Reston residents can spend the rest of the summer hunting for public art across the community, with five $500 gift cards waiting for winners.
Public Art Reston, the nonprofit founded in 2007, launched its second Scavenger Hunt in June, inviting participants of all ages to explore artworks scattered throughout Reston's neighborhoods. This year, entries are due August 23, and winners will be announced August 31.
The event, which debuted last year, is free to participate in. Every participant receives a small prize, according to the organization's press release.
How to Play
Participants pick up a Scavenger Hunt card at one of four locations: the Reston Community Centers at Hunters Woods, Lake Anne Plaza, the Reston Museum or the Reston Art Gallery. Cards are also available for download at publicartreston.org.
Each card features QR codes that reveal the locations of public artworks throughout the community. To complete an entry, participants take a selfie with each artwork and post it on social media using the hashtag #PublicArtReston.
A Collection Worth Exploring
Public Art Reston has catalogued 75 artworks across the community, according to the organization's records. The nonprofit's guided tours cover 11 works at Lake Anne Village Center and 14 at Reston Town Center. The scavenger hunt sends participants beyond those familiar routes into neighborhoods across Reston.
The organization says it is committed to providing opportunities to experience public art in all of Reston's neighborhoods, and the hunt is designed to get families, friends, and solo explorers out on the trails and pathways where those works live.
Upcoming Reston Community Events
- Reston Farmers Market: Saturdays, 8 a.m. to noon, Lake Anne Plaza (through November 2026)
- Lake Anne Cardboard Boat Regatta: Saturday, August 8, 2026, 1–3 p.m., Lake Anne Plaza. Free to watch; registration open at restonmuseum.org. Hosted by Lake Anne of Reston Condominium Association and Reston Community Center.
- Public Art Reston Scavenger Hunt deadline: August 23, 2026
