THE FOOD ISSUE
FOOD + BEVERAGE
OWNER-CHEF SANTOSH TIPTUR OF THE CONCHE
Sleep Disorders Are a Major Problem and We can Help!
In order to be your best, you have to sleep your best. Whether it is consultation regarding lifestyle changes or testing for vitamin D-3 deficiency, we are here for you. We can also assess your need for a CPAP, or another device to help you sleep and fight sleep apnea. A much better approach to treating apnea is the Panthera device. It is made by a dentist and brings your chin forward (just like in doing CPR) to open the airway. It is very effective and easy to wear. For most people it does the job as well as a CPAP and in some cases even better. There are many other ways to deal with apnea- most of these are surgical-but the above ideas are simple and generally quite easy to implement for most people.
Book An Appointment With Dr. Brown Today And Live Your Best Life!
Dr. Jeffrey L. Brown DENTIST
Dr. Brown understands sleep apnea and how it correlates to TMJ treatment. His knowledge in the combined fields of TMJ, sleep and orthodontics has given him a perspective unlike most other practitioners who perform basic dentistry. In addition, he has also learned the advanced techniques involved in expanding an airway so that both children and adults can breathe better.
Edible Loudoun
This month in our annual food edition, we feature Santosh Tiptur as our cover feature. He and his team have been creating delectable treats in Loudoun for years and truly raise the bar for cuisine in the area. Although Tiptur is mostly known for The Conche, I wandered into La Prensa one day and found some of the best food and cocktails I've had in the area. It is definitely worth a visit!
As the fall race season is upon us, we also take a look at one of the biggest draws of attending a race: tailgating and socializing with friends. If you haven't been and experienced race day, it is important to note that presentation is key...particularly if you are trying to win a prize. We give you some tips for bringing home the gold.
And while Loudoun is a great food scene and we can find most any cuisine we are hankering for, it is important to remember that there are many among us who go wanting...including pets. We want to shine a light on Loudoun Hunger Relief and the Loudoun Pet Pantry, made possible by a joint venture with Loudoun County Animal Services and The Humane Society of Loudoun County, and their efforts to feed both humans and pets in our area.
We hope you enjoy this issue and here's to a great Fall season!
HANN LIVINGSTON, PUBLISHER
October 2024
PUBLISHER
Hann Livingston | hann.livingston@citylifestyle.com
EDITORIAL COORDINATOR
Glenye Oakford | glenye.oakford@citylifestyle.com
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Tara Jelenic, Douglas Lees, Aliana Shepard
Corporate Team
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Matthew Perry
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HR Janeane Thompson
AD DESIGNER Rachel Otto
LAYOUT DESIGNER Kirstan Lanier
inside the issue
Pet Pantry Provides for Four-Legged Family Members
ARTICLE BY BETH RASIN
Little by little, the bins begin to fill. People stop by select stores, veterinary clinics and boarding facilities across Loudoun County to drop off cat and dog food for the Loudoun Pet Pantry. Volunteers from the Humane Society of Loudoun County and the Loudoun County Animal Shelter collect the items, package them into kits, and deliver them to Loudoun Hunger Relief in Leesburg for families experiencing food insecurity.
One client collecting pet food in the Hunger Relief market shared that she has three dogs and a cat. “They are like my children,” she said. “Sometimes, I’ve bought food for them instead of for me. I’ve skipped eating some meals so they had food. Getting dog and cat food here helps me so much.”
When the partnership started in 2013, Juanita Easton of the Humane Society of Loudoun County estimated that they distributed enough food for about 2,000 animals. Today, the initiative serves nearly 6,000 animals, with almost 35,000 pounds of food delivered last year.
The food keeps many animals out of shelters, said Easton. “We don’t want someone to have to surrender their cat or dog because they can’t afford to feed them,” she said.
Clients may access the market once a week for what Easton describes as a “supplemental feeding process” providing food for three to five days. “We don’t provide continual food forever,” she said.
A REAL NEED
Even in Loudoun, which U.S. News & World Report named the nation’s wealthiest county again in 2024, hundreds of families are just a crisis away from being able to provide food for their families, said Jennifer Montgomery, CEO of Loudoun Hunger Relief.
“There is that feeling that hunger for pets and people is not really a thing in Loudoun, that everyone is doing
so well,” Montgomery said. “But we have neighbors who definitely have needs, and you might be surprised by what that looks like in our community. These are families that go to school with your children, who are working with you or serving you in businesses. So if you have the ability to help and support families, then I would encourage you to do that.”
Each week, the pet food disappears from Hunger Relief’s shelves within days. “If a family is struggling to put food on the table, then they’re having to make hard choices about where they put their money, so pet food might be farther down the line if they need to feed their children too,” Montgomery said.
Those pets, said Montgomery, aren’t disposable. They often constitute an integral part of someone’s mental health and welfare.
“We know having pets is an important part of people’s lives,” she said. “If you’re a pet owner, you understand that it’s good for mental health and welfare.”
Last September, Hunger Relief cut the ribbon on a choice market that allows clients to shop for the food they need, and it includes an entire shelf for the Pet Pantry. Clients may select one kit each for dogs and cats.
“When you’re having to seek food assistance or come get help, particularly in Loudoun County, where hunger need is hidden, and sometimes it doesn’t feel great to have to ask for help, to have access to all those things in one place and the way it looks here, like a grocery store, destigmatizes that you’re here and getting help,” Montgomery said. “People appreciate it and appreciate getting it in one place where they’re already getting assistance. And it flies off the shelves.”
A JOINT EFFORT
Easton’s been part of the Pet Pantry since it started, and she’s seen the need grow.
“We don’t want someone to have to surrender their cat or dog because they can’t afford to feed them.”
—Juanita Easton
“I’ve been very proud of this program that is all volunteer and has three main organizations in the county working together to make it happen,” Easton said. “It’s very fulfilling, and I know it’s helping animals. It’s very gratifying for me.”
The groups also receive financial donations and buy food to supplement what is collected in the bins. “Over the years the donations have been really good—and the shelter got a grant recently,” Easton said. “We’ve been able to buy a lot of the food we supply. It would be great to have a sponsor like Giant Food, with pallets of food, but we don’t have a place to put it. We can only take in so much—our space is limited.”
Easton said the program has grown as the need has grown, but there are challenges. “Donations have dwindled as inflation has gone up, although sometimes someone buys a lot of food to put in,” she said. “We have a fund for the Pet Pantry, and we do our best to provide the need Hunger Relief has seen.”
Volunteers in the community, including youth volunteers, often organize food drives or fundraisers.
“Monetary donations are always welcome,” Easton said. “Food prices are going up. I can’t believe how much pet food has gone up in the past few years. From one week to the next it’s going up. Our expenses have gone up, but we have a lot of support for the program.”
Hunger Relief reported to Easton that 40 percent of families who use their services request pet food.
“We’re servicing about 500 families a month,” Easton said. “We are helping even though it’s just a little bit.”
She said they have no way of knowing how many pets
they’ve helped remain with their families, but as long as the food keeps leaving the shelves, they’ll keep working to supply it.
“We consider pets a part of the family,” Easton said. “I can’t imagine what it would do to a family dynamic to give up a pet they love because they can’t afford to buy the food. Every little bit that we can help helps to keep that pet part of the family and helps the families of Loudoun County.”
Montgomery appreciates how the organizations work together to make an impact. “Being food insecure does not exist in a vacuum,” she said. “There are always lots of things that are related to that, whether that’s housing or transportation. As a food provider, I know we are going to be able to meet one aspect of someone’s needs. What I believe in strongly is community partnerships, so that we’re providing access to the other services that most certainly exist in communities everywhere, but you make it easier on the person who is in need of help. So if we can put things all in one place, provide really good referrals, or they can access a service here, that’s really important.”
She said this private-public partnership illustrates how much Loudoun residents care about their neighbors and pets and about keeping animals with their families. “I’m proud of our partnership,” Montgomery said, “and I’m proud to live in a community where people care about making sure people have what they need.”
If you’d like to be involved, find a list of donation sites here: loudoun.gov/3020/Pet-Pantry | You can also find ways to get involved at: humaneloudoun.org/programs
“I’m proud to live in a community where people care about making sure people have what they need.”
—Jennifer Montgomery
Chef Santosh Tiptur of The Conche
SANTOSH TIPTUR WILL TEMPT YOU WITH CHOCOLATE AT THE CONCHE
With a unique take on sweet and savory, this inspired chef has created his own niche.
Growing up in India, Santosh Tiptur had a favorite chore: biking to the market to collect groceries for his parents and five siblings, returning with bags of fresh produce.
“I enjoyed sourcing high-quality, fresh ingredients,” he said. “I started testing new dishes, making cakes.”
He’d had Cadburys as a child, he said, but when he tasted an éclair, the “real chocolate” revealed his calling. He wanted to understand more about chocolate, so he learned bakery and confectionary technology, then landed a job with a Swiss chef.
“[The chef] was really talented and specialized in chocolate, which is where I got the inspiration not just for eating but making anything you want with chocolate,” he said.
Today, at Tiptur’s award-winning Leesburg restaurant, The Conche, chocolate plays a leading role. Think braised short ribs with cocoa in the broth and 64% dark chocolate. Or scallops with a cocoa nib crust and white chocolate cauliflower puree.
“It’s a little sweetness and depth of flavor, a combination of sweet and salty and a little acidy that makes it stand out,” Tiptur said of
ARTICLE BY BETH RASIN
the scallops, which are served with fresh green apple and fennel salad with pickled watermelon radish.
When he opened in 2017, he had to convince Leesburg residents that The Conche was more than a candy store. And what, after all, IS a conche? The name, he said, is part of the allure.
“I wanted to create curiosity of what it is,” he said, recalling his discovery of the machine in a chocolate factory in Switzerland. “It’s the main machine used to create chocolate. Without it, you cannot have chocolate.”
Soon, the word was out: The Conche was not just for chocolates but a restaurant drawing rave reviews, attracting people from all parts of the region.
CULINARY CURIOSITY
Before The Conche, Tiptur had a chocolate-themed restaurant in Washington, D.C.: Co Co. Sala. But after commuting for a decade, he wanted to open something closer to home.
Earlier, Tiptur had worked as a pastry and bakery chef for large companies, had the opportunity to shadow talented chefs, and took classes throughout Europe and at the Culinary Institute of America. He spent almost five years as corporate pastry and bakery chef for Cunard Lines cruise ships, gaining extensive knowledge of international cuisine and discovering many different ethnic desserts and foods.
Then came five years as the executive pastry chef at the Ritz-Carlton San Juan. It was, he said, a game changer.
“It gave me a lot of exposure; I was recognized and was named one of the Top 30 pastry chefs in America [in 2013],” he said.
He appeared in several Food Network shows, winning all episodes of the 2016 Halloween War 6.
“Before getting into the competition on Food Network, I had already done several professional competitions, which are completely different from TV competition,” he said. “My first on Food Network was an experience, but I soon learned you could have six cameramen hovering around you, and you had to stay focused on what you’re doing. It was a fantastic experience being on TV and getting exposure and meeting so many talented chefs coming together and challenging each other.”
With a range of experiences, a willingness to try the unexpected, and an array of unique offerings, Tiptur has created his own, chocolate-themed niche in the culinary world. The Conche earned Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce’s Destination Business of the Year award in 2020 and the New or Expanding Business of the Year award from the Leesburg Economic Development Commission in 2022.
The success of The Conche led Tiptur to expand: In 2020, he opened La Prensa, a tacos and tapas bar in Sterling. Continuing in the vein of naming restaurants after culinary tools, La Prensa is the press used to make tortillas.
Two years later, he opened The Conche Studio in Sterling, where his team makes chocolates, cakes and desserts, and offers pastry and cooking classes for children and adults, as well as summer camps and corporate team-building activities.
The Studio is growing fast, distributing products throughout the country.
A LEESBURG LOCAL
Tiptur said that many of his customers tell him they appreciate another option to enjoy fine dining in Leesburg.
“Leesburg has changed so much,” he said. “It’s become a destination, and a lot of development
Braised short ribs at The Conche
The scallops, one of Chef Santosh Tiptur's favorite dishes at The Conche
is happening. We have the most diverse foodies in our area who appreciate what’s in the area, because they don’t have to go to D.C.”
He said he’s always curious when it comes to cuisine, and he loves to try different restaurants. Some of his favorites include Ellie Bird in Falls Church and El Presidente, a Mexican restaurant in D.C. “Anything new that opens up, I go and check it out,” he said.
Back in Leesburg, Tiptur rarely finds a day off between his three businesses, but when he does, he enjoys motorbiking or working on his car. “I feel completely distracted and in a different zone when I’m washing my car or changing the oil or detailing it,” he said. “I’ve done enough traveling in life. I plan to take trips down the road, but my focus now is the business.”
His wife Ramya also works in the business, handling paperwork and one of the sophisticated chocolate machines. Their three children are in high school and college.
Tiptur’s commitment to his community means he assists a variety of local charities, including Loudoun Laurels, Learning Adventure Bus, Cake4Kids, Loudoun Literacy Council, Dulles South Soup Kitchen, Loudoun Habitat for Humanity and the Leesburg Volunteer Fire Department.
PASSING ON A PASSION
One of Tiptur’s favorite experiences is sharing his love of chocolate and baking. With an open kitchen, children in the restaurant can see him work through a window. The pastry chefs will bring children into the kitchen
to decorate a plate, while parents take photos and videos.
“That doesn’t happen everywhere,” Tiptur said. “That’s a start, all these small things.”
Some of the children who’ve participated in his summer camps, building cakes in the form of dinosaurs, dogs or dolphins, have gone on to culinary school, and several have returned to work for him.
“It shows how we inspire young kids who came in at 9 or 10 years old,” he said. “I’m glad to inspire a lot of younger chefs who want to be in the industry, and I’m so proud of my team for contributing that to younger chefs.”
For young chefs considering following in his footsteps with a place of their own, Tiptur said patience was key to his journey. “Never lose hope,” he said. “It takes you through a wild ride. Things change so fast, and you need to adapt and understand your customer base and what they want. Chefs think of what to put together, but will everyone like and understand that combination? You have to play it safe yet still be interesting.”
And those from greater Loudoun County have indeed found The Conche to be interesting and left adoring reviews on Yelp, Open Table, TripAdvisor and other sites.
“Being in Leesburg is the best decision I made,” Tiptur said. “People really appreciate what we do, and it keeps the staff motivated. We are a place people bring loved ones or friends for an experience, to celebrate. I see smiles, and that’s why we work hard: to create memories people talk about for years to come.”
Top: The Conche offers a wide selection of cocktails | Bottom left: The Conche burger: Braised Beef Short Ribs, Bacon, Caramelized Shallot Jam, Sharp Vermont Cheddar, Creamed Spinach, Tomato, Chocolate BBQ Sauce, Secret Sauce | Bottom right: A unique array of appetizers, entrees and desserts at The Conche
SIX SECRETS FOR STEEPLECHASE PARTY SUCCESS.
Tips for a Winning Race-Day Tailgate
ARTICLE BY GLENYE OAKFORD
“Tailgating is an experience. It’s not just about the food and drink.”
At Virginia’s iconic steeplechase meets, tailgating isn’t just about parking the car, setting up a few folding chairs and breaking out the cooler to watch the races—it’s a full-blown, competitive race in itself. Tailgate competitions are where racegoers’ creativity, culinary skills and camaraderie shine for both their guests and judges. If you’re aiming to take home the coveted prize for best tailgate this fall, here are some tips to help you stand out from the crowd, create a memorable experience for your guests and most importantly, have fun while doing it.
“For me, it’s a great way to introduce friends to horse sports,” said Aliana Shepard, a teacher from Alexandria, Virginia, whose group of tailgating friends won last year’s competition at the International Gold Cup steeplechase meet at Great Meadow in The Plains. For Shepard, pulling together a prize-winning tailgate is a fun project for friends to share, and she approaches each event with the same enthusiasm and meticulous planning she brings to her classroom.
“There’s a group of us that get together for brunch regularly, and I’d say that’s kind of the core group of my tailgate team,” she explained. “I come up with a list of ideas, and we brainstorm together.”
The group then divides the tasks, with each person contributing according to their strengths—whether that’s crafting decorations, preparing food, or setting up on the day of the event. There’s a way for everyone to contribute, Shepard noted. “Some of the folks I know come on the day of the tailgate—they’re not crafty at all, but they’re tall or they can carry heavy things, so they get that job,” she said.
While Shepard and her team have mastered the art of tailgate organization, judges like Kelly Knight of Rappahannock Cellars in Huntly, Virginia, which sponsors the International Gold Cup meet’s tailgate contest this year, have the final say in what makes a tailgate truly prizeworthy. For Knight, who will be
judging her third steeplechase tailgate this year, a great tailgate is as much about the atmosphere as it is about the food and decor.
“The tailgates that we spend the most amount of time at are the ones where all the guests want us to stay, want to talk, want to show us every little detail,” she said. “Tailgating is an experience. It’s not just about the food and drink.”
1. SET YOUR SCENE WITH A STANDOUT THEME
One of the keys to a winning tailgate, Knight and Shepard agreed, is establishing a cohesive theme that ties everything together. Go for something unique, Shepard advises.
The theme should permeate every aspect of your tailgate, from color scheme to decorations to food and drink. “For our winning tailgate last fall, our theme was Glamour & Magic,” Shepard said. “I like Halloween-y things anyway, so I was able to decorate with sparkly skulls and things off my mantelpiece.”
Knight recalled one tailgate where the guests dressed to suit the theme’s peach color scheme and another where the hostess styled everything around hats.
“She took hats from around the world and from different eras and paired each with a geographically and historically accurate dish,” Knight said. “Every hat was unique. Every dish was unique. She even had custom cocktails that each represented a hat.”
2. DAZZLE WITH DÉCOR
Don’t underestimate the power of a well-decorated tent. You can go ultra; Knight remembered a knockout tailgate hosted by an interior designer who hung a chandelier inside the tent for her party. But Shepard swears by the magic of DIY decor. Once her group decided on the Glamour & Magic them, she said, “I spent a fair amount of time at thrift stores
CONTINUED >
Top: Races aren't always the only competition at steeplechase meets. Many also offer tailgate competitions. Credit: Douglas Lees | Bottom left: Putting some extra effort into your menu (and flavors) can help raise your tailgate from average to fabulous. Credit: ruslan_shramko/AdobeStock | Bottom right: Virginia’s fall steeplechases provide excellent opportunities to show off creative flair. Credit: GoodPics/AdobeStock
The first step: Create a unique, cohesive theme. “
”
Top: A great tailgate can be elegant or whimsical but should always be fun. Credit: millefloreimages/AdobeStock Bottom: Invite your tailgate guests to join in the fun and find ways to help them reflect the tailgate theme. Credit: Sportlibrary/AdobeStock | Next page: “If you make a batch drink and give it a fancy name, it presents very nicely,” Aliana Shepard said. Credit: Aliana Shepard
looking for all of the silver platters and silver serving utensils that we used.”
One key, Shepard said, is to add authenticity by bringing in real elements like thrift-store finds or pieces from home. For one herb garden-themed spring tailgate, Shepard’s group labeled their buffet foods using actual garden stakes. “The worst-case scenario for me is if someone were to step in my tent and say, ‘Oh, I saw all of this at the party store,’” she said.
3. MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR MENU
Make sure the food is pretty to look at and good to eat, of course, but keep it on theme, too.
“For example, we had a salad, so we cut the mushrooms to look like skulls. That’s a lot easier than it sounds—you just kind of dig out two little eye holes in the mushroom,” Shepard said of her winning Glamour & Magic tailgate, which also featured black squid ink flatbread with a variety of toppings; chocolate skulls with walnut halves for “brains” inside; and apple pie with witchy symbols in the pastry.
Consider dishes that can be prepped ahead of time and don’t require reheating. “We don’t do anything that requires heat or Sterno,” said Shepard—and heating devices or open flames can also violate an event’s tailgating rules, so be sure to check as you plan.
4. SIGNATURE SIPS
No tailgate is complete without a signature drink (or two). But here’s a twist: offer both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options. “We tend to do one or two of the batch drinks as non-alcoholic and then leave bottles of liquor next to them,” Shepard explained. “Different people will make different combinations, and that becomes kind of a conversation piece, as well.”
For added flair, consider naming your drinks to match your theme, like Shepard’s “Poison Apple” (apple juice and ginger ale with cinnamon sticks and cloves). “If you make a batch drink and give it a fancy name, it presents very nicely,” Shepard said.
Knight noted that a little sparkling wine (she recommends Rappahannock Cellars’ Charmat Blanc de Blanc paired with a charcuterie board) also can add a little celebratory zip to any tailgate.
5. BE WEATHER-READY
Steeplechases are often held rain or shine, so be prepared for whatever Mother Nature throws your way. Shepard prioritizes keeping food under a tent, whatever the weather. Bring tablecloths long enough to hide cool, dry storage space under tables. “We might have a big batch of pasta salads
sitting in a cooler underneath the table, and then just plate it and serve it during the day,” she said.
6. BRING THE PARTY
Knight’s advice? “Go all out, create an experience, and have fun, because it really is a fun day.”
A light-hearted sense of camaraderie and fun isn’t just good for you; it can make your tailgate a winner. Knight recalled judging one fancy tailgate that won her heart primarily because of its volunteers’ and guests’ enthusiasm.
“I loved that the first person to greet us as we walked in was the bartender, who said, ‘Ladies, can I get you a custom cocktail? Let me show you our signature drink,’” she said. “I mean, every single person in that tent was involved in that tailgate.”
For Shepard and her friends, that fun lasts a couple of months, from initial planning through the day at the races.
“The biggest tip I have is to make it fun,” said Shepard. “For our Glamour & Magic tailgate, we did a bubbling cauldron where we were hot-gluing glass ornaments coming out of a cauldron like bubbles and making little touches like that about a month or two before the actual tailgate. It’s not all a lot of work that week or all on one person, and that's all part of what makes it fun.”
Left page: Aliana Shepard (center) and her winning tailgating team at the 2023 International Gold Cup
Credit: Aliana Shepard This page, top: A Halloween-flavored Glamour & Magic theme helped Aliana Shepard’s team lift the 2023 International Gold Cup’s tailgating trophy. Credit: Aliana Shepard | Bottom left: Use decorations that reflect your theme. Credit: Tara Jelenic | Bottom right: Silver skeletons, a coffinshaped menu, and apple pie with spooky symbols echoed Aliana Shepard’s Glamour & Magic theme. Credit: Aliana Shepard
steeplechase.
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OCTOBER 1ST - 31ST
Fall Pumpkin Harvest Festival
Great Country Farms, Bluemont 9:00 AM
Travel by wagon to pick your own pumpkin. Open weekdays and weekends, with extra weekend activities including pig races, cider-pressing demos, live music, and more. Weekdays: $12/child, $14/adult plus ticketing fees. Weekends: $14/child, $16/adult plus ticketing fees. Open until 5 p.m., last wagon to the pumpkin patch leaves at 4 p.m. greatcountryfarms.com
OCTOBER 4TH - 6TH
Waterford Fair
Waterford | 10:00 AM
Also known as the Waterford Homes Tour & Crafts Exhibit, this quintessential fall festival features fine heritage and contemporary craft artisans, a historic properties tour, a juried art show, and entertainment for all ages. Until 5 p.m. daily. waterfordfairva.org
OCTOBER 5TH
Loudoun Car Show
Downtown Leesburg | 12:00 PM
Presented by Academies of Loudoun, this is a day of family fun with more than 30 awards presented for showcased cars. A $3 donation is requested of attendees. Show runs from noon until 4 p.m. Rain date Oct. 19. lcps.org
live theatre
Death Comes to Dinner
Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre
Sept 21, Oct 12, Nov 2 & 9 at Oatlands in Leesburg
Sept 28, Oct 13 & 27, Nov 10 at Ambiance in Ashburn
Oct 17 at The Branch in Leesburg
Oct 19 at Ono Offshore in Chantilly
Oct 25 at Creek’s Edge Winery in Lovettsville Oct 26 at Hillsborough Winery in Hillsboro Nov 16 Fundraiser for Help 4 Our Children in Ashburn Chanteussy
Live Music Drag Concert Sept 27
The Woman in Black Haunting Drama Oct 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26 & 27
Magic and Mischief
Sept 13, Oct 11, Nov 8, Dec 13 at 7:30pm
StageCoach Bandits Improv
Sept 20, Oct 18, Nov 22, Dec 20 at 7:30pm Fall After
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OCTOBER 11TH - 13TH
Morven Park International & Fall Horse Trials
Morven Park International Equestrian Center | 8:00 AM
Historic Morven Park hosts this high-level competition in the thrilling equestrian sport of eventing. Over three days, you’ll see eventing’s three phases: dressage, cross-country, and stadium jumping. Spectator admission is free. Check daily start times online. morvenpark.org
OCTOBER 26TH
International Gold Cup Steeplechase
Great Meadow, The Plains | 10:00 AM
Enjoy one of the season’s great sporting events, featuring steeplechase racing, hat contest, tailgate competition, and more. Pets are not allowed. General admission $50, parking starts at $100. vagoldcup.com
OCTOBER 29TH
Laser Light Show: Halloween Spooktacular
Franklin Park Arts Center, Purcellville | 7:00 PM
A spirited sing-along and glow-inthe-dark fun suitable for children of all ages with a laser show reanimating friendly Halloween monsters and favorite spooky scenes. Runs until 8 p.m. $10. franklinparkartscenter.org
