free things | FFXnow

Published June 4, 2026 at 8:30AM

Musicians perform at Nottoway Park in Vienna for Hunter Mill Melodies on Aug. 14, 2025 (courtesy Fairfax County Park Authority)

The Fairfax County Park Authority has unveiled event lineups for this year’s Summer Entertainment Series, which will feature more than 100 outdoor concerts, movie screenings and other free diversions.

Kicking off with Springfield Nights at Burke Lake Park and Arts in the Parks at Frying Pan Farm Park on June 24, the 2026 offerings won’t be quite as extensive as in previous years after the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors adopted a fiscal year 2026 budget that reduced funding for the series by $136,000.

Around Town

Bike to Work Day returning Friday with dozens of Fairfax County pit stops

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 13, 2026 at 2:45PM | Updated May 13, 2026 at 4:09PM

Bicyclists on Colts Neck Road in Reston (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County will join a regionwide celebration of bicycling as an option for commuters this Friday (May 15).

More than two dozen pit stops are planned across the county for Bike to Work Day 2026, offering free T-shirts, snacks and other giveaways to cyclists who pass by on the way to their office or workplace.

Around Town

South Block will hand out free acai bowls for Burke grand opening

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 27, 2026 at 10:00AM

South Block coming to Burke Centre Shopping Center (staff photo by Emily Leayman)

South Block’s expansion to seemingly every corner of Fairfax County will continue tomorrow (Saturday) with its debut in Burke.

The homegrown juice and smoothie chain will open at the Burke Centre Shopping Center (5765D Burke Centre Parkway) with an all-day block party, highlighted by free mini warrior acai bowls for the first 100 customers in line.

Countywide

Fairfax County offers free trees to residents in bid to expand canopy

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 11, 2026 at 8:30AM

A family plants a tree from the Arbor Day Foundation (courtesy DPWES)

Fairfax County is teaming up with the Arbor Day Foundation to give away free trees to residents as part of its efforts to nurture the local tree canopy.

Starting today (Tuesday), all county residents can sign up online to receive up to two one-gallon trees that will be delivered directly to their homes, according to the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services’ (DPWES) Urban and Community Forestry Division.

Around Town

Yearly Reston prom dress giveaway invites final donations

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 6, 2026 at 10:00AM

Girls with dresses from Reston Community Center's annual Diva Central shopping event (via Reston Community Center)

To students, the one to two months left until prom may seem like a lifetime away, but for anyone looking to get a head start on picking out their outfit, Reston Community Center (RCC) is once again here to help.

RCC’s annual Diva Central shopping event will return to its Lake Anne facility (1609-A Washington Plaza North) for a 24th year on March 14.

Around Town

Sweetgreen opening new Tysons location soon with giveaways

By Emily Leayman

Published February 10, 2026 at 1:45PM

Sweetgreen's location on Leesburg Pike in Tysons (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fast-casual salad and bowl chain Sweetgreen will debut its latest location in Tysons with giveaways and support for a local nonprofit.

Sweetgreen will open on Tuesday, Feb. 17 at 8405 Leesburg Pike in Tysons. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., the location will serve seasonal light bites from Sterling-based restaurant Local Provisions and offer plants from Falls Church-based Botanologica.

Around Town

Reston’s new empanada restaurant to offer free food at grand opening

By Jared Serre

Published November 26, 2025 at 2:45PM

Empanadas de Mendoza in Reston (photo courtesy of restaurant)

A familiar face at farmers’ markets across Fairfax County has now set up a permanent shop in Reston.

Empanadas de Mendoza is currently in soft opening mode at North Point Village Center, but the doors of its second storefront will officially open on Dec. 6, co-owner Gabi Steelman told FFXnow.

Around Town

Chicken salad restaurant chain to open soon in Herndon

By Angela Woolsey

Published November 4, 2025 at 3:45PM

Chicken Salad Chick dishes (courtesy Chicken Salad Chick)

A growing fast-casual chain specializing in chicken salad will open its doors in Herndon later this month.

Chicken Salad Chick is set for a grand opening at Herndon Centre (494 Elden Street) on Tuesday, Nov. 18, kicking off a series of promotional giveaways that will continue through that Saturday (Nov. 22).

Around Town

GMU offers free performing arts tickets to workers affected by federal shutdown

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 9, 2025 at 10:00AM

George Mason University's Center for the Arts with cherry blossom trees lining Mason Pond in Fairfax (Photo by Evan Cantwell/Creative Services)

Though it may be small solace for not knowing when their next paycheck may come, a night of music or theater could become at least a temporary escape for the thousands of workers affected by the ongoing federal government shutdown.

That’s what George Mason University hopes to provide by offering free tickets to select artistic performances for federal employees and contractors.

Around Town

Fairfax arts community plans month-long celebration with events, discounts

By Scott McCaffrey

Published September 25, 2025 at 3:45PM

Children's Artwalk at MPAartfest (photo by Deb Kolt/McLean Project for the Arts)

October will give local residents the chance to “fall into the arts” with artoberVA, a month-long celebration of the arts across Fairfax County.

A collaboration between ArtsFairfax and CultureWorks, the initiative will present a number of free events coupled with discount offers from local artists and arts organizations across Fairfax County and the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church.