Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving in Northern Virginia

Changing of leaves usually signifies the start of the Holidays. One of the main holidays in November is none other than THANKSGIVING!

Thanksgiving Day is a National Holiday celebrated in the United States and Canada. It was originally celebrated to give thanks for the blessing of the harvest and of the preceding year.

In the United States, the modern Thanksgiving holiday tradition is commonly, but not universally, traced to a sparsely documented 1621 celebration at Plymouth in present-day Massachusetts. The 1621 Plymouth feast and thanksgiving was prompted by a good harvest. Pilgrims and Puritans who began emigrating from England in the 1620s and 1630s carried the tradition of Days of Fasting and Days of Thanksgiving with them to New England.

Thanksgiving, currently celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November by fede-ral legislation in 1941, has been an annual tradition in the United States by presidential proclamation since 1863 and by state legislation since the Founding Fathers of the United States. Historically, Thanksgiving has traditionally been a celebration of the blessings of the year, including the harvest. What Americans call the "Holiday Season" generally begins with Thanksgiving.

To celebrate this holiday, here are a few events that you might want to check out.

Meadowlark Winter Walk of Lights in Vienna started on November 18th and will end January 2017. Meadowlark Botanical Gardens lights up for the holidays with over 500,000 lights and displays on a 0.6 miles outdoor walking trail. Purchase entry tickets in advance to ensure you get parking and avoid lines, though some tickets are available at the door. Pick up a hot chocolate before your walk, and then shop at the Snowflake Shoppe for holiday ornaments, flashing jewelry and other goodies.

Reston Holiday Parade, Tree Lighting, and Sing Along is on Friday, November 25th. Reston Town Center launches the festive season at the 26th annual Reston Holiday Parade at 11:00 a.m. with Macy’s-style balloons, musicians, dancers, antique cars, characters, community groups, dignitaries, special guest emcees, and much more. The one-of-a-kind, one-hour, half-mile parade along Market Street also welcomes the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus in a horse-drawn carriage. Since 1991, rain or shine, the parade has been an annual tradition on the day after Thanksgiving.

Bull Run Festival of Lights starting on Wednesday, November 23rd and ending on January 8th, 2017. Every year from Thanksgiving until New Year’s Day, you can experience the Bull Run Festival of Lights, 2.5 miles illuminated by holiday light displays. Drive the festal route from the comfort of your car; turn out your headlights and just follow the magical glow. After viewing the lights, bring your family and friends to the holiday village to enjoy rides, refreshments, and of course, photos with Santa Claus.