events | FFXnow

Published May 6, 2026 at 9:15AM | Updated May 6, 2026 at 9:13PM

Entrance to McLean Day 2025 (courtesy McLean Community Center)

McLean Day is always highly anticipated by local residents, drawing more than 10,000 attendees annually. But this year, the celebration will take on an extra-patriotic tenor with nods to the U.S.’s 250th birthday.

Set to return to Lewinsville Park (1659 Chain Bridge Road) on Saturday, May 16, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., the annual festival will open its 111th year with a performance by the McLean Community Players — possibly a preview of their upcoming summer production of “1776,” the musical retelling of the Second Continental Congress and signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Around Town

Herndon’s new festival on Lynn Street promises ‘cool vibes’ and ‘hot beats’

By Mary Stachyra Lopez

Published May 5, 2026 at 1:45PM | Updated May 6, 2026 at 9:28AM

Signs for Lynn Street and Elden Street in downtown Herndon (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Herndon is going all-in on a “hot and cool” theme with its newest festival, where upbeat and mellow musical performances will be complemented by activities such as a snowball fight and jalapeno-eating contest.

“Polar Heat on Lynn Street,” a free, day-long event on Saturday, May 16 sponsored by the town’s Parks and Recreation Department, will feature nonstop music on two different stages, food trucks, inflatables, a smores station and themed community vendor booths.

Around Town

Maggiano’s to open this summer after Taste of Tysons preview

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 4, 2026 at 10:00AM

Maggiano's Little Italy will open in Tysons Corner Center's east end (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Local diners missing Maggiano’s Little Italy will want to circle their calendar for this year’s Taste of Tysons.

The foodie festival is returning to Tysons Corner Center for a fourth year on May 16 from noon to 3 p.m. with a preview of the forthcoming Italian restaurant among its highlights.

Around Town

Vienna Farmers Market returns tomorrow with native plant sale

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 1, 2026 at 9:15AM

Customers check out vegetables at the Vienna Farmers Market (courtesy Town of Vienna, Va.)

With the calendar turning to May, farmers’ market season is blooming across Fairfax County.

The Vienna Farmers Market, organized by the nonprofit Optimist Club of Greater Vienna, will open for 2026 tomorrow (Saturday) in the Vienna Community Center parking lot at 120 Cherry Street SE.

Around Town

Where to find live music in Fairfax County this summer

By Tadi Abedje

Published April 29, 2026 at 11:45AM | Updated April 30, 2026 at 3:08PM

Concertgoers on the lawn at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts' Filene Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Summer is fast approaching, with it will come a full season of musical entertainment.

Fairfax County is home to a number of venues that will host concerts and festivals in the coming months, in many cases for free. Here are some options community members can look forward to, from Wolf Trap to Herndon:

Around Town

Free outdoor concerts return to Reston Town Center, starting in May

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 28, 2026 at 9:15AM

Reston Concerts on the Town (courtesy IRL Agency/Hawkeye Johnson)

The pavilion at Reston Town Center will once again host more than a dozen free concerts throughout the summer, starting next month.

The 33rd annual Reston Concerts on the Town series is set to return on May 16, coinciding, like in past years, with the Tephra ICA Arts Festival.

Around Town

Tephra ICA Arts Festival to celebrate 35 years in Reston by honoring past

By Tadi Abedje

Published April 24, 2026 at 1:45PM | Updated April 26, 2026 at 8:38PM

The 2025 Tephra ICA Arts Festival at Reston Town Center (photo by Kelci Friend, courtesy Tephra ICA)

For over three decades, the Tephra ICA Arts Festival has engaged the Fairfax County and Northern Virginia community through arts and performances. The festival will celebrate its 35th anniversary with a two-day event on May 16-17 at Reston Town Center for the public.

It will have 200 artists nationwide and from the D.C. region, dance performances, original paintings and a concert.

Around Town

Lake Fairfax festival, Vienna tree plantings highlight local Earth Day celebrations

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 24, 2026 at 8:30AM

The Lake Fairfax Marina from across the water (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The environment will take center stage across Fairfax County over the next two days, thanks to an abundance of Arbor Day and Earth Day festivities.

The county’s headliner is the annual Earth Day Fairfax festival, which has relocated to Lake Fairfax Park (1400 Lake Fairfax Drive) in Reston this year after previously taking place at the Sully Historic Site in Chantilly.

Around Town

Taste of Vienna returns with dozens of food vendors, cake-eating contest

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 23, 2026 at 9:15AM

Taste of Vienna banner over Maple Avenue (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Taste of Vienna is set to return this weekend, putting a spotlight on local restaurants while also raising funds for the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department (Vienna VFD).

The 13th annual food festival will take over the fire department’s parking lot at 400 Center Street South from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. this Saturday (April 25).

Around Town

Independent bookstore crawl gets underway this weekend in N. Va.

By Katie Taranto

Published April 22, 2026 at 3:30PM

Entering Scrawl Books at Reston Town Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Several Fairfax County bookstores are participating in an annual bookstore crawl program in Northern Virginia this spring.

The third annual NoVa+ Bookstore Crawl Passport program kicks off this Saturday (April 25) at 18 independent bookstores across Northern Virginia, including Bards Alley and Big Planet Comics in Vienna, Scrawl Books in Reston and Fonts Books & Gifts in McLean.