☀️ Northern Virginia’s summer calendar is filling up with free concerts, block parties, First Fridays, food vendors, and live music. Here’s where to go, what to expect, and which dates to save.

⚖️ QTS is going it alone in the fight to revive Prince William’s Digital Gateway. The company has asked Virginia’s highest court to review the case, but there’s still a key hurdle before the appeal can move forward.

🏡 April gave NoVA buyers something they have not had enough of lately: more homes to choose from. But there’s a catch — the best listings are still moving fast. See what the latest numbers reveal for the Northern Virginia suburbs.

Scroll down and enjoy!

—Chris Colgan

Enjoy tastings from regional wineries while exploring George Washington’s historic estate at sunset. The festival features live music, scenic Potomac views, and a relaxed, upscale atmosphere.
📍 Location: George Washington’s Mount Vernon
📅 Date: May 15–17 | 6 PM – 9 PM
🎟️ Tickets: Starting at $51
MORE INFO→

Discover works from over 200 contemporary artists showcasing painting, sculpture, photography, and mixed media at this vibrant outdoor festival in the heart of Reston.
📍 Location: Reston Town Center
📅 Date: May 16–17 | 10 AM – 6 PM
🎟️ Tickets: Free
MORE INFO→

See over 100 rare exotic cars and vintage motorcycles while enjoying a unique fashion show inspired by automotive design in the streets of Old Town Alexandria.
📍 Location: Old Town Alexandria
📅 Date: May 17 | 10 AM – 3 PM
🎟️ Tickets: Free
MORE INFO→

NOT ENOUGH? SEE 10+ GREAT THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND→

Looking for something fun to do this summer without spending much?

Across Northern Virginia, towns are bringing back free concert series, First Friday events, and neighborhood block parties, giving locals plenty of easy ways to enjoy live music, food, drinks, and warm-weather nights close to home.

Check it out:

When: Saturdays, May 16 to August 22 | 7:30 to 10 PM
Where: Reston Town Center, 1818 Discovery St., Reston

Reston Town Center’s free concert series returns for its 33rd season, with Saturday night shows at the Pavilion. Kids and dogs are welcome.

When: Fridays, May 22 to September 4 | 6:30 to 10 PM
Where: Herndon Town Green, 777 Lynn St., Herndon

Herndon’s popular live music series is back with free concerts every Friday, plus beer, wine, and food from local vendors.

When: Fourth Friday of the month, May to October | 6:30 to 9:30 PM
Where: Old Town Square, 10415 North St., Fairfax

Expect live music, food vendors, and a beer garden in the heart of Fairfax. Bring a chair or blanket, but leave pets at home.

When: Saturdays, June to August | 7 PM
Where: Leesburg Town Green, 25 W. Market St., Leesburg

Downtown Leesburg’s summer concert series brings free Saturday night music to the Town Green. Guests 21 and older can bring their own beer and wine.

When: Third Fridays, June to September | 6:30 to 9:30 PM
Where: Church Street, Vienna

Vienna’s summer block parties bring together food trucks, beer, wine, and live music for an easy Friday night out.

When: Sundays, June to August | 7 PM
Where: Fort Hunt Park, 8999 Fort Hunt Rd., Alexandria

These free community concerts take place at Pavilion A. Bring a chair or blanket and enjoy a relaxed Sunday evening in the park.

Manassas First Fridays
First Friday of every month | 6 to 9 PM
Historic Downtown Manassas shuts down Center Street for food, drinks, strolling, and downtown fun.

Leesburg First Fridays
First Friday of every month except January | Times vary
Downtown Leesburg fills with live music, art exhibits, wine tastings, late-night shopping, and local deals.

FXBG First Fridays
First Friday of every month | 5 to 9 PM
Downtown Fredericksburg celebrates with extended business hours, street performances, art activities, drinks, and a free trolley through the arts and business district.

CLICK TO CHECK MORE DETAILS→

QTS has officially taken the Prince William Digital Gateway fight to Virginia’s highest court, keeping the massive data center project alive after Compass Datacenters and Prince William County stepped away from further appeals.

Driving the news: QTS filed an appeal with the Virginia Supreme Court on April 30, hours before the deadline, asking the court to review rulings that voided zoning approvals for the PW Digital Gateway.

Details:

Why it matters: For Prince William County, the appeal could bring more clarity to how large land-use decisions are handled.

That is good for residents, county leaders and future developers because clearer rules can help avoid drawn-out court fights and give the public a stronger role in the process.

The big picture: The Digital Gateway near Gainesville would be the largest data center campus in the world at full buildout, with more than 22 million square feet of data centers across 2,000 acres along Pageland Lane.

By the numbers:

Between the lines: QTS is taking a different path from Compass. That keeps the case alive, but the Virginia Supreme Court does not have to take the appeal.

A three-justice writ panel is expected to review the petition in late May or early June.

What’s next: Plaintiffs have until May 21 to oppose QTS’ petition. After that, the writ panel will decide whether the full Virginia Supreme Court should hear the appeal.

There is no set timeline for when the court will make that decision.

KEEP READING→

Driving the news: Northern Virginia’s housing market picked up in April, with more sellers stepping in and buyers moving fast when the right home hit the market.

The pace is still shaped by mortgage-rate swings and federal job worries, but the local market is showing fresh energy.

Details: For NoVA suburbs, April brought a mix of more choices and quick sales:

Why it matters: This is good news for NoVA residents because the market is loosening up without going cold.

Buyers have more homes to tour, while sellers are still seeing strong demand and quick timelines in many suburbs.

The big picture: The D.C. region is still dealing with economic pressure tied to federal government cuts, and mortgage rates remain a hurdle for budget-focused buyers.

Even so, April showed that people with room in their budgets are still active.

By the numbers: The full D.C. metro market saw:

Between the lines: More inventory does not mean buyers can relax.

In Fairfax, Loudoun, Arlington, Alexandria, and Falls Church, homes are still selling in about a week or less.

Well-priced homes in commuter-friendly neighborhoods remain competitive.

What’s next: Late spring will test how much buyer demand can hold up if mortgage rates stay uneven.

Watch Fairfax and Loudoun closely: both added more listings, but their supply remains tight compared with the broader metro area.

The bottom line: NoVA’s April housing market gave buyers a little more breathing room, but not much time to hesitate.

For sellers, the message is clear: the suburbs are still moving.

Reply and let me know what you liked the most and what you’d like to see in next week’s newsletter. See ya!