Seven Fairfax County playgrounds will get a glow-up this fall, as the Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) updates the areas to improve accessibility and provide new amenities.
The playgrounds getting updates are located in Borge Street Neighborhood Park in Oakton, Bren Mar Park and Lincolnia Park in Lincolnia, Cub Run Stream Valley Park in Centreville, and Loisdale Park in Springfield, according to a press release from the FCPA.
Fairfax County in July recorded its largest number of residents employed since September 2025, but jobless totals remained higher than at the beginning of Donald Trump’s second term.
With 616,156 county residents employed in the civilian workforce and 21,819 looking for jobs, Fairfax’s July 2026 jobless rate was 3.4%, according to figures reported Sept. 2 by the Virginia Department of Workforce Development and Advancement.
Get your lederhosen and dirndls ready! Fort Belvoir Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) is thrilled to host the 28th Annual Oktoberfest, a four-day festival celebrating German culture, food, and family fun from September 24–27 at its new location, Pullen Field.
This highly anticipated community event brings the spirit of Bavaria to Fort Belvoir with authentic German cuisine, beer, and lively music. The festival features a thrilling carnival, a scenic Volksmarch 5K/10K Walk, and activities for the entire family. It’s an unforgettable experience for everyone!
Event Schedule:
Thursday, Sept. 24: 6–10 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 25: 4–11 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 26: noon–11 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 27 (Military Appreciation Day): noon–8 p.m.
What to Expect:
From the sounds of traditional German music to the tastes of bratwurst and pretzels, Oktoberfest offers a multi-sensory experience. Guests can enjoy a wide selection of food and beverages, shop for unique Oktoberfest merchandise like Bavarian mugs and hats, and enjoy the vibrant atmosphere. The carnival will be running throughout the festival, offering fun rides and attractions for all ages. Ride tickets will be sold onsite, with discounted wristbands for Active Duty and their family members on Military Appreciation Sunday.
Plan Your Visit:
Oktoberfest is located at Pullen Field (9625 Middleton Road) on Fort Belvoir. All visitors aged 18 and older without a valid DoD or military ID must obtain a visitor pass in advance. To ensure smooth access, please arrange for your sponsored pass at least 72 hours prior to your visit. Free parking will be adjacent to the event area. For the most up-to-date information on installation access, vendor lists, and entertainment schedules, please visit the official website at belvoir.armymwr.com.
A Special Thanks to Our Sponsors:
Fort Belvoir Family and MWR extends a heartfelt thank you to our presenting sponsor, USAA, and all our valued sponsors for their incredible support in making this community event possible.
Three people died Sunday afternoon (Sept. 6) after their SUV crashed into a truck carrying oxygen tanks on I-66 in Dunn Loring.
At around 4:10 p.m., the driver of a Honda Pilot struck the rear of a truck transporting oxygen tanks that was stopped in the westbound express lanes at mile marker 64.3 near the I-495 interchange, according to the Virginia State Police.
Man Stabbed in West Falls Church — “Two people, including a teenager, are in custody Monday night after a stabbing inside a home left a man seriously injured in West Falls Church. The Fairfax County Police Department said the stabbing was ‘domestic-related’ and took place in a home in the 7000 block of Parkwood Court.” [DC News Now]
Call for Special Session Rejected — “Gov. Abigail Spanberger said Thursday she will not call another special session of the General Assembly to give state regulators more time to review the proposed $66.8 billion merger between Dominion Energy and NextEra Energy, rejecting a request from lawmakers who warned the current 180-day review period is too short.” [Virginia Scope]
Apartment Break-In Under Investigation — Fairfax County police are looking to identify a man who was seen on video climbing onto a third-floor apartment balcony in Groveton. “According to the apartment owner, the suspect got spooked, pointed a gun and made threats before walking out without taking anything.” [FOX5]
Amtrak to Pause Virginia-D.C. Service — “Rail passengers traveling through Virginia’s Northeast Corridor should expect cancellations, route changes and may need to rely on bus connections beginning Oct. 16, due to major track upgrades … Trains traveling through Virginia will effectively end at Alexandria, with only a limited number continuing north.” [Virginia Mercury]
Congressman’s Phone Wiretapped by FBI — “Rep. Suhas Subramanyam (D-Va.) said Thursday he was informed by the Department of Justice that his phone calls with a Virginia state legislator in the spring were wiretapped.” Subramanyam said the wiretap was part of a probe into Senate President Louise Lucas, but called its timing during campaigning for the nullified redistricting referendum “extremely suspicious.” [Axios]
Decline in International College Students — “International students at Virginia colleges face new federal restrictions starting Sept. 15, as the state grapples with a sharp drop in international enrollment … Public four-year colleges lost over 1,100 graduate or professional international students last fall (a 13% decline) while gaining 287 undergraduates, per the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.” [Axios Richmond]
Gap in Va. Medicaid Reimbursement — “Virginia’s Medicaid programs reimburse doctors at significantly lower rates than private insurers for the same preventive-care services, according to a study published Friday.” George Mason University professor Alison Cuellar, who led the study, “said lower reimbursement rates can make physicians less likely to participate in Medicaid, potentially making it harder for patients to find care.” [WTOP]
Father-Daughter Pilots at Dulles Connect on Radio — “Kenny [Katnik], a 24-year-old CommuteAir captain, and her father, United Airlines pilot Kent Katnik, were preparing for separate flights Sept. 1 when they ended up on the same radio frequency. Their brief exchange spread online, giving listeners a glimpse of the family behind the flight decks.” [WJLA]
It’s Tuesday — Expect mostly sunny skies with a high of 87°F and a calm morning wind shifting to the southwest at about 5 mph. Tuesday night will be mostly clear, with temperatures dropping to around 65°F and a light south wind at 6 mph. [NWS]
Want more local news? Check out our newest sister site, WSHnow, with the latest from across the region.
Event location
Caboose Commons
2918 Eskridge Rd
Fairfax, Virginia 22031
Join the Do It for Dan Foundation for our annual fall fundraiser supporting lung cancer research at Inova Schar Cancer Institute. Enjoy live music, trivia, raffles, foundation updates, and a special presentation from thoracic oncologist Dr. Janakiraman Subramanian. Help us raise $10,000 to advance research and better treatment options for people facing lung cancer.
Good Friday evening, Fairfax County. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.
The following articles were published earlier today — Sep 4, 2026.
Since it’s Friday, we’ve also compiled a list of the most-read articles of the week, below.
Here is what’s going on Saturday throughout the county, from our event calendar.
Here are the events planned for Sunday:
There is a 20% chance of showers before 10 a.m., and again of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m., with mostly cloudy skies and a high of 83°F. Saturday night, expect a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8 p.m., then a slight chance of showers until 11 p.m., with mostly cloudy conditions and a low of 65°F. Winds will be light from the north during the day and from the northeast at night. See more from Weather.gov.
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. 👋
As the calendar turns to fall, the Alden Theatre in McLean is preparing for a new year of movies, music, theater and other entertainment.
Visits by two original cast members of the musical “Rent” and “Hollywood Shuffle” director and star Robert Townsend are among the highlights of the 2026-2027 season formally unveiled this week by the McLean Community Center’s performing arts venue (1234 Ingleside Avenue).
A Centreville man will spend at least the next six years in prison for killing an 18-year-old outside a Dunkin’ Donuts over a marijuana deal two years ago.
Hassan Kanu, who’s now 20 but was also 18 at the time of the shooting, was sentenced yesterday (Sept. 3) by a Fairfax County Circuit Court judge to 10 years in prison with four of them suspended, following a conviction in March of voluntary manslaughter.
Fairfax County staff have proposed using $300,000 in unspent funds to support ongoing cleanup of Royal Lake Park in Burke following a devastating microburst in June.
The neighborhood was the hardest hit by a June 22 thunderstorm that knocked out power to more than 25,000 people across the county.
From annual exams to more intensive procedures, dental practices across Fairfax County provide critical care to keep their patients’ teeth looking clean and healthy.
Here are the nominees for “Best Dentist in Fairfax” as part of our FFXnow Readers’ Choice Awards. Did we miss your favorite practice below? Write them in!
Voting will close in two weeks. Be sure to cast your vote before 8:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 18.
Voting for the Best Summer Camp in Fairfax County is still taking place. Be sure to cast your vote before voting closes next Friday, Sept. 11 at 8:30 a.m.
Two weeks ago, we voted on the Best Gym or Fitness Center in Fairfax County. The results are now official:
