7th Annual Teddy Bear 5K & 1K Walk/Run
Sept. 29, 9 a.m.
The 50-year-old Falls Church-McLean Children’s Center, a nonprofit preschool that aims to help at-risk children prepare for kindergarten via low student-teacher ratios and services to support kids who’ve experienced trauma or demonstrate learning/language delays, created this event to replace the $40,000 per year grant from the Freddie Mac Foundation, which shuttered in 2014. The walk/run started out with organizers encouraging participants to bring their own bears, but now teddy bears are given out as a reminder of the event’s goal: to give young children a strong start in life. To do that, proceeds are specifically used to keep tuition costs affordable and continually deliver high-quality programs that help eliminate the “learning gap.” // Pimmit Hills Park: 2061 Arch Drive, Falls Church
Features: Walk-friendly; Kid-friendly
2019 Home Run for the Homeless 5K
Oct. 5, 9 a.m.
Baseball actually isn’t involved in this event—at least not yet, as organizer Mark Riley is interested in the idea. Instead, emphasis is on the word “home,” with proceeds from this 5K along the W&OD Trail benefiting three nonprofits—Bridges to Independence, Community Lodgings and Homestretch—who hope to raise money to help even more homeless Northern Virginians find a place to live, work, and secure childcare. Be sure to sign up early, as capacity maxes out at 250 registrants. // Bluemont Park Shelter: 601 N. Manchester St., Arlington
Features: Walk-friendly; Kid-friendly
McLean 5K
Oct. 5, 8 a.m.
With the slogan “In McLean, By McLean, For McLean,” the nature of this event speaks for itself. Now in its 11th year—in the past it was actually referred to as the McLean 5K: Run for the Warriors—the McLean 5K has always been put together by businesses in the community such as Vinson Hall, Century 21 New Millennium, the McLean Community Center and, this year, The Greater McLean Chamber of Commerce. The McLean Community Foundation is the beneficiary, using the proceeds to fund grants for local individuals or organizations with unique projects in mind. // McLean Square Shopping Center: 6631 Old Dominion Drive, McLean
Features: Walk-friendly; Kid-friendly; Dog-friendly