Hey gang, Matt here!

This week’s newsletter is loaded. From film to fall fun, food to farm days, we have a little something for everyone.

A quick housekeeping note, before we dive in — we’d love to hear from you! 

We are always eager to learn what you would like to see more (or see less). Favorite topics, sections… you name it, we’re interested. Or, if you just want to say hi, we’d love that, too. Send us a quick email below to tell us what you think!

In this week’s newsletter:

• Fall festivals in Fairfax & Clifton, Capital Art & Craft Festival

• Fall Wine Festival, Pierogi Fest, Taste of NOVA

• Washington West Film Festival in Reston

• Fair Oaks Fall Carnival, Disney on Ice

• Commanders host MNF + Fairfax County high school football Games of the Week

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Cheers,
Matt

A message from us

Things To Do

Fall festivals in Fairfax and Clifton and a whole lot more! 🍂

• Fall Fun This Weekend!

  • 49th Annual Fall Festival in the City of Fairfax — Saturday, Oct. 11, Fairfax

  • Clifton Day Festival — Sunday, Oct. 12, Clifton

    • Want more? Check out our full 2025 Fall Fun Guide for recurring events and more details!

• Capital Art & Craft Festival

  • Shop handcrafted art and fine craft created by more than 225 regional and national artists at the Dulles Expo Center from Friday, Oct. 10-12. Tickets: $10-$12.

    • 4320 Chantilly Shopping Center, Chantilly

• Walk to End Alzheimer’s — Northern Virginia

  • The annual walk is this Sunday, Oct. 12 at 10:00a.m. at Reston Town Center. Funds raised will benefit the Alzheimer’s Association.

    • 11900 Market St., Reston

• Herndon Homecoming Parade

  • Celebrate Herndon’s community spirit at the annual Homecoming Parade in downtown Herndon on Saturday, Oct. 11. The parade starts at 9:30a.m.

    • More details: Find street closures in the link above.

• Falls Church Farm Day

  • Learn about the Cherry Hill Farm’s history, visit farm animals, and enjoy farm-style fun during the annual Farm Day! The event runs Saturday, Oct. 11 from 10:00a.m.-3:00p.m. Admission is free.

    • 312 Park Ave., Falls Church

• Find A Farmers Market Near You

  • If you’re looking for fresh produce, local meats and eggs, artisan vendors, and more, check out our 2025 Farmers Market Guide! We have details for nearly 20 markets across Fairfax County, from Great Falls to Lorton, Chantilly to Falls Church, and much more.

Food & Drink

Wine, pierogies, kiwis, and an update on Taste of NOVA. 😋

• Fall Wine Festival at George Washington’s Mount Vernon

  • Enjoy wine tastings from several Virginia wineries, a Tasting Tent for dessert, and more. The event runs Friday, Oct. 10-Sunday, Oct. 12. Tickets: $40-$66.

    • 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, Mount Vernon

• Pierogi Fest at Settle Down Easy Brewing

  • The Falls Church brewery is hosting its 4th annual Pierogi Fest on Saturday, Oct. 11 from 12:00p.m.-6:00p.m. Tickets: $25.

    • 2822 Fallfax Dr., Falls Church

• Virginia Kiwi Tour and Harvest

  • Come pick your own kiwis and enjoy the farm vibes for opening weekend, starting Saturday, Oct. 11, at this Vienna-area favorite. Runs 10:00a.m.-5:00p.m.

    • 2333 Hunter Mill Rd., Vienna

• Taste of NOVA

  • The annual fall festival will celebrate 120+ top chefs and beverage stars from the region during the two-day festival on Saturday, Oct. 11-Sunday, Oct. 12. Note: The event has moved from Fort Belvoir to NOVA Live in Manassas. General Admission tickets start at $100.

    • 9665 Discovery Blvd., Manassas

• Brew News: In Herndon, Ornery in, Juicy out

  • City of Fairfax favorite Ornery Beer Co. recently announced they are expanding to Herndon. Meanwhile, Juicy Brewing Co. announced they are saying goodbye to their Sunset Park Drive location. But, the post notes Juicy will “continue its operations in a form that will be announced separately.” Stay tuned…

• Bingo Night at Paradise Springs Winery

  • Enjoy a classic bingo night at Paradise Springs Winery on Friday, October 10 starting at 6:00p.m. Enjoy wine, food trucks, and more. Prizes will be awarded throughout the evening. Tickets: $10. Ages 21+.

    • 13219 Yates Ford Rd., Clifton

A message from Kids Give Back

Join Kids Give Back to prepare costumes for local children. Costumes for Kids: A Fall Volunteer Festival on October 18 helps you celebrate fall while doing something great for our community.  Enjoy:

• Five no-sew costume-making stations

• Face painting & crafts

• Kid-focused Silent Auction

• Games and more.

$12/ticket, group discounts available.

Music, Arts, & Entertainment

A busy weekend in Reston, plus performances across the region! 🎶

• Washington West Film Festival

  • The highly acclaimed film festival returns to Reston Town Center from Thursday, Oct. 9-Monday, Oct. 13. Ticket prices vary.

    • 11900 Market St., Reston

• Rocktoberfest at Reston Town Center

  • Smash Mouth headlines a three-act lineup at Rocktoberfest on Saturday, Oct. 11 from 5:00p.m.-10:00p.m. The show is free and open to the public.

    • 11900 Market St., Reston

• Fairfax Symphony Orchestra Kicks Off 2025-2026 Season

  • A performance of “The Lark & Four Seasons” comes to GMU’s Center for the Arts on Saturday, Oct. 11 to kick off the season. Showtime: 8:00p.m. Tickets: $54-$75.

    • 4373 Mason Pond Dr., Fairfax

• Workhouse Art Center’s Freedom Fest

  • A night of music, food, and fun honoring U.S. military, veterans, and first responders at Workhouse Art Centers on Saturday, Oct. 11 from 12:00p.m.-9:00p.m. Tickets: $22-$85.

    • 9518 Workhouse Way, Lorton

• Stagecoach Theatre Company Performs in Chantilly

  • The Loudoun-based performance of “A Vintage to Die For,” an interactive murder mystery, comes to Ono Brewing Co. in Chantilly on Saturday, Oct. 11. Tickets: $57.

    • 4515 Daly Drive, Suite N, Chantilly

• Mason District Art Festival

  • Local and regional artists come together for the first-ever Mason District Art Festival on Saturday, Oct. 11 from 10:00a.m.-3:00p.m. (rain or shine).

    • 7200 Columbia Pike, Annandale

4th Annual Potomac Music Fall Fest — Bring the whole family out to Potomac Music’s Fall Fest on October 18-19 at Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton! Enjoy hayrides, live music, food and cocktails, visit the pumpkin patch, shop dozens of local small business vendors, and catch a screening of Hocus Pocus. Admission is free!

Interested in featuring your upcoming event on our NEW Community Corkboard? Email us!

Families & Kids

The carnival comes to town and classics hit the ice! 🎡

• The Fair Oaks Fall Carnival

  • The classic-style carnival comes to the Fair Oaks Mall and runs through Sunday, Oct. 12. Times and ticket prices vary.

    • 11750 Fair Oaks Mall, Fairfax

• Disney on Ice in Fairfax

  • Disney favorites come to life on the ice this weekend at EagleBank Arena for shows Thursday, Oct. 9-Monday, Oct. 13. Tickets start at $30.

    • 4500 Patriot Circle, Fairfax

• The Boro’s Oktoberfest

  • A family-friendly Oktoberfest comes to The Boro in Tysons on Saturday, Oct. 11 from 12:00p.m.-2:00p.m. Admission is free.

    • 8350 Broad St., Tysons

• McLean Pet Fest

  • A one-stop shop for furry friends and their owners in McLean Central Park on Sunday, Oct. 12 from 11:00a.m.-4:00p.m. Check out pet-related exhibitors and find other resources. Admission is free.

    • 1468 Dolley Madison Blvd., McLean

Sports & Recreation

Together with

This high school football season, we are teaming up with the guys at “All Hitches — The NoVA Football Podcast” to provide you with local high school football coverage!

Each week, Coach Dash and Coach Mesa will highlight their Games of the Week in Fairfax County. Be sure to tune in to the All Hitches “Friday Night Spotlight” on YouTube, where the guys take you LIVE to games around the region for all of the local high school football action, from Reston to Fairfax to Alexandria and more.

Check out their Games of the Week!

• James Madison (3-2) at Westfield (3-2)

• Oakton (3-2) at South Lakes (3-2)

• Centreville (3-1) at Chantilly (3-2)

• West Springfield (4-2) at Yorktown (4-2)

• West Potomac (2-3) at Alexandria City (5-0)

Home Games

• 🏀 NBA: Toronto Raptors at Washington Wizards (Pre-Season)

  • Sunday, October 12 at 3:00p.m, Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C.

• 🏈 NFL: Chicago Bears at Washington Commanders

  • Monday, October 13 at 8:15p.m., Northwest Stadium, Landover, MD

News & Notes

• 🏒 The Washington Capitals visit the New York Islanders and New York Rangers this weekend.

• ⚽️ The Washington Spirit and Loudoun United FC are on the road Saturday.

Fairfax County Fun Fact of the Week

Did you know: U.S. Route 50, which runs through Fairfax County, is a 3,000+ mile highway stretching from Maryland to California. It’s better is known locally as Lee Jackson Memorial Highway and Arlington Boulevard.

Before We Go, Some Good News…

This week, we find some Good News in Falls Church!

Congratulations to George C. Marshall High School auto tech instructor Rebecca Fenton, who recently won $50,000 for her impact on students! She is one of only 25 educators nationwide to receive the prestigious Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize. What’s more: Fenton is the only female auto tech instructor in Fairfax County Public Schools. Check out more details here. Great work!

Know about some good news in the community? Email us!

We Want to Hear from You!

Want to get your message in front of 1,600+ Fairfax County neighbors?

If you have an event you would like to feature in the newsletter, or if you’re a business looking to advertise with us, send us an email! —> [email protected].

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Thanks for reading! See you next week.