F.C. Bulletin: June 9, 2026
1) Falls Church City Named 'Most Livable Community in the South'
2) Va. Del. Marcus Simon's Recent Priorities in Richmond
3) News Analysis: National Park Service Allows Residents to Comment on Proposed "Triumphal Arch"
4) Creative Cauldron Stage Receives $15,000 Shubert Grant to Produce New Works
5) Virginia Dream FC Win UPSL Championship
6) Notices & Announcements
Falls Church City Named 'Most Livable Community in the South'
In her June 5 constituent newsletter, Mayor Hardi announced great news from Travel + Leisure magazine for the City of Falls Church.
"This might seem like the sort of click bait I don’t read or share," Hardi began. "But this is worth a mention because it’s backed by a legitimate source and one I’ve personally researched.... Falls Church was named the most livable community in the South. This was based on the AARP’s Livability Index (no surprise: what makes communities livable for seniors also makes communities livable for all age groups!) Falls Church earned particularly high marks for healthcare access, parks, walkability, and our strong sense of community."
"While accolades are always nice, what stood out to me is that many of the things recognized are the result of years of work by residents, City staff, volunteers, local businesses, and community organizations," Hardi continued. "Our parks, trails, schools, small businesses, and civic engagement don’t happen by accident. At the same time, the report highlighted something many of us already know: housing affordability remains one of our biggest challenges. That’s why I continue to believe we need to focus on creating housing opportunities for residents at a range of income levels while building on the qualities that make Falls Church such a special place to live."
In their June 2 article, "This Virginia Town Was Just Named the Most Livable Place in the U.S. South for Its Quality of Life," Travel + Leisure magazine wrote: "....if you’re looking for an overall excellent quality of life, AARP recommends Falls Church, Virginia. The organization’s Livability Index rates communities across the nation for dozens of factors, divided into seven categories: housing, neighborhood, transportation, environment, health, engagement, and opportunity. Falls Church came out on top with a livability score of 72 out of 100, the highest among Southern towns and cities."
The Little City was rated "excellent for health and access to healthcare, with all of its roughly 15,000 residents living within a half-mile of a park or within a mile of recreational facilities," Travel + Leisure reported. "There’s virtually no shortage of professional healthcare services in Falls Church, and AARP estimates that the rate of smoking among residents is 7.2 percent, compared to 16.6 percent for the country. The town also scored high in the transportation category, which measures the frequency of local transit service (Falls Church is part of Washington D.C.’s metro system), walkability, and crash rate."
"Falls Church is known for its quaint, tree-lined streets and excellent public schools, which is why the town’s neighborhood score is also high, 75 out of 100," the story continued. According to Ken Trotter, a local real estate agent at TTR Sotheby’s International Realty, “Falls Church delivers something rare: the soul of a small town with the reach of a world-class city. You’re minutes from Washington, D.C., yet you wake up to a farmers' market, walkable streets, and neighbors who know your name.”
Housing Prices and Stock, Income Inequality Still Cited as Drawbacks
However, as Mayor Hardi alluded in her constituent newsletter, the AARP rating was not without a few stern caveats relating to the local housing market squeeze.
".... [But,] being that close to one of the most expensive real estate markets in the country has its drawbacks," the Travel+Leisure article continued. "Most notably, income inequality in Falls Church has gotten worse, according to AARP. Another category where the town falls short is housing, mainly due to high housing costs — $3,008 per month, compared to $943 for the rest of the country. This results in a higher housing burden for Falls Church residents, with an estimated 25.3 percent of household income spent on housing, which is 10 percentage points higher than the national median. Additionally, there are no local policies in place to support foreclosure prevention and protection, or to create “age-friendly communities,” AARP reports, per Travel+Leisure. "Real estate costs further add to the challenge — the median home value is $789,604, according to Zillow, with prices in many neighborhoods exceeding $1 million."
For the full list of communities on AARP's Livability Index go here.
Va. Del. Marcus Simon's Recent Priorities in Richmond
Curious what Va. Del. Marcus Simon who represents Falls Church is up to in Richmond? Here are some snippets from Simon's latest constituent communications:
June 8: Reproductive Freedom, Voting Rights, Removal of Same-Sex Marriage Ban
This November, Virginians will have the chance to protect reproductive freedom, restore voting rights to those who have served their time, and finally remove the outdated ban on same-sex marriage from our state constitution.
Virginians have this opportunity only because Democrats won elections, used our majority, and refused to let fear or caution stop us from doing what’s right....
....I’m not interested in trimming our sails while the other side tries to take away fundamental rights. I’m not interested in pretending this is politics as usual. And I’m definitely not interested in letting Republicans define the future of Virginia.
June 2: LGBTQ+ Rights
Living in Falls Church and Fairfax County, it can be easy to forget just how far we’ve come on LGBTQ+ rights and just how quickly those hard-fought rights could be put at risk by MAGA forces on the Supreme Court.
That’s why this November, Virginians need to pass the constitutional amendment to remove Virginia’s shameful ban on same-sex marriage from our state constitution.
Right now, that ban is unenforceable because of court rulings. But if the far-right Supreme Court overturns those decisions, Virginia’s constitutional ban could become enforceable again, leaving families’ rights vulnerable.
To our LGBTQ+ family, friends and neighbors: we stand with you today and every day. And we’re going to keep fighting to move Virginia forward.
May 26: Gun Violence Prevention, Affordable Housing and Smarter Growth, Debt Relief and Education, and Climate Justice
Our to‑do list is bold:
Gun violence prevention – I’m so proud we’ve finally banned Ghost Guns and Assault Weapons here in Virginia, and I won’t rest until we've closed every loophole used by those who commit gun violence to prevent them from easy access to deadly weapons. Enhanced background checks, sometimes called permit to purchase, is the gold standard and what Virginians deserve.
Affordable housing & smarter growth – We need to invest in affordable housing and cut red tape preventing more housing from being built near transit projects where people can live, work and play without getting in a car every time they leave their home.
Debt relief & education – Expanding student borrower protections and fully funding our public schools and colleges will give every Virginian a fair shot.
Climate justice – Let’s continue expanding solar, wind, and energy efficiency programs to fight climate change and create good‑paying jobs.
The gun lobby, anti‑choice extremists, and corporate polluters are pouring money into Virginia to roll back our progress.
May 15: On Gov. Spanberger's Collective Bargaining Veto
I ran for Delegate on a promise to fight for ordinary Virginians whose voices are too often drowned out by special interests and deep pockets using money as a political megaphone to make sure their priorities come first.
That’s why Governor Spanberger’s decision to veto collective bargaining legislation is so incredibly infuriating. At a time when we need all hands on deck to save our democracy, this sends exactly the wrong message. I am continuing to monitor other legislation that the Governor still has time to sign that I believe is critical to making our Commonwealth work for the people.
Democrats cannot be afraid to govern boldly in moments like this.
Collective bargaining is about giving workers a voice on the job and a fair shot at economic security.
The people of Virginia deserve leaders willing to fight for them, and I hope when given future opportunities, the Governor will always choose to be on their side.
News Analysis: National Park Service Allows Residents to Comment on Proposed "Triumphal Arch"
If you've recently driven over Arlington's Memorial Bridge into the nation's capital, you likely swerved counterclockwise around Memorial Circle – a grassy, circular traffic router – with little notice. Perhaps you were taking in the iconic, scenic miles-wide vistas of Arlington National Cemetery on the Virginia side of the Potomac and the Lincoln Memorial miles across the way on the river's District side.
Now, however, President Trump has proposed a 250-foot-tall "Triumphal Arch" be constructed upon Memorial Circle (which technically sits within Washington, D.C.) At roughly half the height of the Washington Monument as well as higher than the U.S. Capitol, Trump's Victory Arch, cheekily referred to as his "Arc de Trump," has raised the hackles of critics.
Almost too many objections to Trump's Triumphal Arch have been raised to list briefly. They include criticisms that the arch will: dwarf surrounding monuments such as the Lincoln Memorial; obstruct the intentionally designed sightlines between Arlington National Cemetery (with its Tomb of the Unknown Soldier) and the Lincoln Memorial; create a crash hazard for aircraft flying in and out of National Airport; and, will be designed in an overly monarchical, even fascistic architectural style – an irony given the American Revolution's 250th anniversary this year. Critics also worry Trump's Triumphal Arch might be green-lighted by Trump's hand-picked members of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, without proper Congressional authorization or funding.
And, we find the design for the proposed Triumphal Arch to be laughably derivative and unimaginative, devoid of relevance to any specific American historical event or movement, and yet another opportunity for corrupt pay-to-play "fundraising," i.e., grand-scale grifting by the 47th president.
How about summoning a few architects to the Oval Office to propose a fresh monumental design, rather than letting the whole world know how jealous you are of Paris's Arc de Triomphe, itself evidence of Emperor Napoleon's longing for the glory-days of imperial Rome?
From London: A Conservative In-Your-Face Criticism
But, it's not just progressive Democrats who are appalled by the proposal.
In February, Stephan Bayley of London's conservative The Telegraph published an in-your-face assessment of Trump's Triumphal Arch proposal, entitled "Trump’s mega-arch will be as brash, vulgar and bold as its inspiration; The American president has a campy taste for the excessive."
Here's how Bayley put it:
Augustus found Rome a city of brick and left it in marble. In this way, imperial ambition, style and achievement were faithfully revealed in architecture. Donald Trump found large parts of Washington white and filled them with gold. The Oval Office has significantly more gilt than it did before. Some of the white bits, like the East Wing for example, have been demolished to make way for a £300m ballroom."
Parasols resembling those in Mar-a-Lago, where golfers sink cocktails, have been installed in The Rose Garden where heads-of-state once conferred.
Trump’s total architectural legacy to DC can not yet be predicted, but we are additionally promised a triumphal arch with a size commensurate with the gigantic commissioning ego.
Asked whether he wanted an arch that was small, medium or large, Trump insisted – I am tempted to say “naturally” – on XXL. The concept is to out-large Jean-François Chalgrin’s Arc de Triomphe in Paris, another witness to badly inflamed ego, in that case Napoleon’s.
Shall we consider this mad anachronistic hommage to self as a generous contribution to public art or as gross and flatulent over-reach?
No design has yet been published, but it is fair to guess that the style will be classical, since Trump has already issued a fiat demanding all official buildings shall ape Greece and Rome – since these are deemed “beautiful”.
This is debatable in a city where Maya Lin’s superb Viet Nam Memorial is a profound, but under-stated, demonstration of what thoughtful modernism can achieve.
But dictators, Hitler for example, insist on classicism not simply because it is “beautiful” but because hierarchy, discipline, order and control – rather than free expression – are intrinsic to the architecture.
Still, it may well be beyond the scope of current architectural intelligence to design in the classical style. A local example? The gruesome Bomber Command Memorial at Hyde Park Corner, absurdly in the style of the Third Reich’s architect, Albert Speer. It was easier in the past: just look at the Porta Nuova in Palermo.
People get very antsy when their taste is impugned: nothing reveals character more than the choices we make. And Trump’s taste is terrible. The Oval Office Study is now packed with so much Maga merchandise it resembles the Trump Tower gift shop. Indeed, it was Trump Tower that gave us fair warning of what was to come.
Trump Tower was begun in 1979, the first effort of a parvenu New York property developer, brash even by the standards of that milieu. It is a frank demonstration of the man’s admiration for hard, shiny surfaces as indicators of status.
Further enhancements to status were acquired with furnishings. For his first interview as president-elect, Trump appeared in his office high above Fifth Avenue sitting upon a gold throne.
From the beginning, big effects were required. To create the glistening marble lobby of Trump Tower, a mountaintop in Carrara had to be removed. Viewed with an educated eye, it is a very poor design combining crude external swagger with blinding interior vulgarity, awful proportions and a hostile energy profile. These are surely poor precedents for a triumphal arch.
Still, Trump seems to enjoy French design so we can agree le style est l’homme. His profile perfectly fits Susan Sontag’s definition of camp: “a love of the unnatural: of artifice and exaggeration”. As we are post-truth, we may also be post-taste.
If it is ever actually built, my prediction is Arc de Trump will remain unfinished at his term’s end. I see in my mind’s eye a vast building site of mud with idle cranes and backhoe loaders and dazed project managers wondering what on earth they are doing.
And if it is built? It will be bad to the point of being ridiculous, but not to the point of being enjoyable. In other words: a fine memorial. Still, as Thomas Mann said of Hitler: “The fellow is a catastrophe. But that is no reason why we should not find him interesting.” C’est tout.
Former Member, U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, Bruce Redman Becker
“I mean, it’s a violation of our democratic process," Becker told Times News radio host Daniel Finklestein. "It’s also architecturally banal. And the change [would be] destructive.... There's a complete lack of independence [under the Trump-dominated U.S. Commission of Fine Arts] and we certainly would not have approved it. In fact it's a very poor site. It blocks the important vista, just as the ballroom that's proposed blocks the L’Enfant-envisioned vista from the Capital to the White House. This blocks the Vista to Arlington Memorial Cemetery. A very important view. And the [design] plan of Washington D.C. was conceived really to reinforce these views for symbolic reasons."
"No one wants this," Becker continued. "99% of people who wrote in – and there were thousands of people who submitted comments – opposed this. I mean it's a violation of our democratic process...."
The National Park Service (NPS), however, is still soliciting public comment on the proposed Triumphal Arch. Falls Church resident Don Foley of Democracy Falls Church recently posted to the Falls Church City parents' list-serve the following message with a live link to NPS's public comment site.
Here's what Foley wrote:
"Triumphal Arch" comments
Thanks to all of you who have submitted comments prior to next Monday’s deadline.
A friend who knows much more about public comments suggests the following:
“The key is to convincingly demonstrate "adverse effects" (using that phrase) that the proposal will exert on specific aspects of the affected resource, ideally citing language from the "enabling legislation" (law that made a historic site or district or park a site in the first place) and showing how the proposed change damages, interferes, with, etc. the purpose for which the law says it was established.”
Thank you,
~ Don
Triumphal Arch - Section 106 Assessment of Effect and Draft Programmatic Agreement
The National Park Service (NPS) is developing a design for the construction of the Triumphal Arch (the Arch), within the George Washington Memorial Parkway in Washington, D.C. As a federal undertaking, this project is subject to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, and its implementing regulations (36 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] Part 800) 'Protection of Historic Properties' (Section 106). This Assessment of Effects Report describes the project (the proposed undertaking) and analyzes potential adverse effects on historic properties, including archeological resources, within the project area....
To submit your Comment to the National Park Service concerning the proposed Triumphal Arch go here.
And thank you, Don Foley, for the helpful information!
Creative Cauldron Stage Receives $15,000 Shubert Grant To Produce New Works
Following is based on a June 3 Creative Cauldron press release:
Creative Cauldron Stage announced today [June 3] that it has received a $15,000 grant from the Shubert Foundation, which directs funding toward not-for-profit, professional theatres with an emphasis on producing, rather than presenting, organizations. The Shubert Foundation is especially interested in providing support to professional resident theatre and dance companies that develop and produce new American work.
So, what is Creative Cauldron up to right now?
Creative Cauldron Hosts Passport Music Festival Beginning June 13
Creative Cauldron Stage's Passport Music Festival. Sponsored by The Reserve at Falls Church. Curated by Ken Avis and Lynn Veronneau.
June 13 - September 13, 2026
Every summer weekend at Creative Cauldron features a cabaret or concert by some of the most spectacular talent the D.C. area has to offer!
Grab a table for two or a table for four and enjoy your favorite performers and some fabulous new faces. Can't make it to the space? Use the LIVE STREAM button to access a link to view the show from home!
2026 Concert Lineup:
June 13 at 7:30 p.m. - KATHY HALENDA
June 20 at 7:30 p.m. - SUSAN DERRY CABARET INTENSIVE FINALE
June 26 at 7:30 p.m. - SEAN HEELY
June 27 at 7:30 p.m. - THE BIG LEBOWSKI EXPERIENCE
July 10 at 7:30 p.m. - THE FLY BIRDS
July 11 at 7:30 p.m. - JOE COLEMAN
July 17 at 7:30 p.m. - STILL WE SING CONCERT
July 18 at 7:30 p.m. - CECILY - THE QUEENS OF DISCO
July 24 at 7:30 p.m. - EASTERN STANDARD TIME
July 25 at 7:30 p.m. - DAVE KLEIN BAND
July 31 at 7:30 p.m. - VOX POP
August 1 at 7:30 p.m. - ELI LEV & FRIENDS
August 7 at 7:30 p.m. - VALERIA STEWART & FRIENDS
August 8 at 7:30 p.m. - SETH KIBEL
August 14 at 7:30 p.m. - THE GUITAR RENEGADES
August 15 at 7:30 p.m. - JASON PAUL CURTIS AND DC MARTINI
August 21 at 7:30 p.m. - MARCEL PENZES
August 22 at 7:30 p.m. - VERONNEAU
September 13 at 2:00 p.m. - SHENANDOAH RUN
General Admission: $30: Tier 1. $25: Tier 2.
Tables for Two with wine (2 glasses) $90.
Tables for Four with bottle of wine $180.
Live Stream Ticket $15.
About Creative Cauldron Stage:
Creative Cauldron, at 127 E. Broad St., is an award-winning non-profit theater and educational arts organization whose innovative programs in the performing and visual arts embody collaboration, experimentation and community engagement. Creative Cauldron was founded by Artistic Director Laura Connors Hull in 2002. In 2023 Creative Cauldron launched a $500,000 New Home-New Horizon capacity campaign to raise funds for a move into a new theater in the Broad and Washington project in Falls Church City in the Winter of 2025. After raising approximately $725,000 over a two-year span, Creative Cauldron has been able to smoothly transition into its new home. This new location at Broad and Washington will give Creative Cauldron a permanent home for the next 30 years, making a cultural anchor to a comprehensively planned arts and entertainment district that can appeal to people of all ages, incomes, and cultures.
Programs are presented in part through grants from the Virginia Commission for the Arts, The National Endowment for the Arts, ArtsFairfax, the Arts and Humanities Council of the City of Falls Church, the Ross-Roberts Fund for the Arts, The Shubert Foundation, and the Robert W. and Gladys S. Meserve Charitable Trust. Generous corporate and individual sponsors also support Creative Cauldron’s programs.
Info: www.creativecauldronstage.org
Virginia Dream FC Win UPSL Regular Season Championship
Virginia Dream FC are UPSL Virginia North Regular Season Champions!
The Dream had a dominant 6-0 victory over North Stars FC in the last game of the UPSL Regular Season. The victory secured the team the UPSL Regular Season title and also guaranteed them home field advantage for the post-season tournament.
As the Regular Season Champions, Virginia Dream earned a bye in the first round of the playoffs and will host the semifinals on Sunday, June 21. Diarra Zoumana, who is in the running for the conference Golden Boot award added another to his tally and Liam Emson finished the game with a hat trick. AP Slavov and Ryan O’Neil added one goal apiece to bring home the title.
This 2026 UPSL Regular Season Champions title can now be added to Virginia Dream's growing list of accomplishments, including:
- Defeated professional side Richmond Kickers in the 2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup;
- Qualified for the 2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup;
- 2024 NPSL Mid-Atlantic Conference Champion;
- Spring 2024 UPSL DMV South Playoff Champions;
- UPSL DMV South Regular Season Champions (Fall 2023, Spring 2024, Spring 2025);
- 2023 TST $1 Million Tournament Participant;
- VSSL Regular Season Champions Spring (2023, Fall 2023, Spring 2024, Fall 2024, Spring 2025);
- VSSL Playoff Champions (Spring 2023, Fall 2023, Spring 2024, Fall 2024);
- Fall 2022 Washington Premier League Champions.
In NPSL action, Virginia Dream defeated DMV Elite FC 2-0. Liam Emson and Demetrius Shepard-Lewis were the goal scorers. The team record is 2 victories and 1 loss early in the Mid-Atlantic Conference season. The next NPSL match is at “The Cloud,” aka Meridian High School Stadium, on Sunday, June 14, against FC Frederick. Kickoff is 8:00 p.m.
For updates and more information, visit: https://www.instagram.com/virginiadreamfc.
Virginia Dream FC is a Falls Church-based semi-professional soccer club founded in 2022 with a mission to remove financial barriers by covering all player costs. Competing at a high level across national leagues, the club blends elite competition with community impact, creativity, and culture. Virginia Dream FC has gained national recognition through its U.S. Open Cup performances and growing digital audience.
Notices & Announcements
Little City Sips is Coming!
Join friends, family, and neighbors on Saturday, June 13 from 5:00 to 10:00 p.m. for Little City Sips, the City of Falls Church’s downtown sip-and-stroll event designed to support local businesses and create a vibrant, walkable community experience.
Adults aged 21 and older can purchase drinks to enjoy in official Little City Sips cups, then explore by strolling through the downtown area and gathering spaces within the designated event boundary. Check out local shops, outdoor murals and art, and the band playing at Mr. Brown’s Park, and other live music from our participating local restaurants.
Route 29 Active Transportation Study
Following is courtesy Falls Church Forward:
The Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) is conducting an Active Transportation Study of the Route 29 Corridor, extending from I-495 in Fairfax County to Tripps Run at the City of Falls Church/County border, just east of South Maple Avenue. The two-mile corridor is positioned between two major parallel roadways, I-66 to the north and US 50 to the south, which are more geared toward automobiles.
• Attend the Community Meeting
HIRE VETS NOW Hiring & Networking Event Connects Military Talent with Virginia Employers at Marine Corps Base Quantico
QUANTICO, VA – June 12, 2026 – Transitioning service members, veterans, and military spouses are invited to attend Virginia’s HIRE VETS NOW Hiring & Networking Event at Marine Corps Base Quantico on Friday, June 12.
Hosted by the Virginia Chamber Foundation, the Virginia Department of Veterans Services, and Marine Corps Base Quantico Transition Readiness Program, the event connects military-affiliated job seekers with employers from across Virginia, including Peraton, CACI, Inova Health, Stanley Martin Homes, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the City of Fredericksburg, SimVentions, the U.S. Secret Service, and many others. Opportunities span defense, cybersecurity, healthcare, public safety, government, construction, transportation, and professional services.
Attendees can meet directly with company representatives, learn about open positions, explore career pathways, and build professional connections with organizations that value the skills and experience of military families.
“At Peraton, we recognize the tremendous value that veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses bring to our workforce,” said Jeff Carson, Military & Veteran Talent Outreach & Partnership Lead. “Their leadership, adaptability, and technical expertise align closely with the work we do every day to support our nation's most critical missions.”
“HIRE VETS NOW creates direct connections between Virginia employers and members of our military community seeking their next chapter,” said Cyndi Miracle, Senior Vice President of the Virginia Chamber Foundation. “Whether transitioning from service, exploring new opportunities, or seeking employment as a military spouse, attendees can engage with employers who are actively hiring and invested in military talent.”
Event Details:
Date: Friday, June 12, 2026
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Location: The Clubs at Quantico & Crossroads Events Center, 3017 Russell Road, Quantico, Va. 22134
Base Access: Base access is required – please visit https://www.quantico.marines.mil/Info/Base-Access/Civilian-Non-Military/ for instructions.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
* Open to transitioning service members, veterans, and military spouses;
* Complimentary lunch provided;
* Walk-ins welcome, but advance registration is encouraged.
For more information and to register, visit virginiahvn.com.
Spread June Joy at the Pride Pop-Up in the Park
June Joy returns with the second annual Pride Pop-Up in Cherry Hill Park!
All ages are welcome to attend the free celebration on Saturday, June 13, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. featuring:
• Pride rock painting
• Karaoke
• Onsite LGBTQIA+ organizations
• Mini Pride Parade in the park at 4:00 p.m.
• Bubble Bash Foam Party from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m.
For more info go here.
Listen and Enjoy the Sounds of Summer
Following is courtesy Falls Church Forward:
June through July 2026
Summer sounds are almost here, Little City!
Concerts in the Park kick off Thursday, June 11, and we’re starting BIG. Opening night features the Tinner Hill Music Concert in celebration of Juneteenth.
• Bring a picnic;
• Grab your lawn chairs;
• Enjoy Cheese Cartel along with other eats and treats.
All season long, enjoy high‑energy performances celebrating our community’s musical roots.
Concerts in the Park
The Summer Concerts in the Park Series hosted by the Falls Church Village Preservation and Improvement Society (VPIS) and the Recreation and Parks Department returns for its 34th year in 2026. The 2026 call for musicians at the concert series is now closed.
Pack a picnic and lawn chairs then kick back, relax and jive to live, local music ranging from soulful jazz, to classic rock, all the way to some folky Americana. There’s no better way to enjoy a sweet summer night in the Little City!
- Concerts start at 7:00 p.m. and range from 60 minutes to 90 minutes long.
- Advanced registration is not required, and the events are free.
- Concerts in the Park are Thursdays in June and July.
- New this year, Ice Cream Jubilee, and The Cheese Cartel will be onsite with sweet treats, and snacks for purchase.
- Inclement Weather: Cancellations or delays will be announced by 3:00 p.m. on the day of the concert. For weather updates, call 703-248-5027 (TTY 711).
New Beer and Wine Garden
Bring your own beer and wine (BYOB) will be permitted, pending VABC permit approval, at the Concert in the Park series in 2026 for those ages 21 and older. No hard spirts or liquor will be permitted at this event.
Beer and Wine Garden Rules
- Beer and Wine may only be brought on site and consumed by individuals 21 years of age or older. No alcohol may be consumed by or given to anyone under the age of 21.
- All individuals drinking alcohol, regardless of age, must have a valid, state-issued photo ID available on request from VPIS and/or City of Falls Church event staff. Pictures of IDs are not accepted.
- Beer and Wine may only be consumed within the concert beer and wine garden perimeter between 7:00 p.m. and the concert end at approximately 8:30 p.m.
- If the concert is cancelled, alcohol consumption will not be permitted. If the concert ends early, alcohol consumption must end once the concert ends.
- The City of Falls Church, Virginia ABC, and local law enforcement reserve the right withdraw permission for on-site alcohol consumption at any time.
- Intoxicated individuals will not be permitted on the premises.
- No alcohol is permitted to be sold on the premises.
- The City of Falls Church reserves the right to amend these rules at any time.
Concert Schedule
June 11:
Tinner Hill Music Concert, Bushmaster Band ft. Gary Brown
Soulful Blues & Funk
June 18:
Classical pieces featuring blues, jazz, and a performance of "Lift Every Voice and Sing".
June 25:
Latin & American Roots
July 2:
Rock & Blues Favorites
July 9:
Andrew Acosta String Band
American Roots
July 16:
Rock & Funk
July 23:
Pop, Rock, & Folk
LWVFC Presents Lindsey Cormack's How to Raise a Citizen June 14
Creative Cauldron, 127 E. Broad Street, Sunday, June 14, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Hear from the Author of "How to Raise a Citizen"
Help Us Honor Sally Ekfelt, the Winner of Our 2026
Community Impact Award
The League of Women Voters of Falls Church will hold its Annual Meeting on Sunday, June 14, from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m., at Creative Cauldron, 127 East Broad Street in Falls Church. Our special guest speaker will be Lindsey Cormack, who will be speaking about her book, How to Raise a Citizen. We will also be presenting our second annual "Community Impact Award" for sustained contributions to the Falls Church community. We are delighted to announce that our honoree this year will be Sally Ekfelt! Refreshments will be provided by Clare and Don's.
Be sure to join us! Register today using the link below.
Both Ms. Cormack's presentation and the award ceremony honoring Sally Ekfelt will be open to the general public. These presentations will be followed by a short annual business meeting for LWVFC members, at which we will be electing officers and adopting a budget for the coming year. There is no fee for either the public or membership portions of the meeting. Of course, voluntary donations at the door to defray the costs of the meeting are always welcome.
RSVP today to let us know you will be attending: Annual Meeting Sign-Up
Mark your calendars! 🍽️👣 The Falls Church Foodie Trek returns July 1 — this time as a one-month adventure featuring eight amazing local restaurants.
Participating we have:
@bakeshopva, @borekg2008, @happytartbakery, @littlebeastfallschurch, @stratfordgardenva, @thaitimefallschurch, @the.cheese.cartel, and @westovertaco.
Pick up a passport, visit each restaurant, collect your stamps, and turn in your completed passport for a chance to win prizes.
Whether you’re a longtime local or just looking for your next great meal, this is the perfect excuse to explore the incredible food scene right here in Falls Church.
Who’s in? ✨🍴
fcfoodietrek.com
Commemorate our country’s 250th anniversary and celebrate our diverse community through classic summer fun and civic engagement on Friday, July 3, 2026, from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. in Cherry Hill Park
Dive into sweets, eats, and brews in the beer garden. 🍺
Jam out to live, local music. 🎸
Compete for the Civic Cup with your team. 💪
Make history in your City, be there! Learn more at fallschurchva.gov/CivicJam.
By Christopher Jones
Member discussion