Fairfax County students again dominated in the 2026 Virginia Aviation Art Competition, sponsored by the Virginia Department of Aviation.
Students from the county won first place in all three age categories and won seven of nine overall awards in the competition, whose theme this year was “Fly to Save Lives.”
Rising education and debt-service costs and the desire to retain a competitive pay scale have contributed to a proposed 4.5% increase in the City of Fairfax’s budget.
City Manager Daniel Alexander detailed a $207.5 million fiscal 2027 year spending package on Feb. 24 that includes a host of tax increases but no new or expanded programming.
Don’t just visit the Chesapeake Bay
Explore, unwind, and create memories on the water.
Imagine a Saturday morning on the water. Coffee on the dock as Annapolis wakes up. Cruising by historic waterfronts. Anchoring in a quiet cove with friends and family. Enjoying dinner at a waterfront restaurant before heading back as the sun sets over the harbor.
That’s the Chesapeake lifestyle.
With miles of shoreline, charming waterfront towns, protected waters, and endless places to discover, the Bay offers a unique combination of adventure and accessibility. It feels like a getaway, but it’s closer than you think.
Every fall, the Annapolis Powerboat Show brings that lifestyle to downtown Annapolis.
From October 8–11, City Dock transforms into a waterfront experience where visitors can step aboard hundreds of boats, explore the latest innovations, meet boating experts, and discover what life on the water could look like.
You don’t have to own a boat to enjoy the show. You just have to be curious.
Find Your Place on the Water
The Annapolis Powerboat Show is your chance to explore the many ways to enjoy the Chesapeake.
Looking for a way to spend weekends with family and friends? Explore spacious pontoon boats and deck boats built for relaxing, entertaining, and making memories on the water. Interested in adventure? Discover center consoles designed for exploring, fishing, and cruising the Bay’s many destinations. Dreaming about longer escapes? Step aboard cruisers and yachts built for comfortable weekends and extended adventures.
Every boat offers a different way to experience the water. The show gives you the opportunity to see them all in one place, compare options, ask questions, and imagine what your own Chesapeake adventures might look like.
More Than a Boat Show
The Annapolis Powerboat Show is about more than boats. It’s about the people, places, and experiences that make life on the water special.
Spend the day exploring the docks, then continue your Annapolis adventure beyond the show grounds. Enjoy waterfront dining, browse local shops, stroll historic streets, and take in views of one of the most beautiful harbors on the Chesapeake. Meet passionate boaters, connect with marine experts, discover new products and innovations, and experience the energy of Annapolis’s signature fall events.
From first-time visitors to longtime boating enthusiasts, there is something new on every dock.
Discover How Easy It Is to Get Started
Not a boater yet, and not sure where to begin? The Annapolis Powerboat Show makes the first step easier by giving you the chance to learn, ask questions, and experience life on the water firsthand.
Explore educational opportunities designed for every level of interest. Attend free seminars led by boating experts, learn more about navigation and safety, and discover resources that will help you feel comfortable on the water.
Visitors may also experience boats in action at the PropTalk Demo Dock, where select models are available for on-water sea trials. For those looking to build their skills, BoatUS on-water training offers hands-on instruction to help new boaters gain confidence at the helm.
The Annapolis Powerboat Show is more than a place to see boats. It’s a place to explore the boating lifestyle.
Your Next Adventure Is Waiting
The Chesapeake Bay offers endless ways to make the water part of your life.
A quiet morning cruise. A waterfront lunch. An afternoon anchored with friends. A new hobby waiting to be discovered. The Annapolis Powerboat Show brings those possibilities together in one unforgettable weekend.
Come curious. Walk the docks. Step aboard. Experience the boating lifestyle for yourself.
A gym in Kings Park West will close later this spring, but apparently not by choice.
Operating since 2017, Anytime Fitness will shutter at the Twinbrooke Shopping Center in April as the result of a conflict with Federal Realty, which owns the property, gym owner Brian Samuel told FFXnow.
For many young families and seniors, everyday expenses continue to add up. Two locally owned Great Clips salons are helping make one routine expense a little easier.
Every Tuesday, seniors age 65+ and children age 10 and under can receive a haircut for just $17.99 at locally owned Great Clips locations in Fairfax City and Reston.
Housing will soon rise on a vacant lot in Merrifield where an office building had stood for over four decades.
Elm Street Development broke ground at the end of 2025 on its upcoming apartment building at 2722 Merrilee Drive, nearly five years after the project was approved to replace the 1980s-era Dunn Loring Center.
Clear Out. Shred Securely. Give Back.
Sept. 19th | from 9-12 | Bring your unwanted documents to be securely shredded on-site by Priority 1 Shredding while helping support our local community!
Join Us To:
~Securely shred your unwanted documents
~Protect your personal information
~Help care for our environment
~Make a donation to help those in need
Non – Perishable Food or Personal Care Donations are welcome and appreciated!
Driver Killed at I-66 Rest Stop — “A driver was killed Saturday afternoon when their Toyota sedan struck a parked tractor-trailer at the eastbound Interstate 66 rest area near Manassas and then caught fire … State police said it appears the Toyota struck the rear of a legally parked tractor-trailer. Following the impact, the car burst into flames.” [Inside NoVA]
Social Media Restrictions Blocked — “A federal judge on Friday blocked Virginia from enforcing a new law that aimed to protect children from being addicted to social media by requiring age verification and limiting use by those under 16 to one hour per day.” Signed by former Gov. Glenn Youngkin and in effect as of Jan. 1, the law was challenged by the technology trade group NetChoice. [Reuters]
Pedestrian Injured in Annandale Crash — A woman was transported to a hospital with life-threatening injuries on Saturday (Feb. 28) after she was struck by a vehicle while crossing the road near John Marr Drive and Ravensworth Road. John Marr Drive was closed for a period as detectives investigated before reopening shortly before 9 p.m. that evening. [FCPD/X]
Winner of $1M From Lottery Identified — “A retired electrician has won $1 million from a Powerball ticket purchased in Annandale, the Virginia Lottery announced on Feb. 24. The lottery winner bought the ticket at the Express 1 Food Mart at 4713 Backlick Road on Dec. 13. It took him a month to realize he had a winning ticket.” [Annandale Today]
Reston Native Sets Powerlifting Record — “Most people are enjoying retirement at 75. But for Reston native Becky Lane, that milestone marked a new beginning: On Feb. 14, she stepped onto a powerlifting platform for the first time and broke the national record three times. With that, Lane is headed to Anaheim, Calif., near the end of May to compete on the national stage.” [Fairfax Times]
Outdoor Furniture Store Nears Opening — “A Fortunoff Backyard Store is slated to open in Springfield in April, just in time for spring outdoor furniture shopping. The company sells high-end outdoor furniture and patio accessories. Fortunoff leased 11,000 square feet at the Springfield Commons shopping center, 6721B Frontier Drive.” [Washington Business Journal]
Women’s Day Protest Planned — “Herndon-Reston Indivisible is hosting a International Women’s Day Protest on Sunday, March 8, 2 to 3:30 p.m., at the corner of Reston Parkway and Baron Cameron Avenue.” The grassroots organization says the protest is intended to rally “support for women everywhere, specifically the women who are victims of Jeffrey Epstein and Donald Trump.” [Patch]
Lacrosse Tournament Offers Olympics Preview — “Many of the world’s best lacrosse players are in town for the kickoff of the Lexus Championship Series on Friday night at the St. James in Springfield … Rachael DeCecco, senior vice president of lacrosse for both [the Premiere and Women’s] leagues, said it will be an exciting preview of what to expect in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.” [WTOP]
It’s Monday — A cloudy day is expected with a high near 36 and a 50% chance of precipitation. Snow may fall starting from 1pm. At night, snow could turn into rain or freezing rain between 1am and 4am with a low around 30 and 80% chance of precipitation. Accumulations of ice and snow are expected to be minimal. [NWS]
A man was shot by the Virginia State Police today (Sunday) after allegedly stabbing multiple people on I-495.
The incident is believed to have begun with a traffic collision that then led to a man exiting his vehicle and stabbing at least three people, according to scanner traffic.
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 — Feb 27, 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 sunshine and a high of about 62 degrees, accompanied by a gentle south wind blowing at 3-5 mph. Later on Saturday night, the skies will remain mostly clear as the temperature drops to around 41 degrees. A calm breeze will turn southeast and reach 5 mph after midnight. 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. 👋
It took three attempts by two different patrons, but legislation to potentially allow a casino in Fairfax County appears to be heading toward adoption.
After setting aside a similar bill last year, the Virginia House Appropriations Committee voted 18-4 earlier today (Friday) to advance SB 756, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, to the full chamber.
All Centreville residents displaced by the natural gas leak that resulted in a house explosion and fire on Feb. 15 have now been cleared to return home.
Washington Gas says it restored gas service to the 19 remaining evacuated homes by 10 p.m. on Tuesday (Feb. 24), and the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department (FCFRD) has now lifted its evacuation order after detecting no gas in the environment for 48 consecutive hours.
We love fall at Art House 7 and can’t wait for you to explore all our offerings. Painting, drawing, ceramics, and sewing/crocheting are our perennials, along with less traditional mediums. Kawaii Style Drawing and Digital Art are among our new classes for kids. We offer an excellent 6-week program for high schoolers preparing their college portfolios. Want something shorter? We have 3-week classes, including linocut notecards. Love ceramics? We have a dedicated studio that comfortably accommodates wheel and hand-building classes.
Fall 1 Session begins Tue. Sep. 8.
