces-911-commemoration-ceremony

Sept. 12, Farm Family Fun

Junior Farmer Family Fun

http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/Calendars/09-1213.htm

Sept. 13, Fishing

Fishing Fun at Riverbend Park

http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/Calendars/09-1313.htm

Sept. 14, Sunset concert

Sunset Serenade

http://www.workhousearts.org/events/performing-arts/concert-sunset-serenade

Outdoor concert celebrating end of Summer featuring the music of Broadway, live performance by award-winning vocalists.

What: Third Annual Native Plant Sale, Vienna

When: Sept. 14, 8 a.m. to noon.

Coverage/Directory: Will write preview for Sept. 9.  

Stonebridge Fall Fest and 5K, https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=585789524814287&set=a.172862106107033.43895.172841996109044&type=1

When: Sept. 14, 9 a.m.-9 p.m.

Coverage/Directory: http://woodbridge-va.patch.com/listings/stonebridge-at-potomac-town-center

Sept. 21, RiverFest

Rappahannock RiverFest  2013,

http://fredericksburg.patch.com/groups/around-town/p/rappahannock-riverfest-2013

Andrea Kauffman Sprint Four the Cure 5K

When: Sept. 21 at 8 a.m.

Coverage/Directory:  http://beatcancerdc.com/run/