The end is near for a school building that has stood in Dunn Loring since the Great Depression.
After operating for nearly nine decades, first as a school and then as an administrative hub, the Dunn Loring Administrative Center at 2334 Gallows Road will close in phases next month to make way for a new elementary school.
The number of jobless residents in Fairfax County jumped by more than a third — 33.8%, to be precise — year over year to start 2026, according to new state data.
A total of 23,749 county residents were reported seeking work in January, up from 17,744 a year before, based on figures released April 16 by the Virginia Department of Workforce Development and Advancement.
For nearly three decades, one event has united Fort Belvoir’s sprawling community of soldiers, families, retirees and civilian employees like no other: Oktoberfest. This September, the tradition continues — and grows — with the 28th Annual Fort Belvoir Oktoberfest, running September 24–27 at a brand-new location, Pullen Field, 9625 Middleton Road, Fort Belvoir, Virginia.
Hosted by Fort Belvoir Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR), the four-day festival is the installation’s largest annual event and one of the most beloved in the Northern Virginia military community. Best of all? General admission is free — no tickets required to walk through the gates and enjoy four days of German tradition.
Whether you’re a polka devotee, a carnival enthusiast or simply someone who appreciates a good bratwurst, the schedule has you covered. The fest kicks off Thursday, September 24 (6–10 p.m.) with live performances from the Fritz Polka Band and the Sepp Walzer Fest Band. Friday (4–11 p.m.) brings an expanded lineup, including a captivating performance by the Alt-Washingtonia Schuhplattler Verein, a traditional German folk dance group, alongside more live music and DJ sets.
Saturday (noon–11 p.m.) is the festival’s longest day, featuring a full rotation of performers including Johnny Koenig and Leroy Burks, plus special contests (more on those below). The celebration wraps up on Sunday, September 27 — Military Appreciation Day (noon–8 p.m.) — with a fitting send-off honoring the men and women who make this community what it is. All Active Duty Military and their dependents can purchase a carnival wristband for $27. Must present valid Active Duty Military ID Card for discounted wristband.
Longtime attendees will notice a few exciting additions in 2026. The festival is making its debut at Pullen Field, adjacent to the Bowling Center — a new venue that opens up even more options for a full day out, including bowling and American cuisine for anyone looking for a break from the German revelry.
The crowd-favorite Stein Holding Contest (ages 18+) and Costume Contest (all ages, with Dirndl & Lederhosen and Kinder categories) return on both Saturday and Sunday inside the fest tent. And in a thoughtful new addition, the event will feature a dedicated sensory area for families who need a quieter moment away from the excitement — a small but meaningful touch that reflects MWR’s commitment to serving the whole community.
Authentic German cuisine, specialty food trucks, beer on tap, and Oktoberfest merchandise — including Bavarian mugs, glass boots and traditional hats — round out the experience. Carnival rides are available for a separate ticket fee, purchased on-site.
The event is open to active duty personnel, retirees, civilian federal employees and their guests. Parking is free and in lots surrounding the event. Members of the general public may attend as sponsored guests. Because the festival is held on the installation, all visitors must plan for gate access in advance. Non-DoD ID holders aged 18 and older need a sponsored visitor pass and should submit their applications at least 72 hours before arriving. The Visitor Control Center at Tulley Gate can assist with questions. For access details, visit https://home.army.mil/belvoir/about/installation-access
For the latest updates on food vendors, entertainment and access details, visit belvoir.armymwr.com.
Fort Belvoir Oktoberfest is presented by USAA, with support from Wegmans, Potomac Music, First Command, Brain Treatment Center and Embassy Suites by Hilton, Springfield. Sponsorship does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Army or Fort Belvoir.
A sergeant in the Fairfax County Police Department was arrested over the weekend for alleged sexual abuse.
Matthew Sylvester, a 40-year-old resident of Warrenton, has been charged with two counts of aggravated sexual battery by the Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office after he was taken into custody on Saturday (April 18) around 1 a.m., according to the FCPD.
Bren Mar Park ES Safe After Fire — “Sunday afternoon, there was a fire at Bren Mar Park Elementary School in Alexandria … While the investigation into the cause continues, the Fire Marshal has determined that it is safe for students to return to school tomorrow. We are grateful that classes will be able to continue without disruption.” [FCPS]
Dr. Cerina Fairfax’s Patients Mourn — “Patients of Dr. Cerina Fairfax dropped off flowers outside her closed office door. She was killed by her husband, former Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax, police said … People who knew Cerina remembered her as bright and caring.” [NBC4]
No AC a Struggle in Annandale Apartments — “While the area experienced an early heat wave [last] week, residents of the Wedgewood Apartments in Annandale suffered without air conditioning … Inside Wedgewood tenant A. Osmani’s home, a thermometer recorded a temperature of 103 degrees on April 15.” [Annandale Today]
Capitals Stars Spotted at Tysons Brewery — Potentially retiring Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin was one of several players who visited Starr Hill Brewpub last Thursday (April 16), two days after the team concluded its season. Capitals fans and local realtors Morgan Samson and Colby Smythe ran into the players as they were leaving and took some photos in front of Capital One Hall. [RMNB]
Bagel Shop Opens in Vienna — “Bagel Street, a new shop on Maple Avenue in Vienna, plunges everyone’s favorite savory rounds with the most varied bagel case I’ve seen in our region … The brainchild of married founders Jenny Liu and Julio Santana, the creations owe more to her Chinese American roots than his Dominicans ones. But it’s clear that diversity knows few boundaries here.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Reston Startup Acquired — “Fortreum LLC, a cybersecurity assessment firm based in Lansdowne, has bought Kovr.ai, which helps companies doing business with the federal government obtain cybersecurity compliance sign-offs.” The acquisition was announced less than a year after former Amazon Web Services Inc. executives Andrew Black and Sri Iyer officially launched the Reston-based software developer. [Washington Business Journal]
Reston Man Wins $100K From Lottery — “A Reston man won a $100,000 Powerball prize after buying his ticket online for the March 16 drawing, according to the Virginia Lottery. Bharat Chatani matched four of the first five numbers plus the Powerball number, a combination that normally wins $50,000.” [Patch]
Renovations Coming to Park in Groveton — Starting Wednesday (April 22), the tennis and basketball courts at Stoneybrooke Park will close for renovations, including the installation of new surfacing, goals and fencing as well as the addition of gravel to improve drainage. “Parking will be limited during construction. Weather permitting, construction is expected to be completed in early July.” [Fairfax County Park Authority]
It’s Monday — Expect mostly sunny weather with scattered sprinkles and a high near 55°F. Northwest winds will blow at 13 to 15 mph, with gusts reaching up to 26 mph. Overnight, the sky will be mostly clear, with temperatures dropping to around 34°F and a north wind at 6 to 9 mph. [NWS]
Music. Art. Food. Community. The Takoma Park Folk Festival brings it all together for one free, unforgettable day. Discover six stages of live music from around the world, shop an acclaimed juried craft show, enjoy international cuisine, connect with local community organizations, and let the kids explore crafts and activities in the Children's Nook. It's one of the region's most beloved traditions, and a celebration of the creativity, diversity, and welcoming spirit that has long defined Takoma Park.
New this year! Jam at the Crossroads is a place for musicians of all levels to come together and be part of the music.
A two-alarm fire broke out at Bren Mar Park Elementary School in Lincolnia this afternoon (Sunday), sending a sizable plume of black smoke into the air.
Units with the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department were dispatched to the two-story school at 6344 Beryl Road around 3:22 p.m. for a building fire, according to the county’s emergency scanner.
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 — Apr 17, 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:
Expect mostly sunny skies with a high of 83°F and east winds at 6 to 10 mph, gusting up to 18 mph. Saturday night brings likely showers, mainly after 2 a.m., with increasing clouds and a low of 51°F. Winds will shift from southeast to northeast at 6 to 13 mph, gusting up to 21 mph. There is a 70% chance of rain, with expected accumulation between 0.1 and 0.25 inches. 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. 👋
The drought conditions plaguing parts of Virginia, including Fairfax County, since last fall are officially the worst the state has experienced in almost 20 years.
Yesterday (Thursday), the U.S. Drought Monitor classified over 60% of Virginia as being in a severe drought based on data collected through Tuesday (April 14). That’s the most widespread drought seen in the state since October 2007, surpassing levels recorded during previous droughts in 2008, 2010, 2023 and 2024, according to Fairfax County.
Reston’s annual celebration of its founding is set to return tomorrow (Saturday) — only this time, the festival will honor the nation’s origins as well.
The 2026 edition of Celebrate Reston, which was renamed last year after two decades as Founder’s Day, will feature a number of activities nodding to the U.S.’s 250th anniversary, while also putting a spotlight on the local community.
The thousands of patients who visit VHC Health in Arlington for pregnancy-related services and other women’s health needs can now find similar care in Tysons.
The nonprofit health system celebrated the launch of a new location for the Charlotte S. Benjamin Center for Women’s Health at its Tysons Pavilion (1760 Old Meadow Road, Suite 210) with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 9.
