Hey gang, Matt here!

We hope you have been enjoying our new “Good News” feature at the end of the newsletter over the last few weeks. I think all of us can use a story or two about the positive things happening in our communities. That’s why we’re bookending this week’s edition with a little extra good news.

First, Tuesday was the annual National Night Out. It’s a chance for police departments, fire departments, and first responders nationwide to connect with those whom they serve.

We wanted to share this great post from Fairfax County Fire & Rescue crews Out & About during National Night Out in our local neighborhoods!

Thank you for serving our communities!

Now, let’s dive into the fun happening around the area this weekend. ⬇️

In this week’s newsletter:

• National Farmers Market Week + Pop-up roller rink in Lorton

• The Peach Truck pulls in, line dancing and bingo

• A classic country music weekend at Capital One Hall, Wolf Trap

• Family Game Night, Cardboard Boat Regatta

• Commanders kickoff pre-season at New England, Nats hit the road

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Cheers,
Matt

A message from us

Things To Do

Farmers markets, pop-up roller rinks, and more awesome fun! 🙌

• It’s National Farmers Market Week! Find Local Farmers Market in Our Guide

  • Thanks for making our 2025 Farmers Market Guide our most popular feature yet! National Farmers Market Week runs August 3-9. If you’re looking for fresh produce, local meats and eggs, artisan vendors, and more, check out our 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.

• Pop-Up Roller Rink in Lorton

  • Lace up those skates and head over to Workhouse Arts Center’s newest pop-up roller rink on Saturday, August 9 from 6:00p.m.-8:30p.m. Dubbed “The Wrink,” this event is free but participants must bring their own skates.

    • 9518 Workhouse Way, Lorton

• Friends of Centreville Library Book Sale

  • The Friends of Centreville Regional Library’s Back to School Book Sale kicks off on Friday, August 8 and runs through Sunday, Aug. 10. Check out books, DVDs, and more.

    • 14200 St. Germain Dr., Centreville

• “Supernova” Returns to the Dulles Expo Center

  • Billed as “the largest Smash event in the world,” check out this Super Smash Bros.-themed event at the Dulles Expo Center starting Thursday, August 7-Sunday, August 10. Find times and ticket info in the link above.

    • 4320 Chantilly Shopping Center, Chantilly

• Moonlight Kayak Tour on the Potomac River

  • Paddle under the stars and see the Potomac River at night on this guided kayak tour starting at Riverbend Park in Great Falls on Saturday, August 9 at 8:30p.m. Ages 14+, no paddling experience is necessary. Tickets: $41 per person.

    • 8700 Potomac Hills St., Great Falls

• Second Saturday Sungazing at the National Air & Space Museum in Chantilly

  • Observe the sun through a filtered telescope this weekend at the National Air & Space Museum’s Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly with Second Saturday Sungazing. Knowledgeable staff will be on hand to answer questions. This fun event runs Saturday, August 9 from 11:00a.m.-2:00p.m. The event itself is free with parking at $15.

    • 14390 Air & Space Museum Parkway, Chantilly

Food & Drink

Food and fun Out & About! 🚗 (And cheers to you craft beer fans — Thursday, August 7 is National IPA Day.🍻)

• Line Dancing Returns to Fair Winds Brewing Co.

  • The Lorton brewery is once again hosting line dancing on Friday, August 8 starting at 6:30p.m. Cover: $5.

    • 7000 Newington Rd., Suites K-L, Lorton

• Bingo Night at Paradise Springs Winery

  • Enjoy a classic bingo night at Paradise Springs Winery on Friday, August 8 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

• The Peach Truck at Springfield Town Center

  • If you pre-ordered in time, the big day is here! A Southern favorite, the ever-popular Peach Truck pulls into the Springfield Town Center on Thursday, August 7 from 4:30p.m.-6:00p.m. (Miss out this time? Learn more about other local stops the Peach Truck is making around the area in the link above.)

    • 6500 Springfield Mall, Springfield

• Fairfax County-Area Restaurants Win RAMMYs

  • The winners of the 2025 RAMMY Awards were announced on Sunday, and a few local restaurants — and their staff — took home the top prizes. (If you’re thinking to yourself, “Matt, what the heck are the RAMMY’s?,” they’re sort of the Grammys or Oscars for the DMV’s food and restaurant scene.) Here are the winning Fairfax County restaurants:

    • Restaurateur of the Year: Seng Luangrath for restaurants including Padaek in Falls Church.

    • Manager of the Year: Lorena Reyes, Founding Farmers (with locations in Tysons and Reston)

    • Beer Program of the Year: Atlas Brew Works (with a location in Alexandria)

      • Find the full list of winners in the link above!

Go Out & About Together

Music, Arts, & Entertainment

A classic country weekend headlines the stage around the area! 🤠

• Tracy Lawrence Headlines Capital One Hall

  • The ‘90s and 2000s country music legend comes to Tysons for one show only on Friday, August 8. Showtime: 7:30p.m. Tickets start at $69.

    • 7750 Capital One Tower Rd., Tysons

• Lyle Lovett and his Large Band Headline Wolf Trap

  • Country music icon Lyle Lovett brings his Large Band to Wolf Trap’s Filene Center on Thursday, August 7. Showtime: 8:00p.m. Tickets start at $55.50.

    • 1551 Trap Rd., Vienna

• Clipse w/Earthgang at EagleBank Arena

  • The Virginia Beach-based hip-hop duo Clipse comes to Fairfax on Saturday, August 9 at 8:00p.m. Tickets start at $62.

    • 4500 Patriot Circle, Fairfax

• “JunkFood” Headlines Herndon Rocks

  • The band “JunkFood” takes the stage at Herndon Rocks on Friday, August 8, playing everything from country, rock, pop, and more. Showtime is 6:30p.m. for this free show on the Herndon Town Green.

    • 777 Lynn St., Herndon

• Reston Concerts on the Town

  • Beatles cover-band “Hard Day’s Night” headlines Reston Concerts on the Town on Saturday, August 9 at the Reston Town Center Pavilion. This free show starts at 7:30p.m.

    • 11900 Market St., Reston

• Vietnamese Cultural Heritage Night in Annandale

  • The Prelude Chamber Ensemble will host an evening of music mixing cultural heritage and the sounds of classical music in Annandale’s Ossian Hall Park on Saturday, August 9. Showtime for this free event starts at 7:30p.m.

    • 7900 Heritage Dr., Annandale

• Concerts in the Park in Falls Church

  • Rock and blues band “Big Tow” plays Cherry Hill Park in Falls Church for the weekly concert on Thursday, August 7. Showtime for this free event is 7:00p.m.

    • 312 Park Ave., Falls Church

Families & Kids

Games, Gary The Great, and a great big regatta! 🛶

• Family Game Night at Tysons Corner Center

  • Enjoy everything from cornhole to ping-pong, plus tasty food and a DJ spinning the sounds of summer for Family Game Night at Tysons Corner Center. The event runs Thursday, August 7 from 4:00-7:00p.m.

    • 1961 Chain Bridge Rd., Tysons

• The Magic of Gary The Great at Wolf Trap

  • Wolf Trap hosts children’s programming this weekend with two performances of “The Magic of Gary The Great.” The show runs Friday, August 8 and Saturday, August 9 at 10:30a.m. both days. Tickets: $12 (free under age 2).

    • 1551 Trap Road, Vienna

• 2025 Cardboard Boat Regatta in Reston

  • One of the most popular events on Lake Anne is back as the Cardboard Boat Regatta sets sail on Saturday, August 9 from 1:00p.m.-5:00p.m. Boats set sail and dock at Lake Anne Plaza in this family-friendly event.

    • 1639 Washington Plaza North, Reston

• Night Hike & S’mores in Lake Fairfax Park

  • Enjoy a family-friendly night in the outdoors at Reston’s Lake Fairfax Park on Sunday, August 10. The hike starts at 7:30p.m. and ends with a campfire to make s’mores. Tickets: $12. (Children must be accompanied by an adult.)

    • 1400 Lake Fairfax Drive, Reston

• “Moana 2” on the Big Screen in Fairfax, Chantilly

  • “Moana 2” hits the outdoor big screen at the Mosaic District’s Strawberry Park in Fairfax on Thursday, August 7. Showtime for this free event is 7:00p.m.

    • 2910 District Ave., Fairfax

  • In Chantilly, catch the animated hit as this week’s featured film at Sully Historic Site’s drive-in movies. Showtime for this free event is Saturday, August 9 at 8:00p.m.

    • 3650 Historic Sully Way, Chantilly

Sports & Recreation

Each weekend, we run down the schedule, news, and notes of our favorite local teams!

News & Notes

• 🏈 The Washington Commanders open preseason on the road at the New England Patriots on Friday.

• ⚽️ Our local soccer teams are on the road this weekend — D.C. United travels to play the New England Revolution on Saturday, the Washington Spirit travels to Gotham FC, and Loudoun United FC travels to Rhode Island FC.

• 🏀 The Washington Mystics travel to Minnesota and Dallas this weekend.

• ⚾️ The Washington Nationals travel to San Francisco to face the Giants for a three-game series this weekend.

Home Games

• ⚾️ MLB: Athletics at Washington Nationals

  • Thursday, Aug. 7 at 12:05p.m., Nationals Park, Washington, D.C.

Fairfax County Fun Fact of the Week

Did you know: The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department (FCFRD) is a combination career and volunteer organization. FCFRD has 39 stations countywide.

Before We Go, Some Good News…

And now, for part two of this week’s good news!

• A big shout-out to our awesome newsletter subscriber Lisa from Vienna for sending us this story!

  • Zachary Suh, a 20-year-old rising junior at George Mason University, has always enjoyed cooking healthy meals. But, while cooking for his grandmother after she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, he took that passion to the next level. Suh created “Elderly Eats,” a service which provides healthy meals to seniors in the D.C. area. So far this year, Elderly Eats has created more than 100 meals for local seniors.

    
    Great work, Zachary!
    

    • Read the full story from WTOP.

Know about some good news in the community? We want to hear about it!

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Thanks for reading! See you next week.

Matt Knoedler
Publisher, Out & About Fairfax