Friday Download, 11/1: Pickle and Grilled Cheese Fest, a massive jack-o'-lantern display, and the Winter Lantern Festival
The weekend forecast and things to do, plus the week’s top Fairfax County headlines
The Friday Download is your guide to the week and weekend in Fairfax and around the area. Subscribe today to get the next one in your inbox and support The Machine’s work.
Happy Friday, Fairfax County. The Reston trick-or-treaters cleaned us out last night, validating The Machine’s calculation to make an extra run for mini Airheads.
Below: the top local headlines of the week, a sunny forecast, and 15 weekend treats to choose from — from Alexandria Fall Fest to a pickles and grilled cheese festival in Chantilly. You won’t even have to knock on anyone’s door.
Local news I read this week
Business and development 📈
Local lawmakers spoke out against the Tysons casino proposal (Patch)
Vienna library and parking garage project secures final approval (FFXnow)
Criminal justice and public safety 🚓
Au pair pleads guilty in double homicide, agrees to cooperate (WaPo)
Elementary school’s assistant principal charged for failing to report alleged assaults (WaPo)
Amid staffing shortages, Fairfax City deploys uniformed security guards to help deter crime (WTOP)
Environment 🌳
Government and politics 🏛️
Supreme Court leaves Virginia’s purge of voter registrations in place (AP)
In final weeks of VA-10 congressional race, dueling allegations of dishonesty (WaPo)
Good deeds 👍
Housing and homelessness 🏠
Study: D.C. region had the highest rent increase among major metro areas (WaPo)
Fairfax City launches safety program to provide resources to unhoused communities (NBC4)
Sports 🏈
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Weekend weather (from the National Weather Service)
Friday: Mostly cloudy to mostly sunny, with a chance of showers in the morning. Highs in the upper 70s, lows in the mid-40s. ⛅
Saturday: Sunny. Highs in the lower 60s, lows around 40. ☀️
Sunday: Mostly sunny, turning to mostly cloudy. Highs in the lower 60s, lows in the mid-40s. ⛅
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Things to do
At Capital One Hall in Tysons, shake the week off with a Taylor Swift dance party (Friday) or check out comedian Ali Siqqiq’s latest tour (two shows Saturday, one Sunday) 🎤
At Wolf Trap, see Third Reprise reimagine Broadway classics (Friday) or do it up with some doo-wop (Sunday, two shows) 🐺
Go to Mount Vernon for Archaeology Family Day events (Saturday and Sunday) 🦴
Enjoy German food and holiday crafts at the Fairfax Station Railroad Museum’s FallFest (Saturday) 🚂
Learn about the county’s past at the 20th Fairfax County History Conference (Saturday) 📜
Hang on to Halloween at the annual jack-o’-lantern display in Franconia, or by strolling through Fall-O-Ween in Alexandria (Saturday) 🎃
Prefer to move on to Christmas? Shop a Holiday Bazaar and Craft Fair in Centreville. (Saturday) 🎄
Check out “NOVA’s Largest Pickle & Grilled Cheese Festival” at Mustang Sally Brewing Co. in Chantilly (Saturday and Sunday) 🥒
Enjoy family fun at 2024’s Alexandria Fall Fest at River Farm (Sunday) 🐎
See a pet costume contest and parade and fundraise for rescues at Ono Brewing’s “Dog Days of Fall” event in Chantilly (Sunday) 🐕
Take your kids to Doktor Kaboom’s science and comedy show at the Kennedy Center (through Sunday) 🧪
Explore the Winter Lantern Festival as it kicks off in Tysons (through Jan. 12) 🏮
My plans
Too many, but one worth noting for you all: The Big Flea is back (again) at Dulles Expo Center. I’ll be there on Saturday, hunting, as always, for MCM art and furniture at prices I can afford.