The Mykle Lyons Commemorative Concert and Jazz Festival will return to Lake Anne Plaza in Reston this Saturday (Aug. 31).
For its fourth year, the annual celebration of Lyons, a jazz musician and longtime Reston resident who died in 2021, will seek to continue his legacy by raising funds to create a music education initiative for Reston Association.
A portion of the event’s proceeds will go to the Friends of Reston, a nonprofit that supports RA through fundraising for program scholarships, tree plantings and other educational and community projects.
Initially, the Friends will use the money from the festival to boost Reston Camps programming, but in the future, it hopes the initiative will benefit the entire community.
“In its inaugural year, campers can visit a concert or have a music appreciation instructor at camp,” the Friends said in a news release. “Eventually and based on the amount of funding, Friends of Reston will explore ideas such as musical equipment for playgrounds for the greater Reston Community.”
Like in previous years, the Mykle Lyons festival promises to enliven Lake Anne Plaza’s waterfront (1609 Washington Plaza North) with an afternoon of music, food, crafts and paddleboats.
Five jazz bands are scheduled to perform from 3-8 p.m.
- Stickman
- Gabrieli Brass
- Sabine and the C-Street Kings
- Accidental Red
- Standing Room Only
While the festival is free to attend, donations are encouraged to support Friends of Reston. Dogma Bakery, a pet supply store in Arlington and one of the event’s sponsors, will match donations once they reach the $500 mark.
Other sponsors include Kalypso’s Sports Tavern and Cafe Montmarte, which can both be found at Lake Anne Plaza. The festival is hosted by the Lake Anne of Reston Condominium Association and the Reston Community Center.
Organized by the Lake Anne & Washington Plaza Merchant Association, last year’s festival served as a fundraiser for a memorial scholarship fund set up in Lyons’s name to help music students attend George Mason University.
“Friends of Reston invites community members, businesses, and other organizations to join in supporting this important initiative,” the nonprofit said. “Donations, sponsorships, and volunteer efforts are vital to the success of Mykle Lyons Commemorative Concert and Jazz Festival and will directly impact musical appreciation for children in the community.”
