Alert:
04/22/2026 5:30 pm
(12-Adult) Discover how people of the past patched, stitched and darned to mend worn clothing. See and touch examples of mending techniques. Learn how to thread a needle, make basic stitches and sew on a patch to extend the life of your own garments. Materials will be provided.
04/25/2026 11:00 am
(14-Adult) African Americans' labor, experience, and knowledge were crucial to 19th-century grist milling. Explore a historic mill as you discuss the contributions of African American millers in Fairfax County. This program links to the VA250 and Fairfax 250 commemoration.
04/26/2026 11:00 am to 04/26/2026 12:30 pm
(4-Adult) Explore Colvin Run Mill as you learn about the milling process from beginning to end. Learn hands-on how we clean, mill and sift grains using antique equipment. All participants get to take home a souvenir sample bag of what is milled during class. This program links to the VA250 and Fairfax250 commemoration.
05/09/2026 11:00 am
(4-10 yrs.) Harvest herbs from the garden to make teas and other treats.
05/09/2026 1:00 pm to 05/09/2026 2:30 pm
(3-Adult) Bring your child to the mill and celebrate Spring. We’ll have tea, savory and sweet treats and play 19th century games. Children must be accompanied by a registered adult.
05/10/2026 10:00 am to 05/10/2026 11:00 am
(7-Adult) Discover our native trees, how they helped people of the past and how we use them in the modern day. Learn how to use the iNaturalist app to identify things you find along the way. Each walk will feature a different theme and may include different trees, seasonal features like fruit and flowers and a variety of uses.
05/16/2026 9:30 am
(16-Adult) Beetles and bugs are everywhere from logs, to forests, gardens and even in the water. Learn some natural history, anatomy and tips for drawing the Coleoptera and Hemiptera families. We will draw from the center’s preserved insect collection as well as from photos and field guides. Your choice of watercolors or colored pencil.
05/16/2026 12:00 pm to 05/16/2026 1:30 pm
(7-Adult) Discover historic and modern engineering through demonstrations, hands-on activities and experiments. Engineers build on the work of past engineers to solve problems in the present and future.
05/16/2026 4:00 pm to 05/16/2026 6:00 pm
(21 yrs.+) Follow whiskey's journey from grain to glass. Explore the 19th century gristmill cracking the needed wheat, learn about the distilling process and taste local spirits. The historic relationship between mills and distilleries was as important then, as it is today. Snacks will be provided. This program links to the VA250 and Fairfax250…
05/30/2026 4:00 pm to 05/30/2026 5:30 pm
(16-Adult) In this program, learn the basics of using plants from the garden to make oils, tinctures and vinegars. Learn how different infusions extract different properties from the plants and how plants have been used in traditional medicines for healing and strengthening the immune system. Participants will go home with one tincture, one vinegar…
05/30/2026 8:30 pm to 05/30/2026 10:30 pm
(10-Adult) Watch an outdoor screening of "Sense of Sensibility" (1995) at the 19th century gristmill. Bring your own blanket or low lawn chair. Refreshments and concessions will be available for purchase. The Miller's House Exhibit will be open for self-guided tours at 7:30pm and will close at the start of the film. The film will start at sunset…