Students plan to celebrate Thanksgiving with the Reston Community on November 29 at the Reston Town Center.

Stores will open in the morning along with the ice skating pavilion, and runners will complete the Gingerbread Man Mile. The Hyatt Gingerbread Village will be available for viewing. These festivities will begin at 8 a.m.

The proceeds for the Gingerbread Man Mile go towards Neediest Kids, an organization providing students with essential tools for education.

The race ranges from young children to high school students chasing the gingerbread man through the Reston Town Center area.

Starting at 11 a.m., the Reston Holiday Parade will feature Macy’s Parade-style balloons, marching bands, musical groups, dancers, antique cars, and community groups.

The theme is transportation in recognition of the Silver Line project making its arrival in Reston January 2014. 70 groups and 500 participants are anticipated for the parade.

“I can’t wait to see the parade,” senior Davey Elmer said. “It’ll be cool because the theme is transportation and it will be cool to see what the floats and balloons look like.”
Visits and photos with Santa are available from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. with all proceeds benefiting South Lakes Chorus program.

Santa’s Frosty Follies Performance will begin at 5 p.m. and the Tree Lighting and Sing Along will take place at 6 p.m. by Market Street and Fountain Square featuring Santa and Mrs. Claus on horse drawn carriages.

“I will be singing along with the chorus,” sophomore Collin Nalty said. “It will be neat to have the community around the tree singing together.”

The sing along will be led by Reston Chorale and Brass Quintet, playing a chorus of traditional holiday music.

As the last event of the night, there will be carriage rides from 6:30 to 10 p.m. The carriage ride will begin in front of Talbot’s on Market Street, with a $5 admission.

“Reston is really pretty at night,” Nalty said. “The carriage rides and the other activities will be really cool, especially if it snows.”