Happy Monday, Northern Virginia!
In today’s update:
🤩 Loudoun’s Christmas displays are on a whole new level this year. From massive mega-trees to interactive light shows where you pick the next song, these homes turn entire neighborhoods into holiday destinations.
🥂 Discover three of the coziest spots in Northern Virginia, from a hidden garden cafe tucked behind cobblestone steps to a historic farm filled with restored 1800s buildings. Each spot brings a different fall vibe you’ll want to catch before the season ends.
🏗 Amazon's next big move in Virginia? It’s not just servers. A massive data center is rising in Chantilly, with 67 acres of green space, low-noise operations, and a quiet push into AI infrastructure.
Scroll down and enjoy!
—Chris Colgan
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🤩 The Most Jaw-Dropping Christmas Displays in Loudoun This Year
Loudoun County never plays small during the holidays. Every year, families across Aldie, Ashburn, Sterling, and Purcellville turn their homes into full holiday attractions with synchronized shows, mega-trees, and yard-filling displays.
Here are the top spots to visit this season:
01. 41033 Blue Larkspur Court, Aldie
The Biggest and Brightest Display in Loudoun
A massive corner-lot setup with glowing characters, wrapped trees, archways, and a towering blue mega-tree. It’s the county’s most talked-about display.
Hours:
• Weeknights: 5–10:15 PM
• Weekends: 5–11:15 PM
• Christmas Eve/Day: All night
• Last Night: Dec 27
They also collect donations for Evan’s Golden Heart Foundation (CORE Foundation).
02. 17276 Pickwick Drive, Purcellville
A Classic Favorite on the Purcellville Holiday Lights Tour
A classic, cheerful display with snowmen, candy canes, roofline lights, and colorful wrapped trees. Great viewing from all angles and perfect for family photos.
Why It Stands Out:
• Great viewing angles
• Tons of holiday characters
• Bright, traditional Christmas lighting
• Perfect photo spot for kids
03. TREEmendous Christmas Show
One of Loudoun’s Top Synchronized LED Shows
This Sterling home brings a full musical experience. Synchronized lights, animation, and massive LEDs create a high-energy show you can watch right from your car.
What You’ll See:
• Giant animated LED mega-tree
• Light panels across the garage
• Synchronized musical sequences
• Digital Christmas countdown
• Modern, bright color patterns
04. Holtz Family Lights
Ashburn’s Most Interactive High-Tech Christmas Show
Known for synchronized music, glowing arches, animated figures, and a purple-white theme. Kids love the Santa mailbox with video surprises and mailed replies.
Interactive Features:
• Tune to FM 90.5 for synchronized audio
• QR code: choose from 70+ songs
• Remote Falcon: visitors pick the next song
• Santa mailbox with video + mailed replies
• Angel wing selfie station
Check where and when to see each one ON MY FULL GUIDE→
🥂 3 Cozy, Unique & Rustic NoVA Restaurants to Try Before Fall Ends
The Ashby Inn & Restaurant in Paris, VA
🔗 Click to see more
Looking for a warm, inviting place to eat before the season cools off completely?
I picked three of my favorite cozy and rustic restaurants across Northern Virginia. Each one brings something different to the table, from secret-garden charm to countryside views that feel straight out of a postcard.
Just scroll down and see which one matches your vibe:
01. Secret Garden Cafe
Price: $ • Vibe: Cozy, hidden, charming
404 Mill St, Occoquan Historic District, VA
You enter through a slim alley and climb cobblestone stairs into a leafy courtyard filled with vines, umbrellas, and fairy lights. Inside, it’s warm and homey with a brick fireplace and copper-toned wood.
The building dates back to the late 1800s and was once the home of Dr. Hornbaker. Today it’s run by a local husband-and-wife team. Popular dishes include shrimp and grits, French toast, and crab cakes. Go on weekdays to avoid the crowds.
02. Clyde’s Willow Creek Farm
Price: $ • Vibe: Rustic, historic, farm-style dining
42920 Broadlands Blvd, Broadlands, VA
Clyde’s is built around several restored 18th- and 19th-century structures brought in from around the country. The main building features the 1804 Samuel French Tavern, complete with original-style woodworking and colonial murals.
Behind it is the 1810 Roxbury House with rich mahogany beams, and the Chandler Barn filled with antique artifacts like a vintage carriage. The food is classic tavern-style, with favorites like calamari, stroganoff, and salmon. Live music runs on weekends.
03. The Ashby Inn & Restaurant
Price: $$$ • Vibe: Romantic, historic, countryside escape
692 Federal St, Paris, VA
Set on three acres overlooking NoVA’s hills, the Ashby Inn has been around since 1829. Many original details remain, including old town-store signs from the early 1900s. It’s fully farm-to-table, using ingredients from its own garden.
Guests staying overnight get access to breakfast, and rooms range from cottage-colonial to more traditional suites in the old School House. It’s quiet, beautiful, and ideal for a fall getaway.
Each of these restaurants offers a different version of that rustic, cold-weather charm, and there’s an option for every budget.
I recommend booking soon, because once the chill sets in, these spots fill up fast.
Interested in more details? CHECK IT ON MY BLOG→
🎥 Reacting To The Craziest HOA Rules In Northern Virginia
In this video, we're taking a look at the craziest online comments and HOA rules we've seen in all of Northern Virginia!
💬 Let’s Connect: Buying, Selling, or Growing Your Brand in Northern Virginia?
Whether you’re looking to move to Fairfax, Prince William, Winchester, Alexandria, Arlington, or Reston — or want help growing your business with smart, local content I’ve got you covered.
📍 Explore homes for sale across Northern Virginia
📲 DM me on Instagram for real estate or content marketing help
💼 Visit ColganTeam.com to learn more or collaborate on your next project
🏗 Penzance Breaks Ground on New Amazon Data Center in Chantilly
Driving the news: Real estate firm Penzance has started construction on a 240,000-square-foot data center in Chantilly, Virginia. Amazon Web Services (AWS) will lease the space, with operations expected to begin in early 2027.
Details: The 45-megawatt facility is located at 4151 Auto Park Circle. AWS will manage the site, adding to its existing presence nearby at the Virginia Mallory Campus.
The project received $100 million in financing and includes advanced sustainability features:
High-efficiency air-cooled systems
Rooftop HVAC units and low-noise, enclosed generators
EV charging stations and low-impact stormwater infrastructure
LEED-Data Center Silver certification
67 acres of public green space with walking trails and preserved woodlands
Why it matters: The project deepens Fairfax County’s role as a global tech hub while delivering local benefits: jobs, open space, and long-term infrastructure investment.
The inclusion of public-use green space and low-noise operations is a win for nearby communities.
Between the lines: AWS says the data center will operate 95% of the year using only outside air for cooling, reducing water use and energy costs, an increasingly important standard in data infrastructure.
What’s next: Construction is underway and scheduled to finish in the first half of 2027. Fairfax County officials expect it to fuel both economic growth and digital capacity for years to come.
📊 Our Current Local Market Numbers
Washington DC’s market is still competitive. Median sale price hit $680K last month, up 2.3 percent year over year. Homes are selling in about 55 days on average, slower than last year. Total sales dipped 9.5 percent year over year. Price per square foot fell to $488, down 6.5 percent. Inventory is edging up while momentum softens. Could be a smart entry point if you’re ready.
For buyers: Rising inventory and slower days on market give you room to negotiate. Stay pre-approved and move when the right home pops up.
For sellers: Prices are still holding, but buyers expect value. Clean presentation, smart pricing, and strong agent strategy matter more than ever.
🗞️ In Other News…
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And don’t forget to tell me which one was your favorite. See ya!