22 Days of Summer: Time for Free Jazz and Blues

By Greg Hambrick

Outdoor music is one of the best parts of summer — and free outdoor music is even better. Today, Saturday, Aug. 31, you can enjoy the sounds of summer for free at the 7th annual Jazz and Blues Festival at Lake Anne Plaza in Reston.

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’s Lake Anne event offers a variety of performers from 1-8 p.m. The music begins with the Unified Jazz Ensemble at 1 p.m. Harpist Rashida Jolley headlines the night with her performance at 7 p.m. The event will be rain or shine and includes a beer garden. Lake Anne Plaza is located at 11404 Washington Plaza W.

There are more opportunities for free music this weekend. The Prince William Community Band will play tonight in Old Town Manassas. And the National Symphony Orchestra performs its Labor Day Capitol Concert on Sunday.

Do you have a favorite music festival of the summer? 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

Days of Summer Submission Page

Event Calendar

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/