Even as some areas become increasingly urban, Fairfax County offers plenty of opportunities for residents looking to enjoy nature or some outdoor recreation, from national parks to neighborhood hangouts.
Here are the nominees for “Best Parks in Fairfax County” as part of our FFXnow Readers’ Choice Awards. Did we miss your favorite park below? Write them in!
Voting will close in two weeks. Be sure to cast your vote before 8:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 2.
Voting for Best Fall Activity in Fairfax County is still taking place. Be sure to cast your vote before voting closes next Friday, Sept. 25 at 8:30 a.m.
Two weeks ago, we voted on the Best Dentist in Fairfax County. The results are now official:
The office building at 12100 Sunset Hills Road in RTC West (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Fairfax County’s sluggish job market is expected to get a small boost in the coming months, thanks to a Reston-based contractor.
The technology company Data Machines has committed to investing $849,000 in an expansion of its headquarters in RTC West (12100 Sunset Hills Road, Suite 605), a move that will create 75 new jobs, Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger and the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority announced yesterday (Thursday).
Posterboards show renderings of the future Overlook Ridge Park (courtesy Mount Vernon District supervisor's office)
Nearly 250 acres of land in Lorton that once served as a dumping ground for construction debris could soon become a haven for families and birding enthusiasts.
Waste Management, the owner of the former Lorton Landfill site at 10001 Furnace Road, broke ground on Sept. 2 on a new public park that will feature trails, a playground, an amphitheater, restrooms, and scenic views for taking in birds or the Potomac River to the east.
Join artist Nora Naranjo Morse (Kha’p’o Owenge ([Santa Clara Pueblo]), creator of Always Becoming, and the community that cares for the museum’s ephemeral outdoor sculpture family, to learn about the project’s evolution over the past two decades, and what the future holds.
Learn about the art of clay, traditions of sustainability in Pueblo building techniques, and more. Visitors can enjoy family-friendly art activities, dance performances by the Zuni Olla Maidens, watch a short film, and multiple opportunities to hear from the artist, her family, and museum experts that have contributed to the care and revitalization of the sculptures.
A banner advertises Dulles International Airport's upcoming Concourse E over an entrance to the security screening lines (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Dulles International Airport is counting down to the planned opening of the new 14-gate Concourse E serving United Airlines, but the count will run a little longer than initially hoped for.
The opening has been pushed back from late September into October but prep work is continuing as planned, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) board of directors was told on Wednesday (Sept. 16).
If you are interested in learning more about Continuing Care Retirement Communities (also known as "Life Plan Communities"), whether for yourself or for a loved one, please join our free workshop on Wednesday, November 4 from 5:00-7:00 at the Arlington office of Long & Foster. We are hosting this workshop in conjunction with Lisa Bates of the Williamsburg Landing community, which is a particularly excellent model of the way these communities work, and one you may wish to consider!
– How do Continuing Care Retirement Communities work? – What do they offer? – How much do they cost, and what are the financial models offered? – How do you how to evaluate them, and choose the one that's right for you? – How do you make a plan for a move like this? – How do you handle a lifetime's worth of possessions?
Vendors line a parking lot at The Boro for the Tysons Mixed Market on Sept. 17, 2026 (photo by Chetan B.)
Case for Fatal Pedestrian Crash Dismissed — “On June 18, the driver of a Prius jumped the curb of a Leesburg Pike service road near Seven Corners and fatally hit 38-year-old Sean King.” The 43-year-old driver was charged with reckless driving, but then pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor. His 60-day jail sentence was suspended on the condition that he complete 20 hours of community service. [NBC4]
DHS Accused of Violating Election Laws — Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones “said Thursday that the Department of Homeland Security may have violated several state laws after a whistleblower accused its employees of misrepresenting themselves on voter lookup tools to hunt for noncitizen voters. Virginia “explicitly limits its voter lookup tools to individuals who attest under penalty of law that they are looking up their own records.” [Associated Press/ARLnow]
Yellow Line Service Pause — “Metro announced Yellow Line service will be shut down Saturday, Sept. 19 and Sunday, Sept. 20. That’s due to planned bridge and track rehabilitation, according to the transit agency … Blue Line service will alternate between Downtown Largo and the Virginia end destinations of Franconia-Springfield and Huntington.” [ALXnow]
Tysons Contractor Sold Due to ICE Work — “Fairfax government contractor ITC Federal announced Monday it plans to buy Capgemini Government Solutions for an undisclosed price and rename it to ITC Digital Solutions … Capgemini Government Solutions is said to have provided ICE with technology to locate targets for the crackdown on illegal immigrants, according to multiple reports.” [Washington Business Journal]
Lorton HVAC Company Plans Layoffs — United Air Temp, Air Conditioning and Heating LLC, which was acquired by a private equity firm in 2024, filed a notice that it will lay off “93 employees — nearly one-third of its workforce — within the next 60 days” at its Lorton headquarters. The layoffs “will be permanent and will impact employees based on-site and those who work in the field and report to that office.” [WBJ]
Marijuana Sales Regulations Unveiled — “The Cannabis Control Authority last week published the first draft of regulations for the recreational market, including the fees for licenses needed to do business in the market. Under the legislation that set the framework of the legal market, the CCA will be able to award up to 350 licenses for retail marijuana stores statewide.” [Richmond BizSense]
Stuff the Bus Food Drive Is Back — “The Stuff the Bus Food Drive returns for a one-day event on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. The buses will be located at various Supervisor District offices countywide 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Please consider supporting local non-profit food pantries by donating non-perishable food items or gift cards.” [Neighborhood and Community Services]
Algae Spotted in Lake Newport — “Small clumps of potentially harmful algae have been observed on the surface of Lake Newport following resident reports. While boating activities can continue, residents and visitors should avoid contact with algae and lake water in areas where algae is present.” [Reston Association]
Exhibit Documents Change in Lorton Inmates — “Twenty five years ago, what was once the Lorton Reformatory, then the Lorton Correctional Complex, closed its doors. Now the same complex in Fairfax County, Virginia, that once housed D.C. inmates is home to the Workhouse Arts Center where a new exhibit documents the power of change that comes with second chances.” [WTOP]
It’s Friday — Expect partly sunny skies with temperatures reaching a high of 85°F and a gentle north wind of 7 to 9 mph. In the evening, skies will be partly cloudy with temperatures dropping to around 65°F. [NWS]
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Expect partly sunny skies with temperatures reaching a high near 84°F and a north wind blowing at 7 to 9 mph. During the night, conditions will be partly cloudy with temperatures dropping to around 63°F, accompanied by a gentle north wind at about 7 mph. See more from Weather.gov.
Site of the Kingstowne Towne Center office building that BXP plans to redevelop with housing (via Fairfax County)
Fairfax County officials have supported another proposal to boost the housing portfolio of Kingstowne Towne Center.
At its Sept. 15 meeting, the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved developer BXP’s application to convert an existing office building into a 280-unit housing complex.
"I voted" logos on a voting booth (Staff photo by Mary Stachyra Lopez)
As Democrats attempt to flip control of Congress from the current Republican majority, all eyes will be on national races, but the Nov. 3 election will also give Fairfax County voters a number of questions with local and state implications to consider.
Early in-person voting will kick off countywide tomorrow (Sept. 18) for seats in the House and Senate as well as local issues regarding funding for parks and health and human services projects. In addition, voters will be asked to vote on three constitutional amendments addressing abortion, gay marriage, and voting rights.
Surveillance footage released by the Fairfax County Police Department shows the man accused of attempting a sexual assault of a woman at a Groveton hotel on Oct. 4, 2025 (via FCPD)
An Alexandria man has been convicted after attempting to rape a housekeeper at a Groveton hotel last year, though several felony charges were dismissed.
Following a two-day bench trial in Fairfax County Circuit Court on Tuesday and Wednesday (Sept. 15 and 16), Oscar Junior Barrios was convicted of the attempted rape and misdemeanor simple assault, according to court records.
