Quick Summary
- On Thursday, Oct. 22, seven resident cows competed in the seventh annual NASCOW FundRACER at Frying Pan Farm Park in Herndon, according to FFXnow and Patch.
- The race is run by the Friends of Frying Pan Farm Park, a nonprofit that owns the farm’s animals and pays for their food, vet care and shelter.
- Per the Fairfax County Park Authority, admission to the park, Kidwell Farm and parking is free except for select special events.
- Holiday on the Farm returns on five evenings in December, at $12 per person online or $15 at the door.
- The park is on West Ox Road, a short drive from Reston and Herndon.
In This Post
- The race, and why cows
- What the park actually is
- A farm with a long memory
- What is coming up
- Sources and reporting limits
- FAQ
The Race, and Why Cows
On the evening of Thursday, Oct. 22, families gathered at Frying Pan Farm Park for something you will not find in most parts of Northern Virginia: a cow race. FFXnow ran photos from the event on Oct. 23, describing seven cows competing in the seventh annual NASCOW FundRACER, which raises money for animal care at the park.
The idea is simple. Seven of the farm’s resident cows head down a track toward the finish line, where there is food waiting. According to Patch, staff coax them along with treats like fresh alfalfa and brewer’s grain donated by local breweries, and the cows train for weeks beforehand so the track feels familiar. The Friends of Frying Pan Farm Park lists this year’s racers as Charlise, Fauna, JoJo, John, Jubilee, Rudolph and Wisteria. JoJo won last year, according to the group’s website.
Patch reported a suggested donation of $20 per person, with walk-ins welcome, and sponsorships available for individuals, families and businesses.
It started in 2020. Patch notes the first race came about when pandemic restrictions canceled large gatherings at the farm and left the park with a funding gap. Seven years later it has turned into a fall tradition.
What the Park Actually Is
If you have lived near Reston for a while and never been, here is the short version. Frying Pan Farm Park is a Fairfax County Park Authority site on West Ox Road in Herndon. The park interprets farm life from roughly the 1920s through the 1950s, with Kidwell Farm as the working centerpiece, complete with barns, cows, horses and other farm animals.
The part that surprises people is the price. The Park Authority says admission to Kidwell Farm, the park and parking is free except for select special events. The park and Kidwell Farm are open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., though facility hours vary, so check the park’s page before you drive over.
One note for planning: the park’s website says the carousel was permanently closed and removed after storm damage in January 2026, and wagon rides are being offered in the meantime. Visitors are asked not to feed the animals.
7th annual: the NASCOW FundRACER, first run in 2020
$0: general admission and parking at Kidwell Farm, except select special events (Fairfax County Park Authority)
A Farm With a Long Memory
The land has more history than the cows let on. According to Wikipedia’s summary of the park, the area was known as Frying Pan from 1726 until 1892, when it was renamed Floris. The park also includes the Frying Pan Meetinghouse, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and the Old Floris Schoolhouse, built in 1911.
There is a fun bit of trivia too. The same source says that for many years the turkeys pardoned at the National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation were sent to live at the park. Thanksgiving is a month away, so it is a good time to bring it up with the kids.
For anyone thinking about a move, this is part of what makes the Reston and Herndon side of Fairfax County feel different from the denser corridors closer to Tysons. You can be at a planned-community lake path in the morning and standing in a cow barn by lunch. If you are curious how that plays out neighborhood by neighborhood, our Reston real estate page is a good place to start. And if you want to see what is changing around town, we keep a running list on the Reston development tracker.
What Is Coming Up
The next paid event on the park’s calendar is Holiday on the Farm, from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. on Dec. 5, 11, 12, 18 and 19, 2026. The Park Authority lists $12 per person for online presale and $15 at the door, and says the evening includes a wagon ride through holiday lights, Santa, a trackless train, a campfire and a visit with the farm animals.
Later in the winter, the park lists Black History Month programs at the Meeting House from noon to 2 p.m. on Feb. 6 and Feb. 27, 2027. No price is listed on the events page.
Sources and Reporting Limits
- FFXnow, photo story on the NASCOW cow race, listed Oct. 23, 2026 (ffxnow.com)
- Patch, “NASCOW Cow Races Return To Herndon’s Frying Pan Farm Park This Month,” published Oct. 16, 2026
- Friends of Frying Pan Farm Park, NASCOW page (friendsoffryingpan.org/NASCOW), consulted Oct. 26, 2026
- Fairfax County Park Authority, Frying Pan Farm Park main and events pages, consulted Oct. 26, 2026
- Wikipedia, “Frying Pan Farm Park,” for historical details
Limits: I did not find a published total raised by this year’s race, and I did not find this year’s winner in the sources reviewed, so neither is included. Historical details come from Wikipedia and should be checked against the Park Authority before anyone quotes them. Hours, prices and event dates are as of Oct. 26, 2026 and can change, so check fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/frying-pan-park before you go.
FAQ
Is Frying Pan Farm Park free?
According to the Fairfax County Park Authority, admission to Kidwell Farm, the park and parking is free except for select special events such as Holiday on the Farm.
Where is it, and how far is it from Reston?
The farm and equestrian entrance is at 2709 West Ox Road in Herndon, and the Visitor Center is at 2739 West Ox Road. It is close to Reston, but drive time depends on the hour, so check a map app before you leave.
Can I feed the animals?
The park asks visitors not to feed them.
If you are thinking about a move to Reston or Herndon and want to talk through which neighborhoods fit the way you live, reach out to Nikki.