Friday Download, 10/18: Stargazing, the Reston Home Tour, and fall events from Alexandria to Centreville
The weekend forecast and things to do, plus the week’s top Fairfax County headlines
Happy Friday, Fairfax County.
Early voting has expanded to 13 new locations around the county, and fall celebrations are happening in every corner, too. It’s looking like a great weather weekend for both.
The latest from The Machine
September was a deadly month for Fairfax County pedestrians. “I just don’t think as a culture we apply the correct level of responsibility to driving,” Chris French, president of Fairfax Families for Safe Streets, told me.
Also, a reminder to please send The Machine your photos of great Halloween houses! Email fairfaxmachinenews@gmail.com.
Local news I read this week
Animals 🐻
Criminal justice and public safety 🚓
Culture ✌️
Economy 💵
They got $750 every month as part of a new Fairfax County program. Here’s how they’re spending it. (WTOP)
Education 📖
Langley High instructional assistant arrested, charged for obscene sexual display under a desk (WUSA9)
How one Annandale preschool uses ‘Paw Patrol’ to teach students about democracy (AP)
NVCC faculty gave president Anne Kress a vote of no confidence (Fairfax County Times)
Sports 🏈
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Weekend weather (from the National Weather Service)
Three days of just about copy-and-paste.
Friday: Sunny, highs in the upper 60s and lows around 40. ☀️
Saturday: Sunny, highs in the lower 70s and lows around 40. ☀️
Sunday: Sunny, highs in the lower 70s and lows in the mid-40s. ☀️
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Things to do
“Phantom of the Opera” and “Les Mis” star Norm Lewis returns to Wolf Trap (Friday and Saturday) 🐺
See “Dear Evan Hansen” at Capital One Hall in Tysons (Friday through Sunday) 🎭
Stop by the Farm Harvest Festival and Carnival at Frying Pan Farm Park for rides, old-fashioned games and activities, and fair food (Friday through Sunday) 🐴
In Alexandria, bring your kids to the Torpedo Factory’s 29th annual Art Safari, or buy plants and attend workshops at the Master Gardeners Fall Festival (Saturday) 🖼️🌱
Celebrate Centreville Day with its annual parade, local vendors, charitable efforts and bonanza of free family activities (Saturday) 🎉
Springfield Town Center’s Fall Fest will offer pumpkin decorating, live music, a magic show, and a long list of craft and food vendors (Saturday) 🎃
Annandale’s own fall festival will have a petting zoo, food vendors and a craft fair (Saturday) 🐑
Bring your wits to a Murder Mystery Dinner Theater night at Ono Brewing Company in Chantilly (Saturday) 🗡️
Stargaze at the Udvar-Hazy Center (Saturday) 🔭
Travel back in time at Mount Vernon estate’s Fall Harvest Festival (Saturday and Sunday) 🌾
Visit Burke Lake Park’s Ghost Town for train rides, mini-golf, a bounce house and more (Saturday and Sunday) 👻
Pair your lager with some strudel at the Swiss Bakery’s (second) Oktoberfest event, in Springfield (Sunday) 🍻
Apparate to Fredericksburg for a Harry Potter-inspired “Witches & Wizards Market” (Sunday) 🧙🧹
Take a “Haunted Wine Tour” at the Winery at Bull Run (Sundays-Thursdays through Oct. 31) 🍷
My plans
I’ll be watching my one (1) annual scary movie with good friends on Friday, then poking around strangers’ houses Saturday on the 2024 Reston Home Tour. One day, after my wife and I clean out our Junk Room, maybe our townhouse will be a part of it.
Which movie?