Around Town

Interactive Hershey experience celebrates grand opening in Tysons

By Katie Taranto
Original X Productions CEO Stacy Moscatelli helps cut the ribbon on the Hershey Super Sweet Adventure (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

Guests at Tysons Corner Center can now partake in candy-themed activities and pose for custom chocolate bar wrappers at the new Hershey’s experience, which held a grand opening last week.

Hershey’s Super Sweet Adventure opened Friday (April 24) on the mall’s first level near Macy’s, following a delay earlier this year. The storefront carries Hershey’s treats and a variety of branded collectibles and merchandise, while the backroom makes way for the ticketed experience: an interactive workshop with activities inspired by Hershey’s various confections.

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FFXnow Daily Debrief for Apr 24, 2026

By FFXnow.com

Good Friday evening, Fairfax County. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.

🕗 News recap

The following articles were published earlier today — Apr 24, 2026.

Since it’s Friday, we’ve also compiled a list of the most-read articles of the week, below.

  • UPDATED: Bren Mar Park Elementary deemed OK to open after two-alarm fire (57266 views)
  • Fairfax County voters supported redistricting amendment except in four precincts (30812 views)
  • Fairfax County police sergeant arrested on sexual abuse charges (26005 views)
  • Fairfax County’s second Sheetz could open in Franconia area (23109 views)
  • BREAKING: Va. voters approve redistricting amendment, as Fairfax results pour in (22232 views)
  • Herndon concert series Friday Night Live! unveils 2026 lineup (22200 views)
  • Fairfax High student sentenced to jail for groping multiple girls (17722 views)
  • Historic Dunn Loring Center to close ahead of replacement with elementary school (16504 views)
  • Tysons Galleria’s closing Saks Fifth Avenue might turn into a fitness center (11211 views)
  • Gum Springs leaders rally to save ‘pillar of community’ from county budget axe (8913 views)
  • Independent bookstore crawl gets underway this weekend in N. Va. (8852 views)

    • 📅 Upcoming events

    Here is what’s going on Saturday throughout the county, from our event calendar.

    Here are the events planned for Sunday:

    ⛈️ Saturday’s forecast

    Expect likely showers and possible thunderstorms after 5 pm, with mostly cloudy skies and a high near 66°F. East winds will blow at 10 to 13 mph, with gusts up to 22 mph, and a 60% chance of rain, ranging from a tenth to a quarter of an inch, especially higher during thunderstorms. On Saturday night, showers and potential thunderstorms will continue, with lows around 47°F and northeast winds at 14 mph, gusting up to 23 mph. There’s a 90% chance of rain, with new precipitation amounts between a quarter and half an inch. See more from Weather.gov.

    🌅 Tonight’s sunset

    The MonumentCam screenshot above is used with permission of the Trust for the National Mall and courtesy of EarthCam.

    We hope you have a great weekend! Feel free to discuss the most-read stories of the week, the upcoming weekend events or anything else of local interest in the comments. 👋

    Tephra ICA Arts Festival to celebrate 35 years in Reston by honoring past

    By Tadi Abedje
    The 2025 Tephra ICA Arts Festival at Reston Town Center (photo by Kelci Friend, courtesy Tephra ICA)

    For over three decades, the Tephra ICA Arts Festival has engaged the Fairfax County and Northern Virginia community through arts and performances. The festival will celebrate its 35th anniversary with a two-day event on May 16-17 at Reston Town Center for the public.

    It will have 200 artists nationwide and from the D.C. region, dance performances, original paintings and a concert.

    Go to Tephra ICA Arts Festival to celebrate 35 years in Reston by honoring past Read more

    Lake Fairfax festival, Vienna tree plantings highlight local Earth Day celebrations

    By Angela Woolsey
    The Lake Fairfax Marina from across the water (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

    The environment will take center stage across Fairfax County over the next two days, thanks to an abundance of Arbor Day and Earth Day festivities.

    The county’s headliner is the annual Earth Day Fairfax festival, which has relocated to Lake Fairfax Park (1400 Lake Fairfax Drive) in Reston this year after previously taking place at the Sully Historic Site in Chantilly.

    Go to Lake Fairfax festival, Vienna tree plantings highlight local Earth Day celebrations Read more

    FFXnow Daily Debrief for Apr 23, 2026

    By FFXnow.com

    Good Thursday evening, Fairfax County. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.

    🕗 News recap

    The following articles were published earlier today — Apr 23, 2026.

    📅 Upcoming events

    Here is what’s going on Friday throughout the county, from our event calendar.

    ⛈️ Friday’s forecast

    There is a 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 PM, with mostly sunny skies and a high near 82°F. Winds will be light and variable, shifting to the north at about 5 mph in the afternoon. Later, the night will be mostly cloudy with a 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms, and temperatures will drop to a low of around 55°F, with southeast winds around 6 mph. See more from Weather.gov.

    🌅 Tonight’s sunset

    The MonumentCam screenshot above is used with permission of the Trust for the National Mall and courtesy of EarthCam.

    Thanks for reading! Feel free to discuss the day’s happenings in the comments.

    Outdoor furniture store holds grand opening for Springfield location

    By Katie Taranto
    Outdoor furniture offered at Fortunoff Backyard Store (photo courtesy of Fortunoff)

    A national outdoor furniture retailer held a grand opening for its new Springfield store today (Thursday).

    Fortunoff Backyard Store is now open at Springfield Commons, with a new, 11,000-square-foot store and showroom at 6721B Frontier Drive. The showroom sells a variety of outdoor furniture, including dining sets, chaises, gazebos, fire pits and other patio decor.

    Go to Outdoor furniture store holds grand opening for Springfield location Read more

    Taste of Vienna returns with dozens of food vendors, cake-eating contest

    By Angela Woolsey
    Taste of Vienna banner over Maple Avenue (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

    Taste of Vienna is set to return this weekend, putting a spotlight on local restaurants while also raising funds for the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department (Vienna VFD).

    The 13th annual food festival will take over the fire department’s parking lot at 400 Center Street South from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. this Saturday (April 25).

    Go to Taste of Vienna returns with dozens of food vendors, cake-eating contest Read more

    FFXnow Daily Debrief for Apr 22, 2026

    By FFXnow.com

    Good Wednesday evening, Fairfax County. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.

    🕗 News recap

    The following articles were published earlier today — Apr 22, 2026.

    📅 Upcoming events

    Here is what’s going on Thursday throughout the county, from our event calendar.

    ☀️ Thursday’s forecast

    Expect sunny skies with a high of 81°F and a northwest wind at 5 to 7 mph. Thursday night will be partly cloudy with a slight 20% chance of showers before 2 a.m., a low of 58°F, and light winds from the west. See more from Weather.gov.

    🌅 Tonight’s sunset

    The MonumentCam screenshot above is used with permission of the Trust for the National Mall and courtesy of EarthCam.

    Thanks for reading! Feel free to discuss the day’s happenings in the comments.

    Independent bookstore crawl gets underway this weekend in N. Va.

    By Katie Taranto
    Entering Scrawl Books at Reston Town Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

    Several Fairfax County bookstores are participating in an annual bookstore crawl program in Northern Virginia this spring.

    The third annual NoVa+ Bookstore Crawl Passport program kicks off this Saturday (April 25) at 18 independent bookstores across Northern Virginia, including Bards Alley and Big Planet Comics in Vienna, Scrawl Books in Reston and Fonts Books & Gifts in McLean.

    Go to Independent bookstore crawl gets underway this weekend in N. Va. Read more

    Softball training facility winds up for expansion to Springfield

    By Mary Stachyra Lopez
    Renovations are underway at SixFour3 Fairfax, a new softball training facility in West Springfield (photo by Mary Stachyra Lopez)

    A Virginia-based chain of fastpitch softball training facilities for girls will expand to Fairfax County this spring.

    An exact opening date hasn’t been set, but SixFour3 Fairfax will open at 8600 Morrissette Drive in West Springfield soon — likely within a month, local franchise owner Bob Reuss told FFXnow.

    Go to Softball training facility winds up for expansion to Springfield Read more
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