The address is 6677 Springfield Mall, Space 22049. Until this fall, it was a Go! Toys and Games store. Since September 23 it has had a Toys "R" Us sign, and the FFXnow report on the brand's return called it a comeback.
Springfield's December works the same way. Most of what's on the calendar this year happens in places that are already part of a normal week: the mall's center court, the lake trail, the library meeting rooms, the train ride at Burke Lake. For a few weeks, each one gets set up for something else. Below is the season in order, place by place, with the dates that matter from here through Christmas Eve.
A New Sign Over a Familiar Storefront
The Springfield Town Center store is part of a national rollout. Toys "R" Us is opening 120 standalone stores across the country for this holiday season, according to FFXnow. Counting 40 pop-ups inside Macy's locations, 160 stores will be open nationwide this season. That's a big number for a brand that filed for bankruptcy in 2017.
The operator stayed the same. Go! Retail Group, which ran the Go! Toys and Games stores, is partnering with Toys "R" Us on the expansion. Both Fairfax County locations, Springfield and an upcoming store at Fair Oaks Mall, are taking over spaces Go! stores recently held. A spokesperson for EJ Media Group, which represents the brand, told FFXnow that both are permanent stores, not pop-ups. FFXnow also reported that the new stores are much smaller than the big-box version that closed in Fair Lakes nearly a decade ago. The shelves carry Pokémon, LEGO and "K-Pop Demon Hunters" merchandise.
The mall has explained why it wanted the brand. Mikia Ross Wilson, Springfield Town Center's senior marketing director, described the thinking to FFXnow:
"Today's consumers want experiences they simply can't replicate online, and the addition of Toys R Us provides that sentimentality they're seeking."
That same idea explains the rest of the mall's December. The things that bring people to the mall this season are things you can only do in person, and nearly all of them take place in Grand Court.
Grand Court Changes Twice
By publish day, Grand Court is already set up for Santa. Santa photos at Springfield Town Center run November 13 through December 24, 2026. Cherry Hill Programs operates them. Reserving a time slot costs $19.99 and doesn't require buying a package. Packages start at $44.99. The mall recommends booking online to guarantee a slot, and walk-ups are taken when space allows.
Pets get their own Mondays, November 16 through December 14. The first one has already happened, which leaves four: November 23, November 30, December 7 and December 14. Pet sessions are booked through the same reservation system as the regular photos.
The second change comes the day after Thanksgiving. Empower Me Events Group brings its Holiday Market series into Grand Court for four weekends during mall hours, with more than 30 vendors selling everything from arts and crafts to health and beauty products.
- November 27–29
- December 4–6
- December 11–13
- December 18–20
Each set of dates runs Friday through Sunday, so the market and the Santa line share the court every weekend from Black Friday until the weekend before Christmas. If you want to shop the vendors and get a Santa photo on the same trip, any of those four weekends works.
Lake Accotink After Dark
A few miles from the mall, the Fairfax County Park Authority is using Lake Accotink Park, 7500 Accotink Park Road, for a winter-night program. Lake Accotink After Dark: Lantern and Lore is on Friday, December 4, 2026, from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
The park's listing describes a slow lantern walk with a naturalist through the winter woods as the sun goes down. Along the way the group listens for owls, watches for shooting stars and shares stories and folklore about night creatures. Hot cocoa is provided at the trailhead. The program is for ages 8 through adult, and the park says to dress warm.
The lantern walk falls on the same Friday the second Holiday Market weekend opens at the mall. An afternoon in Grand Court and an evening at the lake fit into one day.
A Barbershop Chorus at Richard Byrd Library
On Saturday, December 12, 2026, the Richard Byrd Library opens Meeting Rooms 1 and 2 for a free holiday concert with the Harmony Heritage Singers, from 11 a.m. to noon.
The Harmony Heritage Singers are a men's barbershop chorus. According to the library's listing, the program is traditional Christmas music: "Angels We Have Heard on High" and "Silent Night," along with "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and "Jingle Bells." All ages are welcome. The Friends of the Richard Byrd Library are supporting the concert.
The concert falls on the third Holiday Market weekend. It's over by noon, so the afternoon is still open.
Burke Lake's Holiday Express Runs on Weekends
For the season's longest outing, go a short drive south to Burke Lake Park at 7315 Ox Road in Fairfax Station. The park runs Winter Wonderland on three December weekends from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.: December 5–6, 12–13 and 19–20.
The train and carousel that run there all season get holiday versions. According to the Burke Lake Park events page, Winter Wonderland includes the Holiday Express train, a carousel ride, a visit with Santa, holiday crafts, Gingerbread Man Golf, and s'mores, hot chocolate and candy canes.
Presale for each weekend ends the Thursday before it. If you want the December 5 or 6 date, presale closes Thursday, December 3. The park lists each date separately, starting with the December 5 listing.
Burke Lake's weekends line up with the Grand Court weekends. On the first, second and third weekends of December, the market, Santa photos and the Burke Lake train are all running on the same two days.
The Calendar From Here to Christmas Eve
This is every date above that's still ahead as of publication, in order. Santa photos run every day in Grand Court through December 24, so they aren't repeated in each row.
| Date | Where | What |
|---|---|---|
| Monday, Nov. 23 | Springfield Town Center, Grand Court | Pet photos with Santa |
| Fri.–Sun., Nov. 27–29 | Springfield Town Center, Grand Court | Holiday Market, weekend one |
| Monday, Nov. 30 | Springfield Town Center, Grand Court | Pet photos with Santa |
| Thursday, Dec. 3 | Burke Lake Park | Presale closes for the Dec. 5–6 Winter Wonderland weekend |
| Friday, Dec. 4 | Lake Accotink Park | Lantern and Lore, 5:30–7 p.m., ages 8 to adult |
| Fri.–Sun., Dec. 4–6 | Springfield Town Center, Grand Court | Holiday Market, weekend two |
| Sat.–Sun., Dec. 5–6 | Burke Lake Park | Winter Wonderland, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. |
| Monday, Dec. 7 | Springfield Town Center, Grand Court | Pet photos with Santa |
| Fri.–Sun., Dec. 11–13 | Springfield Town Center, Grand Court | Holiday Market, weekend three |
| Saturday, Dec. 12 | Richard Byrd Library | Harmony Heritage Singers, 11 a.m.–noon, free |
| Sat.–Sun., Dec. 12–13 | Burke Lake Park | Winter Wonderland, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. |
| Monday, Dec. 14 | Springfield Town Center, Grand Court | Final pet photos with Santa |
| Fri.–Sun., Dec. 18–20 | Springfield Town Center, Grand Court | Holiday Market, final weekend |
| Sat.–Sun., Dec. 19–20 | Burke Lake Park | Winter Wonderland, final weekend |
| Thursday, Dec. 24 | Springfield Town Center, Grand Court | Last day of Santa photos |
The busiest stretch is December 4 through 6. Grand Court has the market and Santa, Lake Accotink has its lantern walk on Friday evening, and the Holiday Express runs at Burke Lake on Saturday and Sunday.
If your December plans include getting your Springfield home ready to list in the new year, HOMEGROWN The McDonald Etro Group can walk you through what nearby homes are doing before the season ends. Get your instant home valuation, and we'll follow up after the holidays.
