Seasonal & Holidays

Holiday Season Arrives With Santa Aboard Lake Anne Pontoon Boat

A Holiday Festival and Christmas Market brought revelers to Washington Plaza at Lake Anne on Saturday to enjoy crafts, food and music.

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Santa Claus arrived in style Saturday aboard a pontoon boat on Lake Anne in Reston. (John Lovaas)
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Visitors to Lake Anne on Saturday for the Holiday Festival and Christmas Market got a chance to pose for pictures with the big man himself. (John Lovaas)
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The Vienna Singing Princesses provided entertainment Saturday during the Holiday Festival and Christmas Market. (John Lovaas)
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Vendors sold crafts and food as part of the Christmas Market (John Lovaas)
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Kevin Le of the LARCA Board helps to restore sound for the entertainers on Saturday. (John Lovaas)
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Members of the Conservatory Ballet presented scenes from "The Nutcracker" on Saturday. (John Lovaas)
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Volunteers staff the holiday post office to help children mail their letters to Santa. (John Lovaas)
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John Farrell, a member of the Reston Association Board of Directors, channels his inner "St. Nick" Saturday at Lake Anne. (John Lovaas)
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Despite heavy rain in the morning, the skies cleared in time for the Holiday Festival and Christmas Market at Washington Plaza at Lake Anne in Reston. (Reston Association Board Director )

RESTON, VA — Everyone knows that the only way to get around Reston in style is on a pontoon boat, which is how Santa Claus arrived Saturday at the Holiday Festival and Christmas Market at Lake Anne.

Home for the Holidays was the theme of this year's festival, which was hosted by the Lake Anne Washington Plaza Association.

In addition to Santa's visit, visitors enjoyed performances by the Lake Anne Elementary School choir, the Vienna Singing Princesses, Turtle Recall, Ukrainian Christmas Songs, and the Conservatory Ballet, which presented scenes from "The Nutcracker."

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There was the lighting of the Christmas tree, crafts for kids to enjoy, and food vendors selling their wares. Lucky Dog Animal Rescue was also on hand with rescue dogs and cats for people to adopt.

Dania Abimourched of Dano's Granola had bags of granola wrapped as gifts for people purchase for the holidays. (John Lovaas)

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