News

At least 70 people were evacuated from a Fair Oaks movie theater on Sunday (Nov. 2) after a mass shooting threat was reported to law enforcement.

The threat, which was later determined to be non-credible, was received by staff at the Regal Cinemas in Fairfax Towne Center (4110 West Ox Road, Suite 12110) around 8 p.m., according to the Fairfax County Police Department.


Countywide
A construction crane over MetroWest seen from Vaden Drive in Oakton (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Options for Disposing of Pumpkins — “Don’t trash your pumpkins — compost or recycle them instead … Washingtonians have plenty of eco-friendly ways to chuck pumpkins through November,” including “Pumpkin Madness” catapulting events coming this weekend at Centreville’s Cox Farms. [Axios DC]

No Pumpkin Recycling at Frying Pan — Frying Pan Farm Park, however, isn’t accepting pumpkins for recycling this year. “Instead of bringing them here, turn your leftover Halloween pumpkins and gourds into something useful! Now through mid-November, you can drop them off at the I-66 Transfer Station,” where they will be processed for composting or to feed livestock. [Friends of Frying Pan/Instagram]

How N. Va. Could Influence Election — “Democrats currently have a slim majority in Virginia’s House of Delegates, and two competitive Northern Virginia races could help determine which party controls that chamber of the state’s General Assembly,” according to University of Mary Washington political science professor Stephen Farnsworth, who also says “turnout in Northern Virginia is one of the key things to monitor.” [WTOP]

FCPD Launches Gift Card Drive — “The Fairfax County Police Department’s Victim Services Division (VSD) is proud to announce the launch of its 12th Annual Holiday Gift Card Drive, an initiative dedicated to supporting child victims and witnesses of domestic violence, sexual violence, and families grieving the loss of a loved one to homicide.” Gift card donations can be dropped off or mailed to the division until Dec. 19. [FCPD]

Renovated Hybla Valley Park Opens — “More fun, more play! The Hybla Valley Park is officially OPEN! The newly renovated park is packed with awesome features for everyone,” such as dedicated futsal and basketball courts, a new playground “suitable for all ages and abilities” and updated site furnishings. [Fairfax County Park Authority/Facebook]

Troubled Trail Project Costs Rise — “Following a lengthy discussion during Tuesday night’s work session, the Fairfax City Council delayed making a decision on how to address the additional $4.6 million in construction costs required to build the controversial George Snyder Trail.” The council had voted in June to continue with the project as is after debating potentially canceling or downsizing it. [Patch]

Dulles Could Add Direct Service to Taiwan — The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority recently secured a five-year agreement with Taoyuan International Airport Corp. “that commits both sides to conduct market research, airline outreach and marketing campaigns to build the case for a nonstop Dulles-Taipei connection.” The agreement could pave the way for other long-haul, nonstop flights to Asia that were halted during the pandemic. [Washington Business Journal]

The Wiggles Tour to Stop in Tysons — “The group’s new Tree of Wisdom Spectacular Tour is heading to North America. And The Wiggles will be stopping in Tysons on August 18, 2026. The performance at Capital One Hall is just one of 17 planned for across the continent.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

It’s Tuesday — Expect sunshine and a high temperature of around 62, accompanied by west winds blowing at 8-11 mph and gusts up to 21 mph. As night falls on Tuesday, there will be mostly clear skies with lows close to 41, with west winds gradually calming at around 5 mph. [NWS]


Around Town

Good Monday 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 — Nov 3, 2025.

📅 Upcoming events

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

☀️ Tuesday’s forecast

Expect sunshine and a high temperature near 61 degrees, accompanied by a west wind blowing at 7 to 11 mph and gusts reaching up to 21 mph. Tuesday night will be mostly clear with a low temperature around 41 degrees. The west wind will slow down to about 5 mph and become calm in the evening. 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.


Announcement

The museum’s annual Native Art Market features award-winning and innovative Indigenous artists from across the Western Hemisphere. This event invites lovers of art and craftsmanship to meet Indigenous artists and learn about the traditional arts and contemporary Indigenous creativity. Visitors will have the opportunity to purchase traditional and contemporary handcrafted artworks, including beadwork, jewelry, paintings, photography, pottery, and sculpture.


Countywide

The Fairfax County Government Center will be open tomorrow (Tuesday) for election voting and little else.

Most government facilities will be closed for Election Day, which is a designated holiday for the county. Operations affected by the closures include all Fairfax County Public Library branches and Neighborhood and Community Services (NCS) programs.


Event

Join Breast Cancer Collective for the 2026 Walk to Bust Cancer on Sunday, October 18, at Fort Hunt Park in Alexandria.
Walk alongside survivors, caregivers, friends, families, and neighbors for an uplifting community event supporting access to breast cancer screening and care across the DMV.
Walk to Bust Cancer brings our community together to turn hope into action and help expand access to timely breast health care. Register to walk, gather your team, and join us at Fort Hunt Park.


Around Town

Harry & David is now selling its signature gift baskets at Tysons Corner Center.

The mail-order business launched a holiday pop-up store in the mall last month that will continue operating through the end of 2025, according to store manager Bruce Hughart.


Around Town

When the DMV Chocolate and Coffee Festival announced earlier this fall that it will return to the Dulles Expo Center in mid-November, organizers didn’t know yet that their fourth year would be their last at the popular Chantilly events venue.

Though rumors of Ikea coming to the building had emerged over the summer, Dulles Expo Center’s management didn’t officially inform promoters that it will close in December until last week, the Washington Business Journal reported last week.


News

By MARY CLARE JALONICK Associated Press

SASKATOON, Canada (AP) — U.S. figure skater Ilia Malinin broke the world record for the free skate in winning Skate Canada with ease on Sunday, keeping his two-year unbeaten streak intact and underscoring his status as favorite to win Olympic gold at the Milano-Cortina Games.


Countywide

As early voting in Virginia’s November elections came to a close on Saturday (Nov. 1), Fairfax Del. Dan Helmer (D-10) was on the road in a final push to secure a victory not just for himself, but for Democratic candidates across the state.

As the campaigns chair for the Virginia House Democratic Caucus, a role he landed based on his defeat of Fairfax County’s last Republican delegate, Tim Hugo, in 2019, Helmer has been tasked with overseeing races in all 100 House districts — every single one of which will have a Democrat on the ballot.


Countywide

Fairfax County in October saw rising year-over-year apartment rents in most corridors except Tysons, which saw a decline but remains the priciest area countywide.

Six of seven areas across Fairfax posted median rent increases ranging from less than 1% to 7%, according to figures reported Oct. 30 by Apartment List.


Announcement

While our Fall 1 season is in swing, we have some terrific opportunities for making art coming up soon. Our Fall 2 season runs late October through December, with six-week and three-week classes you’ll love. We have some new themes in the mix, including Acrylic Painting Fundamentals (adults) and Sculpting with Nature and Found Objects (4th-6th graders). Explore the wheel together at our parent-child ceramics class. And our perennials always shine: painting, drawing, ceramics, sewing, sculpture, and printmaking. Take a look now!

Fall 2 Session, Oct. 27-Dec. 20