events | FFXnow

Walkinshaw and Whitson to face off in second candidate forum next week

Published August 15, 2025 at 2:45PM

James Walkinshaw and Stewart Whitson (staff photos by Jared Serre)

Fairfax County voters will have a second chance on Monday (Aug. 18) to hear from the two men vying to succeed the late Gerry Connolly as Virginia’s 11th Congressional District representative.

Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw, the Democratic nominee, and former FBI agent Stewart Whitson, the Republican nominee, will both participate in a candidate forum at 8 p.m. organized by the League of Women Voters of the Fairfax Area, a nonpartisan group that advocates for voting rights and civic participation.

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Reston pool season wraps up with return of dog paddles

By Angela Woolsey

Published August 14, 2025 at 3:45PM

Reston Association's annual Dog Paddle events are returning (via Reston Association)

The dog days of summer have arrived, and they’re about to get more literal in Reston.

As is tradition, Reston Association (RA) is bringing back its annual Dog Paddle series to close out the 2025 aquatics season, which began on May 10 and will conclude on Sept. 21.

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Wolf Trap celebrates major milestone with upcoming season at The Barns

By Vernon Miles

Published August 14, 2025 at 11:45AM

Inside the Barns at Wolf Trap's German barn, built in 1725 (photo by Rich Kessler/courtesy of Wolf Trap)

Acclaimed musicians representing a range of genres, from rock and country to jazz and classical music, are coming to The Barns at Wolf Trap to celebrate the venue’s 300th anniversary.

The Barns are rebuilt and renovated iterations of a pair of barns at the site, built in the 18th century. The larger German barn was built in 1725 and features a “unique” swing beam design that enabled horses to maneuver in the building’s original hayloft, according to the venue’s website.

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Reston library launches back-to-school book sale today

By Angela Woolsey

Published August 14, 2025 at 8:30AM

With Fairfax County Public Schools resuming classes next Monday (Aug. 18), Reston Regional Library will host a book sale to help students and their teachers prepare.

The Friends of Reston Regional Library is kicking off its biannual Kids Back to School Book Sale at 10 a.m. today (Thursday). Volunteers have been working since April to sort, clean and prepare “tens of thousands of books” for the sale, the group says.

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Tysons’ Shipgarten to host its own Renaissance Festival this month

By Vernon Miles

Published August 8, 2025 at 1:45PM

Winter Renaissance Festival at Shipgarten (photo via Shipgarten/Facebook)

Hear ye, hear ye! If you’re one of those frustrated by the ticket kerfuffle tripping up the Maryland Renaissance Festival, perchance Tysons could interest you in a little Renn Fest of its own.

Shipgarten is hosting its Summer Renaissance Festival next Saturday, Aug. 16, from 1-6 p.m. The festival will include presumably biergarten-sized variants of arrow shooting, axe throwing and jousting.

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Reston Cardboard Boat Regatta set for Lake Anne return this weekend

By Angela Woolsey

Published August 7, 2025 at 2:45PM

A team sets out from the Lake Anne Plaza dock for the 2024 Cardboard Boat Regatta (courtesy Reston Museum)

Reston’s annual cardboard boat race is set to make a splash this weekend.

The Cardboard Boat Regatta will return to the waters of Lake Anne on Saturday (Aug. 9) for a friendly competition to raise money for the Reston Museum, the nonprofit that organizes the event.

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Authors Celeste Ng and Erik Larson headline Fall for the Book festival at GMU

By Vernon Miles

Published August 7, 2025 at 8:30AM | Updated August 7, 2025 at 8:46AM

Erik Larson's The Demon of unrest at One More Page Books in Arlington (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

George Mason University’s Fall for the Book festival is returning for its 27th year this October to the Fairfax campus with some notable authors scheduled for the event.

The festival, scheduled across a couple days in early October, will feature Celeste Ng — author of Little Fires Everywhere — and Erik Larson — author of The Devil in the White City.

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Next Reston Community Center performance season led by Pulitzer Prize-winning author

By Angela Woolsey

Published August 4, 2025 at 11:45AM

Sign for the Leila Gordon Theatre at Reston Community Center Hunters Woods (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The author who wrote and won a Pulitzer Prize for “The Sympathizer” is coming to Reston.

Reston Community Center (RCC) will host Viet Thanh Nguyen at its recently renamed Leila Gordon Theatre on Sept. 27 to kick off its 2025-2026 Professional Touring Artists Series, which will bring established and emerging artists to the Hunters Woods facility (2310 Colts Neck Road).

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Cellist Yo-Yo Ma to perform with Fairfax Symphony Orchestra in new season

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 31, 2025 at 3:45PM

Yo-Yo Ma (photo by Jason Bell)

Acclaimed cellist Yo-Yo Ma is tuning up for a visit to Fairfax County later this year.

Ma, a household name even outside the classical music world, will perform with the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra (FSO) at George Mason University’s Center for the Arts on Dec. 6 as part of the local ensemble’s 2025-2026 season.

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Fairfax County Carnival and Fair brings summer fun for 75th year this week

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 29, 2025 at 8:30AM

Visitors leaving the Fairfax County Carnival and Fair (via Fairfax County Park Authority/Facebook)

Carnival rides, farm animals, live entertainment and more will mingle at Frying Pan Farm Park this week for the 75th annual Fairfax County Carnival and Fair.

Organized by Fairfax County 4-H and the Fairfax County Park Authority, the festivities at 2709 West Ox Road in the Herndon area will kick off this Thursday (July 31), with the carnival rides and games operating from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.